1. family and parenting
2. children

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April 2015
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Page 2 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Letter From The Editor
Contents
Dear Readers,
April 2015
A
n estimated one out of every 68 children are
affected with Autism. April is Autism
Awareness month and in this issue Dr. Ozdemir of
Pediatric Associates of Jacksonville helps us to
understand Autism. In our Tidbits this month,
read about how you can help shine a light on
Autism (page 36).
living well
Community Profile: Wolfson Children’s Hospital....................................... 5
Passover & Easter Events........................................................................ 6
Health & safety
If you love Spring but Spring doesn’t love you,
turn to page 8 and read Dr. Joshi of Family
Allergy Asthma Consultants’ tips for you during
Pollen season.
Soon Spring will turn to Summer and children will
be out of school. Summer Camp planning is well
underway and you’ll find many options on pages
9 through 13.
There are so many great events happening during
the month of April we could have published an
entire newspaper filled with events. You’ll find
all of them listed in our online events directory at
www.jax4kids.com. Here are a few we think are
exceptional family fun. Disney On Ice, Let’s Celebrate will be at the Veterans Memorial Arena from
April 9th through 12th. You can save $5 on tickets using the code J4K15. There will be a special
School Performance on Friday, April 10th at
10:30am. Tickets are $10. Call 1-866-248-8740
(option 3) and mention Jax4Kids. The Cake Boss
returns to Jacksonville on April 8th! Turn to page
24 for show details. Mythbusters fans, Jamie &
Adam will be at the Florida Theatre on April 28th.
Jax4Kids.com is proud to sponsor several great
events this April - the Clay County Fair opens on
April 2nd for ten days of wholesome family fun.
We bring you the 25th Earth Day Ecology Fair at
the Jacksonville Landing on April 18th, and on
April 25th, join us for the Butterfly Festival at Tree
Hill Nature Center and on April 26th at 2pm, join
us for pre-concert activities at the Jacksonville
Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of The Twins
Spring Pollen Season Is Upon Us............................................................. 8
Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle..................................................................... 8
Important Facts About Measles............................................................... 9
and the Monster. Easter and Passover events are
on page 6 and you’ll find more online at www.
jax4kids.com.
We have assembled ideas and money-saving tips
to help you in planning your child’s next Birthday
Party. Whether you have toddlers or teens or
children in between, the fun begins on page 15.
Pull this section out and keep it for future reference. You can visit our online Birthday Parties
resource at www.jax4kids.com and our Birthday
Parties Pinterest board for more ideas.
Happy Easter or Passover!
Until next month,
Alison Peters-Carlson
Editor
Summer Camps...............................................................9-13
Birthday parties
Start with a Plan...................................................................................16
Preserving Birthday Memories...............................................................16
Bounce House Safety............................................................................17
Money-saving Birthday Party Tips..........................................................18
Low Key Events for Little Ones..............................................................19
Tried and True Party Games for Tots.......................................................20
That’s My Job, Captain Character, Children’s Entertainer........................20
Favorite Party Themes.....................................................................21-22
Party Ideas for Teens.......................................................................23-24
education
It’s Time to Celebrate our Poets and Poetry............................................26
Is Dual Enrollment an Option for Your High School Student?....................27
duval county public schools..........................28
clay county school news....................................29
st. johns county school news..................30-31
Teens
Fight Distractions with the Spider Technique..........................................32
Infant & Toddler
More Children Getting Cavities at a Younger Age....................................33
Follow us...
Alison Peters-Carlson Editor....................................... [email protected]
Linda Bigbee Graphic [email protected]
Judi Fields Circulation [email protected]
Doug Berle Advertising Sales......................................... [email protected]
Beth Canonica Advertising Sales.................................... [email protected]
Donna Paunetto Advertising Sales.............................. [email protected]
Mary Gustafson Business Manager............................... [email protected]
Published by Child Enrichment, LLC, 12620-3 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246. Copyright 2015.
Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by Jax4Kids.com To Go is strictly prohibited without
written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for any errors and/or omissions. The
Publisher’s liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for
publication are welcome and may be sent to [email protected]. For more information concerning
advertising, call 904-710-2020 or e-mail [email protected].
Page 3 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
special needs
Studies Show 1 in 100 Children Have OCD............................................34
Family Café Conference Set..................................................................34
Controlling Autism in Children is Everyone’s Responsibility......................35
tidbits.........................................................................................36
pets...............................................................................................38
Things to do
April Events..........................................................................................39
JAC KS O N V I L L E SY M P H O NY FAM I LY S E R I E S
Sun, Apr 26
at 3 pm
Pre-concert activities
begin at 2 pm
Jacoby Symphony Hall
Times-Union Center for the
Performing Arts
Two twins must outwit a
fierce monster and heal
their devastated village.
Norma Lewis brings the story
to life using carved masks,
singing and movement.
904.354.5547 • JaxSymphony.org
Page 4 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Living well
Community Profile:
On A Mission for All
T
he recent operations to separate conjoined
twins have again made the hospital the
focus of the national media. But it’s not the
exotic cases that make this organization such an
important part of our community. Its mission is to
provide world-class pediatric care to all the
children in the region.
Recognized year after year as one of America’s
top children’s hospitals, Wolfson is the only
full-service hospital for children in North Florida
and South Georgia, providing care regardless of
their ability to pay.
and is affiliated with the nursing programs at the
University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Florida State College Jacksonville, St. Johns
River Community College, the University of
Florida, Florida State University and the University
of Central Florida.
A vital part of the hospital’s mission is to
advocate on behalf of kids in the public policy
arena, making sure that their needs and concerns
are heard when important decisions are made.
With the establishment of THE PLAYERS Center
for Child Health, funded by a $1 million gift from
THE PLAYERS in 2011, they have cemented this
mission by focusing on health and wellness,
childhood injury prevention, healthcare access
and community education. It serves as the lead
organization in Safe Kids Northeast Florida, a
program to address pediatric injury prevention
needs, and to prevent accidental injuries in
children 14 and under; The Community Asthma
Partnership, a program to educate providers and
caregivers to manage the disease; Florida
KidCare, helping secure health insurance for
children; and, along with the Jaguar Foundation,
sponsoring NFL Play 60, a program designed to
help prevent childhood obesity by empowering
children to make healthier food choices and
exercise.
You can help Wolfson complete its mission by
donating directly to the Baptist Health Foundation
or participating in one of the many fundraising
events that support the hospital.
Upcoming events include:
A non-profit organization, Wolfson relies on
charitable donations to provide this care. With
the aid of an initial $500,000 donation from the
Wolfson Family Foundation, the hospital opened
in 1955 as a place for all children to be admitted
and treated without regard to creed, religion, race
or financial position. A part of Baptist Health, the
region’s most comprehensive healthcare provider,
it is supported by the Baptist Health Foundation
and physician partnerships with Nemours
Children’s Specialty Care, the University of Florida
College of Medicine, Brooks Rehabilitation and
the Mayo Clinic.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital is also a center of
research and a leading teaching hospital
dedicated to training tomorrow’s pediatric
doctors, nurses and technical staff.
It serves as the main teaching facility for the
University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville’s Pediatric Residency Training Program,
Page 5 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Jacksonville Greek Festival, Apr. 23-25, 11 a.m.
to 9 p.m., Jacksonville Fairgrounds.
5% of proceeds will be donated to Wolfson.
Bowls for Moms, May 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Woodcraft, 9280 Arlington Expressway, proceeds
will go to Beads of Courage, which supports the
pediatric oncology department.
Riders Against Cancer Poker Run - Motorcycle
Charity, May 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pecan Park,
proceeds to benefit the oncology department.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament,
May 14-16, Palatka City Docks, for more
information visit foundation.baptistjax.com/
basstournament j
• Charcoal Drawing
• Ebony Pencil
Drawing
• Design
• Clay
• Painting
• Print Making
• Scratchboard Art
• Gouache
• Sculpture
• Adult Classes
Register Now For
Summer Workshops
Two Locations
To Serve You:
1406 Kingsley Ave
Orange Park, FL 32073
8411 Baymeadows Way #2
Jacksonville, FL 32256
www.WolfsonChildrens.org
904.612.7557
www.childrensartclasses.com
passover & Easter events
Passover Matzah Making
April 2, 1:30pm to 2:15pm
The Jewish Community Alliance hosts Passover
Matzah Making for ages 3 to 6. Kids can mix,
knead and roll dough into matzah. Cost is $10 for
members, and $15 for non-members. Register
online. Jewish Community Alliance / 904-7302100 / 8505 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL
32217 / www.jcajax.org
Easter Egg Suncatcher With Spring Flowers
April 3, 11 am
We have an amazing selection of flowers right
here at Whole Foods Market and today we are going to use flower petals to create an egg shaped
suncatcher. This activity is great for little hands!
For lunch we will enjoy pizza and decorate
coconut and jellybean cupcakes. All ages are
welcome, but children must be accompanied by
an adult. $5.00 per child. Registration for this
Southside Chabad Passover Seder
event is required. Visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/
April 3, 7:30pm; April 4, 8pm
Enjoy The Seder, serving succulent Urugayan beef easter-egg-suncatcher-with-spring-flowerstickets-16248593982
paired handmade round ‘Shmurah’ Matza from
Whole Foods Market / 10601 San Jose Blvd,
Israel. Discover the Haggadah and the timeless
Jacksonville, FL 32257 / 904-288-1100 / www.
messages of Passover.
First Seder – Friday, April 3, 7:30pm. Adults, $54 wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/jacksonville
Students/Children under 12, $18. Limited to 50
Easter Egg Hunt and Craft
reservations.
April 4, 3pm to 5:30pm
Second Seder – Saturday April 4, 8pm. Adults
$54, Students/Children under 12 $18. Limited to TNT hosts an Easter Egg Hunt and Craft. There
will be an Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, gymnastics
50 reservations. Chabad Southside / 904-6464434 / 11271 Alumni Way, Jacksonville FL 32246 time, open play and more. Ages 2 to 5, 3pm to
4:30pm and ages 6 to 10 from 4pm to 5:30pm.
/ www.southsidechabad.com
Cost is $12 in advance before 3/29 or $15 for
late registration/walk-in. Ages 12-23 months are
Passover Seder
$6. Call to register in advance. TNT Gymnastics
April 3, 7pm; April 4, 7:30pm
/ 904-998-TNT1 / 2683 Saint Johns Bluff Rd,
Chabad at the Beaches is inviting all residents
to participate in community Seders to be held on Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www.tntgymfit.com
Friday night, April 3, and again on Saturday night,
Adventure Landing Easter Egg Hunt
April 4. Included in the Seder will be traditional
Beaches Location • April 4, 9am to 12noon
hand made Matzah, and a five course kosher for
Passover meal. All are welcome to join the com- Adventure Landing hosts their Annual Easter Egg
Hunts on the Mini Golf Courses with a visit by the
munity seder, regardless of Jewish affiliation or
Easter Bunny. There will be 3 Egg Hunts: 9am,
background. Reservations can be made online
First Seder: April 3 at 7pm. Adults: $50, Students 10am & 11am. Egg Hunt registration begins at
8am. There are 3 age groups for each hunt:
& Children (under 12):$25, Family $250
Ages 4 & Under, 5-8, and 9-12. A $3 Per Child
Second Seder: April 4 at 7:30pm. Adults $36,
Students & Children (under 12) $18, Family $180 Donation will benefit the American Red Cross
Volunteer Life-Saving Corp. Each hunt is followed
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
by a charity raffle. There will also be stay and
Chabad Beaches / 904-543-9301 / 521 A1A N.
play specials From 9am-2pm, enjoy Unlimited
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.ChabadMini Golf, Laser Tag and Go-Karts. $10 – Guests
Beaches.com
under 56” tall or $15 – Guests 56” tall and over.
Adventure Landing / 904-246-4386 / 1944 Beach
Passover Seder Meal
Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.
April 4, 5pm
adventurelanding.com
Complete Seder meal and dessert with a reading of the Passover story and indepth prophetic
Adventure Landing Easter Egg Hunt – Blandteaching of Yeshua/Jesus in the Passover Feast.
Reservations are required and seating is limited. ing Blvd and St. Augustine
Adults: $20; Children: $8 (ages 5-12). Reserva- April 4, 9am to 12noon
Adventure Landing hosts their Annual Easter
tions Required, 904-827-9731.
Egg Hunt on the Mini Golf Courses with a visit
Hineni Messianic Fellowship / 904-827-9731 /
by the Easter Bunny. There will be 2 Egg Hunts:
1797 Old Moultrie Rd., Ste 102 St. Augustine, FL
9am and 11am. Egg Hunt registration begins at
32084 / www.hinenimessiah.com
8:15am. There are 3 age groups for each hunt:
EASTER EVENTS
Ages 4 & Under, 5-8, and 9-12. A $3 Per Child
Donation will benefit the St. Francis Animal HospiEco-Friendly Egg Hunt
tal (Blanding location) or the Betty Griffin House
April 2, 11 am
(St. Augustine location). Each hunt is followed by
Come dressed in your Easter themed outfit for a
a charity raffle. There will also be stay and play
spring photo op! Color hardboiled eggs with plant specials. From 9am-2pm, enjoy Unlimited Mini
and fruit based dye. You will take yours home in Golf and Go-Karts. $10 – Guests under 56” tall or
a recycled nest. Join our courtyard egg hunt with $15 – Guests 56” tall and over.
over 100 Eco-Friendly eggs! We will enjoy AnAdventure Landing / 904-827-9400 / 2780 State
nie’s Bunny Mac & Cheese and decorate coconut Road 16, St. Augustine , FL 32092 / www.advenand jellybean cupcakes. All ages are welcome,
turelanding.com
but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Adventure Landing / 904-771-2803 / 4825
$5.00 per child. Registration for this event is
Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32210 / www.
required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ecoadventurelanding.com
friendly-egg-hunt-tickets-16248503712
Whole Foods Market / 10601 San Jose Blvd,
Easter Eggstravaganza at Chets Creek
Jacksonville, FL 32257 / 904-288-1100 / www.
Elementary • April 4, 9:30am to 12noon
wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/jacksonville
This is a free community wide event for fami-
Page 6 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
lies. There will be egg hunts for different ages,
inflatables, food, games, crafts, face-painting,
and more. Chets Creek Church / 904-223-5954
/ Chets Creek Elementary School, 4420 Hodges
Boulevard Jacksonville, FL 32224 / hodges.
chetscreek.com
Easter Eggstravaganza
April 4, 10am to 12noon
Chets Creek Church hosts an Easter Eggstravaganza on April 4. This is a free community wide
event for families. There will be egg hunts for
different ages, inflatables, food, games, crafts,
face-painting, and more.
Chets Creek Church / 904-223-5954 / Valley
Ridge Academy, 105 Greenleaf Drive, Ponte Vedra,
FL 32081 / nocatee.chetscreek.com
The Great Spring Egg Hunt
April 4, 10am to 1pm
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens hosts The
Great Spring Egg Hunt on the Zoo’s Great Lawn.
Egg hunts will be divided into age groups. Several
lucky guests from each age group will find some
EGGcellent Zoo gifts. Don’t forget to bring a
basket to collect the eggs. There will also be eggrelated enrichment for animals throughout the
Zoo. This event is free with regular Zoo admission. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-7574463 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218
/ www.jacksonvillezoo.org
Family Life Olympics & Egghunt
April 4, 10am to 1pm
Southpoint Community Church hosts a Family
Life Olympics & Egghunt. There will be competitions for groups of 3 (family teams & kids’ teams
K-5th) followed by an Easter Egg Hunt for kids
4 & younger. Plus, enjoy free hot dogs & drinks.
Register online. Southpoint Community Church /
904-281-1188 / 7556 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256 / www.southpointcc.com
City of Jacksonville Beach Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 10am
The City of Jacksonville Beach hosts an Easter
Egg Hunt at 10am at Sunshine Park.
City of Jacksonville Beach / Sunshine Park,
Osceola Avenue and South Beach Parkway,
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.jacksonvillebeach.org
Community Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 10am to 12noon
Crosswater Community Church hosts a community
Easter Egg Hunt from 10am to 12pm. There will be
jump castles, food, crafts, balloon animals, popcorn and
the Easter Egg Hunt. Be sure to bring your basket to
collect the eggs.
Crosswater Community Church / 904-824-9800 / 211
Davis Park Road Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32081 / www.
crosswaterchurch.net
Easter Egg Hunt
April 4, 10:30am to 12noon
Families with children from infants to 5th graders are
welcome to attend, free of charge. In addition to the
Egg Hunt will be food, games and prizes.
Jones Road Baptist Church / 904-699-1960 / 2506
Jones Road, Jacksonville, FL 32220
Easter Celebration
April 4, 11am to 2pm
Mandarin United Methodist Church hosts an Easter
Celebration with inflatable bouncy houses and slides,
storytelling stations, face painting, multiple Easter Egg
Hunts, live music, food trucks, and more. Contact Sam
Corlew at [email protected] with any questions.
Mandarin United Methodist Church / 904-629-0022 /
11270 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / mandarinumc.com
57th Annual Easter Promenade
April 5, 12:30pm
The 57th Annual Easter Promenade will be held downtown at the Plaza de la Constitucion. Honored guests
will be the Royal Family of St. Augustine. There will also
be a Guess the Number of Rubber Ducks contest, and
prizes for a variety of categories including prettiest hat,
most creative hat, best dressed boy/girl, best dressed
pet, and more. Contest registration starts at 12noon.
City of St. Augustine / 904-829-3800 / Plaza de la
Constitución, St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
/ www.staugeasterfestival.com
Easter SONrise Service in San Marco Square
April 5, 6:30am – 7:30am
Easter Sunrise Service in San Marco Square. Hot
Chocolate, Coffee and Donuts will be waiting!
1435 Atlantic Blvd / 904-396-6633
St. Augustine Easter Parade
April 5, 3pm
The annual St. Augustine Easter Parade features marching bands, floats, drill teams, clowns, the Easter Bunny,
the Royal Family and the city’s carriage horses wearing
hats donated by nationally- recognized women. The
Peter Cottontail Express
parade begins at 3pm at the Mission of Nombre de Dios
April 4, 10am to 4pm
and winds through downtown St. Augustine. Trophies
The St. Marys Railroad Peter Cottontail Express
will be presented in four categories.
excursion. Journey to the land of magic eggs and City of St. Augustine / 904-829-3800 / Downtown St.
Easter bunnies with Peter Cottontail taking center Augustine, 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL
stage to ride the return trip and host a fun Easter 32084 / www.staugeasterfestival.com
Egg Hunt. Tickets for open air railcar rides are
: Adults $17, Children (3-12) $11, and Children
under 2 free. St. Marys Railroad / 912-200-5235
/ 1000 Osborne Street, St. Marys, GA, 31558 /
www.stmarysrailroad.com
Family Eggstravaganza at Celebration Church
April 5
A free, fun event for the whole family on Easter Sunday
night. Food, games, music, and more!
5pm – Celebration Arena / 9555 R.G. Skinner Parkway
– Jacksonville, FL 32256
Spring Egg Hunt
5pm – Celebration St. Johns / 616 St. Road 13 – St.
April 4, 10am to 1pm
FL 32259
The Easter Bunny will be at Jordan Park on Satur- Johns,
5:30pm – Celebration Orange Park / 512 Kingsley
day April 4. There will be lots of fun activities for Avenue – Orange Park, FL 32073
the entire family including games, train rides and Celebration Church / 904-737-1121 /
free refreshments. For more info, call 904-247www.celebration.org
5828. City of Atlantic Beach / 904-247-4038 /
Jordan Park, 1671 Francis Ave, Atlantic Beach, FL
32233 / www.coab.us
For a complete list of Passover and
Easter Events, visit Jax4Kids.com
Sleeping Beauty
Ballet
With the
Jacksonville Symphony
Sat, May 2 at 8 pm
Sun, May 3 at 3 pm
Jim and Jan Moran Theater
Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
9 0 4.35 4.55 47
JaxSymphony.org
Page 7 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
health & safety
Spring Pollen Season Is Upon Us!
M
any say that spring in Northeast Florida is
the best time of the year to enjoy our
wonderful outdoors. The birds are chirping. The
grass is growing. Cool breezes are blowing and
our children are playing baseball and soccer
while enjoying the ideal weather. Unfortunately,
many people suffer with seasonal allergies in the
spring which can make outdoor activities much
more challenging.
antihistamines or prescribed nasal steroids/nasal
antihistamines can also be very helpful in
minimizing symptoms, if used on a regular basis
during the pollen season. Since each of the
medications has potential side effects, they
should be used only under the supervision of a
physician. Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots
or allergy drops) is a way in which a person
suffering with allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma
can be desensitized to his or her triggers. This
can lead to a “cure” of the allergy symptoms. An
allergist/immunologist can determine if an
individual is a good candidate for immunotherapy
as it is not appropriate in every situation.
Spring is a wonderful time of the year in Northeast Florida. The weather is beautiful, flowers are
blooming and the ocean waters are warming up.
Everyone, even allergy sufferers, can enjoy this
time of year as long as appropriate treatment
strategies are in place. Have a wonderful spring!
Spring Pollen:
Since we do not have as many hard freezes
during the winter as our friends up north, our
pollen season tends to occur sooner and last
longer than most parts of the country. From
mid-February until late May, trees release pollen
that can fly for hundreds of miles at a time. It is
the pollen (tiny gains that are required to grow
the plant population) that leads to the classic
symptoms of “hay fever” (allergic rhinitis). Each
tree has a period of time in which it releases its
pollen and this tends to be relatively consistent
Tips:
from year to year. In the earlier part of the spring, • Keep windows closed during the spring pollen
yellow pollen will dust our cars and driveways.
season.
This yellow powder is from pine trees. However
• Air conditioning with a good air filter (preferthere are many other trees that release pollen
ably electrostatic).
particles that are so small they cannot be seen by • Drive with the windows rolled up.
the naked eye. In fact oak trees produce the
• Avoid going outdoors if possible during late
most pollen of any other plant in the area but this
afternoon and evening, when pollen counts
pollen is not visible! Thus, the pollen season may
peak.
catch people by surprise as it lasts well beyond
• During high pollen counts, spend as much
the time that the yellow pollen is present.
time indoors as possible.
• People who spend a lot of time outdoors
Symptoms of Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis):
should wash their hair in the evening prior to
The classic symptoms of hay fever include
bed since the hair can be a trap for airborne
sneezing, runny nose, nasal stuffiness, postnasal
pollen.
drainage, sinus pressure and itching eyes, nose,
• Do not use an outdoor clothesline to dry
ears and/or throat. If not treated, these sympclothes as this will allow pollen to come into
toms can progress and lead to a sinus infection,
the house and on one’s body. j
bronchitis or even asthma exacerbations.
Occasionally people who suffer with seasonal
Sunil Joshi, MD is a Board Certified Allergist/
allergic rhinitis will also develop itchy/inflamed
Immunologist, the Vice-President of Family Allergy
skin known as eczema.
Asthma Consultants and is a Past-President of
the Florida Allergy Asthma Immunology Society
Diagnosis:
Usually the history of seasonal symptoms is
Main Office and Business Location:
enough to support a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. 4123 University Blvd. South; Suite B
However, allergy testing can be performed to
Jacksonville, Florida 32216
confirm the suspicion. Allergy testing is done
Beaches Location:
with either skin or blood testing and should be
135 Professional Drive, Suite 106
done under the guidance of a physician. Once
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32082
the appropriate allergens are identified, then an
Mandarin Location:
appropriate management strategy can be
12276 San Jose Blvd., Suite 609
implemented.
Jacksonville, FL 32223
Fleming Island:
Treatment:
1570 Island Ln
A personalized treatment plan can be very
Fleming Island, FL 32003
effective in managing the symptoms. Avoiding
904-636-9100
exposure to the pollen is the most effective
jaxallergists.com
approach, however it can be very difficult to
accomplish in particular while enjoying the
weather. Medications such as over-the-counter
Page 8 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Bite Into a Healthy
Lifestyle!
E
very year the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics promotes a theme that encourages healthy dietary and exercise habits. This
year, the academy challenges us to “Bite Into a
Healthy Lifestyle” which implies that we should
NOT equate healthy eating with fad dieting, but
rather we should embrace sustainable lifestyle
changes which can improve our overall long-term
health and well-being and reduce our chances of
chronic disease.
Let’s look at a few of the nutrition and exercise
tips from the Academy. Many of these tips are a
family-effort, and are relevant for both children
and adults.
1. Eat Breakfast: Breakfast is still the most
important meal of the day for you and your
children. Not only does it kick-start your
metabolism, but it gives your brain the fuel
it needs to face the work/school
day ahead. Include protein
for the best start.
2. Make Half Your
Plate Fruits
and Vegetables:
Visit www.
MyPlate.
gov for
more
information
how to incorporate more fruits/veggies in
your diet.
3. Watch Portion Sizes: Limit carbohydrates
to ¼ of your plate – this includes pasta,
bread, rolls, rice or potatoes.
4. Be Active: Kids should aim for 60 minutes
of physical activity per day – grab a basketball or your bike and get out there with
them!
5. Fix Healthy Snacks: Healthy snacks are
important for growing kids as they can
contribute a significant source of energy
and protein for the day. Skip the empty-calorie snacks including chips, cookies, sodas
and other sweetened beverages.
6. Get to Know Food Labels: The Food and
Drug Administration has guidelines to help
navigate through a food label and what the
numbers mean. Go to www.fda.gov/Food/
IngredientsPackagingLabeling
7. Consult an RDN (Registered Dietitian /
Nutritionist) if:
• You have diabetes, cardiovascular
problems or high blood pressure;
• You are thinking of having or have had
gastric bypass surgery;
• You need to gain or lose weight.
8. Follow Food Safety Guidelines: Keep
hot foods hot and cold foods cold – don’t
defrost meat on the kitchen counter where
it can come to room temperature (think
bacteria!).
9. Get Cooking: Cooking your own meals
means you have control over portion sizes
and more control over the amount of added
fat and sodium in your meal. Home cooked
meals are also friendlier on your food
budget!
10.Dine Out Without Ditching Your Goals:
Plan on only eating half your meal and take
the other half home. Ask for dressing on
the side and always choose baked, broiled,
grilled or steamed over fried.
11.
Family Meal Time is Important: Children tend to be a
healthier weight when the
family eats together.
12.
Banish Brown Bag
Boredom: Be
creative when
it comes to
lunch – think
of alternatives to
traditional
sandwiches – try a veggie or hummus
wrap, soup, or pasta.
13.Drink More Water: Staying hydrated is
important living in Florida. Offer water to
your children in place of sugary drinks –
squeeze a little lemon/lime or orange in the
water if they don’t like it plain. Gatorade is
appropriate during sports activities, not for
watching TV.
14.Explore New Foods and Flavors: Ask
your kids to pick out a new fruit or vegetable that you can try as a family – eat from
a rainbow of fruit/vegetables available.
15.Eat Seafood Twice a Week: Choose
seafood rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such
as salmon, trout, oysters and sardines.
Changing your eating and exercise habits takes
time and practice – try to incorporate one tip
a week and make it a family effort. You are on
your way to making positive changes in your
life! j
Aurea Thompson,MSH,RD,CSP,LD/N
Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition
Wolfson Children’s Hospital
health & safety
Important Facts About
Measles
Y
ou may be hearing a lot about measles
lately, and all of this news on TV, social
media, Internet, newspapers and magazines may
leave you wondering what you as a parent really
need to know about this disease. CDC has put
together a list of the most important facts about
measles for parents. Measles can be serious.
Some people think of measles as just a little rash
and fever that clears up in a few days, but
measles can cause serious health complications,
especially in children younger than 5 years of
age. There is no way to tell in advance the
severity of the symptoms your child will experience.
• About 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who get
measles will be hospitalized
• 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will
develop brain swelling, which could lead to
brain damage
• 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will
die, even with the best care
Some of the more common measles symptoms
include:
• Fever
• Runny nose
• Rash
• Red eyes
Measles is very contagious.
Measles spreads through the air when an
infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so
contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10
people around him or her will also become
infected if they are not protected. Your child can
get measles just by being in a room where a
person with measles has been, even up to two
hours after that person has left. An infected
person can spread measles to others even before
knowing he/she has the disease—from four days
before developing the measles rash through four
days afterward.
Page 9 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Your child can still get measles in United
States.
Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in
2000 thanks to a highly effective vaccination
program. Eliminated means that the disease is
no longer constantly present in this country.
However, measles is still common in many parts
of the world, including some countries in Europe,
Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Worldwide, an
estimated 20 million people get measles and
146,000 people, mostly children, die from the
disease each year. Even if your family does not
travel internationally, you could come into contact
with measles anywhere in your community.
Every year, measles is brought into the United
States by unvaccinated travelers (Americans or
foreign visitors) who get measles while they are
in other countries. Anyone who is not protected
against measles is at risk.
You have the power to protect your child against
measles with a safe and effective vaccine.
The best protection against measles is measlesmumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine
provides long-lasting protection against all strains
of measles. Your child needs two doses of MMR
vaccine for best protection:
• The first dose at 12 through 15 months of
age.
• The second dose 4 through 6 years of age.
If your family is traveling overseas, the
vaccine recommendations are a little different:
• If your baby is 6 through 11 months old, he or
she should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine
before leaving.
• If your child is 12 months of age or older, he
or she will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine
(separated by at least 28 days) before
departure. j
We take the Fear
out of Dentistry!
Did you know
82% of people say fear is the
number one reason they don’t
go to the dentist?
Don’t let this be you!
Let us help you ease your fears and
take care of your smile! At Carlson
Dental Group, we offer different
levels of sedation allowing you to
relax or even snooze!
904-647-4765
www.CarlsonDentalGroup.com
FREE
Sedation Consultation
ExpiRES mAy 31, 2015.
New Riverside Location Opening May 2015
in the Everbank Building!
X-TREME
SCIENCE
SUMMER CAMP
June 15 - August 7
9 AM - 3 pM
Ages 5-12
Extended care available for additional charge
.
Four Bi-Weekly Sessions:
Eco-Exploration Krazy Khemistry
Fun with Physics Summer Safari
.
Weekly Field trips and
Swimming Days
Visit www.xtremescience.org for
details, descriptions and to register!
904.573.0883
4151 Old Middleburg Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32210
Early
Registration
$25 off each session
Must mention this ad. Expires April 30, 2015
See www.esj.org/summer to sign up for camps.
Programs run May 22 - July 31
Page 10 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Grades K-12
Session A
June 15July 10
2015
Session B
July 20August 14
2015
Camp
Theatre
Jacksonville
2015
For more info:
(904) 396-4425 or
www.theatrejax.com
4-H Summer Camps from June-August
Affordable, educational, experiential camps for boys and girls ages 5-18
Camp offerings include: Underwater Robotics, Kidʼs Cuisine, Pig Jig, WILD about Nature,
Teen Smarts, Bee Camp, Camp Cherry Lake, Discover Florida, All About Animals,
Sew Into Fashion, Outdoor Adventures, and MORE!
Please call or visit our website
for more information.
904-255-7450
www.duval.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H.shtml
An Equal Opportunity Institution
ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MUSEUM
AND INK! (INVESTING IN KIDS) PRESENT
SUMMER CAMP !
FOR DATES AND REGISTRATION INFO, VISIT:
www.staugustinelighthouse.org/camp
SUMMER CAMP
June 8 - July 31 • 8:30 am - 5 pm
Activities Include: Warm up games & stretching,
tumbling, gymnastics, dance, arts and crafts,
movie, cheerleading and group games.
Come one week or all summer
$150 first week
$10 off each additional week (max discount 3 weeks)
June 22-26
July 6-10
July 13-17
July 20-24
July 27-31
FREE extended hours available.
Half days and daily drop ins welcomed!
MENTION
THIS AD FOR
$10 OFF CAMP
904.783.8043
www.gymnasticsunlimitedfl.com
Page 11 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Volleyball Association
VOLLEY STARS CAMP
SESSION 1
SESSION 2
SESSION 3
SESSION 4
JUNE 8-10
JUNE 22-24
JULY 6-8
JULY 20-22
AGES 5-8
95 PER SESSION
9AM-12PM
This camp focuses on motor skills such as volleyball movement,
jumping and throwing. Campers will learn basic volleyball skills
and work with a light ball. (T-shirt included)
ALL SKILLS CAMP
AGES 9-12
SESSION 1 JUNE 8-12
JUNE 8-10 (3 DAY OPTION)
JUNE 11-12 (2 DAY OPTION)
SESSION 3 JULY 6-10
JULY 6-8 (3 DAY OPTION)
JULY 9-10 (2 DAY OPTION)
SESSION 2 JUNE 22-26
JUNE 22-24 (3 DAY OPTION)
JUNE 25-26 (2 DAY OPTION)
SESSION 4 JULY 20-24
JULY 20-22 (3 DAY OPTION)
JULY 23-24 (2 DAY OPTION)
AGES 13-16
9AM-4PM
260 per session (FULL WEEK)
165 per session (3 DAY OPTION - MONDAY THRU WEDNESDAY)
110 per session (2 DAY OPTION - THURSDAY & FRIDAY)
SESSION 1 JUNE 15-19
JUNE 15-17 (3 DAY OPTION)
JUNE 18-19 (2 DAY OPTION)
SESSION 3 JULY 13-17
JULY 13-15 (3 DAY OPTION)
JULY 16-17 (2 DAY OPTION)
SESSION 2 JUNE 29-JULY 1 (3 DAY OPTION)
JUNE 29-30 (2 DAY OPTION)
SESSION 4 JULY 27-31
JULY 27-29 (3 DAY OPTION)
JULY 30-31 (2 DAY OPTION)
Campers will receive instructional training from JJVA’s most experienced Coaches on the six fundamental volleyball
skills. Campers have the choice to attend two days, three days, or five days per session. (T-shirt included)
Note: JJVA does not have a cafeteria. Campers will need to bring their lunch.
EVENING SKILLS SESSIONS
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS IN JULY
AGE 13-15: 5-6:30 PM
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM CAMP
JULY 7, 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
AGE 16-18: 6:30-8 PM
JULY 31 5-8 PM & AUGUST 1 9 AM - 4 PM
For your convenience JJVA will be offering Extended Care from 8-9 am and 4-5 pm:
Extended Day includes: arts & crafts, movies and other fun activities.
1 HOUR $10/DAY
2 HOURS $20/DAY
REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE AT WWW.JJVA.COM
904.854.2323
11661 PHILIPS HWY
WE’RE ON FACEBOOK
Page 12 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Page 13 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
AUDITIONS
litan
Metropo
Park
May 2 & 3
2015
Naturalization Ceremony
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Taste the World – VIP Experience
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Parade of Flags
SUNDAY, MAY 3
1 Day Pass $5
Discounted ticket prices will be available for military
and senior citizens. Tickets are available for purchase
at Metropolitan Park gates (during festival hours only).
JaxHappenings.com
for the 2015-2016 Season
Perform with the area’s best musicians!
Audition dAtes:
May 27-31, 2015
inFoRMAtion/eXCeRPts:
May be downloaded at
www.JaxYouthorchestra.com
FoR MoRe inFoRMAtion:
Contact Tony Kamnikar at
[email protected]
Page 14 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
birthdays
Start with a Plan
A
successful birthday party is one that celKids, depending on their age, can participate in
ebrates the birthday child, creates memories many aspects of the party planning and prepaand is fun for everyone attending.
ration. When kids participate in planning their
Birthday Parties, it gives them an opportunity to
The first step in the planning process is for the
learn and practice organizational and entertaining
kids and their parents to decide on the basics:
skills that they’ll use for a lifetime.
• When and where, including date, time of
day, and address.
One of those skills is etiquette. Once the party
is over, don’t forget the gesture of thanking your
• Theme (if there will be one)
guests for coming and for any gifts given. If the
• Number of guests and who they will be.
child is old enough, let them write the thank you
notes.
• Food? Snacks? Beverages? A meal?
• Activities – swimming, games, music, or … As a gift from you to your child, consider purchasing note cards with your child’s initial or having
Once you have a game plan, the fun begins.
custom-made note cards made with their name.
With access to the internet and great tools like
Note cards are available from online retailers
You Tube and Pinterest, we live in a day and age
such as giftsin24.com, crane.com, americanstawhere we have the benefit of idea sharing.
tionery.com. or papyrusonline.com. j
Preserving Birthday
Memories
P
rofessional party planners remind grownups to keep in mind family history and lore
linked to birthday celebrations … from the first
one to the current year’s.
•
Write your child a birthday letter every year.
Wrap up the year; describe how you’ve seen
him grow and change, and explain he is so
special. If your child isn’t yet old enough
to cherish these letters, save them for later.
Make sure to read them together every year.
•
Reminisce about the day the birthday boy
or girl was born. Look at the photos, reread
any cards you still have, watch home videos,
share funny stories. Move on to more recent
milestones, like the first day of school or
another special occasion. j
Consider these ideas:
•
Take an identically posed photo of your
child every year on the big day. When you
have enough pictures, turn them into a
digital slide show or put them into an album.
Review it each year as part of the family
birthday festivities.
mommypoppins.com
Specializing in Monogrammed
& Embroidered Clothing,
Accessories, & Gift Items
Visit our Etsy shop and receive
10% off your total purchase. Enter Code: JAX4KIDS
.com/shop/MyMimiMadeIt2013
Page 16 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
/MyMimiMadeIt2013
birthdays
We’re Not Just Inflatables Anymore!
(Formerly Jump Zone)
Bounce House Safety
B
ounce houses are the stuff of every kid’s
dreams, situated right at the top of the
spectrum of fun alongside Halloween candy, carnival rides, and Christmas toys. Parents who rent
inflatables for birthday parties and other events
provide kids with a surefire way to have a blast
all day long.
But even though inflatables are built for fun, they
can still be dangerous for children if certain precautions aren’t taken. Here are a few basic safety
tips parents and guardians need to follow to keep
their kids safe.
1. Supervision is Paramount
Never allow children to occupy the inflatable
house without an adult present. Bouncing kids
need to be monitored carefully. If things start to
get a bit too rough or risky inside, a supervising
adult can calm things down.
Adults who rent inflatables should divide children
into groups according to age and size, allowing
each of these groups to enter and play separately
for a set period of time. This prevents bigger children from colliding with smaller ones and risking
serious injury.
In addition, the number of kids inside the house
must be limited: overcrowding is a good recipe
for falls, collisions, fractures, and other injuries.
2. Workmanship and Liability
Before you rent inflatable units, ask the rental
company questions as to how they are installed.
Some companies will practice safer installation
methods than others. The inflatable house should
be anchored to the ground with large, 20 to
40-inch metal stakes rather than smaller plastic
ones.
In addition, ask the company if they offer the
service of an operator to supervise for the duration of the bounce house rental or, if they can
provide a brochure on safe operating instructions.
Just as technicians supervise roller coasters at
theme parks, these operators can enforce safety
practices and fix any equipment problems that
may arise.
Seek out a company with liability coverage. There
are many small companies that rent inflatable
bouncers, but these businesses can’t offer you
the peace of mind that comes with an insurance
agreement. Companies that have coverage show
that they’re confident in their equipment, installation, and operation procedures. j
blog.herecomesfun.com
“A flower does not think of competing with the
flower next to it. It just blooms.”
– Zen Shin
Page 17 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
•
•
•
•
Giant Themed Inflatables
Awesome Parties
Walk-In Play
Ages 2-10
• The Area’s Most Exciting
New Party
• Walk-In Play
• Ages 7 to Adult
• More Fun Than Laser Tag
1035 Blanding Blvd Ste. 108 • Orange Park
904.328.2227 • JumperzFunCenter.com
birthdays
Money-Saving Birthday Party Tips
Invitations
Online invitation services such as Evite.com are free, earthfriendly, easy for your invitees and will also help you keep track of
responses.
Have your children hand make invitations using art supplies you
already have on hand.
Locations
Target are great options to find party favors, prizes, scavenger
hunt and goody bag items as well as paper products.
Search your home for items you already have on hand that can be
used or borrow from friends rather than buying new. When you’re
done with party items, add them to a party theme box that others
can borrow.
Search Goodwill for items such as oversized shirts to protect
clothing from art project splatter or clothing for dress up parties.
If you or a friend or family member has a pool, consider a pool
party. If not, a backyard party or party at the park make excellent locations for a birthday party. North Florida offers many free
outdoor options and beautiful weather most of the year to enjoy
the outdoors. Some parks have pavilions that you can rent. Make
sure you bring sunblock and have plenty of water on hand.
1. Pour one cup of cornstarch into the mixing bowl, and dip
your hands into it. Can you feel how smooth the powder is?
It’s made up of super-fine particles.
2. Now pour the water in, mixing slowly as you go. Keep
adding more water until the mixture becomes thick (and
hardens when you tap on it). Add more cornstarch if it gets
too runny, and more water if it becomes too thin.
Make your own cake, cupcakes or try the mug cake recipe below
as part of the party activities.
1. Mix together 1 box angel food cake mix and one box of your
favorite flavor of cake mix – chocolate, vanilla, red velvet.
2. Place 4 tablespoons of mix and 2 tablespoons of water in a
mug.
3. Mix and microwave 1 minute. (Cooking time will vary by
microwave)
4. Top with ice cream
Homemade Bubbles
Ingredients
• 6 cups water (distilled is preferable)
• 1/2 cup blue Dawn dish detergent
• 1/2 cup corn starch
• 1 tbsp baking powder (not baking
soda)
• 1 tbsp Glycerine
Dissolve the cornstarch in the water,
stirring really well. Then gently stir in the
remaining ingredients. Avoid creating a
lot of froth. Allow your mixture to sit for
at least an hour, stirring occasionally if you see the cornstarch
settling to the bottom.
happyhooligans.ca
Vegan Cupcakes
Here’s a super easy recipe for vegan cupcakes. Mix 1 can of
pumpkin into chocolate powdered cake mix and cook according
to package directions on the cake mix box. Top with your favorite
frosting and decorations.
Activities
Water play games, outdoor games such as a bean bag toss,
scavenger hunts and fun, inexpensive activities such as bubbles
cost very little.
Some of the best-loved party games require little or no materials. Hopscotch, musical chairs, capture the flag and charades, for
example, require minimal supplies and have engaged party goers
for generations.
Party favors, goody bags and prizes
Dollar stores and dollar bins such as those at the entrances to
Page 18 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Materials
• 1 cup of water
• 1 to 2 cups of cornstarch
• Mixing bowl
• Food coloring (optional)
Preparation
Cake
Mug cake
fun. A tap on the surface of Oobleck will make it feel hard, because it forces the cornstarch particles together. But dip your hand
slowly into the mix, and see what happens—your fingers slide in
as easily as through water. Moving slowly gives the cornstarch
particles time to move out of the way.
Peanut Hunt
Providing none of your guests have peanut allergies, here’s an
inexpensive party activity that kids love.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Buy a bag of unshelled peanuts, small prizes and paper bags.
Color as many peanuts as you have prizes
Toss the peanuts into the yard
Write each child’s name on the bag or create a coloring table
and have each child color their own bag.
5. Children hunt for peanuts using their bags to collect their
find. Children who find the colored peanuts win a prize.
Peanuts make a great alternative to candy.
Science Fun
Make Oobleck!
This substance’s funny name comes from a Dr. Seuss book called
Bartholomew and the Oobleck.
Kids will make a substance that is similar to quicksand—but more
3. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. (If you want to
turn your Oobleck another hue, it’s easier to add the coloring to the water before you mix it with the cornstarch.)
4. Oobleck is non-toxic, but please use caution when doing
any science activity. Be careful not to get it in your eyes,
and wash your hands after handling the Oobleck.
5. Encourage kids to play with Oobleck by dropping their
hands quickly into the Oobleck, then slowly lower their
hands into it. Hold a handful in their open palm and see
what happens. Squeeze it in their fist or roll it between
their hands. Move their fingers through the mixture slowly,
then try moving them faster.
6. You can make a big batch of Oobleck and let kids tack of
their shoes and socks and try standing in the Oobleck.
Multiply the quantity of each ingredient by 10 or more and
mix it in a large plastic bin or tub.
Mentos Geysers
Ingredients:
• Mentos
• 2-liter diet soda
• Mentos geyser tube, available at
hobby lobby or online
Attach the Geyser Tube to a 2-liter
bottle of diet soda. Secure the trigger pin in place. Load the MENTOS®
into the tube, lock the special pressurizing nozzle in place and pull the
pin. The MENTOS® will drop and the
soda will go flying into the air!
Visit www.scientificamerican.com and
www.stevespanglerscience.com for more experiments and the science behind the experiments. j
birthdays
Low-Key Events Equal High Spirits for Little Ones
F
over, even if it is already childproofed. Put away appliances
and breakable and sharp objects.
Make sure cupboards, drawers,
and toilets are latched.
amily, friends and fun are the main ingredients for a successful party for children ages
two to four. Many childcare experts recommend inviting a few children to a one-hour party.
Schedule it in the late morning to avoid need-anap crankiness. Here is a round-up of tips from
the editors of websites What to Expect and Moms
Think.
• Keep in mind the typical layout of a preschool classrooms as you plan activities.
Children of this age are not yet ready to do a
lot of cooperative play, and side-by-side play
is more common. Cover child-sized tables
with white paper and provide plenty of crayons to keep children busy and happy. As new
guests arrive, they can easily pick up a crayon
and make their marks.
• Arrange several stations or play areas.
Ideas? Set up a place to dig in the dirt or
Page 19 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
build sandcastles. Define a blocks area (put a
blanket or beach towel on the ground) where
wee ones can build and topple and sort and
stack.
• Before the party, give your home the once-
• If you’re hosting a backyard
bash, check that yard tools are
safely stored, lock the garage,
and check the lawn for sharp,
fallen branches and holes.
Make sure there are no available water sources (like kiddie
pools or fountains) that a toddler
could topple into unsupervised. If
you have a pool, have a designated person to watch the pool
at all times. WaterWatcher.org suggests the
designated person wear a water watcher tag.
Duties can be shifter as the tag is passed
from one to another adult.
• Making an original creation intrigues
children at this age. Usually, they are more
engaged with the process than they are
excited about the final product, which means
doing textured drawings or leaf rubbings on
large pieces of cardboard and using sidewalk
chalk on a fence are ideal activities. Expand
your idea of “making something.” Pass out
scarves and hats. Turn on the music, hand
out stuffed animals, and skip around the yard.
Watch as your little party-goers follow along
and stage their own style of parade.
• Follow the usual precautions as you
plan arts and crafts. Small beads, sponge
shapes, and buttons should be at least three
quarters of an inch in diameter. Put away
caps to pens, markers and glue containers.
j
birthdays
Tried-and-True Party
Games for Tots
S
tumped for games to play during a birthday
celebration for tots? Here are three triedand-true suggestions from the folks at whattoexpect.com.
prize, like a sticker or a temporary tattoo. Keep
playing until everyone’s won. Not sure that your
wee guests grasp the concept? Have a couple of
grown-ups join the fun.
Get ‘em Guessing
If your party guests (or you) need a slightly
quieter activity to calm things down, place a few
(easily) recognizable items — a board book, a
chunky toddler fork, a teddy bear, a rubber duck
— inside a hat or a basket. Cover it with a little
blanket, and let toddlers reach in and grasp one
object. Give stickers for correct answers (and
good faith guesses, of course). Use as many
objects as there are guests, and give everyone a
chance.
Hop and Pop
Kids get a kick from pop that results from
squeezing air out of the bubbles in bubble wrap,
but tiny toddler fingers aren’t strong enough to
produce that noise on their own. So let your little
one’s feet do the popping. Tape a big sheet of
bubble wrap to the floor (to avoid slipping), put on
some music, and let your little ones pop until they
drop. (Have extra sheets at the ready.) Follow
usual safety rules regarding plastic materials. j
Play Hot Potato
Birthday party games for toddlers shouldn’t be
complicated, which is why this classic-with-atwist provides just the right level of challenge for
a third birthday party. Sit the birthday boy and
his buddies in a small circle, play some festive,
familiar tunes, and let them pass a small pillow or
rolled-up hanky. Cut the music after a few bars
and whoever’s holding the “hot potato” wins a
That’s MY Job!
Captain Character – Children’s Entertainer
Q. How long have you been a children’s entertainer?
A. I’ve been a professional children’s entertainer since
1991. I’m also a member of the World Clown Association
and Kidabra International, The Association of Kidshow and
Family Performers. My first paid gig was in Ft. Lauderdale. I
was playing Spider-Man at a church for a birthday party and
had a 4-year-old girl ask me “Spider-Man, do you believe
in God?” I told her that I did and that God was the real
superhero. I have never forgotten that little girl’s question.
Kids say the cutest things!
Q. Why did you choose this career?
A. Growing up in the church where my grandmother was the pastor, I marveled at the sermons
of heroes, love, giving, faith, family, character, purpose and laughter. Both my grandmother
and mother were on a mission to bring joy to families everywhere. They inspired and instilled in
me a love of bringing love and laughter to children.
Q. What kind of education did you get to become a children’s entertainer?
A. From grade school through high school I was always involved in plays and skits. I loved
getting up in front of the class doing skits mimicking Jerry Lewis and Tim Conway, my favorite
comedians. In church I sang in the choir and was involved in the puppet ministry. So you could
say that my childhood provided me the education I needed for this career.
Q. What are some of your responsibilities?
A. At birthday parties I provide a one hour puppet show and magic show with not only a
message of “Happy Birthday” but a message of character, truth and to believe in your dreams.
My show is full of laughs, followed by face painting and balloon twisting. My school shows are
one hour long and can be based on different messages like building character, making friends
and caring for the earth. I’m honored to help entertain children and do everything I can to
celebrate an event and make it one they will never forget.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. To me, there is no job in the world that is more rewarding than children’s entertainment. I
love the responsibility of bringing a message of character to the kids. Teaching them that they
can be “captains of their character”. Thus making each child CAPTAIN CHARACTER. Letting
each one of them know that dreams do come true as long as we believe together and help one
another. It is a gift to be able to bring laughter to a family. It’s the greatest treasure on earth!
Through my work, I still relive my family’s celebrations of yesterday. Having a sense of family
is the real treasure and it’s where my heart always is.
Find these great ideas
and more on our Jax4Kids
Birthdays Pinterest board.
Also, check out
www.karaspartyideas.com
www.catchmyparty.com
and blog.hwtm.com
for more fun and unique
birthday themes.
Page 20 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
BIRTHDAYS
Favorite Birthday Party Themes
Minions
Look for the new Minion Bears coming to
Build-A-Bear soon. Minions the movie will be in
theaters July 10th.
Minion Cupcakes
What you’ll need:
•
•
•
•
Cupcakes
Blue Frosting - to top the cupcakes
Twinkees, cut in half, to make their bodies
Tube of Black Frosting to adhere the eyes
and make eyeballs and goggles
• Wilton eyeballs or Smarties white candy
• Black or Brown Sprinkles – to make their
hair
Nerdy Mummies
white hues, readily available in stores, you can
create a winter wonderland for a Frozen birthday
party. Here are a few ideas for your Frozen party.
• Visit the movie’s official site at frozen.
disney.com for crafts and recipes inspired
by the film including how to make
princess capes, Frozen coloring sheet and
Ice Castle Maze and Get Elsa and Anna’s
Icee recipes.
• Go to YouTube for step by step instructions
to make huge 3D paper snowflakes or
visit frozen.disney.com for printable
instructions
• Decorate windows and greenery with
snow spray to create winter themed
décor. You can also use white spray paint
– available at your hardware store – on
greenery to create a winter theme décor
for your table
• An 8-count package of Frozen Tiara’s are
$3.99 at PartyCity.com
• Payless Shoesource carries a line of
Frozen products including an 8-pack
Frozen Ring and Bracelet set for $5.99
that can be added to party bags.
• For sweet treats in Frozen colors, buy
Hershey’s Kisses Cookies & Cream, make
Oreo cookie snow balls, order frozen
colored M&M’s from www.mymms.com
or Jelly Beans from www.jellybelly.com,
Aqua Blue Swirl Pops from Amazon or
www.funexpress.com, or Blue & White
Raspberry Tesla’s Tiny Twist Lollipops
from Amazon. Remember to log in using
Smile.Amazon.com and designate 0.5%
of your purchase to the charity of your
choice – including your child’s school if
their registered.
• Visit eng.ohmyfiesta.com for free Frozen
printables including cupcake toppers,
printable crown or tiara, olaf mask and
paper dolls.
• Visit jello.com for recipes such as
snowman teeth, sky slurp or dragon kibble
– all of which are Frozen colored treats.
Get a snowflake mold at jello.com and
using the Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin, make
jello snowflakes. Happy Birthday molds
are also available.
• Make snowflake cookies
• Fill a clear plastic pitcher with Glacier
Freeze flavor Gatorade G2
Cinotti’s Bakery makes a pirate ship and treasure
chest cake. OrientalTrading.com sells a black
pirate ship treasure box for $10.25 per dozen that
can be filled and given as party favors. They also
offer pirate eye patches, mustaches, chocolate
gold coins and pirate tableware.
Dinosaurs
Jurassic World comes out in theaters on June
12th and The Good Dinosaur movie comes out
Thanksgiving weekend and MOSH’s summer
exhibit, opening May 23rd, will be Dinosaurs
Unearthed. Oh the fun you can have with this
theme!
• Orange Brown and Army Green make a
great color combination for your décor.
• Make dirt cake and serve it in small, lined
green or orange plastic pots for plants
with Dinosaur gummies
• Fill a plastic kiddie pool or plastic bin with
dirt and bury “fossils” and have a Dino dig
• Play Pin the Tail on the Allosaurus (or
Cammarasaurus or Brachiosaurus)
• Have a Dinosaur Egg Hunt
• Serve Dinosaur Toenails (aka Bugles)
Frozen
One thing is for certain, the Frozen theme is
here to stay for a long time to come. Disney has
confirmed plans for the movie Frozen 2 to be
released in 2018, the new short “Frozen Fever”
opened in theaters March 13th, and a Frozen
attraction at the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT World
Showcase will open in early 2016.
Page 21 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
A pirate theme is a classically popular theme for
a birthday party. Locally, we have a REAL pirate
ship birthday party option available on the Pirate
Ship Black Raven which sails out of City Marina
in St. Augustine next to the Bridge of Lions. Kids
will experience a live and interactive pirate show
onboard the ship.
Pirate Ship and Treasure Chest cakes by Cinotti’s Bakery
Find step by step instructions online from
BettyCrocker.com, mylitter.com, cupcakepedia.
com, or by searching You Tube.
Fortunately, the Frozen birthday theme is an easy
one to create. With its pale blue and frosted
Pirate Theme
Check out the next page for Dinosaur themed
party ideas from our Pinterst page:
(Continued on Page 22)
Frozen tiara from partycity.com
APRIL 2015 • Jax4Kids.com •
Page 21
BIRTHDAYS
Favorite Birthday Party Themes
Minions
Look for the new Minion Bears coming to
Build-A-Bear soon. Minions the movie will be in
theaters July 10th.
Minion Cupcakes
What you’ll need:
•
•
•
•
Cupcakes
Blue Frosting - to top the cupcakes
Twinkees, cut in half, to make their bodies
Tube of Black Frosting to adhere the eyes
and make eyeballs and goggles
• Wilton eyeballs or Smarties white candy
• Black or Brown Sprinkles – to make their
hair
Find step by step instructions online from
BettyCrocker.com, mylitter.com, cupcakepedia.
com, or by searching You Tube.
Frozen
One thing is for certain, the Frozen theme is
here to stay for a long time to come. Disney has
confirmed plans for the movie Frozen 2 to be
released in 2018, the new short “Frozen Fever”
opened in theaters March 13th, and a Frozen
attraction at the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT World
Showcase will open in early 2016.
Fortunately, the Frozen birthday theme is an easy
one to create. With its pale blue and frosted
white hues, readily available in stores, you can
Page 22 •• Jax4Kids.com
Jax4Kids.com •• APRIL
APRIL 2015
2015
create a winter wonderland for a Frozen birthday
party. Here are a few ideas for your Frozen party.
• Visit the movie’s official site at frozen.
disney.com for crafts and recipes inspired
by the film including how to make
princess capes, Frozen coloring sheet and
Ice Castle Maze and Get Elsa and Anna’s
Icee recipes.
• Go to YouTube for step by step instructions
to make huge 3D paper snowflakes or
visit frozen.disney.com for printable
instructions
• Decorate windows and greenery with
snow spray to create winter themed
décor. You can also use white spray paint
– available at your hardware store – on
greenery to create a winter theme décor
for your table
• An 8-count package of Frozen Tiara’s are
$3.99 at PartyCity.com
• Payless Shoesource carries a line of
Frozen products including an 8-pack
Frozen Ring and Bracelet set for $5.99
that can be added to party bags.
• For sweet treats in Frozen colors, buy
Hershey’s Kisses Cookies & Cream, make
Oreo cookie snow balls, order frozen
colored M&M’s from www.mymms.com
or Jelly Beans from www.jellybelly.com,
Aqua Blue Swirl Pops from Amazon or
www.funexpress.com, or Blue & White
Raspberry Tesla’s Tiny Twist Lollipops
from Amazon. Remember to log in using
Smile.Amazon.com and designate 0.5%
of your purchase to the charity of your
choice – including your child’s school if
their registered.
• Visit eng.ohmyfiesta.com for free Frozen
printables including cupcake toppers,
printable crown or tiara, olaf mask and
paper dolls.
• Visit jello.com for recipes such as
snowman teeth, sky slurp or dragon kibble
– all of which are Frozen colored treats.
Get a snowflake mold at jello.com and
using the Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin, make
jello snowflakes. Happy Birthday molds
are also available.
• Make snowflake cookies
• Fill a clear plastic pitcher with Glacier
Freeze flavor Gatorade G2
Pirate Theme
A pirate theme is a classically popular theme for
a birthday party. Locally, we have a REAL pirate
ship birthday party option available on the Pirate
Ship Black Raven which sails out of City Marina
in St. Augustine next to the Bridge of Lions. Kids
will experience a live and interactive pirate show
onboard the ship.
Cinotti’s Bakery makes a pirate ship and treasure
chest cake. OrientalTrading.com sells a black
pirate ship treasure box for $10.25 per dozen that
can be filled and given as party favors. They also
offer pirate eye patches, mustaches, chocolate
gold coins and pirate tableware.
Dinosaurs
Jurassic World comes out in theaters on June
12th and The Good Dinosaur movie comes out
Thanksgiving weekend and MOSH’s summer
exhibit, opening May 23rd, will be Dinosaurs
Unearthed. Oh the fun you can have with this
theme!
• Orange Brown and Army Green make a
great color combination for your décor.
• Make dirt cake and serve it in small, lined
green or orange plastic pots for plants
with Dinosaur gummies
• Fill a plastic kiddie pool or plastic bin with
dirt and bury “fossils” and have a Dino dig
• Play Pin the Tail on the Allosaurus (or
Cammarasaurus or Brachiosaurus)
• Have a Dinosaur Egg Hunt
• Serve Dinosaur Toenails (aka Bugles) j
BIRTHDAYS
Party Ideas for Teens
Cooking Party
• sitting at the food court with an unknown
family
• hugging a stranger
• wearing hats
• with a salesperson
• in a display window
• spelling YMCA
If you have a teen that enjoys cooking, have a
cooking party. Teens can make their own pizza
and this can be as simple or involved as they
want to make it. Pre-made dough is available in
the bakery section of Publix or you can buy Boboli
ready made pizza crusts or English muffins. Buy
jars of pizza sauce or pesto or have making them Nature Scavenger Hunt
part of the party. Toppings can be pre-cut or part Find something fuzzy, something yellow, a rock,
of the party activities.
seeds, stick, berries, grass, etc.
For dessert, create a make your own sundae
station with different flavors of ice cream or
frozen yogurt, and toppings such as fudge,
caramel, nuts, crushed candy and whipped
cream. Make it as simple or varied as you like.
For a party keepsake, buy aprons for each guest
and have them embroidered with their names.
Visit Etsy.com/shop/MyMimiMadeIt2013 and use
the code JAX4KIDS and save 10% on your order.
Spa Party
Making beauty scrubs such as salt scrubs and
lips scrubs are inexpensive and fun and make
for a great take home item. If you have a teen
who plays a sport, you can create scrubs with
restorative benefits such as Epsom bath salts
with Eucalyptus and Rosemary or, experiment
with different salts, sugars and oils.
Select containers and download or pre-make
labels. Small mason jars, plastic Ziploc
Art Party
containers or sandwich bags will work. Shop
Pick the project – t-shirts, sweatshirts, jewelry,
stores such as Michael’s for decorative jars.
glass vase, flower pots, birdhouses - or walk the Labels can be pre-made using downloadable
aisles of your nearby Michael’s or JoAnn’s store
printables from websites such as glueandglitter.
for ideas. Make sure you print or cut out coupons com, made from paper products on hand or
to the store of your choice before you go. They’re stickers or mailing seals purchased in an office
readily available. Buy your supplies - tie-dye kits, supply store.
paint, paint brushes, etc. Throw an old sheet over
your table to protect it and have guests gather
Buy or pull from your cupboard a selection of
around the table to make their projects.
oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba, sweet
or almond oil, sugar (regular sugar, turbinado,
Scavenger Hunt
coconut sugar, brown sugar), and salt (sea salt,
epsom salt or kosher salt, for example) and
Divide guests into teams and give each a
essential oils (lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus,
scavenger hunt list and something to collect
grapefruit, lime, lemongrass). Dried lavender,
items in such as a brown paper bag or grocery
rosemary and lemon zest are great additions.
bag. The team that gathers all of the items first
wins a prize. There are a variety of themed hunts Simply measure salt or sugar into container, pour
in the oil and drop in essential oil. Mix and place
you can do and you can find ready-made lists or
in airtight container and add label.
idea starters online.
• 1 cup coarse sea salt
(can also add fine sea salt)
• 1/3 cup grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond
or coconut oil
• 1 Tablespoon dried lavender
• 15 – 20 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 cup Epsom salt
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 15 drops grapefruit, lime or
sweet orange oil
•
•
•
•
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup almond oil
Zest of one lemon
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
off the stem
Lip Scrub
• Blend a small amount of jojoba or olive
oil with a superfine sugar and a couple of
drops of peppermint or vanilla extract.
Bath Fizzies
• Mix 2 tsp unsweetened lemon drink mix, 1
tsp flour or cornstarch, and 4 tsp Arm0 &
Hammer™ Baking Soda in a bowl.
• Mix 4 tsp baby oil or mineral oil with 3-6
drops food coloring in a separate bowl.
• Slowly mix the colored mixture into the
dry ingredients.
• Make small 1” balls of mixture. Place on
wax paper to dry.
• It takes 24-48 hours for fizzies to dry
completely.
• Drop a couple into bath water.
Movie Party
If you’re fortunate enough to have a child whose
Birthday falls near a hot new movie release, this
is a fun outing for teens. If not, pick a favorite
movie and create invitations, decorations,
activities and food around the theme of the
movie.
Beach Scavenger Hunt
Recipe Ideas
Find shells, feathers, sea sponges, something
red, something blue, colored rocks, seaweed,
Body Scrubs
something metal or have team take photos of bird
tracks, boats, a wet dog, sand castle or friend
• 3 parts coarse sugar
buried in the sand.
• 1 part olive oil
• 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil
Mall Scavenger Hunt
or oil blend
Divide guests into teams and have a parental
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
chaperone for each team. Teammates then get
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
photos of themselves:
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”
– Robin Williams
Page 23 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
APRIL 2015 • Jax4Kids.com •
Page 23
BIRTHDAYS
Here’s a list of movies opening in 2015.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
April3–Furious7
April17–DisneynatureMonkeyKingdom
April17–Unfriended
April17-PaulBlart:MallCop2
May1–TheAvengers:AgeofUltron
May15–PitchPerfect2
May22–Poltergeist
May22–Tomorrowland
May29-Insidious:Chapter3
June12–JurassicWorld
June19-InsideOut
July1-Terminator:Genisys
July10–Minions
July17–Ant-Man
July24–Pan
July24–PaperTowns
July24–Pixels
July31–Mission:Impossible5
August7–FantasticFour
August7–Masterminds
August14–TheManfromU.N.C.L.E.
August14–Underdogs
August28–CrouchingTiger,Hidden
Dragon:TheGreenDestiny
August28–WarRoom
September4–KitchenSink
September11–TheVisit
September18-Everest
September18-MazeRunner:The
ScorchTrials
September25–HotelTransyvania2
September25–TheIntern
October2-VictorFrankenstein
October2–TheWalk
October9–TheFinestHours
October9-SteveJobs
October9–Kidnap
October9-Vacation
October16-Goosebumps
October16–BridgeofSpies
October23-JemandtheHolograms
October23-TheLastWitchHunter
October23-TheSecretinTheirEyes
October30-Scoutsvs.Zombies
November6-ThePeanutsMovie
November13-Rings
November13–RocktheKasbah
November20-TheHungerGames:
MockingjayPart2
November25-Creed
November25-TheGoodDinosaur
November25-TheMartian
November25–MidnightSpecial
November25-UntitledChristmasEve
Project
December4–Krampus
December11-IntheHeartoftheSea
December18-StarWars:TheForce
Awakens
December23–AlvinandtheChipmunks4
December25–Concussion
December25-Joy
December25-MonsterTrucks
Page 24
24 •• Jax4Kids.com
Jax4Kids.com •• APRIL
APRIL 2015
2015
Page
• December25-PointBreak
• December25-TheRevenant
Note: Many movies are not yet rated. Please
check ratings.
Birthday Cake Popcorn
Yield: (10-12servings)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8th • 7:30 p.m.
Florida Theatre
Charge By Phone 904-355-2787
Or floridatheatre.com
Ingredients
• 1/2cuppopcornkernels
• 2bags(12oz.each)Wiltonvanillaflavoredcandymelts
• 1/2cupyellowcakemix
• 1bag(8oz.)BirthdayCakeM&M’scandy
• 12BirthdayCakeOreocookies,
roughlychopped
• Assortedsprinkles
OPENS APRIL 13
DISCOVER A PARADISE UNLIKE ANY OTHER
Instructions
1. Poppopcornkernelsandpickoutany
unpoppedkernels
2. Placethepopcorninalargebowl
3. Placewaxpaperontwobakingsheetsand
setaside
4. MelttheWiltoncandymeltsaccordingto
packagedirections
5. Stirinthedrycakemixuntilthoroughly
combined
6. Workingquickly,pourthecandyoverthe
popcornandmixwell
7. AddM&M’sandOreocookies.Mixwell.
8. Dividethepopcornmixturebetweenthetwo
bakingsheets,spreadingoutintoasingle
layerandseparatingthepieces
9. Immediatelyshakesprinklesoverthetop
10.Allowthepopcorntosetuntilthecandy
meltshavehardened.Breakthepopcorninto
piecesbeforeservingj
NARRATED BY
JEFF CORWIN
IN IMAX THEATERS. BE AMAZED.
For Showtimes and Tickets:
WORLDGOLFIMAX.COM
World Golf Village | I-95 Exit 323 | St. Augustine
Facebook “f ” Logo
CMYK / .ai
Facebook “f ” Logo
Page 25 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
EDUCATION
It’s Time to Celebrate
Our Poets and Poetry
N
ational Poetry Month is here. Join tens of
millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers,
librarians, booksellers, literary events curators,
publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets
marking poetry’s important place in our culture
and our lives, making it the largest literary
celebration in the world.
While we celebrate poets and poetry year-round,
the Academy of American Poets was inspired by
the success of Black History Month (February)
and Women’s History Month (March) to found
National Poetry Month in April, 1996, with an aim
to: Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing
achievement of American poets; encourage the
reading of poems; assist teachers in bringing
poetry into their classrooms; increase the
attention paid to poetry by national and local
media; and encourage increased publication of
poetry books.
There are many ways to participate. Here are a
few:
• Follow the thousands of National Poetry
Month celebrations taking place using
#npm15 and follow the Academy of American
Poets on Twitter @POETSorg.
• Attend Poetry & the Creative Mind, a celebration of poetry from the reader’s perspective
featuring leading and luminary actors, artists,
and public figures, on April 15, 2015, in New
York City.
• Join the Academy of American Poets and
show your support year-round for poets and
poetry.
• Share your photos and feedback about your
National Poetry Month celebrations with the
Academy of American Poets by emailing
[email protected].
The best-selling author has announced that he is
donating $1.25 million through a grant program
• Invite K-12 students to participate in our Dear administered with Scholastic Reading Club, a
division of Scholastic, Inc. Libraries or supporters
Poet project by writing letters in response to
of libraries can seek donations $1,000 to
poems shared by award-winning poets.
$10,000. Scholastic will match each donation
Students watch a series of exclusive videos
with “Bonus Points” that can be used to purchase
that feature award-winning poets sharing
their poems, then write a letter responding to classroom materials. According to Patterson,
one of the poems and send it by post or email requests can be for anything from fixing a
to the Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden computer system to paying for a school reading
project.
Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038 or
[email protected] by April 30. (Include your
“James Patterson is such a champion of books
name and the name of the poet to whom
and reading for all children. We are thrilled to
you’ve written.) All letters will be considered
work with him to support school libraries, which
for publication on Poets.org in May.
are essential for thriving school communities,”
Judy Newman, president of Scholastic Reading
Then everyone can join in the action with Poem in Club, said in a statement.
Your Pocket Day on April 30. All you have to do is
select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with Patterson, who has strong memories of his
others throughout the day. You can also share
weekly visits to libraries as a child, told the
your poem on social media using #pocketpoem.
Associated Press during a recent interview that
j
he wanted to “shine a light” on the problem of
public schools with no libraries or underfunded
www. poets.org
American Sign Language Extravaganza
April 11, 10am
The Creekside High School Sign Language Class hosts
an American Sign Language Extravaganza.
Bartram Trail Branch Library / 904-827-6960 / 60 Davis
Pond Blvd. Fruit Cove, FL 32259 / www.sjcpls.org
School Choice Information Session
April 16, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Get information about magnets, special transfers, and
other school options, while being able to ask questions.
Register online. Duval Parent Academy / 904-390-2960
/ Duval County Public Schools, Cline Auditorium,
1701 Prudential Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www.
duvalschools.org/ParentAcademy
7th Annual HomeSchool Conference and Information
Expo • April 18, 8am to 3pm
The 7th Annual HomeSchool Conference and Information
The Tortoise & the Hare
Expo will be held at First Baptist Church of Live Oak. A
April 7, 10am to 12noon
Beka, Bob Jones, Usborne and Classical Conversations
The Tortoise & the Hare will be presented by Artist
will be there along with workshops by homeschool
Series Broadway in Jacksonville at the Wilson Center
moms. There will also be information tables with local
for the Arts. Tickets are $8.50 per person. Best for
organizations and local happenings. Co-op members
grades Pre-K thru 5. Two performances, 10am and
are free, non-members $25 per family. You can pay
12noon. Call to reserve your tickets. Artist Series of
using your credit/debit card with PayPal in advance
Jacksonville / 904-442-2929 / Wilson Center for the
or pay at the door. Connections HomeSchool CoOp
Arts, 11901 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www. / 386-590-0912 / First Baptist Church of Live Oak,
artistseriesjax.org
401 West Howard Street, Live Oak, FL 32064 / www.
connectionshomeschool.com
Page 26 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
aving recently handed out more than $1
million in grants to help independent
bookstores, best-selling author James Patterson
now plans to share his wealth with some other
vital, but often struggling institutions: School
libraries.
• Sign up for Poem-a-Day at poets.org.
Things to Do Education
Discover Duval Tours
Discover Duval Schools, in partnership with the
Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) provides
citizens with an opportunity to make their own
discoveries about schools. Both parents and other
community members get a chance to take a closer
look into the successes and challenges Duval County
Public Schools face in fulfilling its mission of providing
educational excellence in every school, in every
classroom, for every student, every day. Free and open
to all members of the public with advance registration.
For more information, contact Ciara Walton at ciara@
jaxpef.org or call 904-356-7757.
April 1, 9am to 11am - A. Philip Randolph Academies of
Technology, 1157 Golfair Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32209.
April 15, 11am to 1pm - Mayport Elementary Coastal
Sciences Academy /2753 Shangrila Dr. Atlantic Beach,
FL 32233. jaxpef.org/discoverduvalschools
Author’s Wealth-Sharing
Now to Include Libraries
H
Find Your Edge
April 25, 2pm to 5pm
EDGE is hands-on classes that empower parents
to incorporate STEM into their child’s after-school
activities. Sylvan Learning of Orange Park, North
Jacksonville & Ponte Vedra Beach will host a “Find
Your Edge” event for local families, scout leaders,
coaches and educators to help children find their edge
by experiencing Sylvan’s new hands-on robotics,
coding and math activities. Geared to families with
kids in grades one through six, this free community
event will provide children with the opportunity to build
and animate LEGO® robots, design video games, solve
fun math brain boosters and more.
Ponte Vedra Beach / 880 A1A N, Ste 7, Ponte Vedra
Beach, Florida 32082 / 904-280-8410 North
Jacksonville / 2416 Dunn Ave, Jacksonville, Florida
32218 / 904-757-2220 Orange Park / 1414 Kingsley
Ave, Ste 4, Orange Park, Florida 32073 / 904-2692000 www.sylvanlearning.com
MOSH One Day Fun Day Camp
April 2, 9am to 3pm
MOSH is holding One Day Fun Day Camps on the days
DCPS students are off. Kindergarten through fifth grade
campers will enjoy themed activities and science
experiments. Cost is $55; MOSH Members receive
a 20% discount. Extended Care is an additional
fee. Register online in advance. This month’s theme
is Lego For a Day. MOSH / 904-396-MOSH / 1025
Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www.
themosh.org/Home.html
Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.
libraries. In California, for instance there was just
one certified school librarian for every 7,784
students in 2012-13. More than 8,000 public
schools nationwide did not have libraries in
2011-12, according to the National Center for
Educational Statistics.
“A lot of schools also don’t have as many books
as they should have,” said Patterson, adding that
libraries were especially important for kids in
households without books. “There’s a myth out
there among some people that the kids are
reading only digital books now. They’re not. I’m
the most emotional and passionate about getting
kids reading in late elementary and early middle
school reading because, if they don’t, how are
they going to get through high school?” he said.
The program will begin with a $250,000
donation from Patterson, with the remaining $1
million to be distributed throughout the year and
additional funding likely in the future.
Applications for library grants can be found at
www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership. j
Lucky Goes to
School
M
rs. Wildalynn Thomas’s 4th grade class at
the Webster School in St. Augustine has a
new addition thanks to a creative and hardworking student. Kylee Acton’s entry in the St.
Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park’s annual
Edu-Gator contest won the opportunity for her
class to care for and learn about a baby alligator
until the end of the school year. The alligator,
now named “Lucky,” was born in September.
Kylee submitted a diorama that answered the
question “Why are American Alligators important?” Mrs. Thomas plans to use the opportunity
for writing, learning about the animal through vet
visits, and visits with Lucky school-wide. j
Kylee and Mrs. Thomas check out baby Lucky
EDUCATION
Is Dual Enrollment An Option
for Your High School Student?
H
igh school students with their eyes on
college have several options to speed them
toward their goal. Last month, we shared
information on Advanced Placement (AP)
programs offered in many local high schools. This
month, we will examine dual enrollment, another
high school acceleration program.
Dual enrollment is a program offered by many
colleges and universities allowing high school
students to take college classes and earn both
high school and college credit. For most dual enrollment courses, a high school student can earn
three college credit hours as well as a half-credit
on his or her high school transcript.
tuition. As of the 2014-2015 academic year, the
FSCJ dual enrollment program is offered free of
charge to students in Duval and Nassau Counties. Public school students are reimbursed for
textbooks. Home and private school students pay
for theirs, according to the FSCJ web site.
Another advantage is that dual enrollment courses offer talented high school students more rigor.
In college-level English classes, for example,
students are expected to be able to critically read,
analyze and write about multiple texts quickly.
Drawbacks
Some critics of the program say dual enrollment
courses are not truly college level. Poppell agreed
Most students interested in dual enrollment
saying he expected more rigor in the classes he
arrange to take a college placement test. At
took on FSCJ campuses. “You can apply yourself
Florida State College in Jacksonville, for example, 25% and make an A,” he said.
students may submit SAT, ACT, FCAT 2.0 or PERT
scores or a combination of test scores to show
AP courses were much more rigorous than dual
their eligibility for dual enrollment. Students must enrollment classes, Blyler said. “AP classes are
have English, reading and mathematics scores.
harder than dual enrollment classes because they
High school students need to achieve minimum
test minute things and there are essays [to write]
English and reading scores to be enrolled in any
every week,” she added.
college-level class and minimum mathematics
scores to be enrolled in any college-level mathAnother potential pitfall could occur if students
ematics or science course.
have poor time management skills. Poppell
started his coffee habit during his sophomore
For high school students who are ready to chalyear, he joked, because his schedule was so
lenge themselves, dual enrollment may be the
stressful. Kids who aren’t skilled time managers
right fit. For those who struggle with reading,
will most likely run into problems in college-level
writing or math, it may be the best for them.
courses. “Self-motivation and time management
Jenna Blyler and Cole Poppell are seniors at
are important qualities for dual enrollment,”
West Nassau High School in Callahan. Both
Popell said.
students began taking AP classes during their
sophomore year. During the summer after their
Having to choose a college major while still in
sophomore year, they started dual enrollment
high school can be a disadvantage for some stuclasses through FSCJ. In June, Blyler and Poppell dents. Poppell knows he can change his majors
will graduate with their high school diplomas and at UNF, but if he does, he may lose some college
Associate’s Degrees from FSCJ.
credits he worked hard to earn in high school.
Poppell plans to enter University of North Florida
(UNF) as a junior studying business and financial
management. Blyler is set up to enter UNF as a
junior studying criminology and political science.
Both students found dual enrollment worthwhile.
Benefits
The main reason the program is valuable to many
students is because it moves them through college at a faster pace. “I did AP and Dual Enrollment because I wanted to get ahead,” Blyler said.
“I want to get a degree and get into the workforce
quickly.”
Another benefit of dual enrollment is elimination
of repetition found in high school and college
courses, although some students need to be
exposed to challenging material more than once.
Dual enrollment also offers savings on college
Page 27 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Further Resources
Most college and university web sites have a
section devoted to dual enrollment. In addition,
the Duval County Public Schools’ web site (www.
duvalschools.org) has information on several high
school acceleration programs, including dual
enrollment.
For more information on dual enrollment through
FSCJ, please visit http://www.fscj.edu/academics/college-readiness-programs/dual-enrollment.
A dual enrollment handbook is available for
download as a PDF on this web page. j
Nancy Lee Bethea
www.rivercityrevisions.com
There is tremendous energy and excitement about the district’s educational initiatives, and YOU ARE INVITED to show your spirit and
support for quality public education by attending the Public Education Partners Rally for Excellence (P.E.P. Rally). This year’s event will feature
education-and-child-centric vendors and exhibitors, the Celebrity Reading Zone, student performances, the Teacher V.I.P. Club, and the
return of the SPIRIT 5K Stadium Run ($20) and one-mile Reading Is Fun for kids (free). Join the festivities as Duval County celebrates the
acheivements of Duval County Public Schools’ students, teachers, employees, and community.
When: Saturday, May 30, 2015 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Jaguars’ Cabanas/Fan Entertainment Zone
1 Everbank Field Drive | Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Event Highlights
SPIRIT 5K Stadium Run | Fun Run - 1 Mile | Reading Celebration
Celebrity Readers | Student Recognition and Performances | Vendor Expo
Re a d
ing
Cele
Cele
b
r
i
Re c o
t y R b r at i o n
e
,
g n it
ion aders, S Expo,
and
t
Pe r f u d e nt
orm
ance
s
Ru n
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iu
)
tad
mi.
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(
5K
Run
T
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n
u
R
Everbank Field - Fan Zone
S P I ing is F
d
May 30th| 8 a.m. - Noon
Rea
Visit www.peprallyduval.org for more information.
Page 28 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Clay County School News
Student Beauties
Shakespearians All
Two county high schools have selected their queens for the coming school year. Aalyiah Manning has
been named Miss Oakleaf High School and Carson Roberts has been selected Miss Middleburg High
School.
Elisa Nanty from Clay County’s Oakleaf High School will represent Jacksonville in the national finals of the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition in New York
City in April. Jalacia Lewis from Stanton High School placed second and Middleburg High’s
Zachary Lofton was third.
(Right) Miss Middleburg High
School: left to right: 2nd
Runner Up Brooke Searles;
last year’s Miss MHS Ali
Robertson; winner Carson
Roberts; and 1st Runner Up
Jeanelle Vigil-Casanova.
The English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition provides teachers across
the country with a performance-based program for the study of English Language Arts and
Shakespeare. It is a school-based program serving Grades 9-12. Through the Competition,
students develop communication skills and an appreciation of the power of language and
literature. The Competition has engaged more than 250,000 young people since its inception
in 1983.
(Left) Aaliyah Manning is Miss Oakleaf
High School
Soles for Tots
The annual Clay County “Soles for Tots – New and Used Shoe Drive” by the Marine Corps
League has begun and will continue through April. Critical needs are male and female
“youth” sizes 1 through 8.
The best shoes will be distributed to county elementary and junior high schools in kits of appropriate sizes. Local organizations such as the Clothes Closet, The Salvation Army, Seamark
Ranch, and Mission Harvest receive the remainder.
Over the past eight years, the Marine Corps League has collected more than 4,000 pairs of
shoes for needy kids and their families in Clay County. Is there a need? Just ask a teacher.
This year, selected Watson Realty offices, Ronnie Robinson’s Easy Automotive and the PODS
container company, are partnering with the Marine Corps League to provide collection points.
All styles and sizes of new and used shoes (except high heels) are acceptable. Just tie the
shoes together.
Please donate shoes through the end of April at the following locations:
Orange Park Watson Realty, 153 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park
Fleming Island Watson Realty, 4729 US Highway 17, Fleming Island
Middleburg Watson Realty, 2239 Blanding Blvd, Middleburg
Ronnie Robinson Easy Automotive, 3170 US Highway 17, Green Cove Springs
For additional information contact Russ Kamradt at [email protected].
Page 29 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Through the English-Speaking
Union National Shakespeare
Competition, students:
1. Develop essential skills:
critical thinking, close reading and public speaking;
2. Increase self-confidence
through reading, analysis
and performance of Shakespeare;
3. Explore the beauty of
Shakespeare’s language
and classic themes;
4. Bring the timeless works
of Shakespeare to life and
learn to express his words
with understanding, feeling
Shakespeare winners from left: Jalicia Lewis, Elisa
and clarity;
Nanty and Zachary Lofton
5. Meet local, state and national standards in English Language Arts and Drama.
Students read, analyze, perform and recite Shakespearean monologues and sonnets in three
qualifying stages: at the school, community and national levels. Approximately 2,000 teachers and 15,000 students in nearly 60 ESU Branch communities participate each year.
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition has been recognized by the Globe Center (USA),
the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America and the American Academy of Achievement.
Many distinguished judges have served on the Competition panels.
Spring Calendar
Friday, April 3
Good Friday, Student/Teacher Holiday
Monday, April 6
Easter Monday/Fair Day, Student/Teacher Holiday
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day (Observed), Student/Teacher Holiday
Wednesday, June 3
Last Day, Students (4th Grading Period – 50 days)
Thursday, June 4
Last Day, Teachers – Planning Day
www.oneclay.net
OP/Middleburg (904) 272-8100
Green Cove Springs (904) 284-6500
Keystone Heights (888) 663-2529
TDD (904) 284-6584
Connect with us!
St. Johns County School District News
All-County High School Art Show Winners
Painting
1st – Autumn Forget, St. Augustine
2nd – Olivia Eastman, St. Augustine
3rd –Lily Deeter, St. Augustine
Honorable Mention – Alexa Carter, Bartram Trail
Honorable Mention – Holly Strickland, Creekside
Olivia Testasecca, with her Best-In-Show painting
The St. Johns County School District and the
St. Augustine Art Association have announced
the winners of the 10th annual All-County High
School Art Show. Students won cash awards and
memberships to the St. Augustine Art Association.
The Best in Show and first-place winners will be
recognized at the Apr. 14 school board meeting.
Best in Show
Olivia Testasecca, St. Augustine
Drawing
1st – Jordyn Quintanilla,Bartram Trail
2nd – Brooke Dowling, Ponte Vedra
3rd – Lauren McLevey, Creekside
Honorable Mention – Althea Williams, Allen D.
Nease
Honorable Mention – Sarah Prosser, Creekside
Ceramics/Pottery
1st – Veronica Worrell, Ponte Vedra
2nd – Michaela Heinrich, Allen D. Nease
3rd – Laine Steverson, Ponte Vedra
Honorable Mention – Allison Wilson, St. Augustine
Honorable Mention – Brittany Donor, Bartram Trail
Digital/Photography
1st – Athena Giani, St. Augustine
2nd – Haley Bracken, Creekside
3rd – Mackenzie King, Creekside
Honorable Mention – Logan Smith, Creekside
Honorable Mention –Anna Kaufman, Ponte Vedra
Sculpture/3 D
1st – Emily Kayworth, Pedro Menendez
2nd – Kayla Geoffrion, Creekside
3rd – Natalie Wanjek, Allen D. Nease
Honorable Mention – Valerie Coben, St. Augustine
Honorable Mention – Victoria Havekost, Creekside
Early
Ponte Vedra High Trio Wins History Fair
Registration Honors
For
Kindergarten
The St. Johns County School District is holding
early registration for children entering kindergarten and students new to St. Johns County and/
or public schools on Wednesday, April 15, from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday, May 8, from 1 to5 p.m.
To be eligible for public kindergarten in St.
Johns County, children must be 5 years old on or
before September 1 and must reside in St. Johns
County. To register for first grade, children must
be 6 years old on or before September 1 and
have documentation of successful completion of
kindergarten.
Parents must register children at the school
where they are zoned for the 2015-2016 school
year. Three proofs of residency must be provided
such as a current mortgage statement, lease or
rent agreement and two other forms of residency
documentation such as a current electric bill, car
registration and/or driver’s license. Additional
information on residency and guardianship as
well as a link to the Attendance Zone Locator can
be found on the website at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us
under “Featured Links.”
Elizabeth Fox, Frank Lukens and Harrison
Snowden of Ponte Vedra High School won top
honors in the annual St. Johns County School
District History Fair. Their project, “Sydney Farber:
Cancer Crusader,” was awarded the Overall
Most Outstanding Project, and the students were
presented with a check for $150 from the St.
Augustine Historical Society.
The History Fair featured 100 projects represented by 150 participants. The winners will
be recognized at the school board meeting on
Tuesday, Apr. 14. Travis Brown, county secondary
social studies program specialist, coordinated the
history fair.
Participating schools included Liberty Pines
Academy (LPA), Valley Ridge Academy (VRA),
Sebastian Middle School (SMS), Fruit Cove Middle
School (FCMS), Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS),
Switzerland Point Middle School (SPMS), Bartram
Trail High School (BTHS), Allen D. Nease High
School (NHS) and Creekside High School (CHS).
St. Augustine’s 450th celebration was recognized
with a special award. The winner was Trevor
Schultz from Switzerland Point Middle School
with his documentary on Henry Flagler. Two other
projects on Henry Flagler by Mya Helhoski from
Sebastian Middle School and Avery Lusk from
Sebastian Middle School received runner-up
recognition.
The category winners were:
RESEARCH PAPER
Junior Division
1st Place- Ana Sophia Williams, SMS
2nd Place- Taylor Brown, FCMS
3rd Place- Catalina Casillas, FCMS
Senior Division
1st Place-Jacob Mier, PVHS
2nd Place-Joseph Sarci, PVHS
3rd Place-Ariana Genovese, PVHS
WEBSITE: INDIVIDUAL
Junior Division
1st Place-Joshua Zalkan, SPMS
2nd Place-Aidan Mather, SPMS
3rd Place- Katherine Gargon, SMS
Senior Division
1st Place-Abel Haynes, PVHS
2nd Place-Alexander Celentano, NHS
WEBSITE: GROUP
Junior Division
1st Place-Alexander Brailsford and James Brailsford, FCMS
2nd Place-Isha Chekuri and Farah Contractor,
FCMS
3rd Place- Sofia Martinez and Lynne Park, LPA
Senior Division
1st Place-Elizabeth Fox, Frank Lukens and Harrison Snowden, PVHS
2nd Place-Alexander Lasala and Johnathon
Schott, PVHS
3rd Place-Nicholas Greco and Alexandra Hess,
PVHS
EXHIBIT: INDIVIDUAL
Junior Division
1st Place-Chloe Vaughn, FCMS
2nd Place-Hayden Wardell, SPMS
3rd Place-Mackenzie Platt, SMS
Senior Division
1st Place-Victor Manly, PVHS
2nd Place-Perri Truster, PVHS
3rd Place-Sarah Thomasson, PVHS
EXHIBIT: GROUP
Junior Division
1st Place-Natasha Najmi and Samantha Sberna,
FCMS
2nd Place-Susanna Matza and Diana Coello, SMS
3rd Place-Madelynn Thompson and Delaney
Cantrell, SPMS
Visit St. Johns County Schools online at http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/schools/ for more information.
Page 30 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
St. Johns County School District News
Senior Division
1st Place-Paxton Threatt, Theodore Cheng, Julian
Sanchez and Marc Moreira, NHS
2nd Place- Reagan Darrah and Molly Ronan,
PVHS
3rd Place-Emily Benson and Jonathan Magiske,
PVHS
In addition to the winners above, several special
awards were presented and are listed below.
PERFORMANCE-INDIVIDUAL
Junior Division
1st Place- Sophia Nguyen, FCMS
Showstopping Research-provided by The Colonial Quarter: Kristopher Bierlein, Samuel Shaffer,
Angelicabelle Rivera-Soto, CHS.
PERFORMANCE-GROUP
Junior Division
1st Place- Mia Gomez and Skylar Kyle, SPMS
2nd Place-Keegan Bedell and Garrett Owen,
SPMS
Sports Legacy-provided by The World Golf Hall
of Fame: Reis Buresh, Kiley Hurst and Megan
Pagana, VRA.
Great Leadership-provided by Smoothie King:
Griffin Slack, SPMS.
Exhibit Design-provided by Ripley’s Believe
it or Not Museum: Rachel Stewart and Lauren
Laughlin, FCMS.
Website Design-provided by Brockington and
Associates: Joshua Zalkan, SPMS.
Visually Appealing-provided by JAX Vision Care:
Kathryn Choate and Theresia Chvala, NHS.
DOCUMENTARY-INDIVIDUAL
Junior Division
1st Place- Kelsey Zweibohmer, LPA
2nd Place-Trevor Schultz, SPMS
3rd Place-Wade Miller, SPMS
Fashion Legacy-provided by JAX Vision Care:
Ariana Genovese, PVHS.
Aviation Legacy-provided by the Northeast
Florida Regional Airport: Emily Benson and Jonathan Magiske, PVHS.
Senior Division
1st Place- Nicholas Lopez, NHS
Ongoing Legacy-provided by the Fort Menendez
at the Old Florida Museum: Manaal Saqib, LPA.
DOCUMENTARY-GROUP
Junior Division
1st Place- Camille Aguilar and Sanya Bansal,
SPMS
Ancient History-provided by the Fort Menendez
at the Old Florida Museum: Gavin Gundaker, LPA.
Automotive Legacy-provided by RPM Automotive: Kassidy Helinsky and Kira Dortch, CHS.
Animal Awareness-provided by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park: Katherine
Gargon, SMS.
Pirate History-provided by The St. Augustine
Pirate and Treasure Museum: Ali Baghalan, VRA.
Lifetime Leadership-provided by Chipolte Mexican Grill: Grady Gilligan and Joshua Miller, NHS.
Scientific Research-provided by Publix
Charities: Sreenivas Kuntamukkala and Grayton
Walker, LPA.
Historic Perserverance-provided by The First
Colony Exhibition in St. Augustine: Anceline
Imson and Reanne Zukowski, VRA.
Historical Significance-provided by St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation: Ana Sophia
Williams, SMS.
Important Dates
Friday April 3
Monday May 25, Memorial Day
Friday, Saturday May 29 and 30
Thursday June 4
Friday June 5
Prize money was generously provided by The St.
Augustine Historical Society, The Colonial Quarter, The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum,
the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation,
Brockington and Associates, the St. Augustine
450th Commemoration, Castillo de San Marcos,
the Colonial Dames of St. Augustine, Smoothie
King, Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, World
Golf Hall of Fame, the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, Fort Menendez at the Old Florida
Museum, The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure
Museum, Chipolte Mexican Grill, St. Augustine
Maritime Heritage Foundation, The First Colony
Exhibition in St. Augustine, St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Gardens, Publix Charities, RPM Automotive, JAX Vision Care.
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Student/Teacher Holiday
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Last Day for Students
Last Day for Teachers
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Page 31 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Things to Do
teens
Fight Distractions with the
Spider Technique
S
out.
pringtime makes concentrating in class all
the tougher. Here are a few tips to help you
Try to anticipate the main ideas of the coming
lecture. Look over your notes of the previous
lecture and read the course material. If you have
questions about material from the previous class
or text, ask the instructor before class about
them. Prepare a few questions you expect to be
answered on new material if possible.
Resist distractions by sitting
away from disruptive classmates and by focusing on
the instructor through active
listening and note taking. Put
yourself in the “mood” with attentive expression and posture;
do not sprawl. Shift position
in your seat every so often and
don’t sit frozen in one position.
Shifting will help keep the
blood circulating, send more
oxygen to your brain, and help you remain alert.
When appropriate ask a question, ask for more
clarity, or engage an instructor and the class in
dialogue. Train yourself not to give in to distractions.
Practice the Spider Technique: When you hold a
vibrating tuning fork next to a spider web. The
spider will react and come looking for what is
vibrating the web. Do it several times and the
spider “wises up” and knows there’s no bug and
doesn’t come looking. You can learn that.
When someone enters the room, or when a
door slams, do not allow yourself to participate.
Rather, keep your concentration on what’s in
front of you. Form a tunnel between you and the
lecturer. Practice letting
people move or cough
without having to look at
them – just let them “be
out there” as you focus
on what is being taught.
When talking with someone, keep your attention
on that person, look at
his face, and note what is
being said. Let the rest of
the world just be “out there. j
Study Guides and Strategies
www.studygs.net
Teens
Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt
April 3, 8pm to 10pm
Free Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt at Belle Terre Park.
City of Palm Coast / 386-986-2323 / Belle Terre
Park, 339 Parkview Drive Palm Coast, FL 32164 /
www.palmcoastgov.com
SAT/ACT Prep Course
April 4, 12noon
Teens are encouraged to come take the SAT/ACT
Prep Course at the South Mandarin Branch Library.
There is an Online Resource, Gales Testing and
Education Resource Center, available 24/7. You can
test as often as you’d like. Enjoy some free pizza
after completing the SAT/ACT Prep Course.
South Mandarin Branch / 904-288-6385 / 12125
San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / jpl.coj.net
College 911
April 7, 6pm to 7:30pm
College 911 seminar. Topics include Open vs.
Closed Enrollment Schools, Universities vs. Colleges, and Emergency College Application Assistance.
Register online.
Duval Parent Academy / 904-390-2960 / Terry
Parker High School, 7301 Parker School Road,
Jacksonville, FL 32211 / www.duvalschools.org/
tory day during National Library Week. Stop by
anytime after school, 2pm to 8pm, on April 16 to celebrate the announcement of the 2015 Teen Top Ten
nominees. Have a sweet treat and browse through
previous years’ winners to find a new great read.
Bartram Trail Branch Library / 904-827-6960 / 60
Davis Pond Blvd. Fruit Cove, FL 32259 / www.sjcpls.
org
2015 Teen Driver Challenge
April 17, 6pm to 10pm • April 18, 8am to 5pm
Licensed “Teen Drivers,” ages 16–19, are invited to
attend the 2015 Teen Driver Challenge. The two-day
“hands-on” education program is held at the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Training and Education
Center. It is recommended that each driver have at
least 20 hours of actually driving experience before
attending the course. The class is not designed to
train a teen driver on how to drive; but how to drive
better. A $50 deposit is required to register, but the
fee will be refunded after successful completion of
the class. Class space is limited. Registration deadline is Wednesday, April 1, 2015.
Jacksonville Sheriffs Office / Northeast Florida
Criminal Justice Training and Education Center, 4715
Capper Road Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.coj.net/
departments/sheriffs-office
Crafternoon at the Callahan Library
April 23, 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Teens, come make crafts with your friends at the
Callahan Library. Materials will be provided. This
month’s craft: Tissue paper flowers, taught by Nisha.
Callahan Branch Library / 904-879-3434 / 450077
State Rd. 200 Suite 15 Callahan, FL 32011 / www.
nassaureads.com
National Library Week: Teen Literature Day
April 16, 2pm to 8pm
Teens and those who love teen literature are invited
to celebrate Teen Literature Day, a special celebra- Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.
Earth Day at The Landing
E
ach year, Earth Day – April 22 – marks the anni- and nationalities. More than a billion people
versary of what many consider the birth of the
participate in campaigns every year for environmenmodern environmental movement.
tal programs and community activism through a
broad range of events and activities.
A flower-child of the anti-Vietnam war protests and
the emerging awareness of our environment, the
For the past 25 years the celebration in Jacksonville
original Earth Day channeled this energy into a
has centered on the Earth Day and Ecology Fair at
movement to put environmental concerns in the
The Jacksonville Landing. The kid-friendly free event
forefront. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, a U.S.
(which Jax4Kids is a proud sponsor) from 10 a.m. to
Senator from Wisconsin, used this movement to
4 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 18, features educational and
force environmental protection onto the national
interactive displays from environmental organizapolitical agenda. He announced the idea for a
tions, agencies and businesses as well as entertain“national teach-in on the environment,” persuaded
ment throughout the day. Live animal encounters and
other congressmen to join in, and recruited a national an arts and craft area using recycled material will
coordinator to promote events across the land.
keep the kids entertained.
As a result on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans
took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to
demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment
in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of
colleges and universities organized protests against
the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had
been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and
power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides,
freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of
wildlife suddenly realized they shared common
values.
Today the effort is worldwide. Earth Day is the largest
civic event in the world, celebrated simultaneously
around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths
Page 32 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Entertainment headliners for the day include popular
local band Oscar Mike and Jacksonville teen
sensation Dalton Cyr – The 14-year-old singer,
song-writer will be honored at next month’s Dare to
Dream Music Festival in California for his hit song
“You’re Not Alone.”
Also, the winners of the Earth Day Poster Contest,
sponsored by the Environmental Protection Board,
will be announced and the Earth Day Jacksonville
Environmental Mini-Grants will also be awarded.
Earth Day Jacksonville is a local non-profit organization and about one third of the annual budget is put
back into the community through environmental education mini-grants of up to $500 per recipient. j
April 28 @ 8pm
Tickets Charge By Phone 904-355-2787
floridatheatre.com
infant & toddler
More Children Getting Cavities
at a Younger Age
T
oday’s parents are more informed and more
involved in their children’s healthcare than
any generation before. With the internet at our
disposal we are able to stay current. We take our
children to the Pediatrician on a regular basis.
We teach them to brush
their teeth and try to keep
their meals healthy. Would
it surprise you to hear that
our children are getting
more cavities than we
did? And that they are
getting them at a younger
age?
Most parents are aware of
the importance of dental
hygiene and have been
trying to teach their
children to brush twice a
day and visit the dentist
regularly. So what can be
causing this surge of new
decay in the younger kids?
Sippy cups and sugary
drinks: While most parents are aware of the
dangers of putting kids to bed with the bottle few
think of the dangers of sugary juices in sippy
cups. Do not allow your child to drink anything
but water in their sippy cups. Juice should only
be drank at the table from a cup and should be
finished quickly.
Sugary snacks: The more frequently children
snack the more likely they are to end up with
cavities. Limit the number of times your children
snack. Munching and grazing all day will lead to
more decay in the long run. Try to encourage
sliced fruits, cut up vegetables and whole grains
for snack time.
Sugar does not equal candy: Unfortunately, most
manufacturers are adding more and more sugar
Things to Do
Infant & Toddler
Turtles & Tots
April 11, 10am to 12noon
An educational presentation on sea turtles geared
towards kids 5 and under. Bill McCullum, from the
Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, will talk about the types of
sea turtles, what they eat, how they live in the wild and
what we can do to protect them. Although this event
is coordinated through the local Moms group, it is free
and open to all. Beaches Branch Library / 600 3rd
Street, Neptune Beach, FL 32266 / jpl.coj.net
Art For Tots
April 18, 11am
Page 33 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
to their products. Do not believe what you read
on front of the product. Many low sugar products
have simply swapped one kind of sugar for
another. Become your child’s best advocate.
Read labels, remember the first ingredient is the
most important ingredient
and it should not be sugar!
Special treats: Easter is
here and soon the Easter
bunny will be hopping
about leaving candy and
goodies for the kids.
What’s a parent to do? Let
them eat candy! Let them
have their day and enjoy
their goodies. Make sure
you get an extra brushing
in there. Then talk to
them about donating the
rest of the candy.
Operation gratitude is a
wonderful organization
that sends candy overseas
to our troops. Make the
kids feel good about
helping out someone else.
Kids really do say the funniest things! Please share your favorites with us by e-mailing your
story directly to [email protected]. One entry each month will be turned into a cartoon to
be published in the next issue of Jax4Kids. We’ll send you the original cartoon as a keepsake.
And don’t forget the flossing! Yes, you have been
brushing their teeth since they were very little but
did you know you should start flossing as soon as
the teeth start touching? For some kids that is as
early as age one!
Visit your pediatric dentist: Pediatric dentists are
all about prevention. Depending on your child’s
age and dental development they will discuss the
best ways to keep those pearly whites healthy.
They may be called baby teeth but those teeth
will stay with your kids until they are 12 or older.
So it is important to take care of them and give
your child the gift of a healthy smile! j
Come into the art lab for projects perfectly fit for little
hands, accompanied by a story. This program is
designed for toddlers and little ones.
Southeast Branch Library / 904-827-6900 / 6670 US1
South, St. Augustine, FL 32086 / www.sjcpls.org
Tuesday For Twos
April 21, 9:45am to 10:30am
Two year olds and their parents are invited for
interactive activities. There is no charge for this event,
but space is limited. Call Lori Hall at 904-641-6644 for
more information or to RSVP. This month’s theme is
Music and Movement with dance director Emily Gray.
Jacksonville Country Day School / 904-641-6644 /
10063 Baymeadows Road Jacksonville, FL 32256 /
www.jcds.com
Children Are Always Learning! Learning on the Go
April 22, 6pm to 7pm
Visit us online Parenting Classes Toddler Events Health/Birthing Resources
to find
Child Development Classes Playgroups
Explore ways to enhance children’s development by
acquiring effective teaching and nurturing skills from
birth to age five. Childcare provided ages 0-10.
Duval Parent Academy / 904-390-2960 / Early
Learning Coalition of Duval
8301 Cypress Plaza Drive, Room 201 Jacksonville, FL
32256 / www.duvalschools.org/ParentAcademy
Babies ‘R Us Happy Mealtime
April 25, 2pm
Parents, learn about the latest in breastfeeding,
bottles, formulas & first foods, food, snacks, cups and
more. You’ll be able to sample new products and get
coupons.
Babies ‘R Us / 4875 Town Center Pkwy, Jacksonville,
FL 32246 / 904-997-6311
Babies ‘R Us / 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd, Jacksonville, FL
32244 / 904-908-9696 / www.babiesrus.com
Curious George
April 27, 10am to 12noon
Curious George at The Florida Theatre. Best for grades
Pre-K-3. Tickets are $8 per person. There will be two
performances, 10am and 12noon. Call to reserve your
tickets.
Florida Theatre / 904-355-2787 / 128 East Forsyth
Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / floridatheatre.com
Goodbye April! Storytime
April 29, 10:30am
Kids are invited for a reading of Little Bunny Foo Foo.
Afterwards, kids can make paper plate bunnies.
Barnes and Noble San Jose / 904-886-9904 / 11112
San Jose Boulevard Suite 8 Jacksonville, FL 32223 /
www.bn.com
Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.
Special needs
NOW
ENROLLING
Studies Show That 1 in
100 Children Have OCD
C
hildren with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(OCD) have nagging and repetitive thoughts
(obsessions) that cause considerable distress
unless they engage in complicated rituals or
repetitive actions (compulsions) that are used to
ease these uncomfortable feelings. Children may
even realize that their actions are irrational and
become very frustrated by their perceived need to
engage in these rituals, yet they feel driven to
engage in them anyways.
children regardless of whether or not they have
developmental disabilities.
Family Café Conference Set
he 17th Annual Family Café, a venue for
people with disabilities and their families to
learn about available services, connect with
policy makers and network with each other, is set
for June 5-7 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando.
There is no registration fee for individuals with
disabilities and their family members or caregivers. Also, limited financial assistance is available
to cover the cost of the hotel stay.
The Family Café annual conference which
includes the Governor’s Summit on Disabilities, is
the largest state-wide event of its kind in the nation. Last year’s Café hosted nearly 9,000 people.
Thanks in large part to the support of the State
of Florida the Family Café has been able to affect
the lives of over 100,000 individuals across the
state through education, training and networking.
Page 34 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Special Needs Private School
There is hope, though. Storch and Merlo (2006)
note that there are several medication options
that are considered effective for treatment of
OCD, but success rates are 57-67 percent, with
a standard two months of treatment, plus 12
months of additional medication therapy required.
By comparison, up to 85 percent of children who
Obsessions may include concerns about conreceive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-aka
tamination from things in the world, hoarding/
Exposure and Response Prevention) make clinisaving items, superstition (lucky objects, clothing, cally significant gains and it often takes less than
colors, numbers, health concerns (that any small a year to achieve sustainable results. CBT is
scratch or symptom of fatigue or illness means
different than other talk therapies and it tends to
catastrophe), and/or intrusive images or thoughts involve the entire family in treatment to help chilof events that have never happened before.
dren overcome their own obsessive-compulsive
symptoms. Not all providers are trained in the
Rituals may include counting, touching objects a
use of Exposure and Response Prevention CBT,
certain number of times before using them, using so check to see if any potential provider uses it
a saying, double-checking, or even doing a physi- before you decide.
cal task until it feels “just right.”
If you suspect your child may have OCD, you’re
Examples of physical tasks may include hand
not alone. Contact a provider and schedule an
washing, writing and rewriting words, opening
intake. j
and closing doors, locking and unlocking doors,
or asking for reassurance with the same question Andrew Scherbarth, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Licensed Psychologist
repetitively.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Studies show that one in 100 children have OCD, Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics
6867 Southpoint Drive North, Suite 106
which often persists throughout life and can
Jacksonville, Florida 32216
lead to significant impairment across settings if
904.619.6071
left untreated. In fact, OCD is one of the top 20
causes for illness related disability. OCD strikes
T
AGES 2 – 22
This year a session for caregivers will be held
the day before the Café. From 10 a.m. to 5
p.m., June 4, attendees will engage in a day of
networking, personal growth and camaraderie
with their peers. Caring for a loved one with a
disability is stressful, never-ending occupation.
Caregivers can become burnt out, and experience
a reduced sense of possibility, well-being and
quality of life over time. The intent is to provide
caregivers an opportunity to create for themselves new possibilities for sustainable health and
well-being through an engaging and interactive
program that is built upon research-based practices from a holistic medicine perspective. There
is no registration fee to attend this event, and a
limited number of slots are available.
See www.familycafe.net to register. j
Student-Teacher Ratio 5:2
Accepts the McKay Scholarship,
Step Up for Students and PLSA
Scholarships. Academic and
Hardship scholarships are available.
Drama, Art, PE, Community Outings
Call to Schedule a Tour
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Mainspring Academy admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the
rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the
school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in
administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and
athletic and school administered programs.
904.619.6071
mainspringacademy.org
6867 Southpoint Drive North
Jacksonville, FL 32256
ADD/ADHD
without MEDICATIONS
The American Academy of Pediatricians
has given neurofeedback the highest
grading of effectiveness for ADD/ADHD.
Provides a non-drug approach for
diagnosing and treating ADD/ADHD
and it is based on research that has been
widely replicated all over the world.
Other benefits include:
• Overcoming academic difficulties
• Progress is maintained once program
is completed
• Better social skills
• Improvement of the emotional climate
at home
BIOFEEDBACK ASSOCIATES
904.646.0054
www.biofeedbackassociates.com
Most Insurances Accepted
Special needs
Controlling Autism in Children
Is Everyone’s Responsibility
I
n spite of growing efforts in research, autism
has been steadily increasing over the last 20
years. Genetic, environmental and epigenetics
factors (broken nature/ nurture balance related
ailments) have been speculated as the causes of
autism.
Autism is a bio-neurological development disability that usually presents itself before the age
of three. Statistics indicate that one out of 68
children is affected by the disease and it is five
times more likely in boys than in girls. It impacts
normal development of the brain in areas that
deal with social interactions, behavior, communication skills, and cognitive functioning.
ity; and lack of appropriateness in verbal and
non-verbal behavior communication.
Unusual Behavior Patterns
Symptoms include: Difficulty in motor control; peculiar attachment to inanimate objects; distressed
by a change in routine; and restricted, repetitive
and stereotyped patterns of behavior.
We approach autism and related disorders with a
multidisciplinary protocol.
Incorporating biomedical approaches first is the
key. Nutrition, diet, toxic load, sleep should be
regulated before child is sent for occupational,
vestibular and sensory integration therapies.
In the long run combination of the multidisciplinary approaches determines the psychosocial
outcomes.
Autism varies greatly from person to person and
no two cases are exactly alike. And despite the
fact there is no cure or discovered cause, autism
is treatable. Children with autism can progress if
given proper treatment – early intervention is key! Hypothetically, for all of us to save the next generation, collective efforts to clean the eco-system
Communication Impairments and Regression from its toxic load, saving seeds from genetically
modified technologies, and supporting local,
Symptoms include: Delays or regression in denatural and regional self-sustainable communivelopment of spoken language; lack of pragmatic ties should be everyone’s responsibility. j
aspect of language; inability to initiate or maintain
Aylin Ozdemir, MD, FAAP, ABIHM
language; and idiosyncratic repetitive language.
Pediatric Associates of Jacksonville
1102 A1A North Suite 104
Lack of Social Interaction
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
904-273-6533
Symptoms include: Lack of ability to develop
relationships; lack of social and emotion reciproc-
HEAL ZooWalk
April 26, 2015
REGISTER NOW www.healautismnow.org
FREE EVENT
EGG HUNT
FOR CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
SATURDAYY APRIL TH
AM
MMMPM
MRAIN OR SHINEE
SPECIALLY DESIGNED EGG HUNT COURSES
BOUNCE HOUSES, FOOD, GAMES, AND MORE!
Celebration Arena 9555 R.G. Skinner Parkway Jax, FL 32256
CELEBRATION.ORG/EASTER
Things to Do
Special Needs
Egg Hunt for Children with Special Needs
April 4, 10am – 12pm
This fun event offers activities and fully accessible egg hunt courses for children with special
needs. In addition to the egg hunt, there will
also be games, food, prizes, bounce houses and
more. Family members are also invited to join in
the fun! Held at the Celebration Church Arena.
Celebration Arena / 9555 R G Skinner Pkwy,
Jacksonville, 32256 / 904-737-1121 / www.
celebration.org
Connecting the Dots
April 11, 8pm – 4pm
Event for individuals, their families, and professionals regarding disabilities in and around
Jacksonville. Topics to be covered include:
Healthy Living, Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Help
for the Struggling Reader, Preschool is for ALL
children, Post-secondary Options, Employment
Options, Community Resources, Guardianship
Options, Transitional Medical Services and Aging
with IDD. There will also be a vendor area, with
local agencies represented.
Kathie Snow will be presenting on
Natural Community Supports, and Cooperative
Advocacy. Other featured speakers include representatives from the Early Learning Coalition,
UF FDLRS, Project 10, FSCJ, OCT, the Arc Jack-
Page 35 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
sonville, Peace of Mind Jax, Pine Castle, Aging
True, and JaxHATS, who will cover the spectrum
of School-aged to Adult topics.
Christ’s Church / 6045 Greenland Rd, Jacksonville, 32258 / www.eventbrite.com
Hope Haven Family Fun Day
April 18, 10am – 2pm
A fun-filled day for all children and families,
focusing on creating a healthy lifestyle regardless
of ability or disability. There will be train rides,
bounce houses, bungee jump, arts and crafts
and musical performances. It’s free and open to
the public with a very small charge for rides and
food. Losco Regional Park / 10931 Hood Rd S,
Jacksonville, FL 32257 / 904-346-5100 / www.
hope-haven.org
Sensory Friendly Films – Underdogs
April 18, 10am
AMC Entertainment (AMC) and ASA have teamed
up to bring families affected by autism and other
disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment
on a monthly basis. Lights are brought up, sound
is turned down, and families are allowed to bring
their own snacks. Movies are shown at the AMC
Regency 24 in the Regency Center Square.
AMC Regency 24/ 9451 Regency Square Blvd,
Jacksonville, 32225 / 904-725-0885 / www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films
Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.
Gate Parkway, Suite 200. Appointments are available
every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more
information, call 904-997-3051 or email lgrub0a@
ft.newyorklife.com.
COOLIBAR
EDUCATOR APPRECIATION DAYS
YOUTUBE KIDS
You Tube has introduced a
kid-friendly version of
YouTube with kid-centric,
appropriate content, a safe
search for kids feature,
parental timer and no video comments. Download the app
for android and i0S devices free of charge on Google Play
and the App Store.
AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
Autism Awareness Day is marked by wearing something
blue. Last year, 10,000 landmarks, buildings and homes
in 136 countries on all seven continents took part in Light
It Up Blue. Join in shining a light on autism on April 2nd,
World Autism Awareness Day. The Home Depot is selling
three types of blue Philips light bulbs and an Amerelle
night-light, offering its customers across the United States
an easy way to join the campaign. A portion of each sale
will go toward Autism Speaks’ efforts to promote research,
advocacy and family services.
Coolibar, makers of sun protective clothing, has a Sun
Hat Discount program for schools to protect children from
damaging UV rays. Schools will receive 50% off the retail
price on each school hat for children with a minimum order
of 50 hats. For teachers, there is a 50% discount on one
adult hat for every 15 kids hats ordered in conjunction with
the school program. Pre-discount retail prices begin at
$19.50 but most children’s hats are $22 - $26. For more
information and to order online, visit Coolibar at
http://www.coolibar.com/custserv/custserv.
jsp?pageName=school-program-faqs or email
[email protected].
From April 11-19, pre-K
through
12th
grade
educators will save 25% on
classroom and personal
purchases, 10% on Café
consumables, plus an
additional 10% on new
NOOK devices at Barnes & Noble. Discounts are valid in
store and online at www.bn.com/educator. Educators must
bring in a valid school ID or current pay stub to obtain
Educator Discount card. Homeschool educators are also
eligible for the Educator Discount card. Shop online at
www.bn.com or visit these area participating stores:
St Johns Town Center | 904-928-2027 | 10280 Midtown
Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32246
San Jose | 904-886-9904 | 11112 San Jose Boulevard
Suite 8 Jacksonville, FL 32223
DISNEYNATURE
SUPER SIMPLE LEARNING
Monkey Kingdom, the eighth true life adventure from
Disneynature films opens in theaters on April 17th. Learn
more about this and other Disneynature films at www.
disney.com/monkeykingdom
Super Simple Learning creates quality educational
materials that make learning and teaching simple and
fun. Visit them online at supersimplelearning.com. This
year, they launched the very popular Super Simple ABC’s
and Super Simple Songs You Tube channels. Find them
at www.youtube.com/SuperSimpleSongs and www.
youtube.com/SuperSimpleLearning
PINK MOON
The early Native Americans
kept track of time by observing
the seasons and lunar months.
The full moon that appears in
April is the Pink Moon which
will be visible this year on April
4th. The name pink moon
comes from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox,
which is one of the first spring flowers to bloom.
Page 36 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
NATIONAL PARK WEEK
In honor of the opening weekend of
National Park Week, all National Parks will
offer FREE admission from April 18-19.
Learn more, plan your trip and find a park
near you at www.nps.gov
CHILD ID PROGRAM
Free Child ID’s are available to all children accompanied
by a parent or guardian at New York Life’s offices at 7880
LET’S CONNECT
WHY IT’S SMARTER
To Own Than To Rent
WE ALL KNOW THAT HOME OWNERSHIP BUILDS EQUITY for you, lowers your
car insurance premiums, and allows you a tax deduction for your mortgage
interest. Yet, well beyond the numbers, there are plenty more reasons to
choose a Mattamy Townhome in Durbin Crossing, Willowbrook or Segovia.
For one, all of our homes are designed by architects who create beautiful
spaces for how real people want to live. Our communities also feature
lavish amenities. At Durbin Crossing, you will find clubhouses, two pools,
a fitness center, tennis and basketball courts plus playscapes.
Discover how fulfilling life can be in your own Mattamy home today.
PURCHASE AMOUNT: $132,990
Loan: FHA 30 Year Fixed
Down Payment: 3.5%
($4655 due at closing)
PURCHASE AMOUNT: $185,990
Loan: USDA 30 Year Fixed
Down Payment: $0
Rate Estimate: 3.75%
APR: 5.013%
Principal and Interest: $614
Taxes: $135
Insurance: $45
HOA: $140
CDD: $111
MIP: $90
APR: 4.52%
Principal and Interest: $879
Taxes: $185
Insurance: $50
HOA: $120
CDD: $113
USDA Service Fee: $78
TOTAL PAYMENT = $1,135
TOTAL PAYMENT = $1,425
AT WILLOWBROOK
AT DURBIN CROSSING
COST TO RENT: $1,460 *1517 SQ.FT.
3 Bed • 2 Bath
*Reference: Cost to rent in 32258
www.century-apartments.com/century-bartram-springs/floorplans#sthash.rR59Il98.dpuf
OAKLEAF PLANTATION
Townhomes From The Low $100s
SALES CENTER:
3747 Aubrey Lane • 904-291-4111
SEGOVIA
ST. AUGUSTINE
Townhomes From The Mid $100s
SALES CENTER:
24 Adelanto Avenue • 904-342-8793
ST. JOHNS
Townhomes From The Mid $100s
SALES CENTER:
87 Richmond Drive • 904-482-3660
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR COMMUNITIES REGISTER AT MATTAMYHOMES.COM
FOLLOW US:
SALES CENTER HOURS: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10 am – 6 pm; Friday and Sunday 12 pm – 6 pm
NMLS #64022. This is not a good faith estimate or a Truth-in-Lending Disclosure Statement required by federal law. If you make application with Mattamy Home Funding, your Good Faith Estimate and Truth-in-Lending Disclosure Statement will be sent to you in the opening package. This is not a commitment to lend, nor is it a rate
lock, pre-qualification or pre-approval. This flyer is intended to assist you in evaluating a loan or home purchase using estimated closing and property costs. Closing and settlement costs, reserve deposits, interest rate and APR are subject to change and the estimates shown above may be more or less depending on factors such as but not
limited to: down payment, property type, and occupancy. Housing costs will vary depending on but not limited to: location, homeowner’s association dues, local and state fees, taxes, and hazard and mortgage insurance. The estimate provided is based on a credit score of 740. Changes from third parties, which may include but not limited
to: Lender’s affiliates, will be passed through at the actual cost charged by the 3rd Party. You may wish to compare these estimated charges in considering the total cost of your mortgage. Equal Housing Lender. Trade/service marks are the property of Christine Milbourne NMLS Loan Originator ID #197636, Mattamy Home Funding LLC NMLS
#64022. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. License #CRC1330987.
Page 37 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Things to Do
pets
10 Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Dog
In a word–housebroken
Housetraining a puppy and its small bladder takes
a consistent schedule and a hunk of time. An
older dog can “hold it” much more reliably for
longer time periods, and usually the Rescue has
him housebroken before he is adopted.
Intact underwear
Torn socks, gnawed shoes, holes in carpet,
mangled books, ripped coaches, it will happen–
this is a puppy’s job! An older dog can usually
have the run of the house without destroying it.
A good night’s
sleep
A puppy can be
very demanding
at 2 a.m. and 4
a.m. and 6 a.m.
Having children,
you understand.
How about a
little peace and
quiet? How
about an older
rescue dog?
that, moved on.”
Matchmaker make me a match
Puppy love is often no more than an attachment
to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on
which to make a decision that will hopefully last
15+ years. Pet mis-matches are one of the top
reasons rescuers get “give-up” phone calls.
Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both
their dogs and their applicants to be sure that
both with each other.
Instant companion
With an older
dog, you
automatically
have a buddy
that can go
everywhere and
do everything
with you NOW.
There’s no
waiting.
Rescue dog
bond
Dogs who have
Finish the
been uprooted
newspaper
from their happy
Do you think
homes or have
your kids will
not had the best
really feed him,
start in life are
clean up the
more likely to
messes, and
bond very
take him for a
completely and
walk in the
deeply with their
pouring rain
new people.
every hour to
Those who have
get him
lost their
Lazer (pictured above) is an 8 year old, lab/shepherd mix that is families through
housetrained?
ready to be adopted. He is the sweetest cuddle bug who would death, divorce or
With an adult
dog, it will only love another K9 friend to play with. If you would like more info
lifestyle change
to adopt Lazer, email your name and phone number to lexysbe the kids
go through a
running amok,
terrible
[email protected].
because your
mourning
dog will be sitting calmly next to you.
process. But, once attached to a new loving
family, they make exceptionally affectionate and
Easier vet trips
attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.
Puppies have many needs and the visits can add
up (on top of what you paid for the dog!). Your
Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up
donation to the rescue when adopting an older
in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally
pup should get you a dog with all shots current,
inferior. But good Rescues will evaluate the dog
already altered, heartworm negative and on
before accepting him/her (medically, behaviorally,
preventative at the minimum.
and for breed confirmation), rehabilitate if
necessary, and adopt the animal only when he/
What you see is what you get
she is ready and to a home that matches and is
The great unknown: Size? Temperament?
realistic about the necessary commitment.
Trainable? When adopting an older dog, all of
Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased pup will
those questions are easily answered. You can
not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only
pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy responsible pet owners and breeders can do
or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its
that), but it does give many of them a chance
foster homes can guide you to the right match
they otherwise would not have. But, beyond
(Rescues are full of puppies who became the
doing a “good deed”, adopting a rescue dog can
wrong match as they got older!)
be the best decision and addition to the family
you ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted
Un-scarred children
friend for life. j
When the puppy isn’t teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and
art4theanimals.com
you. Most older dogs have “been there, done
Page 38 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
Pet Events
Single and Loving It Adoption Event
April 1 – 30
The Jacksonville Humane Society offers $0 adoption fee on select animals that have so much love
to give that they want your heart all to themselves.
(Other fees may apply.) Jacksonville Humane Society / 904-725-8766 / 8464 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 www.jaxhumane.org
Find Somebunny To Love Adoption Event
April 4 – 5
Choose an egg from the Easter basket, to see what
your adoption fee will be, from $0 – $50. (Other
fees may apply). Jacksonville Humane Society /
904-725-8766 / 8464 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL
32216 ww.jaxhumane.org
Pedal 4 Paws
April 4, 8:30am
This inaugural bike ride takes off from Unity Plaza
and winds through Jacksonville’s urban core. The
ride is open to all level of riders. The festival-like
atmosphere is will feature history, the arts, live
music and more. The event is a fundraiser for First
Coast No More Homeless Pets. You can register as
a team, or as an individual. Experienced cyclists
have the option of riding 50 or more miles, while
Beginner to intermediate cyclists can do the 7 to
30 mile course. Costs: $25 for individuals registering before April 1, or $20 each per team member,
if registering as a team. First Coast No More
Homeless Pets / Unity Plaza, 220 Riverside Avenue,
Jacksonville, FL 32204 / www.fcnmhp.org
Kids and Their Dogs
April 6, 5:40pm to 6:30pm
Children age 9 and older will learn how to communicate with their dogs and take proper care of their
best buds. They will be introduced to agility and
obedience and trick training. Lots of fun activities
will be offered. All dogs must be friendly. Register
in advance. Cost is $120. Classes start 4/6/15
and are held on Mondays for six weeks, 5:40pm
to 6:30pm. My Pet Camp / 904-829-6165 / 1195
Thompson Bailey Road, St. Augustine, FL 32084 /
www.mypetcamp.com
Understanding Dog Training Equipment Options
April 14, 5pm
There are many options when it comes to collars,
leashes, and harnesses. Special guest, certified dog
trainer Julie Parker and founder of Be A Pack Leader
Dog Walking Club and the Pack Leader Dog Training
Scholarship Program, will help you understand
the many training tools available to help your dog
become a better canine citizen. This program is free
and open to the public. Please no dogs. For more
information email: [email protected] or call:
904-471-5579. Anastasia Island Branch / 904-2093730 / 124 Seagrove Main St St. Augustine Beach,
FL 32080 / www.sjcpls.org
Mega Adoption Event
April 17 – 19, 10am to 6pm
First Coast No More Homeless Pets hosts a Mega
Adoption Event with lots of adoptable pets. Free
entry, free parking. Adoption fee on all pets. The
adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip, vaccines, and city license. Adoption hours are 10 am
– 6 pm.
First Coast No More Homeless Pets / Jacksonville
Fairgrounds, 510 Fairgrounds Place Jacksonville, FL
32202 / www.fcnmhp.org
Yappy Hour “Fur”Shion Show
April 19, 2pm to 5pm
Enter your dog to win the Dog Fashion Show during
the Yappy Hour “Fur”Shion Show. There will be also
be giveaways, music and more. Free.
Jacksonville Landing / 904-353-1188 / 2 Independent Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.jacksonvillelanding.com
Like Jax4Pets.com’s Facebook page
at facebook.com/jax4pets to find out
about other events for pets.
Heel, Daenarys, Heel!
O
kay, I confess. The release of the year’s
most popular dog names is more exciting
for me than the Academy Awards and the
Grammys combined. If you’re a dog —surely you
get this.
Now, let’s share the excitement. Drumroll please
as I present the highlights from 2014’s most
popular dog names, as reported by rover.com.
There were some interesting trends this year:
Eighteen of the top 20 names are human names.
Perhaps this correlates to the growing trend of
people referring to themselves as “pet parents”
rather than “pet owners?” Compared to 2013,
there was a significant rise in food and beveragethemed names such as “Guinness,” Kahlua,”
“Coconut” and “Kale.”
There was a huge jump in names associated with
things found in the great outdoors (perhaps a
byproduct of our “going green” culture). “Lightning,” “Shadow,” “Clover,” “Panda” and “Moose”
are some examples.
Pop culture shaped how we named our dogs this
year. Many pups were named “Elsa,” “Olaf” and
“Anna” based on the movie Frozen (why am I not
surprised). Game of Thrones (I’ve never seen
this show) spawned plenty of doggie ID tags
inscribed with “Khaleesi,” “Daenarys,” “Sansa,”
and “Tyrion.” Any of these names are quite the
mouthful when contemplating an effective recall
command!
Newly retired New York Yankee superstar, Derek
Jeter must feel flattered. “Jeter” made the top ten
list of sports-related names. No great surprise to
see “Max” and “Bella” leading the pack of male
and female name lists. Both are good, rock-solid
dog names, and have been super popular for
years.
I enjoyed these results, just as I do most every
year. As long as “Lucky” doesn’t make the top ten
list, I’m a happy camper. Mind you Lucky isn’t a
bad name, it just makes me a bit superstitious.
Every “Lucky” I’ve known was lucky enough to
get kicked by a horse, run over by a truck,
whooped in a dog fight, or trapped in a garage for
days. j
Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, Pet Health Network
things to do
2015 Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival
April 25, 10am to 4pm
Jax4Kids.com is proud to sponsor Tree Hill Nature Center’s annual Butterfly Festival. There will be animal encounters, a bounce house, face painting, local vendors,
garden tours, and a live butterfly release at 3:30pm.
Cost is $5 adults, $4 senior/military/students, $3 kids
3-17, and free for under 3 and Tree Hill Members.
Tree Hill Nature Center / 904-724-4646 / 7152 Lone
Star Road Jacksonville FL 32211 / www.treehill.org
29th Annual Clay County Agricultural Fair
April 2 – 11
Admission to the Fair is: Adults (13-64) $8.00, Seniors
(65+) $5.00, Children (6-12) $5.00. Children 5 and
under are FREE. Visit claycountyfair.org for entertainment schedule, hours and more information.
Clay County Fairgrounds / 904-284-1615 / 2497 State
Road 16 West, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 / www.
claycountyfair.org
47th Annual Mandarin Art Festival
April 4 – 5, 10am to 5pm
Festival features a children’s art show, children’ activities including art clinics, face painting, balloon art,
bake sale, green market, food court, live music and
more. There will also be an Easter Egg Hunt. Outdoor
event with $1 suggested entry fee. Sorry, no pets.
Free parking and shuttles from Mandarin Presbyterian
Church and Alberts Field. Mandarin Community Club /
904-268-1622 / 12447 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville,
FL 32223 / www.mandarincommunityclub.org
Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience
Tuesday, April 7 – 7:30pm
Wednesday, April 8 – 7:30pm
Thursday, April 9 – 7:30pm
Friday, April 10 – 8:00pm
Saturday, April 11 – 2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sunday, April 12 – 1:00pm & 4:00pm
Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience is
a parody that takes all seven Harry Potter books into
seventy hilarious minutes. Appropriate for ages 6 and
up. Tickets start at $34. FSCJ Artist Series / Times
Union Center, 300 West Water Street, Jacksonville, FL
32202 / www.artistseriesjax.org
Buddy Valastro: The Cake Boss
April 8, 7:30pm
In this interactive event, TLC’s Cake Boss, Buddy
Valastro, will share stories, answer audience questions,
and give a live demonstration of techniques. Tickets
range from $35 to $125 and are available in advance
online or by phone.
Florida Theatre / 904-355-5661 / 128 East Forsyth
Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / floridatheatre.com
St. Augustine Race Week – Junior Sailing
April 9 – 12
St. Augustine Race Week is a brand new Annual Spring
sailing event combining large-boat ocean racing and
spectator-friendly small boat racing along the St.
Augustine Bayfront. The four-day regatta, April 9-12,
2015 coincides with St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration and celebrates the first city’s colorful maritime
heritage of 450 years of Sailing. There will be two
days of spectator-friendly In-Shore racing with boats
under 30 feet on Thursday and Friday. Junior Racing in
Optimist Prams and 420 dinghies at the Bayfront will
be on Saturday and Sunday. Four Off-Shore (ocean)
races will be held April 9-11th. In addition to the sailing events, St. Augustine Race Week includes two FREE
concerts on the City Marina Lawn which will be open
for racers and the public, Thursday and Friday night.
Many of the competitor yachts will be docked at the
downtown City Marina and available for casual inspection by the public.
First Coast Sailing Association / 904-687-5146 / St.
Augustine Municipal Marina, 111-E Avenida Menedez
St. Augustine, FL 32080 / www.sarw2015.com
Disney on Ice Let’s Celebrate!
Page 39 • Jax4Kids.com • APRIL 2015
April 9 – 12
Disney on Ice returns to the Veterans Memorial Arena.
This year’s theme, Let’s Celebrate, features a Very
Merry Unbirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter;
a Royal Valentine’s Day Ball with your favorite Disney
Princesses, including Cinderella, Ariel, Belle and Tiana;
a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; a whole new world
with Jasmine and Aladdin; a winter wonderland with
Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear; a Halloween haunt
with the Disney villains, and more in a magical medley
of holidays, celebrations and festivities from around
the globe.. Tickets start at $15, plus fees. Ages 0-23
months admitted free on ticket holder’s lap (no ticket
required). If child has celebrated their 2nd birthday,
they MUST have a ticket to enter. Tickets available
online at Ticketmaster.com. Save $5 with the discount code J4K15. Not valid on Opening night, Friday
10:30am or Saturday 3:30pm; Not valid on Rinkside or
VIP / Premium seating; Not valid day of show, all tickets
$2 more day of show.
Show dates and times are:
Thursday – 7:30pm
Friday – 10:30am* and 7:30pm
Saturday – 11:30am, 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday – 1:00pm, 5:00pm
*The Friday 10:30am show is only for school groups.
Schools, to order tickets, call 866-248-8740 (Option 3)
for Direct Group Sales and mention Jax4Kids. Tickets
are $10 for school show performance.
Disney on Ice / Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena,
300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32202 /
www.disneyonice.com
Musical Madness for Kids
April 15, 3pm
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presents a
Musical Madness for Kids for kindergartners thru grade
5. The event will feature the String Quintet, featuring
live performances and opportunities to learn all about
the instruments and see them up close.
Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library / 904-827-6950 /
101 Library Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.
sjcpls.org
North Atlantic Right Whales
Saturday, Apr. 18 at 2:00 pm
North Atlantic right whales visit Northeast Florida waters to give birth to calves December through March.
Join a ranger to learn about one of the world’s most
endangered large mammals. This program will take
place at the Ribault Club on Fort George Island Cultural
State Park. No reservations are necessary and the
program is free.
Fort George Island Cultural State Park / 904-251-2320
/ 11241 Fort George Road / Jacksonville, FL 32226 /
www.floridastateparks.org/park/Fort-George-Island
West Nassau Historical Society Railroad Days
April 18, 9am to 8pm
This year’s celebration will include the grand opening
of the Musslewhite Turpentine Commissary artifact
exhibit building. Being Earth Day weekend, they will
also celebrate the fabled “Hobos” and their Recycle
and ReUse skills of the materials they used while riding
the rails. The arts/crafts vendors and food vendors
will open from 9am to 5pm with the live music and
entertainment running from 10am to 8pm. The kids’
area includes jumpy houses, slide, a barrel train, and
Hobo Games. The parade starts at 11am and will wind
its way down US 1 through downtown Callahan. Steam
driven engines, tractors and trains will be exhibited on
the historic Florida Railroad rail bed, remnants of the
state’s first cross-peninsular rail line.
West Nassau Historical Society / 904-879-3406 /
Historic Train Depot, 45383 Dixie Avenue, Callahan, FL
32011 / www.wnhsfl.org
ShAdco Zone 2 Safety Fair
April 18, 10am to 2pm
The ShAdco Zone 2 Safety Fair will feature informational booths, vendors, a bike rodeo and more.
Jacksonville Sheriffs Office / Regency Square Mall,
St. Augustine Outlet Mall
parking lot next to Bozard Ford
Hands-on fun with trucks,
fire engines, cars, boats,
and more!
Admission: $5.00
for children
ages 2 and up,
adults are free.
Scoop up
advance
tickets
on line at
tagmuseum.org
9501 Arlington Expressway Jacksonville, FL 32225 /
www.coj.net/departments/sheriffs-office
Charlotte’s Web
April 21, 7pm
April 22 – 23, 10:15am
Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based
on E. B. White’s classic book. Tickets are $15.
Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts / 904-276-6750
/ 283 College Dr, Orange Park, FL 32073 / www.
thcenter.org
Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library Book Sale
April 22, 10am to 7:30pm; April 23, 10am to
5:30pm; April 24, 10am to 5:30pm; April 25, 10am
to 4pm. There will be children’s books, audio books,
videos and more. Bring cash. Saturday is Bag Day,
where each bag of books is $8. All proceeds go to
support the Friends’ Mission to make the library an
outstanding educational, cultural, civic, and recreational center for the community.
Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library / 904-827-6950 /
101 Library Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.
sjcpls.org
Feel the Wheels
April 25, 9am to 4pm
Hands-on event where children of all ages can explore
trucks, emergency vehicles, boats, military vehicles
and more. Admission is $5 for children 2 and up; free
for adults. Proceeds to benefit the tag! Children’s
Museum of St. Augustine. Tickets can be purchased
online, in advance. Children’s Museum of St. Augustine
/ 904-647-1757 / St. Augustine Outlets, 500 Outlet
Mall Blvd. St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.tagmuseum.org/events.aspx
Italian Spring Festa
April 25, 11am to 9pm; April 26, , 11am to 6pm
The Italian American Club of Jacksonville (IAC) presents the first annual springtime festival. This family
event is IAC’s gift to the community — no admission
fee. There will be music, kids activities, souvenirs
and Italian food, including pizza, pasta, hoagies, and
homemade desserts.
Italian American Club of Jacksonville / 904-268-2882 /
2838 Westberry Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / www.
iacofjacksonville.com
The Twins and the Monster
April 26, 3pm
This imaginative tale by award-winning author Tololwa
M. Mollel uses the rhythms of Africa to drive the fastpaced presentation, where two twins must outwit a
fierce monster and heal their devastated village. John
Estacio’s magical score, adapted by Doug McKeag,
sets the scene as an actor brings the story to life using
carved masks, singing and movement. Tickets start at
$6. Join Jax4Kids.com for pre-concert fun.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra / 904-354-5547
/ Times Union Center, Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300
West Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.
jaxsymphony.org
20th Anniversary “Out of this World” Concert
April 28, 7:30pm to 9:30pm
The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus presents the 20th
Anniversary “Out of this World” Concert featuring
Voca People. The concert will be held Tuesday, April
28, 2015, 7:30pm, at the Lazzara Performance Hall
at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The
evening will feature performances by the Jacksonville
Children’s Chorus and feature their guest artists, Voca
People.
Jacksonville Children’s Chorus / 904-353-1636 / UNF
Lazzara Performance Hall, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville,
FL 32224 / jaxchildrenschorus.org
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dates, times and locations
are accurate at time of publication; events
and activities listed in this guide are subject to
change without notice. Visit Jax4Kids.com for
updated information and more events!