Catholic Family 'Back to School' Issue

Family catholic

September 2015

back 2 school issue

High School Nights Homework

Help

digital

parenting n Education n Health n Parenting n Sports n Calendar

You are Special.

Your case is unique and you don’t want to be a number, you want to get the best treatment possible by people who will remember your name. You like things done a certain way, and for someone to understand what makes you special.

sluspecialists.com

We are SpecialiStS. The people of Saint Louis University Hospital are specially trained to treat your unique case. We are caregivers at every level. We are exclusively SLUCare, the physicians of Saint Louis University, and we are steeped in the Jesuit tradition of teaching and research while continuing to be focused on the future with breakthrough services and technology.

314.577.8000

YEARS

of tradition, excellence and faith.

At St. Joseph’s Academy, we’re dedicated to developing and inspiring strong leaders to make a profound impact in the world.

Learn more about how our values and guiding principles create an educational experience like no other at sja1840.org.

from the PUBLISHER

As we kick off this new school year, Catholic Family would like to give our deepest appreciation to you - our readers. Once again, you have chosen Catholic education, in one form or another, for your children to remain in their faith. We know the options are plentiful, and the sacrifices many, but you have made the decision to continue your child’s journey in a St. Louis tradition that is grounded with deep roots. There is a reason why the most asked question in St. Louis is “Where did you go to high school?”

We take pride in our Catholic schools in St. Louis, and that tradition has evolved into the best and largest school district in the State of Missouri. Our graduates graduate at an incredible 100% rate, and are accepted in the most prestigious schools in the world. Our children become the leaders of tomorrow, knowing that the education they received in the St. Louis Catholic school system has prepared them for such a monumental task.

None of this could be achieved without the many administrators, educators, parents, and students that make the St. Louis Catholic school system what it is today - a model of success that needs to be emulated in every school district around the country.

Catholic Family is merely a vessel to help spread the Good News about Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The true gratitude goes to Archbishop Carlson for making Catholic education the forefront of the mission of the Archdiocese; to Superintendent Dr. Kurt Nelson and his staff for bringing a new and innovative method of teaching our children the meaning of Faith and Devotion to the Word while getting an incredible education; to Sue Brown for the endless work in getting the Good News out to everyone; and to you, the parents, for having the vision to teach your children the value of Catholic education and the role Christ has in their lives.

Again, many thanks to everyone who makes Catholic Family so successful in our little corner of the world...

Your Brother in Christ, Robert Ludwig

TM

CATHOLIC FAMILY VOLUME I NUMBER VI September 2015 EDITOR ROBERT LUDWIG Robert@CatholicFamilyOnline.com OFFICE MANAGER MADISON COWAN Madison@CatholicFamilyOnline.com COPY EDITOR SUE BROWN suebrown@catholicfamilyonline.com ADVERTISING ADVERTISING@CatholicFamilyOnline.com CATHOLIC FAMILYTM

314-439-1042

CATHOLICFAMILYONLINE.COM 3619 Lafayette Ave St. Louis, MO 63110 TO SUBMIT EVENTS TO OUR CALENDAR CALENDAR@CatholicFamilyOnline.com

CATHOLIC FAMILYTM IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CATHOLIC FAMILY MEDIA, LLC NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PUBLISHER. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.

CATHOLIC FAMILYTM is a privately held publication in partnership with the Catholic Education Center of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Catholic Family is not published, owned, or operated by the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Submissions For Article & Photo Submissions please email: submissions@catholicfamilyonline.com All articles must be Original and not a reprint of another magazine! For special exceptions please contact CATHOLIC FAMILYTM

To submit an event please email: calendar@catholicfamilyonline. com Events must be Faith & Family friendly. We reserve the right to refuse any event for the print or online calendar.

To speak to the publisher or staff about CATHOLIC FAMILYTM please feel free to contact us at:

5 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

CATHOLIC FAMILYTM

3619 Lafayette Avenue ST. LOUIS, MO 63110 314-439-1042 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

in this issue...

33

Health Matters

35

Eats

39

Digital Parenting

43

Sports

6

Education

15

7

Applying to a Catholic High School Which is Better - Same-Sex or Coed High Schools?

Technology that Unites: VDOH Explains the Advantages of Technology with Students 2015 Catholic High School Nights Catholic STARS: Students Awarded for Pre-Collegiate Science Research St. Mary’s High School: Preparing Students for 21st Century Careers Tuition Break at Trinity Catholic High School St. Francis Cabrini & Holy Trinity Join the St. Louis Mosaic Project St. James the Greater’s Going Global

19

The Arts

21

Back to School

25 29

The e-Vangelizer Teen Talk

Daddy’s Cookbook Cooking with Brother Dunstan Digital Parenting with Janel Online Homework Help Homework: There’s an App for That!

It’ll Make You Flip! Get Your Child on a Roll with Gymnastics

39

School Briefs

12

Ask the Experts at SLU Hospital Protecting Our Smiles: Dr. LaBarge, Pediatrician at Danis Pediatrics

From the Director’s Chair: Director of Fine Arts Ken Lederle Under Pressure: Coping with Today’s Student and the Pressures that Come with Them 7 Things to Do Before Reading and Any Other Homework Teacher’s Tips for Keeping in Touch Really Getting Ready for Back to School

Voice of Generation I: Surviving the Storm BenedicTEEN

45

Our Faith

51

Frugal Parenting

53

September Calendar

Cool Catholic Facts Religious Education at St. Francis Xavier College Church Saints of September Catholic Reads Baby Clubs That Help with the Pocketbook Kids Eat Free

47

S E P T 2 0 1 5

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 4

Which School is Right for My Child?

ArchSTL.org/Education

ou!

Y e t i v n We I

Catholic Education Center

Ope se ouse pen Hou Sunday, November 8th*

25 Catholic High Schools Noon - 4pm

Barat Academy Bishop DuBourg High School Cardinal Ritter College Prep Cor Jesu Academy Rosati-Kain High School St. John Vianney High School St. Joseph’s Academy St. Mary’s High School Trinity Catholic High School Ursuline Academy Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School Visitation Academy

10am - 2pm Duchesne High School St. Pius X High School

10am - 3pm

Notre Dame High School

11am - 3pm

Incarnate Word Academy Christian Brothers College HS

11am - 4pm

Chaminade College Prep John F. Kennedy Catholic DeSmet Jesuit HS

11:30am-4pm Nerinx Hall High School St. Louis University High

* High Schools offering presentations on other days are:

OCT 10a.m.–1p.m. Noon–2p.m.

NOV 12:30–3:30p.m.

25th St. Dominic HS St. Francis Borgia 15th St. Louis Priory

5 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Applying to a Catholic High School

EDUCATION

T

he Office of Secondary Admissions facilitates the process for students applying to enroll in one of the 27 Catholic high schools of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. This includes providing a number of services designed to inform parents and students about the Catholic high schools and implementing the application process.

Catholic High School Directory The Catholic High School Directory (also called «Red Book») is posted at archstl.org.

This is an important resource that details the curriculum, admissions

by Sue Brown, Director of Marketing and Community Relations Catholic Education Center

requirements, tuition and fees, and other pertinent information for each of the 27 Catholic high schools.

High School Nights A series of High School Nights are scheduled in September and October each year at various locations around the Archdiocese.

These are held in the evening, and provide students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade and their parents an opportunity to hear from representatives of the Catholic high schools about their programs and policies. Parents and students are encouraged to take advantage of the High School Nights as they

continue the process of considering high school selection. This year’s High School Night locations are schools represented at each can be found at archstl.org.

High School Open House The Catholic high schools host an Open House on the first Sunday in November. Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade and their parents are invited to tour the high school facilities and learn about their programs. Please see schedule below, which is also posted at archstl.org. The high schools are generally open in the afternoon, but times at individual schools will

vary. Open House is scheduled so that multiple high schools can be visited that day. Parents and students are encouraged to take advantage of Open House as they begin process of considering high school selection options.

Additional information regarding the high school admissions process can be found at archstl.org. We invite you to visit us online, and at a High School Night, and on Open House Sunday!

Which is BetterSame-Sex or Coed High Schools?

The simple answer to this oftendebated question is…both are good and neither is “better.” As with all considerations in choosing the right high school for your son or daughter, the most critical deciding factor is what is “right” for YOUR son or daughter.

In the Archdiocese of St. Louis, we are truly blessed with 27 Catholic high schools! Few dioceses across the nation can offer that variety! And, because of that, it is almost guaranteed there is a Catholic high school for your son or daughter!

But be prepared! This can be a stressful and emotionally-charged decision for your family. You may feel pressure from relatives that have created a virtual legacy at a certain school, and you may feel a need to choose it out of “loyalty,” whether it is the best choice for your child or not. Or, “all your child’s friends” may be leaning toward one school over another, and the pressure may be to choose to apply where “everybody else” is going. There is a tendency sometimes to be drawn into the comfort zone of moving on with a peer group in the transition from elementary to high school. On the other hand, a completely new school with new friends and a

healthy level of stretching beyond one’s comfort zone might be just what your eighth-grader needs!

As a former elementary principal, I always encouraged my students and their parents to take their time throughout the middle-school years to explore a variety of schools, learn about their

family decision. Your principal is a valuable resource for advice.

Consult him or her, too.

Research is inconclusive as to which model—coed or singlesex—is more effective in educating boys and girls. Some say girls have more opportunities to excel in math and science and leadership

programs, (academic, spiritual, athletic and social) attend high schools nights each year during sixth, seventh and eighth grade, and high school Open House Sundays, always held on the first Sunday of November. The decision should be a careful, prayerful and informed

roles in a single-sex school; others will counter that coed schools are more representative of the world of work and family life. Some say teachers are able to focus on the learning styles most effective with girls or boys in single-sex schools, but today, most teachers are well-

trained in differentiated instruction, including the ways boys and girls learn best, as well as how students with learning disabilities, varied interests, etc. can be most successful. And, there is the “distraction factor” that may or may not pose a challenge for your student. This is an issue on which only you and your son or daughter can weigh out the pro’s and con’s.

And finally, as a proud alum of one of St. Louis’ private allgirl Catholic high schools, I can honestly say I took one path, and it worked out for me, but I always wonder what it would have been like to have chosen the other.

What I know for sure is that graduates of Catholic high schools in St. Louis are well-prepared for college—99% of them will enroll!

Graduates of Catholic high schools are more likely to remain active in their faith. Graduates of Catholic high schools will fill many of the corporate and civic leadership positions in St. Louis. And, graduates of Catholic schools love to ask and answer, “Where’d you go to high school?”

May God bless you in this important decision-making process—one of many you will make together with your son or daughter!

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 6

EDUCATION

5 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

EDUCATION

q

t

u

p

Technology that Unites

Parents often lament the isolation that comes when kids have too much “screen time.”

But could classroom technology actually be helping students become better collaborators?

left Throughout the year, fourth grade students at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School participated in a cultural exchange with an elementary school in Taiwan. Students developed projects and practiced songs to share in morning and evening Skype sessions. above Students work collaboratively to build and program LEGO robots for projects that tie in with lessons from all areas of the curriculum.

At Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School, an independent Catholic school for boys and girls age 3-grade 6 and young women grades 7-12, technology is not a subject of its own. Rather, cuttingedge devices and techniques are woven into the curriculum.

When the computer lab was first introduced at the school, it was an isolated learning environment, explains Oak Hill Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator Mary Meadows. Students learned how to use programs on individual computers, relying on direct assistance from the teacher when questions arose.

Now, the technology center is a hub of collaboration.

“It’s a busy place where kids are working together,” says Meadows. “They take the responsibility and initiative in helping each other solve problems and creatively explore their own interests.”

Robots in the Classroom Through a grant from the school’s faculty innovation fund, LEGO robotics has become a staple in Oak Hill’s curriculum toolkit. In this program,

students design, build, and program robots, working collaboratively as a team.

Each primary grade uses robotics in at least one interdisciplinary unit throughout the year. For example, one class will cap off their studies of Missouri history by reading a novel about the World’s Fair and designing a robotic Ferris wheel. Last year, third grade students studied animal adaptations, working in groups to build robots that illustrated their selected animal’s adaptation. Younger students created sailboats, airplanes, or giants to complement their adventure stories unit, giving them an opportunity to learn literacy skills alongside robotics programming. As students become fluent in programming skills, ties to the curriculum become even stronger.

Through robotics and other technology programs, Meadows has observed a major transition in how students work together and solve problems. No longer do certain kids know every answer; everyone is challenged by the roadblocks that occur in programming. Instead of waiting for the teacher to help, students work together to find their own answers.

“I saw a big change, even in the dynamics of my classroom,” she says. “It really emphasizes the team approach to problem-solving.”

What’s more, she says, students are not merely stopping at the end of the lesson. Robotics projects encourage students’ research skills and creativity,

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 8

EDUCATION

enabling them to delve into topics that spark their individual interests.

“They’re developing their own path of extension in their learning,” she explained.

In one instance last year, a group of boys were so excited about the story they had created for their robot, they voluntarily created a PowerPoint presentation to share with the class.

Tablets in Hand Beyond special projects involving tools such as robotics, technology is frequently used to enhance day-to-day educational activities and help students develop skills at their own pace.

“This year, we are most excited about using an iPad program that allows students to read and listen to thousands of books on their individual level,” said Oak Hill first grade teacher Alison Coulter, whose students use iPads on a daily basis.

“They can record themselves reading, take quizzes on what they’ve read, and teachers can keep records of students’ reading and print out customized reports to share with parents at conference time.”

The educational opportunities afforded by iPads are seemingly endless. In science class, students might create a movie trailer about weather phenomena. Students have even taken iPads on school field trips to a local outdoor education center to help enhance learning “in the field.”

Tablet and SMART Board technology supports not only traditional classroom subjects, but specialty subjects such as art and music as well.

“Technology has had a tremendous influence upon teaching music in an elementary school,” says Oak Hill music teacher Mary Barringer. “Primary grades use iPads to learn about instruments of the orchestra and their sounds, to match pitch, and to play music games about rhythm. Middle and upper grades can use music apps to practice their recorders, or compose different styles of music through the GarageBand app. Having a SMART Board in the classroom allows students to

social studies in a fun and small group setting,” explains Jenny McNulty, junior kindergarten teacher at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School. “The children practice writing their letters, learning number concepts, patterning, and sorting, plus they verbally express to their friends what they are doing and why they are doing it. It’s technology and verbal expression all at the same time!”

SMART Table technology requires students to work cooperatively. For

“I saw a big change, even in the dynamics of my classroom. [Coding] really emphasizes the team approach to problem-solving.”

-Mary Meadows

Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator, JK3-6 Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School be more interactive, whether learning or playing music, or just having fun through musical games.”

Coming to the (SMART) Table As technology has become ubiquitous in society, it has spread beyond the confines of the school’s technology center as well. In addition to the SMART Boards in every Oak Hill classroom, the junior kindergarten program has a brand-new SMART Table to use during daily center time.

“This activity allows the children to explore letters, numbers, science, and

9 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

example, one student cannot change activities alone; all four students at the table must choose to exit the activity at hand. With thousands of SMART Table activities available online, this tool can be used to support any area of the curriculum. Although younger students are the most frequent SMART Table users, older students can use the tables for more advanced, age-appropriate apps.

Bridging Distances To support Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School’s emphasis on global education, technology lets students see parts of the

EDUCATION

Technology in Practice Once technology is available in the classroom, opportunities for its use are limited only by the imagination.

Here are a few ways Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School’s lower school students have used technology recently:

left Students as young as junior kindergarten learn coding skills through age-appropriate computer programs and iPad apps. center In April, Oak Hill fifth graders demonstrated their robotics projects for the LEGO Education Global Leadership Team. right Second grade students worked with a class in Kansas to study communities and practice communication skills. Students at each school created a “community” out of graham crackers and gave a tour of the communities’ buildings and resources during a live video chat.

world they may never visit in person.

An example of how Skype can be used to bridge geography is Oak Hill fourth graders’ partnership with an elementary school in Taiwan. For the past nine years, students at each school have learned about cultural differences and similarities during special video chat sessions. In spite of a 10-hour time difference, children had the opportunity to chat “in person,” sharing art and songs with fellow students across the Pacific Ocean.

A New Collaboration Space Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School’s latest STEAM enhancement is a makerspace for fifth and sixth grade students. This new innovation is a creative, collaborative space that emphasizes students’ hands-on creativity and problem-solving skills.

Students will regularly spend time in the makerspace to use materials and technology provided to investigate, explore, construct, tinker, and create projects that relate to the curriculum. For instance, students studying dinosaurs might research fossil types to design and manufacture their own fossil replicas using design software and a new 3D printer.

“We’re using resources such as robotics,

circuitry, and the MakerBot Replicator to explore ideas and concepts in subjects ranging from renewable resources to computer aided design,” explains Kenny Marcantel, fifth-sixth grade STEM teacher and dean of boys at Oak Hill.

The makerspace, like all of Oak Hill’s technology integration, ensures that students become familiar with new technology in a developmentally appropriate way.

“It’s important for kids to get an early introduction to this technology,” says Meadows. “You’re not going to survive in life if all you know is PowerPoint.”

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School offers a Catholic education in the Sacred Heart tradition for boys and girls age 3-grade 6 and young women grades 7-12.

Interested in learning more about Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School?

Email admissions@vdoh.org to schedule a tour!

Very Hungry Minds Oak Hill’s youngest students use SMART Tables to practice letter sounds, categorize musical instruments, and more. Students practice sequencing by placing the food featured in Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” in the correct order.

Goal!

First grade students work in teams as they focus on mathematics with a soccer theme. The students build a goal kicker, mechanical goal keeper, and cheerful fans as they count, estimate, and measure, organizing and displaying data in lists and tables.

The Animal Kingdom Third grade students build and program robotic animals to coincide with their animal adaptation studies. Beginning with their independent research projects in the classroom, students collaborate in small teams in the tech center to build and program the team’s animal robot with backgrounds to display the habitat and adaptation information.

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 10

CARDINAL RITTER

EDUCATION

CARDINAL RITTER cardinal ritter C O L L E G E Pprep REP college

COLLEGE PREP

Aspiring, Inspiring..

Empowered by Life!

Over $4.7 million in scholarships awarded to graduates

OPEN HOU SE Sunday, N ovember 8 th Noon - 4:0 0 p.m.

Scholarships and tuition assistance still available 11 state sports championships

3 1 4 .

4 4 6 .

5 5 2 4 701 NORTH SPRING AVE. SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108 W W W . C A R D I N A L R I TTE R P R E P. O R G

5 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS

2015

CATHOLIC

High School Nights

High School Nights provide students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade and their parents an opportunity to hear from representatives of the Catholic high schools about their programs and policies.

All High School Nights begin promptly at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, September 8 -- Ursuline Academy

(Sappington Road three blocks north of Big Bend; parking on rear lot off East Monroe)

Elementary Schools Invited Parish PSRs Invited High Schools Presenting Bishop DuBourg ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Holy Cross Academy Annunciation Parish PSR Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Incarnate Word ~ Kennedy - Annunciation Campus Holy Redeemer Parish PSR Catholic ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Holy Redeemer School Mary, Queen of Peace Parish PSR Rosati-Kain ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s Mary, Queen of Peace School Our Lady of Providence Parish PSR ~St. Louis Priory ~SLUH ~ St. Mary’s ~St. St. Bridget of Kildare School St. Bridget of Kildare Parish PSR Pius X ~ Ursuline ~ Villa Duchesne and Oak St. Dominic Savio School St. Dominic Savio Parish PSR Hill ~Visitation

Thursday, September 10 -- St. Mary’s High School

(South Grand Boulevard, just north of Delor Street; parking on lot in front of school)

Elementary Schools Invited Our Lady of Sorrows School St. Cecilia School St. Gabriel the Archangel School St. Joan of Arc School St. Mark School St. Raphael the Archangel School St. Stephen Protomartyr School

Parish PSRs Invited Resurrection of Our Lord Parish PSR St. Andrew Parish PSR St. Anthony of Padua Parish PSR St. Bernadette Parish PSR St. Cecilia Parish PSR St. Mark Parish PSR St. Matthias Parish PSR St. Michael the Archangel Parish PSR South City PSR

High Schools Presenting Bishop DuBourg ~ Cardinal Ritter ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Incarnate Word ~ Kennedy Catholic ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Rosati-Kain ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ St. Louis Priory ~SLUH ~ St. Mary’s ~ Ursuline

Tuesday, September 15 - Visitation Academy

(Ballas Road, south of 40, across from Missouri Baptist Hospital; parking lot on north side of school)

Elementary Schools Invited Annunziata School Ascension School Immacolata School Our Lady of the Pillar School St. Clement School Ste. Genevieve du Bois School St. Gerard Majella School St. Mary Magdalen School St. Monica School St. Peter School

Parish PSRs Invited Church of the Annunziata PSR Ascension Parish PSR Immacolata Parish PSR Our Lady of the Pillar Parish PSR St. Anselm Parish PSR St. Clement Parish PSR Ste. Genevieve du Bois Parish PSR St. Gerard Majella Parish PSR St. Mary Magdalen Parish PSR St. Peter Parish PSR

High Schools Presenting Bishop DuBourg ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Duchesne ~Incarnate Word ~ John F. Kennedy ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Rosati-Kain ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ St. Louis Priory ~ SLUH ~ Ursuline ~ Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill ~ Visitation

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 12

HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS

Thursday, September 17 - Rosati-Kain High School

(Lindell at Newstead; parking on the St. Louis Cathedra Basilica lot, the lot at the corner of Lindell & Taylor, and on neighboring streets)

Elementary Schools Invited Parish PSRs Invited Christ the King School All Saints Parish PSR De La Salle Middle School Immaculate Conception Parish PSR Little Flower School St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish PSR Loyola Academy St. Cronan Parish PSR Marian Middle School St. Francis Xavier Parish PSR Most Holy Trinity School St. Joseph Parish PSR Our Lady of Lourdes School St. Vincent de Paul Parish PSR St. Ambrose School St. Frances Cabrini Academy St. Louis Catholic Academy St. Louis the King School at Cathedral St. Margaret of Scotland School St. Roch School

High Schools Presenting Bishop DuBourg ~Cardinal Ritter ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Incarnate Word ~ Kennedy Catholic ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Rosati-Kain ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ SLUH ~ St. Mary’s ~Trinity ~ Ursuline ~ Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill ~Visitation

Tuesday, September 22 -- St. John Vianney High School

(Lindbergh Blvd. at I-44; parking in front of school, and at the Lutheran Church headquarters lot and the store lot adjacent to the school)

Elementary Schools Invited Parish PSRs Invited Assumption School~Mattese Assumption Parish PSR Holy Child~Arnold Immaculate Conception Parish PSR Our Lady Queen of Peace~ Mary, Mother House Springs of the Church Parish PSR Queen of All Saints School Most Sacred Heart Parish PSR Sacred Heart School~Eureka Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish PSR St. Catherine Laboure School Queen of All Saints Parish PSR St. Francis of Assisi School St. Anthony Parish PSR~High Ridge St. James the Greater School St. Catherine Laboure Parish PSR St. Justin the Martyr School St. David Parish PSR St. Margaret Mary Alaqoque School St. Francis of Assisi Parish PSR St. Simon School St. Justin the Martyr Parish PSR

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish PSR

St. Simon Parish PSR

Seven Holy Founders Parish PSR

High Schools Presenting Bishop DuBourg ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Incarnate Word ~ Kennedy Catholic ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Rosati-Kain ~ St. Francis Borgia ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ St. Louis Priory ~ SLUH ~ St. Mary’s ~ St. Pius X ~Ursuline ~ Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill ~Visitation

Thursday, September 24 -- Duchesne High School

(North of Lindenwood College at Elm and Duchesne Drive; parking south and east of main building and south of 310 building)

Elementary Schools Invited Parish PSRs Invited Academy of the Sacred Heart St. Charles Borromeo Parish PSR St. Charles Borromeo School St. Cletus Parish PSR St. Cletus School St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish PSR St. Elizabeth/ St. Peter Parish PSR St. Robert School St. Robert Bellarmine Parish PSR St. Peter School~St. Charles Sts. Joachim & Ann Parish PSR Sts. Joachim & Ann School

13 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

High Schools Presenting Barat ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Duchesne ~Incarnate Word ~ John F. Kennedy ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Rosati-Kain ~ St. Dominic ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ St. Louis Priory ~ SLUH ~ Ursuline ~ Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill ~ Visitation

HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS

Tuesday, September 29 -- John F. Kennedy Catholic High School (Woods Mill Road between Manchester and Clayton; parking on lot in front of school)

Elementary Schools Invited Parish PSRs Invited Christ, Prince of Peace School Christ, Prince of Peace Parish PSR Holy Infant School Holy Infant Parish PSR Incarnate Word School Incarnate Word Parish PSR Sacred Heart School~Valley Park Sacred Heart Parish PSR St. Alban Roe School St. Alban Roe Parish PSR St. Clare of Assisi School St. Clare of Assisi Parish PSR St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf St. Joseph Parish PSR St. Joseph School~Manchester St. Paul Parish PSR St. Paul School~Fenton

High Schools Presenting Barat ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Incarnate Word ~ Kennedy Catholic ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Rosati-Kain ~ St. Francis Borgia ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ St. Louis Priory ~ SLUH ~ St. Mary’s ~ Ursuline ~ Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill ~ Visitation

Thursday, October 1 -- Trinity Catholic High School

(Redman Road between 367 and Bellefontaine; parking in front of school and at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish)

Elementary Schools Invited Parish PSRs Invited High Schools Presenting Bishop DuBourg ~ Cardinal Ritter ~ Academy at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish PSR Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet St. Sabina Holy Spirit Parish PSR ~ Duchesne ~ Incarnate Word ~ John F. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta School Holy Trinity Parish PSR Kennedy ~ Nerinx Hall ~Rosati-Kain ~ St. Christ, Light of the Nations School Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish PSR Holy Spirit School Our Lady of the Presentation Parish PSR John Vianney ~ St. Louis Priory ~ SLUH ~ St. Mary’s ~ Trinity Catholic ~ Ursuline Holy Trinity Catholic School Sacred Heart Parish PSR~Florissant Our Lady of Guadalupe School St. Ferdinand Parish PSR Sacred Heart School~Florissant St. John Bosco Parish PSR St. Angela Merici School St. Martin De Porres Parish PSR St. Ann School St. Norbert Parish PSR St. Ferdinand School St. Sabina Parish PSR St. Norbert School St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School

Tuesday, October 6 -- St. Dominic High School

(70 to O’Fallon exit #217, 1 mile west on North Outer Road to St. Dominic Drive, right one block; parking east and south of school)

Elementary Schools Invited All Saints School~St. Peters Assumption School~O’Fallon Holy Rosary School Immaculate Conception School~Dardenne Immaculate Conception School~Old Monroe Sacred Heart School~Troy St. Alphonsus School St. Joseph School~Cottleville St. Joseph School~Josephville St. Patrick School~Wentzville St. Paul School~St. Paul St. Theodore School

Parish PSRs Invited All Saints Parish PSR Assumption Parish PSR Holy Rosary Parish PSR Immaculate Conception Parish PSR~Dardenne Immaculate Conception Parish PSR~Old Monroe Sacred Heart PSR~Elsberry Sacred Heart PSR~Troy St. Alphonsus Parish PSR St. Barnabas Parish PSR St. Joseph PSR~Cottleville St. Mary PSR~Hawk Point St. Patrick Parish PSR St. Paul Parish PSR

High Schools Presenting Barat ~ Chaminade ~ CBC ~ Cor Jesu ~ De Smet ~ Duchesne ~ Incarnate Word ~ Kennedy Catholic ~ Nerinx Hall ~ Notre Dame ~ Rosati – Kain ~ St. Dominic ~ St. Francis Borgia ~ St. John Vianney ~ St. Joseph’s ~ St. Louis Priory ~ SLUH ~ Ursuline ~Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill ~ Visitation

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 14

SCHOOL BRIEFS

Catholic STARS Students Awarded for Pre-Collegiate Science Research

They came to the University of Missouri–St. Louis as aspiring scientists, and leave as awardwinning researchers.

Nearly 30 high school students in the 2015 Students and Teachers as Research Scientists cohort have snagged an LMI Aerospace Award for Excellence in Research after presenting their research papers to their peers, parents and project mentors.

“Good, solid works approaching that of a starting grad student,” one awards judge remarked.

“I feel like I may have been a bit ‘tough’ because, again, overall, I thought all of the research and accomplishments were outstanding,” said a second judge.

The scientific papers are the end product of six weeks of participating in UMSL’s precollegiate STARS program, which

pairs high school students with prominent area scientists to conduct undergraduate-level research.

UMSL partners with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Confluence Discovery Technologies to offer students a variety of research opportunities.

Other activities include lectures by nationally-known scientists, information sessions about the higher education admissions process, and social events.

In its 28th year, STARS has sent on more than 2,000 students with research experience to top universities. This cohort is likely to follow suit.

An award dinner and program will follow a reception to be held October 19 in the Century Rooms of the Millennium Student Center.

15 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

The students listed below represent Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Included is each winner’s school, the student’s mentor, and the mentor’s institution.

Matthew Braddock, Saint Louis Priory School. “The effectiveness of an educational intervention on Missouri’s K-12 schools’ preparedness for biological events.”

Dr. Terri Rebmann, Saint Louis University.

Liam Harrison, Chaminade College Preparatory School.

“Chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of α-hydroxyallylphosphonates on chiral stationary phases using sequential UV, polarimetric and refractive index detection.” Dr.

Bruce Hamper, University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Haley Stelzer-Monahan, Ursuline Academy. "Content of Marijuana Edibles Videos on YouTube." Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, Washington University.

STARS is sponsored by LMI Aerospace, the Office of the Chancellor at UMSL, SLU, WUSTL, St. Louis Symphony, DuPont Nutrition and Health, Monsanto, Academy of Science of St. Louis, Easter Seals Midwest, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Zoo and University of Missouri–Kansas City.

For more information about the STARS program, contact Ken Mares at 314-516-6155 or maresk@umsl.edu.

SCHOOL BRIEFS

Trinity Catholic High School To Offer $2,000 to All Incoming Freshmen

St. Mary’s High School: Preparing Students for 21st Century Careers

St. Mary’s High School’s goal is to provide valuable knowledge and an educational experience unlike any other that will prepare students for a better career path.

That’s why St. Mary’s implemented Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs for students K-12. St. Mary’s launched PLTW’s Computer Science Program, designed to engage high school students in computational thinking and prepare them for success in one of the fastest-growing career fields.

The need for student development in computer science is clear. The projected number of job openings in 2018 for STEM fields will reach 2.8 million. Of these, approximately 1.4 million jobs will be for computer specialists. Like many other STEM fields, the current supply is not meeting the demand, as computer science career openings outpace students’ skills and interest.

Also, like many other fields, an interest in computer science starts long before a student decides on a major, or even applies to college. According to Valerie Todd, Associate Principal at St. Mary’s, “One of our fastestgrowing clubs is Robotics. Developing a computer science program was the logical next step based on the interests of our students.”

PLTW Computer Science™ includes introductory, foundation and specialty courses in concepts such as computer languages, coding, data mining, cyber security, big data and more. St. Mary’s has implemented a foundation course on Computer Science Applications, (CSA) and in the coming years will offer additional courses to create a three-year program.

“We are giving our students an advantage over their peers when it comes to high school, college and career development, especially in the field of computer science,” said Todd. “We believe the St. Louis business community will see the benefits of PLTW as the pool of highly-skilled workers increases in the regional workforce.” Through PLTW, students have the opportunity to earn college credit and scholarships by completing PLTW courses.

In addition to computer science, St. Mary’s offers several technology courses including Digital Art and Media, Graphic Arts, Video Production, Architectural Design and Animation.

To learn more about St. Mary’s High School, visit www.stmaryshs.com or call 314-481-8400.

Due to the support and generosity of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, Trinity Catholic High School announced in July that it will once again be offering a $2,000 scholarship to all incoming Freshmen for the 2016-2017 school year. The Tuition Scholarship is to “support Trinity Catholic High School” and “honor its commitment to providing the only co-ed, Catholic, secondary education in North County.”

Archbishop Carlson and Trinity President Sr. Karl Mary Winkelmann, S.S.N.D. believe that the Tuition Scholarship will encourage residents of North St. Louis County and the surrounding areas to send their students to Trinity and avoid lengthy or inconvenient transportation to other area schools.

Trinity, a school aimed at “expanding minds and changing lives,” is affording families the opportunity to “invest in a quality education that will transform the lives of their children,” said Sr. Karl Mary Winkelmann.

Kevin McKenna, Director of Advancement at Trinity, explained why the Tuition Scholarship is so important.

“Trinity provides an exceptionally valuable education and experience for its students,” he said, “It is a beacon of light for families in North St. Louis County.”

McKenna went on to add that “Trinity has stood as one of the best alternatives to public education since its founding in 2003. The cost of education and the value of the education received at Trinity means that a higher tuition is necessary.”

The Tuition Scholarship provides families who might not otherwise be able to afford a Catholic Archdiocesan high school tuition to actually manage the cost. “Everyone needs help paying

for education,” said McKenna. “It’s a fact of life.” The $2,000 Scholarship is valid for four years, which could save families wishing to send their children to a Catholic high school up to $8,000.

Trinity offers much more than a run-ofthe-mill Catholic-school experience. Once again, in April, 2014, Trinity received full-accreditation from the North Central Association on Accreditation and School Improvement (a division of AdvancED).

Trinity Catholic High School was formed through a consolidation of three separate North County high schools which includes an overwhelming number of alumni support. Trinity is also well-known for its long history of academic and athletic success—long-time soccer coach, Vince Drake, was recently honored at a St. Louis Football Club match.

Making such a valuable education even slightly more affordable is a great opportunity for all St. Louis families. The Tuition Scholarship breaks down like this: - $1,500 automatically deducted from tuition upon application for the 20162017 school year - An additional $500 deduction if registered by February 18, 2016 - Scholarships are renewable for all four years, for a potential savings of up to $8,000!

For more information, contact: Director of Advancement/Admissions: Kevin McKenna 314-741-1333 ext. 223 or kmckenna@trinitycatholichigh.org President: Sr. Karl Mary Winkelmann, S.S.N.D. 314-741-1333 ext. 266 or srkarlmary@trinitycatholichigh.org

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 16

SCHOOL BRIEFS

St. Frances Cabrini & Holy Trinity Join the St. Louis Mosaic Project

T

he St. Louis Mosaic Project is excited to announce that St. Frances Cabrini Academy and Holy Trinity Catholic School has joined the Mosaic Ambassador School Program.

One of the missions of St. Frances Cabrini and Holy Trinity Catholic School is to nourish a diverse culture and a comfortable learning environment by recruiting students from different countries, ethnic backgrounds, and faith traditions.

This mission aligns with the Mosaic Project’s goal to transform St. Louis into the fastest growing metropolitan area for immigration by 2020. As the Mosaic Project places significant emphasis on building a welcoming community that will attract and retain more foreign-born families and refugees to the region, Ambassador Schools play a vital role in this transformation.

Vin Ko, Program Manager, of the St. Louis Mosaic Project mentions, “The number of communities that are touched by these parishes is astonishing. St. Frances Cabrini is truly having a global impact via local service. They are a testament to how a community can really rally together to celebrate and educate one another about different cultures.”

Vo continues, “Schools like Holy Trinity are making it easier for our international families to settle in our communities.Each of

our Mosaic Ambassador Schools are promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment which has a significant impact on both native born and foreign born families.”

St. Frances Cabrini is a Catholic elementary school named after Mother Cabrini, who was known for her excellent work in cultivating an inclusive atmosphere for foreign-born individuals through education. The school serves eight parishes in a very diverse area of South St. Louis City. The parish communities include members from Vietnam, Belize, Burma, China, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Sudan, Togo, Burundi, Eritrea, Haiti, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Somalia. Services are in English, Polish, Vietnamese and Croatian.

St. Frances Cabrini is already engaging in a list of action items to create an internationally welcoming community for the region. Notably, the school has a diverse student population, which includes 13% African, 24% Hispanic, 9% Asian, and 5% Multi-racial. These students bring many different cultures, languages, and faith traditions to their fellow classmates and faculty.

In regards to faculty, the school has also recruited two bilingual teachers, including one who is an immigrant from Spain. In working to nourish such a welcoming culture in the community through its events and programs, the school has already made strides. For example, the school community

17 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

celebrates ethnic, cultural, religious, and secular holidays together. Furthermore, priests from sponsoring parishes who assist with school functions and activities hail from diverse cultures. In addition, the school works with the English Tutoring Project that provides language acquisition classes for non-English speakers, and has formed extra-curricular activities – such as the Spanish club – to engage students. It is also notable to mention the school’s annual presentation that highlights the contributions of different cultures, such as “Words from the Drum”

by Kunama Mtendaji – singing, dancing, and story-telling using music and dance originating from Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

Holy Trinity Catholic School serves two additional parishes in North County –All Souls, Our Lady of the Presentation and has a strong record of supporting and strengthening its international school community. Holy Trinity currently engages in a number of action items that are aligned with the Mosaic Project’s goals that highlight the influence varying cultures have had on our everyday interactions. Holy Trinity also incorporates the cultural history of Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean into their curriculum. All students, K-8, learn Spanish as a core subject and a Hispanic liaison is provided for families and students After joining the St. Louis Mosaic Project as a partner and an Ambassador School, St. Frances Cabrini Academy will continue to further assist immigrant families and contribute to the Mosaic Project’s mission. The school plans to expand the number of languages spoken and read by the parents of the students. The school has also set a goal to prioritize cultural diversity through the recruitment of new members for the Board of Education, and in its evaluation of candidates for teaching and staff positions. Furthermore, the school will co-market the Mosaic Project’s

initiatives by including information in publications and on the school website, and by sharing materials with families.

Moving forward, Holy Trinity will begin a “Madrinas Program” as a mentorship program for students.

Holy Trinity’s student body, 30% of which come from Hispanic heritage, will have access to a full time English Tutoring Project that will accommodate those in need of English language acquisition.

In addition to offering a broader range of services to their student body, Holy Trinity plans to increase the bilingual representation of its teaching staff to accommodate a variety of languages.

v

About the St. Louis Mosaic Project:

The St. Louis Mosaic Project was launched in 2012 in response to an economic impact report, outlining St. Louis to be lagging in immigrant growth as well as highlighting the economic benefits of increasing its foreignborn population. The Mosaic Project is a regional initiative that is professionally managed by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis and a 22-member committee. Its goal is to transform St. Louis into the fastest growing major metropolitan area for immigration by 2020 and promote regional prosperity through immigration and innovation. Learn more at www.stlmosaicproject.org.

SCHOOL BRIEFS

St. James the Greater Students Are Going Global

“N

í hǎo, lǎoshī,” students say as they begin a new school

year.

The 2015-16 school year marks the fifth year of Chinese language instruction for K-8 students at St. James the Greater Catholic School. Weekly Chinese language classes reflect St. James the Greater’s ongoing commitment to preparing students to succeed in a multilingual and multicultural global society. The language instructors hope to inspire the love of learning and reading Chinese in their students through a variety of fun, interactive activities.

The Chinese foreign language classes at St. James the Greater are staffed by native Chinese instructors who are affiliated with the Confucius Institute at Webster University. The Confucius Institute is a cooperative project between Webster University, Beijing Language and Culture University, and HANBAN, China’s national office for teaching Chinese language.

The focus of the Chinese program is to introduce students to both the Mandarin Chinese language and Chinese culture.

Students study basic, practical vocabulary, grammar, culture, and pronunciation. The course also helps students build basic speaking and listening skills, while

introducing Chinese characters, and elements of Chinese culture including food, calligraphy, poetry, music, movies, and crafts.

Students learn best when given the opportunity to use their new language to communicate in a meaningful, realistic context. As we live in a digital age, St. James the Greater believes that language instruction should be enhanced with technology. Through the use of a Smartboard, Chromebooks, and iPad minis, St. James the Greater breaks the constraints of the physical classroom, and further engages and immerses the students in Chinese.

The Confucius Institute at Webster University hosts an annual “Happy Chinese Competition” for college,high school, and middle school students that includes a Chinese language and talent show.

During the 2014-15 competition, St. James the Greater’s 8th grade class won 2nd place in the arts performance category! St. James the Greater’s spiritual theme for the school year is “We were made to thrive!” Part of that is preparing children for a global workforce.

St. James the Greater is proud to be one of the very few grade schools in the St. Louis area to offer Chinese language instruction.

ī” h s o ǎ l í hǎo,

“N

v

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 18

THE ARTS

From the Director’s

CHAIR

by Ken Lederle Director of Fine Arts Catholic Education Center

A

s Director of Fine Arts for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, I believe that experiencing and appreciating a wide range of art forms is important to the development of all of our students. I advocate for strongmusic, visual art, and theater programs in our schools. I also encourage our schools to invite artists into their schools, and to take field trips to visit artists in order to see, learn and experience the artsfirsthand. Hearing a recording of the St. Louis Symphony, or looking at a picture of Monet’sWater Lilies is nice, but one cannot completely appreciate the imagination, excitement and the amount of work that goes into creating a masterpiece unless seeing and experiencing it live and in person! No matter the number of times St. Louis Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah or The MUNY performs Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, audiences continue to return, taking back with them a new experience.

Every time someone hears a composition or sees a show, there

is always something new in the creation to discover!

The arts should be enjoyed by students both in and outside the classroom. Sharing art experiences with family and friends outside of the classroom –and all year long – helps students build a stronger connection to the arts. There are many opportunities for students of all ages to encounter art throughout St. Louis!

One if the best places to experience art is in the great outdoors. St. Louis is blessed to have many memorable outdoor sculptures, including Apotheosis of St. Louis (the famous statue located in front of the St. Louis Art Museum that depicts King Louis IX of France mounted on a horse) and The Gateway Arch designed by architect Eero Saarinen. But did you know of the other numerous parks that feature sculptures families can enjoy exploring this fall?

Laumeier Sculpture Park, located in St. Louis County, is a 105-acre park that features walking trails and 60 modern sculptures.

While Tony Tassett’s 2007 Eye,

19 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

a giant blue fiberglass eyeball, might be easy tofind as you enter the park, most of the sculptures are hidden in the woods along the walking paths. Your family will have fun discovering the art throughout the park!

City Garden, located in downtown St. Louis, offers six rain gardens, a 102-foot fountain spray plaza and a 180-foot long pool in which children can play. Visitors can explore – and touch!— 24 different sculptures and even climb into Igor Mitoraj’s Eros Bendato, a large, hollow bronze head lying on its side. City Garden’s website offers a downloadable app that gives visitors information on the artwork as theyexplore the park.

Serra Sculpture Park can be found near City Garden. This park features one piece of art: Richard Serra’s Twain. The series of eight metal walls created quite a stir when it was first installed, and continues to intrigue many to this day.

The new Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden at the St. Louis Art Museum showcases the Museum’s strong

international collection of 20th-century and contemporary sculptures. The garden consists of walking paths and more than 400 trees arranged to create “rooms” to reflect the design of the new wing of the Art Museum.

At the corner of Grand and Lindell on the campus of Saint Louis University sits the Ellen Clark Sculpture Park. This unique sculpture park includes large, brightly-colored modernist sculptures and also serves asa dog park for the university. The works on display were created by local artist Bro. Melvin Meyer, S.M. Brother Mel, as he was affectionately known, was a Marianist who lived in community at Vianney High School until his death in 2013, and created artwork now found both in St. Louis and around the country.

Saint Louis University also maintains the Henry Lay Sculpture Park in Louisiana, Missouri. The park comprises approximately 20 acres, and its well-maintained path takes visitors through a maple grove, a cemetery and past many sculptures by artists

THE ARTS

that include Wendy Klemperer, Devin Laurence Field, and Bing Cheng. The park also includes a children’s garden that features sculptures representing classic children’s stories, including Alice in Wonderland.

The Missouri Botanical Gardens displays 50 of the most distinctive examples of garden art in the country. The objective of exhibiting sculpture in the garden is to exhibit sculpture in a variety of landscapes for the best advantage of art, garden and beholder. The garden’s many distinctive pieces include a number of blown-glass sculptures by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.

Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis City has many examples of artwork. In addition to its artistic pavilions of many styles, the park includes full-sized sculptures of

such figures as Shakespeare and Christopher Columbus and busts of famous composers including Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner.

Climbing and exploring a sculpture is encouraged at Turtle Park, located on the opposite side of Hwy. 64 from the St. Louis

Zoo’s main entrance. The park includes seven gigantic turtles, snakes, and a nest of eggs – all created in concrete. The turtles range in size from 7 to 40 feet and represent species native to Missouri. The turtles and snakes were created by Robert Cassilly, the creator of City Museum.

The above is just a sampling of the sculpture parks and public art displays found in St. Louis. The Regional Art Council has created a website to highlight most of sculptures and public art found in St.Louis at http://racstl.org/ experience-art/public-art/.

Art can be found everywhere!

Gather up the family and set out on a unique outing of exploring outdoorsculptures and public art together!

v

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 20

Under pressure BACK TO SCHOOL

by Ginny Graves Parent & Child

M

arla Booth* thought she was giving her daughter Madison a leg up by sending her to a well-regarded private school. But instead of coming home every day filled with excitement about what she was learning, her third-grader would dissolve into tears as she faced up to three hours of homework each night.

It took time for the St. Louis, MO, mom to realize it, but the school’s celebrated focus on exceeding standards wasn’t helping her daughter get ahead — rather, it was making her ill. “Madison’s problems stemmed from anxiety,” Booth can today admit.

An Epidemic of Fear?

All kids have their share of concerns. “To a certain extent, anxiety is a normal part of development,” says Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D., a clinical pediatric psychologist at the Mayo Clinic. Some fears, like the ones preschoolers have of monsters, crop up so predictably that they’re considered milestones.

But Madison is one of a growing number of kids who are grappling with more serious forms of anxiety that, left unchecked, can have lasting effects, both emotionally and biologically.

“So many children are now experiencing levels of stress that come close to meeting the criteria

21 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

for an anxiety disorder,” says Tamar E. Chansky, Ph.D., author of Freeing Your Child From Anxiety.

Meanwhile, nearly 20 percent of kids have actually been diagnosed with one — everything from minor phobias, like a fear of dogs, to generalized anxiety, which is when kids worry about everything that could go wrong. “Ten years ago, it was 13 percent. That’s a big jump in a decade,” she says.

The Trickle-Down Effect

While better detection plays a part in the rising rates of children’s anxiety (pediatricians now know what symptoms to look for in order to diagnose), experts believe that

the numbers also reflect a general societal shift. In other words, adults are stressed, too — and our kids are feeling our pain. “Anxiety has become a way of life, and it’s contagious,” says Madeline Levine, Ph.D., author of Teach Your Children Well.

The weak economy is one pervasive source of stress to families. In tough times, insecurity over money and jobs can unnerve even the steadiest households.

Teachers add tension, too, especially during state-wide testing season. Because the results can determine a school’s funding, it’s no surprise that a culture of anxiety springs up around these exams and spills over to the students.

BACK TO SCHOOL “Doing well in school is a good thing, but when second-graders are so afraid that they freeze up during their math test, something has gone very wrong,” says Chansky.

Anxious parents can also increase kids’ stress by being overprotective or over-controlling, which sends children the message that they’re not capable of handling things on their own. “When your fourth-grader forgets his homework, do you call the teacher or let him handle the situation?”

Levine asks. “At that age, a child can explain it to the teacher on his own. It’s a learning experience.”

Even parents’ well-meaning efforts to make sure kids excel can leave them “so overscheduled that they have little time to just play,” something that’s critical for maintaining emotional balance, adds Levine. Instead of feeling prepared for the school day, kids may end up feeling scared, as Madison did.

Over time, such fear doesn’t just take an emotional toll, it affects children biologically, which can have serious long-term consequences. Studies show that the stress hormone cortisol, which floods the body during periods of anxiety, shrinks the brain over time, reducing a kid’s ability to cope.

And because anxious kids are often too caught up in their thoughts to concentrate, they tend to struggle in school.

A Problem, Solved

Fortunately, even in an anxious era, parents haven’t doomed their kids to a life of stress. Thanks to more effective therapies, anxiety is more treatable than ever — and awareness is increasing, which means parents and doctors are now better prepared to quickly decode its sneakier signs and take action before those worries begin to spiral out of control.

That’s exactly what Booth did.

After months of anguish, she ultimately made the tough decision to pull her daughter out of private school. A less pressure-filled environment, it turns out, was key to raising a star student. Today, “Madison says she loves school again,” Booth happily reports.

How to Spot Signs of Anxiety

Sometimes anxiety doesn’t look like anxiety at all. Symptoms of serious stress can be both behavioral and physical. In little kids, panic often erupts into tantrums. Older kids may act out, using aggressiveness as a way to cover up a fear of being judged by classmates. Physical symptoms can include restlessness, fatigue, back pain, sweating, and — most commonly — head- and stomachaches.

When 4-year-old Lucas Fonovich started melting down every time anyone mentioned visiting Grandma, his mom, Nicole, was mystified: They’d been traveling on planes since he was a baby. She and her husband did some digging, and eventually, “we realized he was afraid of the plane going too fast,” recalls the Chandler, AZ, mom. They read books and talked up the joys of travel. As they boarded their next flight, the pilot overheard Lucas mentioning his concerns and invited him to sit in the cockpit.

“The pilot explained that he only went fast at takeoff,” says Fonovich. “Lucas hasn’t been afraid to fly since.”

When to Go to the Pros

If anxiety prevents kids from going to school and making friends, it’s time to see an expert, says Rachel Busman, Psy.D., a therapist in New York City.

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which replaces negative thoughts with targeted coping strategies, is typically the first line of treatment. But when a child is so anxious she can’t focus on the therapy, clinicians may also turn to medication.

Eight-year-old Grace Cohen* was born cautious — slow to try new activities or play with new kids, says her mom, Dina, of Scarsdale, NY. But when Grace started school, her natural reserve morphed into something more concerning. First, she became so afraid of dogs she’d do anything to avoid one. Then her fears multiplied: separation anxiety, “mean” friends, bees. “By second grade, the teacher was pulling her off my body when I dropped her

off in the morning,” Cohen recalls.

That’s when she took her daughter for an evaluation. For Grace, the combination of an antidepressant and CBT was a game-changer.

Within months, “people commented how Grace seemed happier and

more relaxed,” says Cohen. “Now, Grace is learning to face her fears and that is giving her confidence in every aspect of her life.” * Names have been changed.

(continued on page 23)

Learn more about

John F. Kennedy Catholic High School September 29th-High School Night November 8th-Open House Schedule a Shadow Visit!

8th graders can shadow anytime 7th graders can start shadowing February 2016

(636) 227-5900 Visit www.kennedycatholic.net

This is Home.

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 22

BACK TO SCHOOL

(continued from page 22 Anxious Behavior:

What's Normal and What's Not It’s perfectly okay when kids . . . * worry about an upcoming test * want to be tucked in at night * hang back for the first halfhour of a party * keep an eye out for bees or dogs It’s a red flag when they . . . * vomit, lose sleep, or cry from stress * wind up in your bed every night * refuse to go to parties or leave your side * need to be coaxed outside because they’re afraid of being stung or attacked

Helping Your Child Cope

These long-term strategies teach kids that things aren’t as scary as they seem.

1. Keep calm. Overreacting spooks kids even more, so take the long view: “If you don’t give kids the chance to confront their fears, they’ll be anxious every time there’s a challenge,” says Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic.

2. Be empathetic. Explain that anxiety is normal, and share your story: “When I was a kid, I was terrified of tests. But I learned that the best way to get rid of my fear was to face it.” Then, help him do it. Say, “I see you’re scared about going to school.

I’ll hold you, then walk into class with you,” says Lawrence Cohen, Ph.D., author of The Opposite of Worry.

3. Take small steps. Break down challenges so they’re more manageable. “If your child is afraid to sleep alone, check in every few minutes before she nods off, slowly extending the time between check-ins

over days or weeks,” advises Whiteside. This method, known as gradual supportive exposure, is one of the best ways to extinguish a specific fear.

6 Anxiety Soothers to Try Now 1. Have your kid tense and relax each muscle group, working up from the toes.

Why it works: Your child releases tension, and when the body relaxes, the brain does, too.

2. Tell your child to pay attention to the noises around him until he hears five different sounds.

Why it works: Focusing his thoughts helps your child stay in the moment rather than worry about the future.

3. Grade-schoolers can write down (or dictate) their fears and stash them in a shoebox.

Why it works: Writing worries helps minimize them and gives kids permission to let ’em go.

4. Tell your child to remember a time he faced a scary situation and overcame it or learned something hard.

Why it works: Picturing a previous success makes anyone feel more confident.

5. Tell your kid to pretend she’s holding a slice of pizza. Have her inhale the aroma by breathing in deeply through the nose and cool the pizza by blowing out through the mouth.

Why it works: Focused breathing sends the brain a message that it’s time to relax.

6. Download some anti-anxiety apps. Try the Meditation Jar (iTunes, free). Set the timer, shake the phone, and watch the particles settle.

Why it works: This app gives kids something to gaze at as they quiet down (or breathe).

v

How to Create a Stress-Free Study Space Make sure to include these 10 things in your child's homework and study space to make it productive and comfortable.

Most kids do homework whenever and wherever: On the sidelines at soccer practice, in the car, or in front of the TV. But the right atmosphere can make all the difference in how much information your child retains. See how you can transform your den or basement — or kitchen table! — into a smarter learning environment.

by Sharon Duke Estroff

Bulletin Board Select the schoolwork that makes your child proud. Add encouraging notes to remind him of all he can do.

Seating Some kids work best in an upright chair, but others get antsy. If yours likes sprawling out on a rug, get him a mobile writing surface.

Window Studies show that daylight can boost work habits. Set up the desk near a window and opt for fullspectrum bulbs.

Water Bottle Cognitive function can drop 10 percent when kids are dehydrated.

Keep a no-spill water bottle within arm’s reach.

Clock Give each assignment a flexible time limit, and work in some 10-minute breaks to keep kids from going too stir-crazy.

Organizer All kids do better when their work space is neat. Stock supplies in a handy desktop caddy for a clutterfree desk.

23 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

CD Player Background music can boost productivity. But these perks only apply with classical or instrumental music — pop tunes distract.

T

AB

Snacks A mix of protein, fat, and carbs will power kids through study sessions.

Serve healthy foods like apple slices with nut butter

Duchesne High School

Virtus et

Scientia

24

Fidget Toys Calm jitters with balls (or stuffed animals) your child can squeeze while he works. Tuck them into a drawer when not in use.

ES

Calendar Pencil in tests and block out study times. Break down projects into manageable chunks and highlight due dates.

9 LISHED 1

mind, body, and spirit

Tuition frozen for the 2016 - 2017 school year!

Come visit us! duchesne-hs.org/shadow 2550 Elm Street | St. Charles, MO 63301 | (636) 946-6767 | Duchesne-hs.org

BACK TO SCHOOL

7 Things to Do Before Reading (and Any Other) Homework

Creating a homework-friendly home is a great way to sidestep some of the big obstacles parents and children face with homework. Try these 7 tips to get started: 1. Feed your child's tummy and brain. I am dutiful about making sure my son is sent off to school with a good (some days only OK) breakfast because I know how important a full belly is for learning. After school a full belly is important too and not one filled only with sugary pantry items. A hungry child or one crashing from too much sugar is not a child eager to do his or her homework without a struggle.

2. Allow lots of fresh air and play time first, but no screens. After a long day at school many children need time to unwind. I have found that by allowing a lot of play time but absolutely zero screen time

my son will play more, and get to his homework without struggle because he's had a much needed break from learning. Often my son will go straight for his homework to get it out of the way but on days when he doesn't the only rule that is not negotiable is zero screens before homework.

a special room, just a spot that your child uses every day. Have everything your children might need within arm's reach so that when they are ready to sit down and do homework they don't start wandering about and getting distracted by everything else that is not their homework.

3. Have a designated place for all school things. No need for it to be fancy, the same spot by the door is perfect. Your child needs to be to be able to find the homework that needs to be done easily when it's time to get to work.

5. Clear your schedule if possible.

Be available when they are doing their homework. You may need to be right there next to your kids helping, or nearby in case an issue pops up but try your best not to be unable to help if they need it.

4. Have a designated place for doing homework. No need for

6. Stay calm so your child will too. If your child has hit a

roadblock attack the issue as a team. If you are frustrated, that will make the whole situation worse.

Homework is something many children have daily and keeping the experience as pleasant as possible will help make this daily activity smooth sailing.

7. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. Cranky kids are often tired or hungry. If you have given them a good healthy snack and they are still cranky, the next step is to take a good look at their sleep. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention school-aged children need at least 10 hours of sleep each night. Your child may need even more.

Teachers' Tips for Keeping in Touch Connect to your child’s classroom.

you might need to discuss with his teacher. Start a conversation with "What was your favorite activity today?" instead of "How was school today?" to avoid vague answers.

Want to give your child the best experience possible? Team up with her teacher! Don't be discouraged from coming into class because "you're not educated enough" or because you don't feel you have anything to contribute — your child's teacher would love to strengthen the bond between school and home. How do you strengthen that bond? Read on for teachers' tips.

Talk to your child every day about school — it's a great way to find out what he's learning and to identify potential problems that

Read everything that comes home. Most teachers send daily or weekly newsletters with info about class projects and field trips and requests for parent volunteers. But it's easy for your child to forget to pass them on to you, so check her backpack regularly, and find out if there's a particular day of the week when your teacher sends flyers home.

Communicate. Send a note or schedule a conference at the beginning of the year, and let your child's teacher know about anything unusual that's going on in your child's life that might affect him at school — from crises like illness and divorce to less drastic changes,

like a grandmother moving in or a mother getting a new job. Mention any medication your child uses, even if he doesn't take it at school.

But don't take problems to the principal unless you've already talked to your child's teacher.

Be a cheerleader! Don't just focus on problem areas — let your child's teacher know about his strengths too. You'll help her to think of new ways to engage him.

Respect the schedule. When there's an emergency, don't hesitate to call the school at any time. For more routine matters, it's smart to find out early in the year when the best times are to contact teachers.

Ask at back-to-school night, or send a note or email in the first week.

Spend time in the classroom.

Not only are parent volunteers "worth their weight in gold" to

teachers, paying regular visits to the classroom is also a great way for you to learn about your child's experience firsthand. Offer to tutor individual students or help with special projects. You can also chaperone on field trips, give a talk on your career or your cultural background, or teach the class how to make a special dish or art project.

Bring learning home. Find ways to relate everyday activities at home to concepts your child is learning in school. For instance, explain percentages at breakfast using the nutritional info on the back of cereal boxes, or talk about the fat content of skim versus twopercent milk.

Don't be afraid. Your child's teacher wants to hear from you. Of all people, teachers understand that there's no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away!

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 24

EDUCATION

25 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 26

BACK TO SCHOOL

Really Getting Ready for Back to School

by Sam Thomeczek Wendling with Special Solutions

“B

ack to School.” It is a phrase that strikes fear in the hearts of many parents and students alike. Its mere mention can send you reeling through nightmares of school supplies, rushed mornings and screaming children. Use these tips to control the chaos and combat the craziness before the school year even starts.

Create Healthy Habits

Between classroom germs, adapting to new schedules, and the back-to-school rush, this time of year can often leave us feeling less than our best. To keep your family in tip-top-shape, it is important to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. Plan ahead with easy-toprepare weeknight meals so you don’t get sucked in by the fast food temptation. Beth Wendling, mother of five, and former elementary school principal, recommends

having healthy, easy-to-grab snacks on hand for hungry kids and parents. An easy, affordable, and shelf-stable snack we love: Trail Mix Popcorn. Pop a big batch of popcorn and mix in various nuts and dried fruit. Store in individual portions for on-the-go munching.

Find a Routine

Having a routine can make even the busiest of families feel calm and composed, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. What is important is consistency, so find what works for you and stick to it. Be sure to include homework time--both when and where it’ll happen, bedtime, and family time.

And don’t forget to exercise! Daily exercise can help improve focus and stomp out stress, according to P.E. teacher and basketball coach, Drew Widaman. An evening walk is the perfect time for a family to

27 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

bond, chat about the day, and beat the heat.

Before the school year starts, take a few weeks to ease into and “practice” your family routine. “It can be difficult to get back into the swing of things after the summer,” advises Toby Thomeczek, Special Education professional and mother of two. Plan a few all-day outings, pack a lunch, and get used to the schedule--especially waking up early.This is also a great time to get a leg up on organization.

Color code notebooks and folders, designate a space for paperwork to travel to and from school, and start, or reinforce, the life-long habit of using a planner.

Make Technology Work for You Nothing can put a damper on an evening like a battle over the computer. Or TV. Or the

smartphone. Put limits on screen time, which is a real time zapper, and turn off all electronics at least 20 minutes before bedtime.

This calming evening ritual also provides a perfect opportunity for reading or praying together as a family.

Not all technology is a time-waster, though. Put your smartphone or tablet to work to tame the chaos of the year with a few useful apps. Use a timer to intersperse homework with muchneeded breaks; try Cozi Family or Google Drive to create to-dos and grocery lists that the whole family can access from anywhere; increase your studying efficiency and fun by using digital flashcards with Cram, Quizlet or StudyBlue.

Communication is Key

The best way to tackle common school problems, from bullying to grades to learning difficulties, is to

BACK TO SCHOOL stop them before they start. Regular communication between parents, students, and teachers is absolutely crucial to having a successful year.

Be sure to check teacher websites and grades often by including those tasks in your homework routine.

Don’t wait until a problem becomes serious to address it. By keeping up with class news and grades throughout the year, you can email the teacher the moment a concern arises.

Communication between parents and kids is just as important for your relationship as it is for student success. How can you maintain a positive family environment while also ensuring homework gets done? “Take a little time each evening to talk ABOUT school, homework, and other kids--not to nag about getting it done,” suggests Jim Thomeczek, former high school English teacher and father of five. Talking about the

little, everyday things provides steady lines of communication where kids will feel comfortable discussing more challenging issues that might otherwise go unspoken.

JoAnne Levy, mother of fiveMO, recommends asking open-ended questions like, “Who did you eat lunch with today?” to avoid yes

or no answers, and to get even the quietest of teenagers talking.

Let Go and Let God

Calm your nerves and feed your spirit by adding both family and personal prayer time to your routine. Taking a few moments to reflect on the day and name something for which to be

grateful is an amazing practice of mindfulness that is as feasible and helpful for toddlers as it is for adults.

At the end of the day, no matter how prepared we are, there will still be situations beyond our control. Erin Rataj, a fifth-grade teacher and mother of three, suggests, “starting the school year with lots of positive energy and getting in the mindset that it will be a great year.” When challenges do pop up, you will be much more able to handle them with grace if you have a positive outlook from the start.

Remember, this is a time of many transitions that will allow and enable you and your children to grow. Learn from the challenges, enjoy the experiences, and know that you are prepared to handle all that the upcoming year has to throw your way.

v

Samantha Wendling is an Academic Coach with Special Solutions, a private learning center that addresses student needs to create more success with less family stress.

Work in both education and ministry, along with raising her son, has given her an opportunity to relate with young people from many perspectives. Sam also authors a blog to provide health and fitness tips, as well as to share teachable moments from everyday adventures of her family.

More Success with Less Family Stress For the Parents of College-Bound Children with Academic Challenges

Standardized Test Prep Tutoring

ADHD Coaching

Social Skills

ACT/SAT Prep

Advocacy

Assessment

College Advising Special Solutions Private Learning Center

9225 Manchester Rd Suite 100 St. Louis, MO 63144

314-475-5035 SpecialSolutions.com CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 28

Surviving the Storm TEEN TALK

by Xavier Ludwig SLUH ‘17

“The footsteps in the sand are there if we have the courage and the faith to turn around and seek them.”

T

here are times in our lives as teenagers that we may come to a crossroad. We must choose the path of either right or wrong—to take the easy path or the more difficult. No one seems to understand what we are going through. How could they, and still find it possible to breathe?

We feel that parents’ and teachers’ only options are to either talk it through, or completely ignore the changes that ultimately affect every teenager, not remembering what they went through when there were once our age.

We refuse to talk about the things that confuse us, that frighten us, that take over like a meteor slamming into Earth. We do not want our friends to think any less of us, so confiding in them is definitely out of the question.

Ultimately, we are alone, with nowhere else to turn, no one else to listen.

Or so we think…

This summer there was a rash of teenage suicides in my home county in Southern Illinois--five within two weeks. One boy, a few years older than I, was a family friend. He was popular, an incredible athlete, and lit up the room whenever he walked in.

No one knows why he, or any of the others, for that matter, chose to take his own life, but he left a lot of people hurting and with questions…including me.

Unfortunately, when I left Southern Illinois, I also left my old life behind. My friends were replaced by new ones at my high school. Every now and then, I think back to that old life, and how far I have come since then. I will always regret that decision. Maybe I could have been the one person that could have helped my friend. .

Those of you who know my father know that he is a religious person, a good person, and a great father. He has given me the option

29 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

to seek my own truths and find my own path. He has spent countless dollars to send me to private religious schools, and countless hours helping me read and study the scripture that I must learn to attend those schools. And through these scriptures I have found that my faith is what carries me through the hard times, and has helped me face the challenges that every teenager must face one time or another, and God willing, the challenges ahead.

I wish my friend would have reached out to me, to anyone, before he made his fatal decision. I could have told him that every time that we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge; we look up and are reminded that our capacity may well be limitless, that through faith and friendship, no mountain is insurmountable, and no challenge is too heavy of a burden. Through our love of God, and his love of us, we are never alone. The footsteps in the sand are there if we have the courage and the faith to turn around and seek them.

My father has taught me that life is a storm. One minute you can swim in the sunlight and soak in the sun, and the next be crashing against the rocks with the full force of a hurricane. It is the decisions that we make within that storm that define us, that will ultimately make us stronger, or allow us to surrender to the storm and drown. I am lucky.

I have a father and family that

support me and love me no matter what decisions I make, and the faith in God that I know will help me make the right decision.

But there are many of you teenagers that are at that crossroads right now as you read this, and I hope you will listen to me. No matter the circumstances, there is no reason at all to take a drastic step to end the one thing that is more precious than anything in the world. God’s greatest gift to all to us is life, and it is our gift back to God to live that life by following the path that He has laid out for us.

Most importantly, it is our gift to Him and the world to just choose life.

Before you make that step down one path or the other, please seek out a friend, a parent, a teacher, or priest to talk to. Sometimes, just talking to a complete stranger who is trained in helping teenagers get through times like what you are experiencing, what every teenager experiences, is the best call.

Chances are that if they are not going through the same challenges you are at that moment, they have already faced the storm, and came through it. Please remember that you are not alone, and whatever the challenges you face, you never will be.

And please know this: no matter how hard we may think the storm is, there is always tomorrow when the sun will once again shine.

v

Teen depression signs and symptoms include changes in your teen's emotions and behavior, such as the examples below.

Emotional changes

Be alert for emotional changes, such as: *Feelings of sadness, which can include crying spells for no apparent reason *Irritability, frustration or feelings of anger, even over small matters *Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities *Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends *Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism *Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, and the need for excessive reassurance *Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things *Ongoing sense that life and the future are grim and bleak *Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide

Behavioral changes

Watch for changes in behavior, such as: *Tiredness and loss of energy *Insomnia or sleeping too much *Changes in appetite, such as decreased appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain Use of alcohol or drugs *Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, handwringing or an inability to sit still *Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements *Frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches, which may include frequent visits to the school nurse *Poor school performance or frequent absences from school *Neglected appearance — such as mismatched clothes and unkempt hair *Disruptive or risky behavior Self-harm, such as cutting, burning, or excessive piercing or tattooing

What's normal and what's not

if life

It can be difficult to tell the difference between ups and downs that are just part of being a teenager and teen depression. Talk with your teen.

Try to determine whether he or she seems capable of managing challenging feelings, or seems overwhelming.

If depression symptoms continue or begin to interfere in your teen's life, talk to a doctor or a mental health professional trained to work with adolescents. Your teen's family doctor or pediatrician is a good place to start. Or your teen's school may recommend someone. Here are a few suggestions.

1-888-644-5886

KUTO is dedicated to providing youth-focused programming throughout the greater St. Louis area. Our crisis prevention, suicide intervention and postvention support services include community awareness, outreach and education; a youth-staffed telephone hotline; Peer Helper Skills Training; and support for survivors of a completed suicide.

Our philosophy is simple; KUTO is teens helping teens help themselves.

1-800-273-8255

No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

314-952-8274

If you, a friend or a family member are experiencing signs of self-injury, bullying, explosive anger, depression, anxiety, and/or signs of suicidal thoughts/ actions, there is hope and help.

The staff at CHADS provides professional licensed counseling services, telephone support and more at NO COST to you or your family.

800DONTCUT CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 30

TEEN TALK

by Father Augustine Wetta Sarabites are the absolute worst kind of monks. Living without a shepherd, they invent their own monastery which isn’t even in the Lord's sheepfold, but in their own.

The gratification of their desires is their law; because what they like they call holy, but what they happen to dislike they call unlawful.

-Chapter 1: The Different Kinds of Monks

There was an old monk in my monastery who used to joke at the start of every Lent that he was going to fast whenever he wasn’t hungry. His point, I think, was that all of us love the rules when they are easy to follow, but make excuses when those rules become difficult. Saint Benedict doesn’t have much patience for this kind of hypocrisy. He utterly despises wannabes—the do-it-yourselfers who make up their own rules as they go—or worse yet, follow only the rules that coincide with what they are already doing. And Jesus wasn’t very patient with this sort of person either. He reserved his very

harshest insults for the Scribes and Pharisees: “...you hypocrites...you blind ones...you brood of vipers... you whitewashed tombs...” (Mt 23:13-36).

Not long ago, one of my students raised his hand and declared pointblank that there was no such thing as sin. I think he was trying to get a rise out of me, but before I could answer, the kid in front of him turned around and said, “So you’re smarter than Jesus?” I couldn’t have put it better myself. Unless you are truly convinced that you are holier and wiser and smarter than the combined resources of the entire Church of Jesus Christ, you might as well concede that your pastor speaks with more authority than you do.

In class a few days later, the same kid raised his hand. When I called on him, he turned around to the rest of the group and said, “I see you guys at parties and on the weekends. You’re no holier than anyone else. At least I’m true to myself.” There’s a part of me that has to admire a kid like this. He certainly had the courage of his convictions, and I congratulated him on that.1 The problem was that he didn’t actually know what his convictions were. After all, anyone can be true to himself. If you want to do something really courageous and admirable, try being true to someone better than yourself—like, say, Jesus.

Tom is in college now, and stirring up just as much trouble there as he stirred up back in high school—except that he discovered he could make much more trouble bydefending Christian doctrine!

1

Father Augustine Wetta is a Benedictine monk and a teacher at the Saint Louis Priory School. He has two degrees in Theology from Oxford University, a BA in Classics from Rice University, and a Masters in English from Middlebury College. He teaches Classics and English, and coaches Rugby. Before joining Saint Louis Abbey, he worked as a professional juggler, a beach lifeguard and as an archaeologist in both Greece and Rome.

He raises carpenter ants, carnivorous plants, and owns one of J.R.R. Tolkein’s scarves. He blogs on the Rule of Saint Benedict for kids (BenedicTEEN.blogspot.com).

31 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

TEEN TALK

To Be A PerfecT PArenT. There are thousands of kids in foster care who will take you just the way you are.

888. 200. 4005

AdoptUSKids.org CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 6

HEALTH MATTERS

I

rritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be hard to diagnose, but painful for millions of Americans, affecting up to 20 percent of people, with women twice as likely as men to have the disorder.

However, while IBS is extremely common, it is one of the more unknown disorders in medicine.

“It is a hugely undiagnosed problem that causes many offices visits, missed days from work and school, and severe pain and discomfort for millions,” says Katie Schroeder, MD, SLUCare gastroenterologist at Saint Louis University Hospital.

As there is no test to diagnose IBS, physicians typically diagnose it after testing for other issues.

Ask the Experts at SLU Hospital “It’s a diagnosis of exclusion,” says Dr. Schroder. “You can’t test the pain thresholds and sensitivity of the gut, so after you rule out things like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or cancer, you can focus on IBS and symptom control.”

IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) is very different from IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) and ng Dr. Schroeder’s area of specialization at Saint Louis University Hospital. “IBD is inflammation of the GI tract and has many specific treatments to treat the inflammation and symptoms,” she says. “IBS also has many treatments, but these treatments are focused on symptom control.”

With IBS, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating and constipation

are symptoms that can come and go and can be triggered by certain factors: * Foods such as dairy, chocolate, high fat foods, alcohol, carbonated beverages, and some vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli * Changes in hormone levels, often due to menstruation * Conditions such as gastroenteritis In addition, emotional stress can worsen symptoms, however, “Stress does not cause IBS, but there is evidence stress can worsen it,” she says.

Those symptoms at times run at opposite ends of the spectrum, and can vary from person to person.

Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions for IBS. It comes down to symptom control and troubleshooting issues that can worsen symptoms.

“Identifying those triggers takes time,” says Dr. Schroeder. “Think ‘What did I eat last night that could have made me feel this way today?’”

Dr. Schroeder advises patients to seek out a gastroenterologist if they have unexplained symptoms, and previous tests have found no serious problems.

“You should talk with your doctor first to decide which one may be best for you,” she says.

For patients seeking information about irritable bowel syndrome, contact the Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases at Saint Louis University Hospital at 314-5776000.

v

Dr. Katie (Roark) Schroeder treats patients with gastrointestinal disorders and has centered her practice around inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. She also specializes in cancer prevention and screening, and performs diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopy, endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.

In addition, Dr. Schroeder treats abdominal pain, GERD, diverticulitis and diverticulosis, diarrhea, lactose intolerance, constipation, and peptic ulcers.

33 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

HEALTH MATTERS

Protecting Our Smiles

by Gene LaBarge, MD

T

here aren't many things in life that are more pleasing than a genuine smile received from someone we respect.

If we think about it, a smile is almost universally a good thing, representing anything from a "pleased to meet you" to "I'm going on vacation and I can't wait." My family and I were smiling a ton last week as we enjoyed a wonderful vacation together.

Unfortunately, we were enjoying ourselves so much that it wasn't until the fourth day of our trip that I caught wind that each of my older children had forgotten a toothbrush, and hadn’t bothered to mention that to my wife or me.

It is hard to protect one's smile without taking care of those teeth.

With my embarrassing experience in mind, I thought it would be an opportune time to remind

ourselves, and our children, of the value of appropriate dental care and oral health.

Dental caries are the most common chronic disease of

childhood. More than half of all children will have dental caries by the time they are between six and eight. They can lead to pain, poor function, being underweight and missing school. Dental caries can develop for many complex reasons, but usually they result from a few specific factors.

One cause of dental caries is the presence of the bacteria that cause them.

The most common of these is Strep mutans, and can be spread directly from a caregiver to a child.

Another factor is carbohydrates, or sugars, which supply the necessary food for the “bad” bacteria. When these two things mix over the course of time, they

increase the level of acidity in the mouth which puts teeth at greater risk for the development of caries.

Bacteria cause the problem, and carbohydrates (especially sugary snacks) and time they are allowed to grow (between brushing) make the potential damage increasingly serious.

So what can we do? Here are a few simple tips, many of which we already know: - Eat healthy - Brush your teeth, twice daily, with fluoridated toothpaste - See your dentist!

v

Gene LaBarge is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and practices at Danis Pediatrics, a primary care clinic at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. He has received 21 years of Catholic education from Holy Redeemer, Saint Louis University High School, Saint Louis University, and the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is married to Anne, and together they are parents of five children, four of whom currently attend St. Peter Catholic School in Kirkwood, MO.

Dental Hygiene Tips For Kids One of the best ways to prevent tooth decay in children is to get them enthusiastic about daily dental hygiene. After all, tooth brushing is probably not at the top of your child’s list of favorite things to do. But you can make it more acceptable – and even fun — by choosing a toothpaste and toothbrush that your child will like and will want to use.

Look for toothpaste with fluoride that’s child-friendly, with flavors and colors that appeal to kids, such as Kid’s Crest.

There are toothpaste choices more appropriate to adult needs as well, so many familiesfind themselves using more than one type of toothpaste.

Knowing how to brush your teeth is just as important as the type of toothpaste you choose. Teach children the proper technique early to help encourage them to develop good oral health habits. Explaining how to brush your teeth doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these simple steps to get kids off to a good start.

* Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums. * Move the brush back and forth gently, in short strokes, over the fronts, backs, and tops of your teeth. Don’t scrub hard along the gum line; you can irritate your gums. * Don’t forget to brush (and floss) behind your top front teeth and behind the bottom front teeth. (The area behind the bottom front teeth is prone to tartar buildup and needs attention.) Use the top bristles of the brush to reach this area— some toothbrushes have a slightly longer tip to make it easier to reach these spots. * More tips can be found at www.oralb.com.

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 34

EATS

Daddy's Cookbook

O

ne day when my son was in elementary school we had to have a little talk.

After the third return trip to his school that month to bring him his forgotten lunchbox, it was then that he confided to me that the cold turkey sandwiches and leftover mac-and-cheese just wasn’t cutting it anymore. He had decided, in the third grade, that he was now old

enough to make his own lunch of what he wanted. As a busy single father, I relented, and thus came his transition into bigboyhood.

The next call from the principal was not quite as fun as the previous. Somehow, Twinkies, potato chips, Skittles, and a bottle of Ski did not make such a big splash with his teacher like it did on his classmates. That

35 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Sunday after Mass we came to a compromise. Yes, you can do such a thing with a fourth grader.

We searched the internet, made dozens of calls to the grandmothers and aunts, and wrote down all of the types of foods that he would endure for lunch, and experimented. After an hour of shopping, and two hours of preparing various recipes, our

kitchen looked like in it had been invaded by either a SWAT team or Sesame Street. BUT, we had somehow planned out the next two week’s lunches with delicious and nutritious foods that even the Principal or Grandma would be proud of.

Daddy’s Cookbook is here to help Wrap up the lunchbox dilemma!

EATS

Savory Ham Wraps

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise • 1 tbsp milk • 3/4 tbspsugar • 1/4 tbsp prepared mu stard • 1/8 tbsp celery seed • Dash salt • 2 flour tortillas (10 inc hes), room temperature

raps W r e t t u B t u Fruity Pean

Peanut Creamy • 1/4 cup Butter oney • 2 tbsp h m water ar w namon • 1 tbsp round cin g sp tb • 1/4

red apple, co unpeeled ll a sm 1 • d and dice ana ripe ban ll a • 1 sm alnuts hopped w • 2 tbsp c ins • ais • 2 tbsp r flour tortillas h) c n -i 0 l until 2 (1 large bow

n in cinnamo ater and w , ey n o h at. utter, ken. stir to co peanut b ld tes to thic uts and raisins; u in la m il 1. Whisk 5 rt . Fo of each to n filling in Let stand anana slices, waln . r te th o n o ce sm wn ,b ghte ed apple ntally do fold to ti p from 2. Adddic it mixture horizo lling against the es. Roll u ch in 2 u fi t fr u g. o sh b u in a P rv . s g la se in il 3. Spoon alf before es of tort e over fill g h g ed ed in t s h m p g o bott and ri Cut wra ld in left se filling. place. Fo tely enclo le p m co bottom to

• 1/4 pound thinly sliced deli ham • 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese • 2/3 cup shredded lett uce • 1 medium tomato, see ded and chopped • 1 green onion, chopp ed

In a small bowl, whisk the first six ingredients; spread evenly over eac tortilla. Layer with ham h and cheese. Top with lett uce, tomato and onion.

Roll up tightly; secure with toothpicks if desired . Yield:2 servings.

Crunchy Salad & Chicken Wrap

* ½ small ripe avocado * 1 tbsp lemon juice * 1 large round flatbre ad * 2-3 butter lettuce lea ves

* 2 oz finely sliced roast chicken (from deli) * ½ cucumber, cut into strips * ¼ small red bell pepper , cut into thin strips

Place avocado and lem on juice in a bowl. Sea son with salt and pepper taste. Mash with a fork to until smooth.

Place flatbread on a boa rd and spread with avo cad o. Top with lettuce leaves, chicken, cucum ber and bell pepper. Fol d over bread to partial enclose filling. Fold in ly sides and roll up bread and form a tight roll. Cu in half, wrap in grease t proof or plastic wrap and pack.

Cheesy Roast Beef Wraps

as * 4 (10-inch) flour tortill ranch * 1/2 cup blue cheese or salad dressing deli * 1/2 pound thinly sliced roast beef

* 1/4 cup chopped onion * 1 cup chopped tomato ad * 2 cups torn mixed sal greens cheese * 8 slices of American

dressing; layer with 2 tablespoons salad a till tor rm wa 1 d rea Sp cup tomato, 1/2 1 tablespoon onion, 1/4 with 2 slices roast beef, slices cheese. cup salad greens and 2 over filling. Roll of tortilla toward center es edg te osi opp two ld Fo toward opposite edge. up open end of tortilla

Wrapping up the

Lunchbox Dilemma

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 36

EATS

Cooking with

Brother Dunstan Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies for the Feast of Saint Edith of Wilton

Ingredients: 1 large egg 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups whole rolled old-fashioned oats 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, or to taste 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3/4 cup bread flour 1 cup golden raisins Directions: Add the butter, egg, brown sugar, vanilla in a bowl and cream the ingredients with mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and beat to incorporate. Mix in the flour. Mix in the raisins. Cover mixture tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate dough for at least two hours. Room temperatures dough will not keep its shape when baked.

Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with parchment,paper or spray with cooking spray. Set aside. Using a medium-sized two-inch cookie scoop form cookies, place dough on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart. Bake for about 14 minutes, or until edges are set and tops have just set. The cookies become firm as they cool.

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a couple minutes before removing. Makes about 15 cookies.

v

Brother Dunstan Holms is a solemnly-professed monk of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri, and author of Br. Dunstan’s Cookbook. He is the chair of the Classical Languages Department at the Saint Louis Priory School, where he teaches Latin at the junior and high school levels. Brother Dunstan enjoys baking, and prepares special desserts for his brethren on their feast days.

37 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

September 16th is the feast of Saint Edith of Wilton, a Benedictine nun of the Anglo-Saxon period. For my Masters Degree, I translated an 11th century Life of Saint Edith by Goscelin of Saint Bertin. Saint Edith was born in 961. She was the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful and the aunt of Saint Edward the Confessor. When she was still an infant, her mother retired to Wilton Abbey and took Edith with her. Edith was raised in the monastery with the nuns. She dedicated herself joyfully to the Lord and devoted herself to prayer and good works. As the daughter of the King, foreign ambassadors visited her and brought her exotic animals as gifts. She cared for these and other animals in a menagerie in the monastery. Edith died at the age of twentythree and remains a compelling witness of holiness. As a bride of Christ, Edith’s Vita borrows beautiful imagery from the Song of Songs. One of the poems inserted into the work says, “Roses, spices and cinnamon blossom in the wedding bower.” In honor of Saint Edith I am offering one of my favorite cookie recipes, which contains cinnamon. The key to this cookie is using bread flour and kosher salt. I prefer King Arthur Bread Flour.

EATS

Fair trade recognizes the DIGNITY OF THE WORK of artisans and farmers and ensures that they earn fair wages.

Fair trade producers CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION by treating the environment with respect.

When you purchase fair trade products, you are standing in SOLIDARITY with the poor and vulnerable. in partnership with

“It is good for people to realize that purchasing is always a moral–and not simply economic–act.”

–Pope Benedict CatholicFamilyOnline.com XVI September 2015

6

DIGITAL PARENTING

N

ow that summer has melted away and our kids are back in school, we find ourselves re-adjusting to school year routines like getting up early, playing taxi for activities and sports, overseeing homework, managing sleepovers and playdates, etc. Let’s face it, back to school isn’t just tough on kids! We have a tremendous responsibility as parents to set our kids up for

DIGITAL PARENTING with Janel

What YOU can do to set them up for digital success this school year... success, and to be involved with their academic and social lives to an appropriate degree. In my world, that “appropriate degree,” when it comes to involvement in my kids’ social lives, if you ask them, should be zero. Because, kids at age 12, 14, and 16 already know everything they need to know, right? A doctor I knew once said this about his teenagers, “The older they get, the dumber I get.”

39 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Given the prevalence of technology and social media in the lives of our kids in this generation, it’s even easier for them to keep us at arm’s length. And, harder for us to keep that door open. So, in the spirit of setting our children up for success this year-digitally-I’ve included 5 key FREE resources that every family should check out below.

COPPA: COPPA is an acronym for the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act established in 1998, and it is what restricts most social media sites from allowing users under the age of 13 to set up an account. This law is there for a reason. Just because a child is technically proficient with phones, tablets and computers does NOT mean they have the social and emotional maturity to

DIGITAL PARENTING handle and manage a social media profile before they are 13. If you are under the impression that “friending” and “following” them solves that problem, you may want to reconsider. So you know their passwords, too. That’s helpful, but how does this keep them from exploring all of the other accounts it is “suggested” they should “follow”—accounts that may expose them to content even most adults wouldn’t want to see—accounts are looking for a 14-year-old who seems to have similar interests to your child. Remember! You are in control here. Think very carefully about how you want to introduce your children to social media. This is a big step that I cannot emphasize enough. The minute your children set up their first accounts online, they started their online resumes that will follow them around permanently!

Digital Backpack (https://www.fosi.org/gooddigital-parenting/fill-your-childsdigital-backpack/) The Family Online Safety Institute just released its Back to School comprehensive set of resources that I love. Why? Because they do an amazing job of segregating these resources for every age group from toddler to college. For each age group (toddler, kids, teens, tweens, college), there is a backpack image to click for a host of links full of invaluable information for parents. Advice, tools, videos and resources—this is a great “‘go to” site every parent should spend a few minutes getting acquainted with to set healthy standards in your home.

Cyberwise.org (http://www.cyberwise.org/) A personal favorite, I recommend that every parent also bookmark this site. It is literally a one-stop shop/clearinghouse for everything you need to know as a parent—or as an educator— to stay informed, and guide your kids to be productive digital citizens. On this site, you’ll find so much more than a blog. There are learning hubs with short tutorials that give parents great inside scoops on popular apps, news from all over the globe as it relates to digital citizenship and cyber safety, information about Cyber Civics curricula for middle schools, workshops for parents and educators, and online courses. Feel like you want to know a little more about the latest app your daughter came home from school talking

about? This is exactly where you’ll find concise, up-to-date information.

CoPilot Family (https://www.copilotfamily.com/) Are you trying to figure out how to manage the time your kids spend on their phones? Have you forgotten the color of their eyes? Are you nervous that you may be more apt to recognize them by the top of their head vs. their faces? You aren’t alone. One of the biggest questions I get is this: “How do I keep my kid from spending all waking hours hovered over his or her device?” The founders at CoPilot Family have this one figured out. The app is free and enables you to essentially use your phone as a sort of remote control for your kids’ phones. Want Instagram to shut down at 8 pm every night? Want to limit access to certain apps on their phones to certain times of day? That’s exactly what CoPilot Family can do—in addition to tracking general phone activity, sending you alerts, and helping you set up rules and guidelines to ensure your kids really aren’t still cruising Twitter or Instagram when they go to bed.

Frienedy (www.frienedy.com) Because it is simply not very likely that all 932 of your child’s followers are also their friends, there are conversations, events, photos and documents that should be contained privately in smaller groups. Kids should have the opportunity to learn social media, and the standards you set, in a safe environment where children under 13 are guided by you, as their parent. Kids should also have a safe, private place to collaborate in study groups, classrooms, sports teams and just groups of friends online—a place where nothing can be shared, re-posted, re-grammed or re-tweeted, and a place where the content they share with all of their different groups stays private and will not follow them around when they are applying for scholarships, college, or a job. That is exactly what Frienedy is designed to do. It is the first private, group networking application suitable for users of all ages, and COPPA compliant!

Special OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 25th 10am-1pm St. Dominic High School will hold a Special Open House on Sunday October 25th from 10am to 1pm.

Come tour the school, meet our students, teachers and parents. The Jazz band, Robotics Team, theater group and many sports teams will be present and performing.

Celebrating over 50 years of quality CatholiC eduCation.

Here’s to a productive, successful school year for all of our kids. Let’s do our best to keep them safe, help them grow, and set them up to achieve their potential!

v

Janel Patterson is the Founder and CEO of Frienedy, the private group networking application that is family-friendly and suitable for users of all ages. Janel is a parent of 3 teenagers and a Catholic school mom at Immaculate Conception in Dardenne. Janel also authors a blog, ElectronicParenting.com, to provide tips, tools and tricks to parenting in the digital era.

St. Dominic HigH ScHool 31 St. Dominic Drive O’Fallon, Mo 63303 636-240-8303 www.stdominichs.org

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 40

ONLINE Homeworkhelp DIGITAL PARENTING

GENERAL HOMEWORK HELP

Hippo Campus: hippocampus.org Over 5,700 free videos in 13 subject areas from math, science, English, and Religion.

Brainfuse Help Now: brainfuse.com KHAN Academy: KhanAcademy.org

Free online tutors in the afternoon for all grades and subjects.

Khan Academy is a nonprofit that aims provide «a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.» The site offers a growing library of high-quality educational videos that can help parents brush up on school subjects or guide their child through homework with evidence and visual aids, which are big concepts in the Common Core. Whether you’re looking for a crash course in world history or biology, or even just basic math concepts, there are nicely paced videos on almost every topic. There are even videos to help kids learn computer programming or prepare for the SAT.

BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper: bjpinchbeck.com

WRITING/ENGLISH EasyBib: easybib.com Whether your child’s paper has to be in MLA or APA style, easy bib will do their citations for them. Just plug in name of the book and what style and EasyBib will do the citation page for them!

Scholastic Homework Hub: scholastic.com/parents Offers tips and techniques for studying, practice quizzes, and research references that will jump-start reports.

SCIENCE National Geographic Kids: kids.nationalgeographic.com Includes extensive coverage of science, geography, history, and more, with articles, maps, photos, and videos.

Cosmeo by Discovery Channel: cosmeo.com Subscribe to this homework tool kit for thousands of educational videos, math tutorials, and online biographies and reference materials. The cool multimedia elements (like interactive games) will help your kids learn while having fun.

Text Jane Doe Photo John Doe 41 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Features a roundup of the best online sources for nearly every school subject, including art, music, foreign languages, math, and current events.

Fact Monster Homework Center: factmonster.com/homework Kids can find literally anything they want to know on this fact-packed site, with entries on everything from Greek and Roman mythology to multiplication tables to world capitals.

Textbook Printers Most textbooks your child uses in class will have an online version with help to study for that specific subject and textbook. The online version may cost a little bit, but it is well worth it. Most have a free version to use as well.

MATH Algebra.com: algebra.com Free tutors online in the afternoon for students taking courses from Pre-Algebra through Geometry/Algebra II.

The Math Forum at Drexel: mathforum.org A project of Drexel University, this site answers your frequently asked number conundrums and includes an archive organized by grade level and math topic.

Free MATH Help: freemathhelp.com Get free math help from tutors across the country. All levels of math are explored here. Also has an interactive problem solver to show step byu step how to do each problem.

HISTORY/ GOVERNMENT First Gov for Kids: kids.gov Provides kid-friendly links to hundreds of U.S. government-run websites divided by school grade and category. You’ll find links to the Library of Congress, NASA, and the Smithsonian Institution, as well as nonprofit and educational sites.

DIGITAL PARENTING

HOMEWORK there’s an app for that!

Evernote (free; iOS, Apple Watch, Android, Windows)

My Study Life (free; iOS, Android, Windows)

This free app has remained popular since it debuted in 2008, but recent updates give users even more freedom. With a clean, uncomplicated interface, it’s perfect for students — you can take notes, make to-do lists, set reminders, attach files, create agendas and access everything through any device. However, you do have to turn on push notifications in order to sync all notes when the app isn’t running. The camera feature is especially helpful. It lets you take a photo of anything and choose to save it as a photo, document, Post-it note or business card.

The free My Study Life app replaces any paper planner by keeping track of your workload across multiple platforms and devices. Manage your classes with week and day timetables, keep track of tasks and exams in the cloud and receive notifications to keep you up to date for exams and classes. A clean interface and the ability to color code your classes make the calendar easy to read.

Dropbox Mobile (free; iOS, Android, Windows) As a student you save and send a lot of files. The free Dropbox for mobile app makes it easy to save and share all your documents, photos and videos through one secure location. It’s easy to add notes to files you want to share, too, so that your group project doesn’t have to take so long. Recently, Dropbox partnered with Microsoft so that users can now edit Microsoft Office files directly from their mobile phones and save them to their Dropbox accounts.

Keep an eye on Dropbox Notes, a way for multiple people to edit the same document.

Khan Academy (free; iOS, Android, Windows) More than 4,200 educational videos on Khan Academy let you learn about anything you want, from math and computing to music and the college admissions process.

You can even prep for the SAT. A cool highlight of the free app is the ability to download any of the videos to view later, such as the video of LeBron James introducing a math problem about the probability of making 10 free throws in a row, or the interview with the founder of Ecko Unlimited.

WolframAlpha ($2.99; iOS, Android, Windows) Dubbed the “Star Trek computer,” the $2.99 Wolfram Alpha app holds over 10 trillion pieces of data and 50,000 equations. The app uses these to compute answers and generate reports on topics ranging from trigonometry and astronomy to genealogy and mythology. It gives you graphs, step-bystep explanations and formula details. Meet your new best friend who is also your tutor.

Microsoft Office Mobile (free; iOS, Android, Windows) This app is a no-brainer. The Microsoft Office Mobile app lets you access, edit and share all your Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your Android devices. If you want to start your homework and don’t have a laptop handy, you can create new Word and Excel documents straight from your phone.

Duolingo (free; iOS, Android, Windows) The Duolingo app is an addictive, fun way for students to learn a new language. Duolingo pairs new words with pictures much like the Rosetta Stone versions do, only the app is completely free with no ads to get in your way. Learn languages like Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and others through speaking exercises, listening exercises and interactive games that have you match words, select missing words within a sentence and translate sentences by tapping on the correct words. You can save your progress, add friends to compete with and share progress with a teacher, parent or friend. If you already know a lot of one language you can move past beginner lessons and advance to tougher ones.

Scribd ($8.99/month iOS, Android, Windows) Scribd has been called the “Netflix of books.” Whether you are a bibliophile or just need textbooks for your lit class, the $8.99 a month for Scribd’s supply of more than 1 million books, audiobooks and documents is well worth the price. Most recently, Scribd added 10,000 comics and graphic novels to its subscription service from publishers like Marvel, Archie and IDW. The app recommends books for you based on ones you liked in the past and lets you store books to read offline, syncing between your phone, tablet and computer.

Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock ($1.99 iOS; $1.69 Android) Getting the right amount of sleep is essential for students. You won’t get a good grade on that test in zero period without a good night’s sleep. The Sleep Cycle alarm clock is based on years of research of sleep science. If you wake up from a deep-sleep phase, you will feel more tired. The app analyzes your sleep stages and wakes you up in your lightest sleep phase, giving you a night of peaceful sleep. You can set a 30-minute window for when the app can wake you up.

The app tracks your sleep quality over time and presents the data to you in graphs, which can then be exported to Excel. Its Sleep Notes show you how a stressful day or drinking coffee impacts your sleep quality.

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 42

SPORTS

It’ll Make You Flip!

GET YOUR CHILD ON A ROLL WITH

G

GYMNASTICS

ymnastics is a full-body workout, promoting cardiovascular health, strength, balance, and coordination, as well as flexibility, speed, and power. But did you know research has shown that participation in gymnastics also may enhance reading scores in elementary school-aged children?

According to a 1998 study by Ralph R. Barrett, an educator and gymnastics coach in Florida, gymnastics and gymnastics-like instruction—such as early movement classes—help forge neurological pathways responsible for reading readiness and comprehension. It also helps develop problem-solving skills and increase attention spans.| “I do believe that my academic success was due in part from the lessons I learned through gymnastics, such as time management, goal setting, and the importance of continuing education,” says Shannon Miller, whose seven Olympic and nine World Championship medals make her the most decorated American gymnast, male or female, in history.

After retiring from Olympic competition in 2000, Miller earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, followed by a law degree from Boston College. “Just like gymnastics, there is always more to learn,” adds the Rolla, MO-born mother of one. “Of course, I also believe that my success in gymnastics was due to the balance I kept between education and athletics. My parents made no secret that school came first, whether I was training for the Olympic Games or not.”

In addition to the physical and educational benefits, gymnastics is fun! Not only do kids learn to fly through the air with grace and agility, but, if they stick with the sport, they also can make friends they often keep for life. Competi-

by Lynn Daue

tive gymnasts have the opportunity to travel to new places, and many attend their first sleepaway camps with their teammates.

So, if you find yourself with a fearless, active preschooler or elementary school-aged child on your hands—or theirs, for that matter— gymnastics might just be the sport for him or her.

Are You Ready to Tumble?

How a child begins with gymnastics mostly depends on how old he or she is. Toddlers and preschoolers are still learning colors, shapes, and gross motor skills, so gymnastics programs geared toward them tend to focus on early-development movement, like jumping on colored mats, crawling over obstacles, and swaying side to side. Basic gymnastics skills—doing handstands against the wall, swinging from a bar, and balancing on a beam, for example— might be mixed in with more ordinary physical challenges, like stepping over cones. Those classes typically are coeducational and use smaller, toddler-sized equipment.

School-aged students, on the other hand, can sign up for the USA Gymnastics (USAG) Junior Olympic Program, which offers classes at levels 1 through 10.

Levels 1 through 4 are developmental levels. In levels 1 and 2, beginning gymnasts learn skills such as handstands, cartwheels, and forward rolls. In levels 3 and 4, they progress to backward rolls into a push-up position on the floor, stretch jumps on the balance beam, and handstands on the vault. At some gyms, gymnasts also may begin competing at Level 4.

School-aged gymnasts are separated by gender. Boys learn skills on the parallel bars, rings, high bar, and pommel horse, while girls learn skills on the uneven bars

43 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Shannon Miller, the most decorated American gymnast in history. and balance beam. Both genders participate in the floor exercise and the vault.

See How They Roll

Before enrolling your child in a

gymnastics program, do some research. To start, search the Internet for local facilities. When you have narrowed down your options, visit each gym and take a tour with a staff member.

SPORTS

Ask the instructors about their certifications. All teachers and coaches, ideally, should be first aid- and

CPR-certified, at minimum.

Instructors should also have taken Fundamentals of Gymnastics, a free course for professional members offered through USAG University.

Other certifications, via USAG, include Junior Olympic Development Coach, Junior Olympic Team Coach, and National Coach, for competitive teams, and Developmental Teacher, Advanced Teacher, and Director, for recreational programs. Some preschool-level instructors may also have a Kinder Accreditation for Teachers, or a Preschool Fundamentals Theory Certification, older

USAG certifications that are now part of the recreational education track.

Daniel Chan, a San Francisco-based magician and former gymnastics instructor, further recommends spending some time in the gym at a program, beyond a tour, before signing up your child for classes. “Watch other classes and observe the teachers,” he suggests. “See more demonstrations and competitions before enrolling to make sure this is right for [your child].”

Your involvement as a parent, and financial commitment, will vary depending on your child’s age and skill level. For children in developmental programs, classes average $10-$15 per class with tuition paid every eight to twelve weeks.

Parents of toddlers must participate with their children, while students ages 3 and older can take classes by themselves.

The Next Level

In the USAG Junior Olympic Program, after mastering basic developmental skills, gymnasts ages 6 and older have the option to move

into a competitive program.

At the compulsory levels, 4 to 6, they learn skills such as back handsprings on the floor and flyaways on the bars, performing the same routines as their opponents in each event.

Once a gymnast competes through the compulsory levels, he or she can move on to the optional levels, 7 to 10. The difficulty of the skills performed at those levels increases exponentially. At levels 7 and 8, USAG does not allow extremely difficult moves like double front tucks. Levels 9 and 10, however, have no such restrictions, only limits on the number of extremely difficult tricks a gymnast may attempt in a routine. Gymnasts create their own routines at those levels, and, except at Level 7, are judged on composition as well as skills execution.

After high school graduation, many Level 10 gymnasts go on to compete at the collegiate level.

Whether your child just wants to learn to turn cartwheels or is eager to take on the competition, there’s a gymnastics option out there. Call your local gym to learn more.

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 44

OUR FAITH

coolCATHOLICfacts by the numbers...then and now then

1642

The Colony of Virginia enacted a law prohibiting Catholic settlers. Five years late, a similar stature was enacted in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1692

Maryland, a safe haven for Catholics, overthrew its government, established the Church of England by law, and forced Catholics to pay heavy taxes towards its support. Catholics were cut off from all participation in politics and additional laws were introduced that outlawed Mass, the Church’s Sacraments, and Catholic schools. Many Catholics moved to Pennsylvania where Quaker leader William Penn granted asylum.

now

22

Current State Governors are Catholic. 25% of the population of the United States are Catholic.

2

then

Two of the signers of the Constitution were Catholic. Thomas Fitzsimmons, of Pennsylvania, and Daniel Carroll, of Maryland. Carroll was brother to Arms of House of Carroll Archbishop John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic bishop of the United States.

1

164

There was only one Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll, cousin to Daniel Carroll and Archbishop John Carroll.

now

There are currently 164 members, 31%, of Congress that identify as Catholic, more than any other religion. 26 members of the Senate and 138 members of the House of Representatives. Notable Catholics are Marco Rubio R-FL, Claire McCaskill D-MO, Dick Durbin D-IL of the Senate, and Nancy Pelosi D-CA, Joe Kennedy D-MA, William Clay D-MO, John Boehner R-OH, Joaquin Castro D-TX, and Paul Ryan R-WI. Baptists come in a distant 2nd with just 79 members.

45 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

OUR FAITH

1788

then

John Jay, the United States’ 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, urged the New York Legislature to require office holders to renounce the Pope and foreign authorities “in all matters ecclesiastical as we as civil,” which included both the Catholic and Anglican churches.

6

now

There are six Roman Catholics currently serving on the court (Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas) and three Jews (Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagen).

1874-1875

then

Republican Senator James G. Blaine of Maine proposed an amendment to the Constitution in 1874 that provided: "No money raised by taxation in any State for the support of public schools, or derived from any public source, nor any public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be under the control of any religious sect, nor shall any money so raised or land so devoted be divided between religious sects or denominations."

The amendment was defeated in 1875 but would be used as a model for so-called "Blaine Amendments" incorporated into 34 state constitutions over the next three decades.

Thomas Nast depicting Roman Catholic bishops as crocodiles attacking public schools

now

1922

Grant feared a future with “patriotism and intelligence on one side and superstition, ambition and greed on the other” and called for public schools that would be “unmixed with atheistic, pagan or sectarian teaching.”

In 1922, the voters of Oregon passed an initiative amending Oregon Law Section 5259, the Compulsory Education Act. The law unofficially became known as the Oregon School Law. The citizens’ initiative was primarily aimed at eliminating parochial schools, including Catholic schools. The law caused outraged Catholics to organize locally and nationally for the right to send their children to Catholic schools.

6568

The number of Catholic schools currently in the United States, with 1,939,574 students.

then

1st

In the 1960 presidential election of John F. Kennedy, Norman Peale, a notable Protestant preacher wrote in his manifesto that was published in newspapers across the country, “Faced with the election of a Catholic,” Peale declared, “our culture is at stake.” Kennedy counterattacked by suggesting that it was bigotry to relegate one-quarter of all Americans to second-class citizenship just because they were Catholic. Kennedy was elected to be the first Catholic president with over 80% of the Catholic vote.

now

6

Presidential hopefuls for 2016 are Catholic, including Jeb Bush, Chis Christie, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, Marco Rubio, and Rick Santorum.

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 46

Sunday Religious Education Program St. Francis Xavier College Church

OUR FAITH

Outstanding Religious Education in the Jesuit Tradition of love of God and service to others

5 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

RE Calendar Important Dates for 2015-16

Sunday, August 30th Come and See Sunday, Orientation and Parent Meetings for all RE Grades —9:30—10:30 a.m.

Sunday, September 13th First Day of RE Classes and CGS Atria

Sunday, October 4th Opening Day for Youth Group Program

Children PreK - 8th Grade Are you looking for a Religious Education program for your child that is engaging and interactive ? A program that helps your child fall in love with God? Join us for College Church’s Sunday school program.

Our program is strong in building faith, and social justice outreach to others.

Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and Communion are part of our Second Grade program as Confirmation preparation in Eighth Grade.

For more information contact Angie Doerr at 314-977-7302 or adoerr3@ slu.edu. Looking forward to having you and your family be part of our community!!

OUR FAITH

f SAINTS o SEPTEMBER

September 1 - St. Giles, Abbot (650 – 710)

St. Gilbert spent many years in solitude conversing only with God. The fame of his miracles became so great that his reputation spread throughout France.

He admitted several disciples, however, to share it with him. In succeeding ages it embraced the rule of St. Benedict.

Patron of Physically Disabled

September 21 - St. Matthew (Time of Jesus)

St. Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, is the author of the first Gospel. St. Matthew’s Gospel was written to fill a sorely-felt want for his fellow countrymen, both believers and unbelievers. His Gospel, then, answered the question put by the disciples of St. John the Baptist, “Are You He Who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Patron of Bankers

September 9 - St. Peter Claver (1850-1654)

After his ordination in 1616, St. Peter Claver dedicated himself by special vow to the service of the Negro slaves-a work that was to last for thirtythree years. He labored unceasingly for the salvation of the African slaves and the abolition of the Negro slave trade.

Patron of Negro Missions

September 27 - St. Vincent de Paul (1580-1660)

It would be impossible to enumerate all the works of this servant of God. Charity was his predominant virtue. It extended to all classes of persons, from forsaken childhood to old age.

The Sisters of Charity also owe the foundation of their congregation to St. Vincent.

Though honored by the great ones of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility.

Patron of Charitable Societies

49 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

September 29 - St. Michael the Archangel

The name Michael signifies “Who is like to God?” and was the war cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as “one of the chief princes,” and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. Many place him over all Angels.

Patron of Police

September 18 - St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663)

Born in a stable, St. Joseph of Cupertino began experiencing ecstatic visions as a child, and later began levitating at Mass. Accused of witchcraft he was denounced to the Inquisition, and was moved from friary to friary. He died 35 years later.

Patron of Flying

September 30 - St. Jerome (345-420) Known for his bad temper, anyone who taught error was an enemy of God and truth, and St. Jerome went after him or her with his mighty and sometimes sarcastic pen.

St. Jerome translated the Old Testement from Hebrew, and also wrote many commentaries still studied today.

Patron of Librarians

OUR FAITH

CATHOLICreads

Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families 2015-2016 Barbara Matera

Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families 2015–2016 is the perfect resource for those looking to enrich their family’s life of faith! Simple and approachable, this book is designed to guide even the busiest families to more fully integrate the Sunday Gospel into their everyday lives. #81858 $5.00

Through the Year with Pope Francis: Daily Reflections

Now you can start - or finish - every day encouraged by the same engaging spirit alive in these 365 short meditations written by Pope Francis.

Let his words inspire and challenge you, push you deeper into Scripture, raise your prayer to new heights, or simply fill you with gratitude for God’s personal love for you. #87213 $16.99

At Home with the Word® 2016

Rev. J. Philip Horrigan Your guide to a deeper understanding of the Sunday Scriptures. It provides the readings for this liturgical year, insights from Scripture scholars, and action steps. Also includes seasonal prayers, citations for weekday readings, and other resources for Scripture study. #98280 $8.00

Sacred Reading: The 2016 Guide to Daily Prayer

This powerful new prayer book from the Apostleship of Prayer, the “pope’s prayer group,” engages and inspires readers with the daily scripture readings and introduces Catholics and other Christians to the traditional spiritual devotion known as the lectio divina, or “sacred reading,” in a new way. #91507 $15.95

A Year of Mercy with Pope Francis : Daily Reflections

This book will draw you into God’s unfailing mercy, strengthening, healing and equipping you to fulfill his plan for your life. Spend a few minutes every day with the Holy Father as you read a brief meditation by him followed by a few reflection questions designed to help you ponder and receive God’s love. #89538 $16.95

Laudato Si’: On the Care of Our Common Home In his second encyclical, Pope Francis draws all Christians into a dialogue with every person on the planet about our common home. We as human beings are united by the concern for our planet, and every living thing that dwells on it, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. #85743 $12.95

DVD-Francis The Pope Of Renewal This film shows the striking ascension to the top of world’s popularity of the almost unknown Argentinian cardinal. A brief street poll with people of various nationalities and beliefs suggests the extension of this phenomenon. What can be the causes of such spectacular change in the public opinion? #70156 $19.95

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 50

FRUGAL PARENTING

BABY CLUBS that help with the pocketbook Having a new baby is one of the most special gifts from God that we can receive, but can also be costly. Here a few ways to help with the expenses in those first few years of your child's life. From free sample products to monthly coupons to follow your child's growth, the Baby Clubs are well worth the few minutes it takes to sign up.

Baby Gear 1. MOM365: www.mom365.com Having a new baby is one of the most special gifts from God that we can receive, but can also be costly. Here a few ways to help with the expenses in those first few years of your child’s life. From free sample products to monthly coupons to follow your child’s growth, the Baby Clubs are well worth the few minutes it takes to sign up.

Formula 1. Similac: www.Similac.com Sign up to receive up to $329 in offers such as a free diaper bag, coupons for Similac formula and free samples of Similac Advance Early Shield.

2. Enfamil: www.Enfamil.com Register for the Enfamil Family Beginnings program and you will receive up to $250 in free gifts, one week supply of Enfamil, up to $60 in savings on any Enfamil formula and nutrition information and expert tips and advice.

3. Gerber Good Start: www.Gerber.com Join Start Healthy, Stay Healthy and receive money saving coupons for essentials, emails specific to your child’s age, booklets packed with tips and articles mailed to your home, access to online tools and videos and exclusive offers from our partners.

4. Walmart’s Parent’s Choice: Parentschoiceformula.com Although they do not give out free samples anymore, you can get some samples of baby formula at a very reduced price, and the coupons keep coming every month.

Diapers 1. Huggies: www.HuggiesClub.com Join the Huggies Enjoy the Ride Network and receive Huggies samples, money-saving coupons, and special offers in the mail. You can also sign up to receive the weekly e-newsletter

customized for your pregnancy or baby’s age. In addition, make sure you sign up for Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards. Earn points by purchasing participating Huggies products, answering polls, watching videos, and internet browsing. Redeem points for sweepstakes entries and instant win games.

2. Pampers: www.Pampers.com Join Pampers Village and receive samples, offers, and coupons from Pampers and their related programs. While you are there, sign up for the Gifts to Grow Rewards Program. Join today and you will earn 100 bonus Pampers points to get your started! You earn points by purchasing participating Pampers products (diapers, wipes, etc). Redeem your points for rewards including photo books, toys, coupons, and gift cards.

3. Luvs: www.LuvsDiapers.com Join the Luvs Network and receive a coupon to save on your next Luvs diaper purchase.

Network membership also allows you to participate in Share & Tell topics and product reviews.

Baby Food 1. Beech Nut: Beechnut.com Sign up for the Beech Nut E-Newsletter and receive money-saving coupons and feeding tips customized to your baby’s age.

The program provides a free book for your child from birth to 5 years old.

Medical 1. InfantSEE: www.infantsee.org Free vision screening and exams and exams with over 50 eye doctors in the St. Louis area for children ages 6 to 12 months.

Retailers 1. Babies’R’Us: Toysrus.com/registry Sign up for their registry and baby club for coupons for top brand baby products.

2. Target: Target.com/baby-registry Sign up for their baby registry and text messages, and start receiving coupons every month according to the child’s age.

Bath and Baby Products 1. Johnson & Johnson: HealthyEssentials.com Sign up at Johnson’s Baby to receive exclusive offers, expert guides, and customized tips.

Printable coupons are also available on their site.

2. Desitin: Desitin.com Printable coupon for your next Desitin purchase available at Desitin.com

2. Earth’s Best: www.Earthsbest.com Sign up for Earth’s Best Family for great offers, advice, and more. In addition, the Earth’s Best website often has coupons available for print

3. A+D Ointment: MyADBaby.com They do not have a newsletter, but they do have a $1.00 off A&D product coupon available for print.

3. Heinz: www.Heinzbaby.com Another great site that will send free samples and coupons at each of your baby’s stages.

Entertainment Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Baby’s First Circus Ringling.com Receive a ticket voucher by mail to exchange for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance. The best thing is that it has no expiration date!

Books 1. Dolly Parton Imagination Library: imaginationlibrary.com

51 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

McAlister's Deli

Denny’s

Ethyl's Smokehouse

Steak ‘n Shake

Chimichanga

Max & Erma's

Pasta House

All locations FREE All Day

Downtown, Maplewood, FREE All Day

Planet Sub

Florissant, St. Peters FREE All Day

Pirrone's Pizza

All locations FREE All Day

O'Charley's

Town and Country FREE 4-7pm

Mike Duffy's

Lake St. Louis, Mid-Rivers FREE All Day

All locations FREE 4-10pm

IHOP

Dickey’s Barbeque Pit

Valley Park FREE All Day

O'Fallon FREE 4-10pm

South St. Louis City FREE All Day

All locations FREE All Day

Culpeppers

Lake St. Louis, Mid-Rivers FREE All Day All locations FREE All Day

All locations 1.99 All Day

Buffalo Wild Wings

Max & Erma’s

IHOP

All locations FREE 4-10pm

P'Sghetti's Pasta

All locations FREE 4-10pm

South County & Glendale 0.99 4-10pm

All Locations 0.99 All Day

All locations 0.99 All Day

Sunset Plaza 0.99 4-10pm

Fuddruckers

McAlister’s Deli

FREE 4-10pm

IHOP

FREE All Day

Friendly’s

St. Louis FREE 5-8pm

Frank & Helen’s Pizzeria

FREE 4-10 pm

Denny’s

FREE All Day

Chili’s

FREE 5:30-7:30pm

Chick-Fil-A

FREE All Day

Chevy’s Fresh Mex

FREE 4-9 pm

Bob Evans

FREE All Day

Backyard Burger

FREE 3-9pm

Applebee’s

South County and Glendale 0.99 4-10pm

P’Sghetti’s

0.99 All Day

McAlister’s Deli

Sunset Plaza 0.99 4-10pm

Fuddruckers

0.99 All Day

Firehouse Subs

0.99 5-8pm

Fazolis

0.99 All Day

Captain D’s

Lake St. Louis, Mid-Rivers FREE All Day

Max & Erma’s

FREE 4-10pm

IHOP

FREE 5-8pm

Frank and Helen’s Pizzeria

All locations 0.99 All Day

McAlister’s Deli

Creve Coeur FREE 4-10pm

Stir Crazy

Kirkwood FREE 4 -7pm

Mike Duffy’s

Lake St. Louis, Mid-Rivers FREE All Day

Max & Erma’s

St. Charles FREE 4 -10pm

JJ’s Restaurant

All locations FREE 4-10pm

IHOP

St. Louis FREE 5-8pm

Frank and Helen’s Pizzeria

Belleville FREE All Day

Eckert’s Country Restaurant

All locations FREE All Day

Backyard Burger

Bridgeton, South County 1.99 5-8pm

Hometown Buffet

All Locations 0.99 All Day

McAlister’s Deli

All locations 0.99 All Day

Captain D’s

Lake St. Louis, Mid-Rivers FREE All Day

Max & Erma’s

IHOP

All locations FREE 4-10pm

All locations 0.99 All Day

McAlister’s Deli

KIDS EAT FREE

All locations FREE All Day

Steak ‘n Shake

Max & Erma’s

Lake St. Louis, Mid-Rivers FREE All Day

IHOP

All locations FREE 4-10pm

Denny’s

All locations FREE 4-10pm

All locations 0.99 All Day

McAlister’s Deli

FRUGAL PARENTING

After scouring the internet, and recieving many emails, Catholic FamilyTM has compiled a list of places within the St. Louis area that offer either free or reduced meals for kids! Please call the restaurant for confirmation before making the trek! If you know of any more locations that offer such deals, please email us.

CALENDAR

September CALENDAR Church Bulletin Ongoing

Doctrine Class @ Lindell Study Center Mondays 7pm - 8:30pm

Understand your Faith better-Take a Doctrine Class Join us for a weekly session that will cover aspects of our faith that will help us understand better and explain more clearly what our Catholic doctrine means to us. FREE

St. Louis Faith Journeys Radio Show on AM 1460 KHOJ Catholic Radio Tuesdays 7:30am &

Saturdays 3:30pm The show highlights converts and reverts to the Catholic faith in St. Louis. FREE

Love and Logic Parenting Class @ Catholic Family Services Wednesdays at Troy Office 6pm - 8pm

ALPHA @ Mary Queen of Peace School Wednesdays 6:30pm - 9pm Gather some friends for a night out each week! You’ll love the relaxed atmosphere while learning about life’s issues! FREE

Saint Louis Life Teen @ Bishop DuBourg High School Wednesdays 7pm - 9pm Come and learn more about your Catholic Faith!!! FREE

Lifeteen @ Holy Redeemer Catholic School Thursdays 7pm

- 8:30pm All high school teens are welcome to join us. Join us for a fun miniseries! FREE

Sept 1st St Clare Catholic Church Samaritan Supper 5:30pm - 6:30pm

We seek to serve a nourishing meal for all those who may be struggling to provide adequate food for their families, those who may be lonely and alone at mealtimes or those who can’t prepare meals for themselves anymore.

Sept 2nd Bingo @ Villages of St. Peters 2pm - 3:30pm Guaranteed

game prizes and Two Grand prizes throughout! Refreshments provided!

This is a FREE event for the community but space is limited so RSVP to Lori @ 314-471-3757 FREE

Sept 2nd Saint Louis Life Teen Fall Kickoff! @ Bishop DuBourg High 7pm - 9pm Join us as we kickoff the fall semester of Saint Louis Life Teen! We will have a youth Mass followed by pizza and minute to win it games! Questions? Contact Lauren at 314.288.8873 FREE

Sept 5th Active St. Louis Catholic Singles @ Kirkwood Park

Sept 11th – 12th Holy Spirit 2015 Carnival Games, activities, food, bingo and more! FREE Sept 12th Mass on the Grass and Christian Rock Concert @ Immaculate Conception ChurchMaplewood! 5pm - 8pm FREE Sept 12th Sara Thomsen Concert & Prayer Service @ Carondelet Motherhouse 6:30pm - 9pm Offering will support women religious ministry to victims of human trafficking. Enjoy American singer/songwriter Sara Thomsen. Sara conveys spiritual, social and life experiences. With a voice rich

as the best-west soil. Sara’s songs carry you inward and outward—in, to the particulars of your own life, and out— into the shared humanity of us all.

Sept 13th Special Mass For Emergency Responders @ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis 10am - 11am The Blue Mass to honor Emergency Responders will be performed by Bishop Rice. FREE

Sept 13th St. Francis Borgia Parish Fall Festival 11am -

6pm Music all day, sand volleyball tournament, bake sale, crafts and handmade quilts, country store,

3pm - 4pm Ages 40’s-70’s Meet and Greet! Bring a drink and/or snack to share RSVP required to Kathy at Kateelou732@gmail.com Visit our websitewww.astlcs.com

Sept 6th St. Paul Church in St. Paul Parish Picnic 11am - 9:30pm

Hand Made Quilts, Children’s Games and Inflatables, Games of Chance, Dolls and Crafts. FREE

Sept 6th First Friday Mass For Homeschoolers @ Old St. Ferdinand Shrine 11:30am

- 12:30pm Brown-bag lunch & fellowship time is in the Schoolhouse after Mass. Confessions & recitation of the Holy Rosary begin at 11AM. For questions, please contact Tammi Hall at 972- 0635. FREE

Scouts can camp “under the exhibits” and have The Magic House to themselves for a fun-filled overnight experience!

Sept 6th St. Rose of Lima Church Parish Picnic FREE Sept 10th Primer on Angels and Demons @ St Joseph’s Church – Clayton 6:30am - 7:30am Reverend

James Mason, J.D., President-Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, will present a Primer on Angels and Demons. All men are invited FREE

53 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Visit www.magichouse.org to register!

CALENDAR snow cones and cotton candy, games, and a kiddie train all add up to Fun For the Whole Family. FREE

Sept 13th Sts. Teresa & Bridget Parish Parish Picnic 12pm - 1pm FREE

Sept 13th Ste. Genevieve Parish Picnic 11am - 10pm There will be

Sept 13th – 16th “Dare to Be Holy” @ Our Lady of the Presentation 7pm - 8pm A Parish

activities for kids including games, Bounce House, Obstacle Course & Movies playing in the DuBourg Centre.

Poker Stand for Adults. Pork Burgers & Kona Ice will be sold. FREE

Mission Conducted by Good News International A Catholic Lay Ministry Bill Wegner everyone welcome ~donations will be taken~ and refreshments offered. FREE

Sept 14th The Prodigal You Love @ Seven Holy Founders Church

7pm - 8pm FSP Sr. Theresa will share her story from leaving the Church as a teen to finding her way back to Jesus.

She will tell us what made her keep her distance and what helped bring her back. She will offer tips for loving a person back to the Church rather than nagging or ignoring them. Copies of Sr. Theresa popular book “The Prodigal You Love – Inviting Loved Ones Back to the Church” will be available

for purchase. Invite your friends and family! FREE

Sept 18th – 20th Sts. Joachim & Ann Parish Picnic Music by

Desintation Z and Hotrod Moped, Rides, booths, raffles, games, chicken dinners, food court!! Come join the fun, awesome music and delicious food!

FREE

Sept 18th – 19th Holy Trinity- St. Ann Family Festival FREE Sept 18th Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Night at the Mouse Races 7pm - 8pm $12 per

person if paid by Sept. 8 $15 per person at the door and $2 bets Beer, Soda & Popcorn included Raffles, 50/50, Silent Auctions

Sept 18th Zip Rzeppa presents “For a Greater Purpose” @ Church of Our Lady- Festus 7pm - 9pm Zip Rzeppa (former Channel 4 sportscaster) has generously agreed to share his testimony regarding his spiritual journey. His book “For a Greater Purpose” was just released and everyone attending will receive a free copy. All that is asked is a free will offering. FREE

Sept 19th Papa Palooza - World Meeting of Families St. Louis @ Kenrick Glennon Seminary

2pm - 8pm “Papa-palooza” is our local celebration of the Philadelphia World Meeting of Families and Papal Visit.

An afternoon of family fun, including celebration of Mass, dinner by P’sghetti’s, and a rollicking concert of praise and worship(and a few musical surprises) by St. Louis’ own Adam Bitter Band “Pope-pourri” of papalthemed and Bible-based Family Games with prizes and other outdoor activities, Catholic Exhibitors & a family giftbasket raffle, Snacks and Refreshments for sale (not included with admission cost) Outdoor Mass on Soccer Field (fulfills Sunday obligation)

Sept 23rd Padre Pio Feast Day! @ Church of the AscensionChesterfield 11am - 12pm Everyone is invited to join us for a wonderful Padre Pio Feast Day! Fr. Grosch will be offering a special evening Mass in the Little Church. We will have a little social gathering in the Parish Hall following this event. FREE

Sept 24th Lunch For Life @ Wine Country Gardens 11am - 12pm

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 54

CALENDAR Sept 25th – 26th St. Mark Fall Festival 2015 The parade is the

kickoff to a great day of festival fun!

Please join us as we travel through the neighborhood and let our neighbors know that we are celebrating! FREE

Sept 26th St. Elizabeth of Hungary Fall Festival & Craft/ Vendor Fair 11am - 12pm FREE

free popcorn, water, soda, beer and wine. Must be 21 to attend. FREE

Sept 27th St. Joseph - Josephville Fall Festival 11am - 7pm Enjoy a

day and a great meal at the St. Joseph Fall Festival in the quaint town of Josephville, Mo. Entertainment for all ages: Kids Games, Quilt Stand, Country Store, Bingo, Live Entertainment and more. FREE

Sept 26th Church of Ascension Fall Fling Bingo 6pm - 8pm Includes

Sept 27th Autumn Leaves Card Party @ St Elizabeth Mother of John The Baptist Catholic Church 11:30am - 12:30pm You

will enjoy delicious food, select a beautiful attendance prize, and have an opportunity to be the lucky winner of a laptop computer, Flat Screen TV, and much, much more! FREE

Sept 27th Celebrate the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul! @ St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church 12pm - 7pm K of C Annual

BBQ Fundraiser Eat In, Carry Out or Delivery! 314-775-1325 Bbq Ribs, Porksteaks, Chicken, Pulled Pork, Brats And Hamburgers

Sept 27th Life of Dorothy Day @ Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet 2pm - 4pm Performance

by Lisa Wagner-Carollo of Still Point Theatre Collective. Haunted by God is a one-woman play about Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement.

Sept 27th “The Two Faces of Jesus – Comparing the Shroud of Turnin and the veil of Manoppello” @ Church of the Ascension, Chesterfield 7pm - 9pm

Fairs and Festivals

Applefest @ Eckert’s Farms Weekends 10am - 5pm Wagon rides, live entertainment, great festival foods, children’s activities and much more make this an apple pickin’ good time for everyone! Whether riding a pony or feeding a goat, your young ‘uns will enjoy getting acquainted with common farm animals. Children’s carnival and/ or activities at all three farms. Funnel cakes, caramel apples and more to tempt your taste buds. FREE

23rd Annual Staenberg Group Gateway Cup Sept 4th - Sept 7th

Wentzville 636-887-0885

St. Peters 636-441-1212

Washington 636-390-9211

Eureka 636-587-2525

Chesterfield 636-537-8118 Ballwin 636-394-3104

55 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Four days of bicycle racing in the heart of four unique St. Louis neighborhoods.

98th Annual St. Louis Greek Festival Sept 4th - Sept 8th

Gyros, moussaka, spanakopita, baklava. . . there’s no better way to spend Labor Day weekend this side of Mykonos than at the 98th Annual St. Louis Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis’ Central West End. Come and experience a taste of Greece, Live Music, Church Tours & Books, Greek Folk Dancing, and Gift Shop daily! FREE

Art Fair at Queeny Park Sept 4th – 6th Up to 140 juried artists from 20 or more states, the Art Fair at Queeny Park is one of the most reputable, longest-running art fairs in the bi-state region. The Art Fair at Queeny Park presents a opportunity for the public to see and purchase original works of fine art and fine craft directly from the artists who create them. FREE

Tour de Francis Sept 5th 7am - 8pm Mark your calendars for the

Gateway Cup in St. Louis Hills! Francis Park

Big Muddy Blues Festival Sep 5th – 6th Laclede’s Landing Feel

the rhythm and find your groove at the annual Big Muddy, one of the country’s best blues music festivals. Enjoy 20 hours of fabulous music on two stages from renowned.

Japanese Festival Sept 5th – 7th Missouri Botanical Garden

Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States.

Cherokee Nights Sept 10th 5pm - 10pm Art, Music, Food,

Discounts, Street performers, Shopping, Entertainment, Dancing, and CHEROKEE STREET! Join us for this free monthly showcase of Cherokee during the evening hours. Galleries, retailers, restaurants, and bars offer art, music, and discounts from 5- 10pm.

FREE

Eureka Days Sept 10-12 Enjoy

an old-fashioned community festival at Eureka Days. This annual event includes lots of children’s activities, a carnival, a parade, more than 100 vendors, St. Louis Live Steamers public train rides and lots more. More information: eurekadays.com FREE

ART OUTSIDE FESTIVAL Sept 11th – 13th Schlafly Art Outside is a three-day-long juried alternative art fair featuring art from over 50 artists based here in the St. Louis area. Come and show your support for local art and local beer. Art Outside is not an ordinary fair, but one that features quality art, music, and plenty of tasty food and drink from Schlafly Beer.

Hosted at the brewery’s Bottleworks location in Maplewood, Missouri, Art Outside draws approximately 15,000 visitors each year. FREE

Saint Louis Art Fair Sept 11th – 13th A free, three-day celebration

CALENDAR of the visual and performing arts. The main focus is an easy-access juried exhibition of gallery quality fine art and craft with exhibiting artist. Live performances, hands on activities for children, and showcases of some of St. Louis’ top restaurants. The Art Fair collaborates with over 20 local not-forprofit arts organizations giving them the opportunity to generate earned income and access to over 130,000 potential patrons. FREE

American Indian Education Days @ Cahokia Mounds Sept 11th – 12th Displays on crafts, clothing, and explanation of customs, culture and beliefs. FREE

Fall Farm Festival @ The Magic House Sept 12th 10am - 3pm E-I-E-I-O! Enjoy a day of agricultural affairs, brought to you by the local county farm bureaus of Missouri and Illinois! Farmers will be on hand to share tricks of their trade, and they’ll bring along a real tractor and farm animals to see up close. Visitors can participate in agricultural activities; learn about the benefits of including

JOIN OUR

dairy in your diet from the St. Louis Dairy Council and more!

PixelPop Festival @ Webster University Sept 12th – 13th Meet

industry professionals and public figures during the panels, talks, and workshops at PixelPop Festival! Play the latest and greatest from local game developers, compete with other attendees in game tournaments, and participate in fun multiplayer games. No cost to demo for our exhibitors! FREE

Wagon Days @ Longmeadow Rescue Ranch Sept 12th 11am - 3pm Wagon Days is filled with fun,

free activities for all ages. Your kids can enjoy wagon rides, tours of the 165acre ranch which rehabilitates hundreds of abused and neglected horses, cows, goats, pigs, ducks and other farm animals, and learn about the Ranch’s Barn Buddies program. You’re welcome to bring a picnic lunch too! NO PETS!

FREE

Great Forest Park Balloon Race

ELITE TEAM HS

Sept 18th -19th The Balloon Glow

offers spectators a breathtaking view of inflated balloons lighted by their burners. Get up close and walk around the balloons. Refreshments and Food are available. The event will conclude with the PNC Bank fireworks finale display beginning at approximately 9:15 p.m. Friday. Spend your day in beautiful Forest Park as the Purina Children’s Entertainment area is filled with pony rides, games, and other activities for kids. The Entertainment Stage features a variety of local talent.

FREE

55th annual Greentree Festival @ Kirkwood Park Sept 18th – 20th This festival promotes community spirit in the Kirkwood area and offers activities for kids. This year’s theme is the Greentree Circus Parade. FREE

11th Annual Budweiser Taste of St. Louis @ Chesterfield Ampitheater Sept 19th – 20th

FREE Attractions include: The region’s best restaurants on 314 Hot Sauce Restaurant Row*Chef Battle Royale Culinary Competition on the Stella

Artois Culinary Stage Goose Island School of Cooking Stage with live demos and culinary showcases Dillard’s Concert Stage with free national concerts and fashion shows The all new Sachs Properties Kids’ Kitchen –And so much more! FREE

Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival Sept 19th Webster Groves

Historic District will be swinging as the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival returns. FREE

Faust Heritage Festival Chesterfield Sept 19th – 20th

Plenty to See and Do! Historic Homes, Traditional Crafts, Demonstrations, Hayrides, Carousel Rides, Music, Food, Games, Kids Activities, Historic Baseball, 2nd Annual Photo Contest.

FREE

South Grand Fall Fest Sept 19th 10am - 10pm The event is to

celebrate what makes South Grand and its surrounding community unique, which will incorporate local artists and musicians, dancers, and, most of all,

PERSONALIZED TRAINING PLANS INDIVIDUAL 1-ON-1 INSTRUCTION WEEKLY GROUP TRAINING PLANS PLANS FOR ALL ABILITY LEVELS

Coach Tim Bradley, Assistant Coach at Saint Louis University, is the only Division I Track & Cross Country Coach in the St. Louis area that provides private coaching to beginner and elite runners of all ages.

314-882-1778

w w w. Co a c h T B r a d l ey. co m CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 56

CALENDAR great restaurants, services and shops.

The vendors at the event will include vintage, handmade items along with a DIY Craft Zone. FREE

contest, and taste a few delights of the harvest at this free event. FREE

Harvest Moon Festival @ Queeny Park Sept 19th – 20th An adult

Ongoing

only night out. Kick off the season with our exciting new adult’s only event!

Enjoy Hay Rides, Music, Bonfires.

The St. Louis Folk and Roots Festival @ The Sheldon Concert Hall Sept 24th – 27th Featuring

musicians spanning the many styles that comprise Folk Music, including players performing old-time, bluegrass, country, and blues as well as workshops, a square dance and the Folk School Fiddle contest.

Q in the Lou @ Soldiers Memorial Military Museum Sept 25th Top BBQ chefs from around the

country are packing up their grills and smokers and bringing a taste of their hometown to one of the most celebrated barbecue cities in the world. Featuring nine of America’s legendary pitmasters, Q in the Lou is a celebration of great barbecue, with cooking tutorials, a BBQ innovations expo, amateur cooking contests, live local music, and of course, the best barbecue in America. FREE

The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival @ Soulard Park Sept 25th – 27th This festival includes

live Latino music, authentic foods, Hispanic crafts, information booths, a children’s pavilion and more. FREE

CHAUK THE LOOP Sept 26th 9am - 4pm Calling all art lovers! The Delmar Loop will host its 4th annual chalk art festival. FREE

Strange Folk Festival @ Union Station Sept 26th – 27th The Mall

Full of Makers will take place on all three floors of Union Station Mall, occupying nearly every empty store and restaurant. Bands will play from the old Hooters in the 3rd floor and your favorite area food trucks and vendors will be set up in the South parking lot.

Strange Folk is family friendly (with beer!), and features unique installations and DIY activities. All 200 vendors are next-wave small businesses from St. Louis and beyond. Shop from handpicked crafters, artists, designers, and vintage curators. FREE

Harvest Moon Celebration @ Hanley House Sept 26th Bring

Classes Tykes Trek @ Shaw Nature Reserve Mondays 9:30 - 11:30am

For ages 3–5. You are your child’s best guide to the outside. Early childhood is a great time to introduce your child to the outdoors. Come join us as we take advantage of natural events here at Shaw Nature Reserve. We will hike and do activities as we explore and discover.

Preschool Science Series @ St. Louis Science Center 2nd, 3rd, and

4th Mondays 10 - 11am The perfect program for your young scientist!

Preschool age children and their adult partner will explore, investigate, and do science together. Each session features a different topic, so you will want to attend often!

Petite Picasso Art Class @ The Magic House Tuesdays & Thursdays

9:30 to 10:15am Children ages 3-5 and their special grownup discover the magic of art through special4week multi-sensory art classes in the museum’s new Art Studio. Cost: $60 for non-members $40 for members

Louis: Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa at the Saint Louis Art Museum and Kota: Digital Excavations in African Art at Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

Classes will be taught by curators from both institutions as well as guest scholars.

Safety Stop Sunday @ The Magic House Sundays Safety first! Make an appointment with St. Louis Children’s Hospital to stop by The Magic House any Sunday for St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Safety Stop, a one-stop shop for car seat, helmet and home safety education. Please call (314) 454-KIDS to schedule a time for this free service.

Sunday Crafternoons @ Craft Alliance Sundays 1 - 3pm An opportunity for families to spend

the afternoon getting creative together.

Sunday Crafternoons: Pinch A Pot are for ages 4 to adult, and explore one of the oldest forms of art. Hands large and small will form clay into small bowls and cups by shaping just with the fingers and pinching techniques. You’ll paint the pots with colorful slip glazes, let them dry, and they will be fired and ready to be picked up in two weeks.

Cost per participant is $20.

Sept 4th Fundred Dollar Drawing Workshop @ Contemporary Art Museum 7 - 8pm Sept 5th Family Workshop @ the St Louis Art Museum 10:30 -

11:30am Each of these child-centered workshops combines a playful visit to the galleries with an art activity.

Adults participate and create along with children — no experience necessary.

Pre-registration is required.

Sept 6th Art Class for Ages 9-12 @ St. Louis Art Museum

10:30am - 1:30pm Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Get inspired by African art! Tour the galleries to learn about pattern and symbols, and then make a fantastic batik fabric.

Sept 10th Wine Class - Wine & Apples In The Orchard @ Eckert’s Farms 6 - 8pm Back by

popular demand, we will take a wagon ride to the orchard where we will pair freshly picked apples and wine and sample delicious appetizers. $30 per person. Space is limited; reservations required.

The Art of Yoga @ The Magic House Wednesdays 9:10 - 10:25am

Children ages 3 – 5. Discover the magic of yoga in this unique four-week class!

Aspiring Artist Classes @ The Magic House Wednesdays 4:15 - 5pm Older children, ages 5–7, explore Scouts canandcamp professional techniques materials through special 4-week fine art classes “under the exhibits” in the Museum’s Art Studio.

and have Drop-In TheMake-and-Take Magic House Workshops @ Missouri History to themselves for a Museum Monday and Fridays fun-filled 11:30am - 1:30pm overnight Kids ages 2-10 can get creative and make hands-on projects experience! inspired by themes and objects in the Museum.

Paleo Preschool @ St. Louis Science Center Saturdays 10 -

10:45am Come dig deep and learn about dinosaurs! Each week we will explore different dinosaur activities sure to excite your young paleontologist.

Adult Art Class @ St. Louis Art

the family and celebrate the Harvest Museum Every Other Saturday Moon in Hanley Park. Sample Pumpkin 10:30am - 12pm This class draws on Visit www.magichouse.org to register!

Ale, participate in a pumpkin carving current exhibitions of African art in St.

57 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

516 S. Kirkwood Road • St. Louis, MO 63122 • 314.822.8900 • www.magichouse.org Limit one free admission per coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Valid through 1/30/16. Code: MC4

Sept 10th No More Bullies: Relationships, Resiliency, and Respect @ The Magic House

FLORISSANT

*

MISSOURI

Come for the 2nd Annual Race to the Shrine and Enjoy a Family Fun 5K Run/Walk in Old Town Florissant!

Race Details:

October 10th, 4:00pm start time $20.00 Early Registration 1 Mile Fun Run - $10.00

Location:

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, 1 Rue St. Francois

Packet Pickup:

Friday, October 9th - Knights of Columbus Food Truck Night

Day of Race: October 10th from 2-3:30 pm Event Contact:

Nick at racetoshrine@gmail.com

How to Register:

Register online at www.racetotheshrine.com

RACE - FOOD - DRINKS - LIVE MUSIC

6:30 - 7:30pm Join Sara Evancho, Curriculum Specialist for BJC School Outreach and Youth Development and certified Olweus Bullying Prevention Program trainer, as she shares ways to empower your children and help them deal with social challenges in school, like bullying.

Topics will include the types of friendships many children will encounter in school, fostering resilience in young people and why challenges are really opportunities. This parent-only program is ideal for parents with elementary and middle school aged children. To register for this free program, please call 314-286-0460. FREE

Sept 12th & 19th Mommy & Me Cooking Class — A Is For Apple! (Ages 2 To 5) @ Eckert’s Farms 9:30

- 11am School has begun and it’s time to make the As, Bs, and Cs of kids recipes.

A is for Apple Pizza, B is for Bonanza Bonus, and C is Corn Pasta. We’ll also ride the wagon out to the fruit orchard to pick apples.

We’ll have fun as we learn to make and then eat our own food!

Sept 12th Family Med School Basics @ St. Louis Science Center

1:30 - 3:30pm Join us for a hands-on experience of the cardiovascular system, offered by the Young Scientist Program of Washington University School of Medicine, using real, human anatomical specimens. This is the second of a series of four sessions. Ideal for parents and their children, 5th grade and over.

Sept 12th Wine Class - Wine 101: Basics Of Wine @ Eckert’s Farms

WWW.RACETOTHESHRINE.COM

3 - 4:30pm Wine is meant to be fun and relaxing-not daunting! Increase your wine knowledge during this tasting and pairing of 4 wine varietals as we cover how to open, serve and store wines properly. A complimentary

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 58

CALENDAR sample of food is served with each wine.

Sept 12th Marriage Ministry@ Mary Queen of Peace School

6:30 - 8:30pm Covenant of Love “DATE NIGHT” is a monthly gathering of couples with the goal of assisting them in becoming the “true” domestic church by providing tools and information to help them live out God’s plan for the sacrament of marriage and to create a vibrant and positive community of married couples at the parish. Date Night is open to all married/engaged couples with the goal of assisting couples to become aware of the strengths of their marriage, as well as identify how they wish to grow. Nights will include both a faith building and a social component including refreshments. Childcare will be provided! FREE

Sept 13th Magical Miniature Gardens @ Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House 11am - 1pm

Join us for a magical afternoon of miniature gardens! Receive inspiration and ideas with the miniature garden demonstrations. Children can make their own miniature garden to take home! This event is for family and children of all ages. Event will happen rain or shine.

Sept 13th Kids Cooking Class (Ages 5 To 12) @ Eckert’s Farms 1:30 - 3:30pm School has begun and it’s time to make the As, Bs, and Cs of kids recipes. A is for Apple Pizza, B is for Bonanza Bonus, and C is Corn Pasta. We’ll also ride the wagon out to the fruit orchard to pick apples. We’ll have fun as we learn to make and then eat our own food!

Sep 15th Creighton Model Fertility Care Classes @ All Saints- St. Peters Discover-what

every couple needs to know, what every woman has a right to know. Sign up for Creighton Model Fertility Care classes, featuring the new women’s health science, NaPro Technology.

Reservations required. Call (636) 9267850. FREE

Sept 16th Lunch & Learn Cooking Class @Eckert’s Farms 12 - 1pm We’ll take advantage of our fresh apple harvest as we prepare and sample savory and sweet dishes: chicken and apple pot pie and baked apple with salted caramel. We’ll also sample apples and cheddar cheeses.

Lunch portions will be served.

Sept 18th Adult Cooking Class @ Eckert’s Farms 6 - 8pm Gather

your girlfriends and get fired up for an enjoyable evening featuring spicy dishes

and delicious wines to accompany them (a signature non-alcoholic beverage will also be available). $30 per person.

Space is limited; reservations required.

Sep 19th Stephen Ministry: Introductory Workshop @ St Joseph Catholic Church- St. Louis 9am - 1pm Stephen Ministers are well-trained lay caregivers who provide high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people experiencing various difficulties in life. For more info on Stephen Ministry see www. stephenministries.org

Sept 19th Woman’s Place, Healthy Relationships workshop 9:30am - 12pm Woman’s Place, where women find safety, hope and healing, is offering this free workshop for women. Explore the dynamics of a healthy relationship, identifying unhealthy behaviors and discussing basic communication techniques.

Pre-registration is required by calling 314.645.4848.

how to make a prize-winning apple pie! Get your hands on the dough and rolling pin in this hands-on class that teaches tips and techniques on making the best pie crust. Participants will make their own pie shell to take home, bake, enjoy—and brag a little, too!

Museums and Attractions Ongoing

Sept 19th - 20th Canopy Climb @ Shaw Nature Reserve For adults

6:45pm Join us for free family fun on Tuesday evenings in the History Clubhouse! Step back in time, explore, discover, and play in some favorite St. Louis places in a welcoming

and/or families with children 8 and older. Whether you’re an adventurous adult, a family of explorers, or

CATHOLIC FAMILYTM is the only private publication allowed in tens-of-thousands of Catholic bookbags across the Metro St. Louis area.. Call Us Today to reserve your spot in the next issue of CATHOLIC FAMILYTM!

Remember, if you are reading this, so are your potential customers!

59 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

Sept 20th Hands-On Adult Cooking Class - Best Pie Crust @ Eckert’s Farms 1 - 2:30pm Learn

Sept 19th Free Crossfit Class @ Ballpark Village 10 - 11am

Are parents, age 25-49, your target demographic?

Look no further!

314-439-1042

anyone over 8 who loves climbing trees, this experience is a must-do. In this 2-hour course taught by expert instructors, you’ll be introduced to the extraordinary world of recreational treeclimbing, learn tree-climbing mechanics including techniques, balance, and safety, and have the opportunity to explore different parts of a majestic tree’s canopy. This course is designed for first-time climbers.

Family Nights @ the Missouri History Museum Tuesdays 4 -

CALENDAR environment where nothing is handsoff. Walk among the buildings of Downtown St. Louis, steer a steamboat on the Mississippi River, prepare food in the ancient city of Cahokia, sell ice cream at the 1904 World’s Fair, and learn history along the way! Plus, on these special evenings, your family will enjoy music, face painting, crafts, and more. FREE

Haunted Hayrides @ Eckert’s Farms Weekends Starting Sept 18th 7pm - 10pm There’s lots of

ghoulish fun for young and old during this hayride through Eckert’s haunted orchard.

Family Day @ St Louis Art Museum Saturdays 1pm - 4pm

Upcoming Family Sundays Get Surreal. Stop in on Saturdays: We’ll be highlighting the works of modern artists such as Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian with art projects that have fun with form, color, and design. You

s e g A

can also take a kid-friendly tour through the Museum’s galleries to learn about Surrealism and abstract art. FREE

Wild Saturday @ St Louis Science Center Every Other Saturday On selected Saturdays, learn more about local wildlife rescue efforts from area animal organizations and interact with live animals! FREE

Family Sunday @ St. Louis Art Museum Every Sunday 1pm - 4pm FREE Sept 2nd Stroller Tour @ Contemporary Art Museum 9am

exhibition each month. Vocal babies are welcome! FREE

pedometer and jump rope. Featuring Doctor Who from 7pm - 11pm. FREE

Sept 2nd Morning Play Date @ Contemporary Art Museum

Sept 4th – 6th Prairie Farms Summer Zoo Weekends FREE

10am - 11am Complimentary refreshments. Recommended for ages 2 to 5. Designed for budding artists and their caregivers, Morning Play Dates feature artist-led art activities, musical performances, storytelling, and more.

Enjoy making art with your child and meeting other adults with a love of contemporary art. FREE

Sept 4th Centene Fitness Fun Fridays @ The Magic House

- 10am Complimentary refreshments.

Recommended for infants to 24 months. Stroller Tours are designed to spark stimulating conversion around contemporary art and to connect parents and caregivers with other art lovers.

Tours last approximately 45 minutes and focus on different aspects of the

Every month a new challenge will be posted for children to print off, complete and bring with them to earn FREE admission during the Fitness Fun Friday events. The first 100 families to register online for Fitness Fun Friday each month will receive a backpack full of health-related educational material and fitness equipment, including a

4 1 4

An hour-long, theme-based program that offers participants of all ages hands-on opportunities to learn about St. Louis and westward expansion during the 1800s. Children will also create a craft project that relates to the day’s topic. FREE

Sept 4th First Fridays @ Contemporary Art Museum

5pm - 9pm A complimentary drink for Young Friends members and above.

Cash bar. Enjoy an evening of art, music, and culture the first Friday of every month. DJs and musicians present music in dialogue with the exhibitions, Museum staff led tours, and the bar and

Each Kid t-sh irt, a gets and a da medal, y of FUN !

es! ! l c ta s AM b O O F 20 ding lu Inc

t or firs f g a eB ister! g Goodi e r o ids t 100 k

Sept 4th Free Family Fridays At The Old Courthouse 10am - 11am

9-26-2015

If you type in this code you will get an extra goodie at the event.

Code: BAECFM

BAE Mini-Mudder Goals *to go fast *work hard *realize it is ok to get muddy and wet *help my friends get through each obstacle *encourage everyone *never give up *have fun!!!

For more information or questions contact: Dee Fine dfine1398@gmail.com

www.baratacademy.org/bae-mini-mudder CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 60

CALENDAR

p

St. Lou is

d nte se re

by

! a n d s o s h o u l d y ou ®

Jump-start your summer with Missouri’s official state exercise -

Visit www.magichouse.org/jump for details!

the jumping jack!

Plus, have a chance to be a part of Guinness World Record breaking attempt! café are open. Museums and galleries throughout Grand Center are free and open the entire evening. FREE

Sept 4th First Fridays in Grand Center 5pm - 9pm First Fridays

in Grand Center are an opportunity for families to enjoy the latest art exhibitions from St. Louis’ leading arts organizations, like the Contemporary Art Museum, the Sheldon Art Galleries, Bruno David Gallery, International Photography Hall of Fame, Craft Alliance, Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, Saint Louis University Museum of Art and others. Explore the neighborhood’s remarkable array of visual arts during a walking tour. FREE

Sept 4th Public Telescope Viewing and Live Sky Tonight Show @ the Planetarium 7pm - 8pm In conjunction with First Fridays at the Saint Louis Science Center, you can participate in public telescope viewing and see the Live Sky Tonight show at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium.

FREE

Sept 5th Dino Dinner @ St Louis Science Center 1pm - 2pm Ever

wonder what dinosaurs ate for dinner?

Join Science Center staff as we explore dinosaur dinner menus and how their teeth were adapted to specific meals.

You will even make your own cast of a real dinosaur tooth! Designed for families with children 5 and up. Cost: $5.00 for all ages. One adult required for every four children.

Sept 6th National Read a Book Day @ Six Flags Nook invites you

to celebrate National Read a Book Day with extra thrills at Six Flags! It’s easy to join the fun! Download the FREE

NOOK Reading App™ on iOS or Android mobile device and show your phone at the NOOK® event table inside the park and receive a wristband for access to a special Exclusive Ride Time event after the park closes!* That’s not all – you’ll also get a special coupon sheet with discounts to use inside the park on National Read a Book Day!

Sept 6th FREE Walking Tour @ Laumeier Sculpture Park 2pm

- 3pm Laumeier tours are interactive and designed for participants to come away with an appreciation of the complex relationships among art, nature and humans. Participants are advised to wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the season. Tours meet at Tony Tasset’s Eye. FREE

Sept 9th You and Me under the Canopy @ Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center 10am

- 11am (Ages 2–6) Come see the topic we are exploring this month. Families, meet in the nature center lobby for a “nature” adventure. Make sure to dress for the weather. Everyone will hike with the naturalist to a special place in the forest and enjoy a nature story under the tree canopy. Make reservations by calling 314-301-1500. FREE

Sept 10th 2nd Thursdays @ the Foundry Art Centre 5:30pm - 8pm Eat, Drink and Be Creative is open to the public and free of charge with nominal fees for food vendors and refreshments. Your entire family can enjoy art activities and get creative together. FREE

Sept 11th Military Day @ Eckert’s Farms 9am - 6:30pm Enjoy a fun-filled day on the farm, visiting

61 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

516 S. Kirkwood Road • St. Louis, MO 63122 • 314.822.8900

farm animals and exploring the farm’s exciting attractions, including Billy Bob’s Pig Races, the Jack-O-Lobber show, Fredbird corn maze, and the jumping pillow. Any person with a military ID will receive 50% off regular admission.

Sept 11th Scampering Squirrels @ Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center 9:30am - 11am (Ages 4 and up) If you walk near woods or trees, the mammals you are most likely to see are squirrels. They are fun to watch as they run and jump and play, flick their bushy tails, chase each other up trees, bury acorns in the fall and dig them up again to eat in winter. But in spite of the playfulness that makes squirrels fun to watch, they face the same challenges in their lives as any other kind of wildlife. Learn more about these lively little mammals as we celebrate their lives with activities and crafts. Reservations begin September 8 by calling 314-301-1500 FREE

Sept 11th Suson Farm Fridays

10am - 1pm Looking for fun in the morning for kids 2-12? Head to Suson Farms! FREE

Sept 11th Voices of Missouri’s Rivers @ Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center 7pm

- 9pm (Ages 12-adult) Learn about the interweaving of science and history and the impact of rivers on our state from the person who speaks for the rivers – Bill Turner, author of the Conservation Department’s latest publication, Voices of Missouri’s Rivers. Turner will share his thoughts and research on our rivers and the reason he felt compelled to write this book. A book signing will follow the presentation.

Sept 12th Scouting Day @ Eckert’s Farms 9am - 6:30pm

Scouts will enjoy a fun-filled day on the farm, exploring the farm’s exciting attractions, including Billy Bob’s Pig Races, the Jack-O-Lobber show, Fredbird corn maze, and jumping pillow. All school-age scouts in uniform will receive free admission. FREE

Sept 16th Wee Wednesdays! @ St. Louis Art Museum

10:30am - 11:30am Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Perfect for pre-kindergartners and their parents, this hour-long Museum experience allows tots to use their imaginations during a gallery tour, story time, and a hands-on art project. FREE

Sept 17th FREE Stroller Tour @ Laumeier Sculpture Park

10am - 11am Enjoy adult conversation while strolling along the paved paths at Laumeier. FREE

Sept 17th Play & Ride @ St. Louis Carousel in Faust Park

10am - 12pm Enjoy a fun play time at the Carousel in Faust Park. Kids ages 5 and under, along with a parent or caregiver, can enjoy the play room and unlimited rides on the carousel.

Sept 18th Emerson Free Family Night @ The Magic House 5:30pm - 9pm Some of the best things in life are free! These special nights enable a family (no more than two adults and four of their own children) to enjoy more than 100 hands on exhibits in the museum at no charge. Reservations are not required. More information: www. magichouse.org FREE

CALENDAR Sep 18th Third Degree Glass Factory Third Friday 6pm - 10pm Come relax near the glow of 2000 degree glass! Bring your friends, your date, or your family. FREE

Enjoy a date night under the stars of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium and learn about the upcoming the Total Lunar Eclipse. Your evening will include a live star show, a classic sci-fi film and a cash bar.

Sept 20th Annual Electric Car Show @ St. Louis Science Center

Sept 25th SLAM Underground

FREE

Sept 26th Go By Train @ Museum of Transportation 9am

11am - 3pm This family friendly event will be a great time to check out an amazing car show on the James S. McDonnell Planetarium parking lot.

Sept 20th Family Day @ Laumeier Sculpture Park A

chance to bond while encouraging observation, imagination, curiosity and creativity. FREE Family Days provide participants of all ages with structured activities for creating art using a variety of materials. Families have fun exploring new media and concepts while finding inspiration within Laumeier’s natural environment, temporary exhibitions and the Permanent Collection. FREE

Sept 25th Nova Nights: Total Lunar Eclipse @ St. Louis Science Center 6:30pm - 10:30pm

7pm - 10pm Join us for music, artmaking, performances and signature cocktails.

- 3:30pm Kid’s activities, Familyfriendly event, Operating model trains, Trolley rides, Special exhibits, book signings, special guests, and MORE! Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Tickets at www. smithsonianmag.com/museumday

Sept 26th Carts + Cocktails @ Laumeier Sculpture Park 6pm -

10pm Carts + Cocktails is a progressive party as unique as Laumeier itself!

Guests cruise through the Park in golf carts, visiting multiple locations to sip cocktails, savor specialty treats and enjoy live entertainment amidst the Outdoor Collection.

Sept 28th Wooly Worm Festival @ Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center 10am - 11:30am

(Ages 3-6) Have you ever been to the Wooly Worm Festival? Well, now you can at Powder Valley. Learn all about these beloved creatures through stories, a craft, and other activities. We will also take a short hike to look for wooly worms and other wildlife. Make reservations by calling 314-301-1500.

FREE

Music Lunch Bands @ Citygarden Wednesdays 11:45am - 12:45pm FREE Missouri History Museum Twilight Tuesday Concert Series Tuesdays 7pm - 9:30pm The Missouri

History Museum presents free outdoor concerts in Forest Park along with family activities prior to each concert.

Concert goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Food & drinks are available for purchase. FREE

Sept 4th Free Concert @ Eckert’s Farms 7pm - 9pm This free event is perfect for all ages. Kid’s activities will be offered. Food, custard, soft drinks, wine and beer will be availablefor purchase. Food or drinks must be purchased from Eckert’s for this event.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening with family and friends. If it rains, concerts will be cancelled. FREE

Sept 6th Afriky Lolo @ St. Louis Art Museum 2pm - 3:30pm FREE Sept 11th Grooving in the Garden with Just In Time @ The Magic House 4pm - 7pm Enjoy a family fun evening at the Museum’s Grooving in the Garden Concert Series with Just In Time St. Louis, a small jazz-oriented ensemble featuring piano, violin, upright bass and drums. Have a chance to sing and dance to music the whole family can enjoy, play in the Museum’s front garden, and enjoy specials from The Magic House’s Picnic Basket Cafe and more!

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 62

CALENDAR Sept 11th – 13th The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses @ Powell Hall

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses-Master Quest makes their Midwest premiere in St. Louis. The adventure comes to life in a concert presenting over 28 years of music from The Legend of Zelda franchise. With the help of video projections, the STL Symphony will take you on a journey as thrilling as the Legend itself.

Sept 12th Train Rides @ Kircher Park 11am - 4pm Kids of all ages are invited to ride the trains. The steam and diesel trains are operated by the St. Louis Live Steamers, a nonprofit organization interested in the construction of large-scale model railroads. FREE

Sept 18th – 20th Opening Weekend with Joshua Bell @ Powell Hall The St. Louis Symphony kicks off the season of storytelling with two pieces that brought great fame to their respective composers.

LeošJanáček’s Taras Bulba tells the tale of a warrior and his sons as they journey into battle while Kodaly’s Háry János takes a different approach in the form of a folk opera depicting a dream world. Called “the greatest American violinist active today”

Sept 19th Dan + Shay In Concert @ Six Flags 6pm - 8pm A concert

2015 @ Scottrade Center 7pm

- 9pm Starring Rich Homie Quan and featuring K Camp, Justine Skye, Jacques, Diggy, Elijah Blake, Rawyals, Anthony Lewis, Chris Miles, 4EY and Star Mic!

Sept 28th – 29th TAYLOR SWIFT @ Scottrade Center 7:30pm -

Giving Back

Shopping

Sept 5th Birthright Run for Life @ Creve Coeur Lake 8:30am -

Aug 30 – Sep 7th The Stork Lady Resale Event @ Gateway Center FREE Sept 11th – 12th Flea Market @ Sacred Heart Parish – Crystal City

There will be a huge variety of items available for sale from furniture to children’s toys to household items. For more information, call Sharon at 636282-1829. FREE

Sept 11th – 13th Man Cave Expo @ Gateway Center FREE Sept 12th 3rd Annual Rummage Sale to Benefit SVDP @ St. Joseph’s Parish – Manchester 7am - 2pm FREE

ticket is required along with park admission.

Sept 24th – 27th Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate @ Chaifetz Arena

Sept 12th St Clare Catholic Church Rummage Sale 11am - 4pm FREE

Sept 25th – 26th All-Strauss @ Powell Hall 8pm - 10:30pm David

Sept 19th – 20th “New to You” Rummage Sale @ Immaculate Heart of Mary – St. Louis FREE

Sept 27th Musical Nights @ Oak Knoll Park 5pm - 7pm Bring your own food and beverages or enjoy food truck fare. FREE

Sept 27th Scream Nation Presents Back 2 School Fest

Sept 25th – 27th Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Flea Market 5pm - 6pm FREE

9:30pm

Sept 12th Mary Queen of Peace - Webster Groves Trunks of Treasures Tailgate Sale FREE

Robertson leads an epic program devoted to bold musical stories depicted

by Richard Strauss. Revel in the musical adventures of Don Quixote, filled with dreams of knightly glory, featuring Principal Cellist Daniel Lee. Finnish lyric soprano Karita Mattila, recognized for the beauty and versatility of her voice, as for her extraordinary stage ability, performs Strauss’ final scene from Capriccio. Audiences will be mesmerized by some of literature’s greatest works set to music.

bargains, there will be music and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy while visiting. FREE

Sept 19th Belleville Flea Market @ Belle-Clair Fairgrounds 9am 4pm FREE Sept 20th Kids’ Flea Market @ The Magic House 11am - 3pm

The Magic House is looking for enterprising kids 16 years and younger to sell their handmade craft items, outgrown toys, books, baseball cards, games and more at the Museum’s Annual Kids’ Flea Market. Not only is this a great opportunity for kids to make their own money, but they can also earn extra points with their parents by cleaning out their rooms! This event is great for bargain hunters as well and is open to the public for shopping. There will be all kinds of hidden treasures to discover. In addition to the great

63 September 2015 CatholicFamilyOnline.com

9:30am Join us for a 6k run or walk around Creve Coeur Lake. Bring the whole family for a morning full of activities including a fun run with Fredbird®, face painting and live music All proceeds enable Birthright mothers in financial need to continue their education, as well as secure safe housing for themselves and their child.

Sign up today!

Sept 6th Montagna @ St Ambrose Church 10am - 5pm Start/Finish at St. Ambrose Church Sponsored by Hill 2000, Inc. All participants MUST wear a helmet.

Sept 11th Missouri Right to Life Golf Tournament 11:30am - 2pm

Help support the Missouri Right to Life Education Fund by participating in the MRL four-person scramble at The Links at Dardenne. To register, call 314.434.4900.

Sept 11th 29th annual Mick Brady Golf Tournament 1pm -

5pm 29th annual Mick Brady Golf Tournament benefiting incoming 8th graders. It will be held at The Landings at Spirit Golf Club in Chesterfield (180 N Eatherton Road).

Sept 12th Holy Name Golf Tournament We will be playing

18 holes this year, twice around at beautiful Ruth Park in University City.

Sept 12th Sacred Heart MY SCHOOL COLOR RUN 9am -

12pm Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 751 North Jefferson Street, Florissant Join the Sacred Heart Athletic Committee and walk, jog or run your way toward a healthier life while raising funds for our Athletic Committee. Each participant will go through a 3.1 mile course. You will be showered with color throughout the route. Then, be ready for a fun, unique experience at the finish line!! The Color Run is open to EVERYONE in the community and we encourage you to join us for a fun day with friends and family!

Sept 12th St. Louis Police Wives’ Association Annual Trivia Night @ St. Mary’s High School 6pm 7pm Come join us for a fun night of trivia and more! Your support allows us to continue our effort to support St. Louis Area police officers and their families in times of crisis through community outreach and educational scholarship assistance!

Sept 12th Dinner & Concert Benefit Fundraiser @ Immaculate Heart of Mary

6:30pm - 8:30pm For Brett Haubrich (St. Mark’s student) & Childhood Cancer Research Facebook.com/ brettsfundraiser

Sept 13th Caritas Connections Golf Tournament 11am - 12pm At

Forest Park Golf Course. The purpose of this event is to raise funds to support Caritas Connections. This is Fr. Bryon’s (retired associate pastor at St. Gerard Majella Parish) faith-based organization dedicated to “connecting those who have with those who need.”

Sept 19th Chester Polak Memorial Golf Tournament @ St. Sabina Parish Cost is $80/

person. For information, contact Gary Anterhaus at 314 313-7133.

Sept 19th Meet Me in STL Trivia Night @ St. Louis the King School 5pm - 9pm

CALENDAR

Dinner and dancing at Busch Stadium!

For more information, please call Janine DiMarco at 314-660-1009 or Barb Finnegan at 314-740-1717. All proceeds to benefit Birthright Counseling, St. Louis.

Sept 21st Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet’s 2015 Annual Golf Tournament @ Westborough Country Club 11am - 7pm Enjoy a day on the course and support the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet’s mission and ministries.

Sept 22nd Red Cross Blood Drive @ Holy Redeemer Catholic School 3:30pm - 7:30pm Give the gift of live—donate blood! FREE Sept 26th SEMOJB/St. Clement Friends of the Poor Walk 8am -

11am There will be a Memorial Mass at 8am and the walk will follow at 9am. Please join us for a morning of fellowship and community in support of the mission of SVDP. FREE

Sept 26th SVDP “Walk for the Poor” with St. Clement of Rome and St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist parishes 8am -

11am Helping people in poverty. Come walk with us.

Sept 26th Saint Pius X High School Walk for the Poor 8:30am

- 11am We invite you to participate and become “Friends of the Poor”. Pledges made on behalf of registered walkers will benefit those most in need in the Festus/Crystal City community. It will be vitally important that the St. Vincent de Paul receive support for this fund raising activity to help the poor in our area.

Sept 27th Donation Truck @ St Joseph’s Church 9am - 5pm

The Rest Storytime @ Catholic Supply Store (St. Louis Hills Store) Wednesday s 10am - 11am Georgy Rock is here on Wednesday FREE Missouri History Museum Twilight Tuesday Concert Series Tuesdays 7pm - 9:30pm Free outdoor

concerts in Forest Park along with family activities prior to each concert.

Concert goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Food & drinks are available for purchase. FREE

Sept 19th Pirate Geocache Treasure Dig @ Creve Coeur Park 3pm - 5pm Come out to the

park where multiple “treasures” have been hidden in the beach and other areas! You will be given a map with coordinates and information on where X marks the spots. Bring GPS or Smartphone with GPS App. Best toy shovel for digging. Costumes encourages but not required. Must register in advance by Sat Sept 12 atstlouisco.com/parks or call 314-6154386.

Sept 20th Hiking with Rover @ Shaw Nature Reserve 5pm - 7pm

Bring you canine companion for a nice

one-to-two mile hike. This is a rare opportunity to bring your dogs to Shaw Nature Reserve. Your dog(s) must be socialized, remain on a 6-foot leash at all times, you must pick up after your dog, and your dog must be up-to-date on vaccinations. Please bring a record the day of the class. Hike is over rolling terrain.

Sept 23rd Family Movie Day: Monsters University @ Baden Branch Library 4pm - 6pm FREE Sept 26th Movie Night in Lafayette Square Park 7:30pm 10pm FREE

Free Movies @ Central Library Thursdays 6:30pm - 7:30pm FREE Sept 4th Feast in the Park @ Laumeier Sculpture Park 5pm

- 8pm Join family and friends to picnic on a wide variety of delicious fare from local culinary entrepreneurs while enjoying live music by the Ralph Butler Duo. Admission is FREE; no coolers allowed. Presented by St. Louis County Parks in partnership with Feast Magazine and the St. Louis Food Truck Association. FREE

Sept 9th Movie Night @ Sachs Branch Library 6:30pm - 8:30pm FREE Sept 10th Feast in the Park Food Truck Events @ Faust Park 5pm - 7:30pm

Sept 12th Dinner & A Movie @ Brentwood Park 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Enjoy a fun family Saturday night in the park and a free movie. Movies begin at sundown (about 7:45 p.m.)and food trucks will arrive approximately 45 minutes prior. FREE

Sept 14th Movie Mondays at Ballpark Village 6pm - 9pm FREE

Photo by Jade Albert

Sept 19th Friends of Birthright Gala @ Busch Stadium 6pm - 9pm

Learn more at

autismspeaks.org/signs Some signs to look for:

No big smiles or other joyful expressions by 6 months

No babbling by 12 months

No words by 16 months

© 2014 Autism Speaks Inc. “Autism Speaks” and “It's time to listen” & design are trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved. The person depicted is a model and is used for illustrative purposes only.

Check us out at CatholicFamilyOnline.com Social Media: CatholicFamSTL

CatholicFamilyOnline.com September 2015 64

Thank you to all schools who participated in helping Cardinal Glennon Kids!

Abiding Savior Lutheran School Annunziata School Christ the King School Fort Zumwalt North Middle School Freeburg District 70 Good Shepherd Catholic School Hancock Place Elementary School Holy Infant School Holy Rosary Immaculate Conception Dardenne Prairie Immaculate Conception Old Monroe

Kennerly Elementary School Lovejoy Elementary Miriam School Most Sacred Heart School - Eureka Our Lady of Lourdes School Our Lady of the Pillar Our Lady School Parkwood Elementary Point Elementary Sacred Heart School Spring Bluff

St. Alphonsus St. Ambrose Catholic School St. Angela Merici St. Clare of Assisi St. Clement of Rome St. Gertrude School St. Ignatius of Loyola St. John Neumann Catholic School St. John the Baptist Catholic School St. John the Evangelist St. Joseph Cottleville

St. Joseph Josephville St. Justin Martyr School St. Margaret of Scotland School St. Mark Catholic School St. Mary Magdalen St. Paul Catholic School St. Peter Catholic School St. Rose of Lima St. Vincent Elementary Ste. Genevieve du Bois Sts. Joachim & Ann Catholic School Victory Christian Academy

H O M E R S F O R H E A LT H H O M E R U N D E R B Y 2 0 1 5

If your school would like to participate in 2016 Homers for Health fundraising activities, please contact Christina Schellhardt, Director of Community Outreach and Events at 314-678-6637 or Christina_Schellhardt@ssmhc.com.

To view more photos or make a gift, visit glennon.org/h4h-derby PRESENTED BY:

Nationally ranked care for kids. That’s

SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center has over 200 of the best pediatric experts in St. Louis, practicing across more than 60 specialties.

Here if you need us.

In case of emergency, SSM Cardinal Glennon pediatric experts can be found at the following hospital ERs: >> SSM DePaul Health Center

>> SSM St. Joseph Hospital West

>> SSM St. Clare Health Center

>> Anderson Hospital

>> SSM St. Joseph Health Center

>> St. Anthony’s Medical Center

Find an SSM Cardinal Glennon pediatrician and learn more about our pediatric expertise at

cardinalglennon.com

©2015 SSM Health. All rights reserved. SSM-15-7259 6/15

With the region’s top two pediatric heart surgeons and nationally ranked programs in cardiology and gastroenterology, children across the St. Louis region have access to the best care possible.