1. family and parenting
2. children

Free
september 2007
Serving the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Area
How to Have
the Best
School Year
Ever
Teaching
Kids Peace
Living
With ADHD
Vote for the
Area’s ‘Family Favorite’
Destinations! See
Page 12.
2
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
3
September 2007
Serving the Families of the
Portland Metropolitan Area
September Features
September Family Calendar
14How to Have the
Best School Year Ever
38 In the Spotlight
Your kids may look like they’re ready for a new
school year – new shoes, the latest backpack,
mountains of school supplies – but appearances
can be deceiving. In this article we tap into some
expert advice on the things that will really make
this a great school year for your children.
40 Family Calendar
Seven Steps to Academic Success
20Teaching Kids Peace
Peace. Harmony. Serenity. Whatever name you
put on it, peace is what all of us want – in our
own homes and around the globe.
Many experts believe that the path to peace must
begin in childhood. Fortunately, the metropolitan
area is teeming with ways to help local parents
raise a generation of peacemakers.
28 Living with ADHD
As any parent who lives with a child who has
ADHD can tell you, life can be a roller coaster in
an ADHD household. Our primer on living with
ADHD suggests a multitude of ways to help your
child cope with this disorder.
38 Family Favorites
Departments
6Editor’s Note
Gandhi, the Golden Rule and Parenting
8Parent Postings
Announcements, community events,
fundraisers and other useful information.
34 Out & About
Springwater Corridor
36Angels Among Us
Jean Baton Swindells Resource Center
48 Fall Festivities
49-50 Parties
51 Classifieds
51 Index of Advertisers
32Making the Most of Your Child’s IEP
4
Help for Parents of Children
With Special Needs
or parents of children with special needs, the
F
Individualized Education Program (IEP) is like
an educational mission statement, master plan
and blue print – all rolled into one. A father with
a special needs child gives other parents dealing
with the IEP process some great pointers on how to
make the most of this very important part of your
child’s life.
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
On Our Cover
Our feature on “How to
Have the Best School
Year Ever” provides
parents and students
with the tools they need
to make the most of the
coming school year.
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
5
Editor’s Note
Gandhi, the Golden Rule and Parenting
M
athama Gandhi had a way with words. The
renowned peacemaker gave the world some of its
most memorable sound bites – and he never even
ran for public office. We quote Gandhi liberally
this month in our feature on “Teaching Kids Peace”
beginning on page 20.
As anyone familiar with Gandhi’s life knows,
his belief system was firmly rooted in the Golden
Rule, most commonly stated as “treat others as you
would like to be treated,” but also referred to as
the “ethic of reciprocity” – what goes around,
comes around. Many of Gandhi’s most profound
observations are restatements of that principle. For
example:
“The best way to find yourself is to lose
yourself in the service of others.”
“ An eye for an eye makes the whole world
blind.”
“We win justice quickest by rendering justice
to the other party.”
I’ve heard many times that every one of the
major world religions embraces the Golden Rule.
My research assistant (Google!) found numerous
sites claiming this and backing it up with
passages of religious writings. From Buddhism to
Zoroastrianism, it seems all of the great theologies
and philosophies teach this principle.
But this isn’t a column on religious ecumenism,
it’s about parenting. So what does the Golden Rule
have to do with raising kids?
Everything.
It seems to me that most of us, hopefully all of
us, parents would agree that the most important
lesson that we’d like our youngsters to learn – the
one basic truth that they should absorb before going
out into the world – is the Golden Rule. Without that
foundation of compassion and caring, it doesn’t
really matter if they’re great athletes or excellent
students or accomplished musicians, does it?
6
I’m pretty sure that all of our readers try,
with their actions and words, to communicate
the importance of the Golden Rule to their kids.
Parenting is, after all, a decades-long practice
of “show and tell.” We tell our children the rules
– but we must also show them what they look like
in real life. (Kind of like Gandhi – on a much
smaller scale.)
A sweet new children’s book can help get
the “what-goes-around-comes-around” dialogue
started. “The Golden Rule,” written by Ilene
Cooper, illustrated by Gabi Swiatowska (Abrams
Books for Young Readers, 2007), follows the
discussion that a young boy has with his
grandfather about the Golden Rule – what it is,
why it’s so important and how to practice it, at
any age and in any circumstance.
“The Golden Rule” is a picture book, aimed
at ages 4 to 8, but it’s really for everyone –
perhaps especially parents. In the book, the
grandpa stresses that the Golden Rule is a simple
rule – but that it’s not necessarily an easy rule
to follow. Adults get carried along on a tide
of commitments, schedules, “shoulds” and the
minutiae of daily life. It can be very difficult
for parents to take the time to “check in with
ourselves” to see if we’re practicing the “ethic of
reciprocity.” I know it is for me.
But it’s the right thing to do. And we know
it is.
Gandhi had something to say about that too:
“To believe in something, and not to live it, is
dishonest.”
Another bit of wisdom from the
master peacemaker. …
Marie Sherlock, Editor
[email protected]
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
Serving the Families of the
Portland Metropolitan Area
Metro Parent
P.O. Box 13660
Portland, OR 97213-0660
Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445
Publisher
Martin Griffy, 503-460-2774
[email protected]
Editor
Marie Sherlock, 503-460-2774
[email protected]
Calendar Editor
Teresa Carson
[email protected]
Contributing Writers
Kevin Brague, Teresa Carson, Emily Puro,
Anne Laufe
Advertising Account Executives
Westside Debbie Dille
503-997-4044; fax: 503-579-1491
[email protected]
Eastside and Vancouver
Sherry Walston, 503-331-8184
360-892-3038; fax: 360-546-5945
[email protected]
Outside the Portland metropolitan area
and National
503-460-2774; fax: 503-331-3445
[email protected]
Design & Production Susan Bard
Distributor Zebra Delivery
For distribution issues,
e-mail us at [email protected]
For calendar submissions,
e-mail us at [email protected]
To subscribe to Metro Parent,
e-mail us at: [email protected].
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Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro
Parent Publishing, Inc. and is copyright 2004
Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without written
permission is prohibited. Metro Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland,
Oregon metropolitan area.
Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse
advertising for any reason. Distribution of this
publication does not constitute an endorsement
of the products or services advertised herein.
Metro Parent does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or
sexual orientation.
Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing Inc. and its agents and employees cannot
be held responsible for the use or misuse of any
information contained herein. The contents of
Metro Parent and its Web site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a
substitute for professional advice or treatment.
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
7
parent postings
Green Sprouts Festival Sept. 22
The second annual Green Sprouts Festival, an organic baby
and family show focusing on natural and healthy options for
childbirth and parenting, takes place on Saturday, Sept. 22 at
Peninsula Park, 700 N Portland Blvd., from 10 am to 6 pm. The
festival, presented by the ReDirect Guide, offers parents and
parents-to-be eco-friendly, community-involved and healthy
alternatives for raising children. The focus of the event is on
holistic pregnancy and childbirth options, health and fitness,
non-toxic nursery and home ideas, eco-friendly clothing and
more. Kids will be entertained with live music, face painting,
storytelling, and arts and crafts activities.
A $3 admission donation benefits the Oregon Environmental Council’s Tiny Footprints program. For details, visit www.
greensproutsfest.com or call 503-231-4848.
Two New ‘Kid-O-Centric’
Eateries Open
Granma Leeth’s and
Little Scoops Add to
Family-Friendly Fare Options
Grandma Leeth’s, dubbed
“The Parent and Child Retreat”
by its owners, recently opened
in the Cedar Hills Shopping Center at 10122 SW Park Way. The
restaurant provides a secure,
professionally-staffed children’s
activity area for kids under 10.
The first child is admitted for
$8/hour; additional children are
eligible for a “buddy” rate of $4/
hour. While in the children’s
area, kids also receive unlimited
pasta, fruit and vegetables while
parents enjoy
international
fare without
ever losing visual
contact with
their children. GrandGrandma Leeth’s, a
new family-friendly
ma Leeth’s is
restaurant located in
open Tuesday
the Cedar Hills Shopping Center, offers a
through Sunprofessionally-staffed
day, 10:30
children’s activity
am to 7 pm.
area for kids.
PHOTO COURTESY OF grandma leeth’s
For more
information,
visit www.grandmaleeths.com
or call 503-291-7800.
Little Scoops, an ice cream
parlor specializing in children’s
birthday parties, opened in
8
August at 12115 SE 82nd (Happy
Valley). Party prices begin at
$230 for 10 children which includes pizza, drinks, entertainment, “make your own” sundaes
and more. Ice cream socials can
be scheduled for groups for a
cost of $5 per person. The business also has open parlor times
(call ahead). For more information, visit www.littlescoops.com
or call 503-654-4669.
Breastfeeding Friendly Portland Chalks Up Another ‘First’
Portland can add another
“first” to its many accolades as a
great area to raise kids: It’s the
first city in
the nation
to have its
public and
private
hospitals
ban infant
formula
sample
packs
from the
discharge
bags customarily
given to
mothers as they head home with
their new babies.
Fifteen area hospitals were
recently presented with “Maternity Care Best Practices” awards
to acknowledge their efforts. For
more information, visit www.
banthebags.org.
Special Education PTSA
Meets in Vancouver
Vancouver’s Special Education PTSA (Parent Teacher
Student Association) is the first
special education PTA in the
state of Washington. Although
the group reports to the Vancouver PTA Council, they
welcome participation from all
area school districts (including
Oregon).
Fall meetings are Sept. 10,
Oct. 1, and Nov. 5 from 6 to 7
pm at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School, 2921 Falk Road,
Vancouver. E-mail Theresa at
[email protected] or call
Martha at 360-574-9029 for
more information.
Chalkboard Project Sheds
Light on School Spending
The Chalkboard Project has
completed Phase 2 of its Open
Book$ Project to better communicate how school districts
spend money. The project tracks
school district spending in five
major categories: teaching and
student resources; buses, buildings and food; business services
and technology; principal’s office; and central administration.
The enhanced site now
includes data for the 2005-06
school year, and several other
new features, including demographic information about
students, staffing numbers, per
student spending and average
class size information.
For more information, visit
www.openbooksproject.org.
Eat Dinner With Your Family
on Sept. 24 (and Every Night!)
Here’s a pop quiz: What one
family ritual can help your kids
acquire early language skills,
increase academic success, lower
their risk of experimenting with
drugs, alcohol and sex, decrease
the likelihood that they’ll become depressed, all while giving
them healthier diets and creating stronger family ties?
The answer: Eating together
as a family.
In an effort to help families reap the benefits of eating
together – particularly to lower
the risk of drug and alcohol
abuse among youth – Columbia
University’s Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has
declared the fourth Monday in
September (Sept. 24 this year)
to be Family Day: A Day to Eat
Dinner with Your Children.
Here are some recommendations from their Web site:
• Start the pattern of family
dinners when children are
young.
• Encourage your children to
create menu ideas and participate in meal preparation.
• Turn off the TV and let your
answering machine answer
calls during dinnertime.
• Talk about what happened in
everyone’s day: school, work,
extracurricular activities or
current events.
• Establish a routine to start and
end each meal. Light candles,
say grace or tell a story.
• A fter dinner play a board
game or serve dessert to encourage the family to continue
the conversation.
For more information, visit
www.casafamilyday.org.
Golden Carrot Awards Promote
Healthy School Lunches
Are the cafeteria personnel
at your child’s school trying
hard to offer healthy choices to
kids? If so, you might want to
nominate them for the Golden
Carrot Awards.
The Golden Carrot Awards
honor outstanding, health conParent Postings continues on page 10
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
9
Parent Postings
Free Baby Expo Sept. 28, 29 and 30
Area parents can attend the free Gentle Birth and Baby
Expo at the Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E, on Sept.
28, 29 and 30. In addition to dozens of exhibitors offering
goods and services like organic and eco-healthy baby products, information on birthing options and more, there will be
free seminars on a variety of topics presented by international
experts. Other highlights include book signings and updates on
circumcision, vaccines, baby wearing and breastfeeding. A free
international film festival of birth and parenting films will
also be offered.
Hours for the free event are noon to 6:30 pm on Sept. 28, 9
am to 6:30 pm on Sept. 29 and 10 am to 4 pm on Sept. 30. For
more information visit www.freebabyexpo.com.
Is Your Child a
Budding Mozart?
The Young Composers Project
(YCP) is currently accepting
applications for their 2007-08
season. YCP, a program of Fear
No Music, allows students in
grades six through 12 to have
their compositions performed by
a professional chamber music group. Through a series of
workshops students work with a
professional ensemble rehearsing their piece. The experience
culminates in an end-of-schoolyear public performance.
No auditions are required but
students must have some prior
composition experience, must be
able to notate music and must be
studying regularly with a teacher who can oversee the composition process. The instruments
in the ensemble this year will
be violin, double bass, bassoon,
oboe, piano and percussion.
The cost for the program is
10 $125. For more information, visit www.fearnomusic.org.
‘Montessori 100’
Celebration
on Sept. 30
Dr. Maria Montessori
opened the first Casa dei
Bambini (Children’s House)
in Italy in 1907. To commemorate the Montessori
The Oregon Zoo is seeking the public’s help in choosing which
educational movement’s
prehistoric beasts to feature in a new animatronic dino exhibit, set
to open in May 2008.
100th anniversary, a special celebration will be held
on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Pioneer
Strollathon for
Courthouse Square, 701 SW
Rett
Syndrome Sept. 22
Sixth Ave., from noon to 4 pm.
There will be a demonstration
A Strollathon for Rett SynMontessori “Children’s House,”
drome Research will be held
a community sing-along with
Saturday, Sept. 22 at Laurelhurst
Sanford Jones, Native American
Park (SE 39th and Stark), startdrumming, hands-on activities,
ing at 2 pm; registration begins
Montessori “lessons” for children at 1 pm. While the Strollathon is
and much more. The event is
a fundraiser for Rett Syndrome,
free and open to all. Call 503the event is a free event open to
439-1597 for more information.
all families and children dealing
with disabilities. It includes a
1k stroll around the park, face
Which Dinosaurs
painting, clowns, balloons, reWill Rule the Zoo?
freshments, music and children’s
activities.
The Oregon Zoo needs your
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a dehelp.
bilitating
neurological disorder
Next May more than 20
that
leave
its victims profoundly
animatronic dinosaurs are
disabled,
and
is diagnosed
scheduled to arrive at the Zoo
– and the zoo’s staff wants
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
Parent Postings continues on page 12
PHOTO COURTESY OF billings productions
scious food service professionals in both public and private
schools. The grand prize winner
will receive $1,500 and a $3,500
check made out to her school
or school district. Nominations will be accepted online at
www.healthyschoollunches.org
through Sept. 14.
public input on which prehistoric beasts should be featured.
Visitors to the zoo’s Web site can
vote for their favorites among a
variety of dinosaurs, from the
flesh-eating tyrannosaurus to
the plant-eating stegosaurus.
State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the
dinosaurs’ movements, making
them remarkably lifelike. “These
realistic dinosaurs will send
chills down your spine,” says
Tony Vecchio, zoo director.
To check out the possibilities
and vote, visit www.oregonzoo.
org/dinos and take the online
survey.
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
11
Parent Postings
almost exclusively in females.
Donations to the Rett Syndrome
Research foundation will be
accepted at the park or online at
www.strollathonpdx.org. Visit
the Web site or call 503-4603035 for more information.
Portland Metro Moms
Hold Open House
On Monday, Sept. 24, Portland Metro Moms (PMM) will
host an open house from 10 am
to noon at St. Luke’s Church,
6835 SW 46th Ave. PMM is a
support group for moms and
their children offering weekly
playgroups for newborns on up,
twice monthly meetings and
“Moms’ Night Out” events. For
more information, visit www.
portlandmetromoms.com.
Parent Education
Portland Waldorf School is
offering a free parenting talk on
“Warmth and Rhythm for the
Young Child” on Sept. 14 from
7 to 9 pm at the school (2300 SE
Harrison, Milwaukie). The talk
will cover topics like how parents can improve their conscious
parenting to nurture a young
child’s developing senses. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Call 503-654-2200 for details.
Legacy Emanuel Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry and the
12 Announcing Metro Parent’s
‘Family Favorites’ Reader Survey
Last fall Metro Parent held a Web-based reader survey to
determine which area restaurant was the most family friendly.
We named the “Happy Highchair” award winners in our November issue.
This year we’re expanding the contest to include a number
of other “Family Favorites.” In addition to our “Happy Highchair” award, we’ll be announcing the area’s “Family Favorite” coffee shop, ice cream parlor, toy store, children’s book
shop, kids’ clothing store, park, indoor (rainy day) destination,
family-friendliest movie theater, holiday event/attraction and
vacation destination.
Visit www.metro-parent.com through Oct. 10 to let your
voice be heard! For sharing your views with us, three families
will be selected at random to receive a $50 gift certificate to
the top restaurant, toy store and book shop (one per winner).
We’ll publish the “Family Favorites” results in our November
issue.
National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) are presenting a
free series of “Family-to-Family” classes for families in which
a family member has a mental
illness. The classes will cover
such topics as the biology of the
brain, medication, problem solving and communication. The 12
weekly classes begin Thursday,
Sept. 20 and take place from 6
to 8:30 pm at Legacy Emanuel
Hospital. The course is free but
pre-registration is required by
calling NAMI at 503-228-5692.
DivorceCare for Kids is a
series of classes for children of
divorce, ages 5 to 12, that starts
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
Sept. 12 and runs for 13 consecutive Wednesday nights from 7
to 8:30 pm at Our Place Church,
1400 NE 48th Ave., Hillsboro.
The classes help children of
divorce to develop healthy
lifestyles. The cost is $15 per
child for the 13 weeks and covers books, crafts and snacks.
Call 503-466-0347 or e-mail
[email protected] for
more information.
More parent education and
parent support group information can be found on our Web
site, www.metro-parent.com.
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
13
“We can’t tell our
kids enough that we
believe they have
the ability, with the
right effort, to be
successful.”
By Emily Puro
How to
Have
the Best
School
Year
Ever
Seven
Steps to
Academic
Success
“A routine is really important.
It makes kids
much more calm
at school which
makes them
ready to learn.”
— Kim Abel,
kindergarten
teacher
14 — Patti Book,
school principal
The beginning of a new school year brings excitement, anticipation and high
hopes. How can we keep the momentum going as the year progresses?
We asked a few local experts – educators and parents alike – what parents can
do to make the most of this school year and every school year to follow. Here are
seven simple steps they recommend:
1. Make School a Priority
“Some of the most important messages are the
subtle messages,” says Patti Book, principal of Beaverton’s Aloha-Huber Park K-8 School. By showing
an interest in your children’s school work, making
sure they bring necessary supplies and assignments
to school, and ensuring they arrive on time, you
demonstrate that school is important. School is your
child’s job, says Book. Regular attendance and a
good work ethic are as important for children as they
are for adults.
It’s equally important to express high but reasonable expectations. “We can’t tell our kids enough
that we believe they have the ability, with the right
effort, to be successful,” Book says. They don’t have
to understand every assignment, she adds – “We can
help them with that” – but they always need to give
school their best effort.
2. Talk With Teachers
A strong partnership between parents and teachers is essential for school success, but often finding
time to communicate regularly is easier said than
done. As a working parent with three kids, northwest
Portland mom Diane Stadler relies on e-mail and
other electronic means to stay in touch with teachers.
At southwest Portland’s Sylvan Middle School, where
her two youngest children attend school, teachers
use a secure web-based system in addition to e-mail
to keep parents up to date on grades, projects and assignments. Not all families have access to e-mail,
Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
notes Book, so written notes and the telephone are
still good options.
While e-mail “is a good place to check in or give
information,” cautions Book, “it can be problematic.”
When issues arise or parents have detailed questions,
she says, a meeting or telephone conversation is best.
3. Homework: Help Kids Help Themselves
Many parents struggle to find effective ways
to help children with homework without doing the
work for them. Our experts offer a few tips, keeping
in mind the age, ability and temperament of each
individual child.
“We expect parents to be more involved with
younger kids in terms of homework,” says Book, who
suggests “a gradual release of responsibility” as children get older. Beginning about fourth grade, adds
Megan Aichler, director of services for Portland’s
Minds in Motion Tutoring, kids should complete
homework with little or no assistance. Homework is
assigned to practice skills already learned in school,
she says. If students don’t complete their own assignments, teachers can’t see where more instruction is
needed.
If your child is unclear about how to complete an
assignment, you can help by reviewing the directions
together then modeling how to do one or two problems. Check back periodically to make sure things
are going well, but for the most part, leave him to his
Best School Year Ever continues on page 16
Now
Enrolling
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
15
Best School Year Ever continued from page 14
own devices. When parents don’t
understand how to complete an
assignment, says Book, send a
note to the teacher saying your
child gave it his best effort but
needs more guidance before he
can do the work.
The most effective way to
help children manage their
homework, Book and Aichler
agree, is to establish a regular
homework routine. Designate
a homework spot – whether
it’s a desk in the child’s
room or the kitchen table
– and a regular time to do
it. If your child’s homework
spot is used for other purposes, like eating dinner,
put together a box of supplies you can pull out to quickly transform
the spot into homework central. While some children work best after
school, others might do better after dinner or early in the morning.
Some work well with music playing while others require quiet. Find a
routine that works for your child and stick with it.
4. Teach Time Management
As students enter middle school – where multiple long- and shortterm assignments are par for the course – effective time and project
management become essential. While most schools provide planners
for students to keep track of assignments and exams, according to
Aichler, those planners aren’t always designed for optimal efficiency.
Look for a planner that shows an entire week on every two-page
spread and has pre-printed dates. That way, she says, students can
enter assignments several weeks out without worrying about counting
the days. Review the planner with your child regularly. A highly organized student might require only weekly parental reviews, but most
middle school students do best with more frequent check-ins. And
you don’t have to wait until middle school to teach time management.
Getting kids in the habit of entering assignments in a planner during
the elementary years can make it easier to handle their workload as it
increases.
Remember that time management goes beyond organizing school
projects. Help your children maintain a realistic schedule and post a
family calendar in an area where everyone can see it. Talk about each
person’s commitments and be willing to set limits if extra-curricular
activities interfere with your child’s school work.
5. Feed Them Well
Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between proper
nutrition and positive academic outcomes – from better performance
in school and on standardized tests to improved behavior and attentiveness in class.
Most parents know that a nutritious breakfast is essential, but what
qualifies as nutritious? Breakfast should be balanced, says Stadler,
a registered dietitian who works as a research assistant professor at
Best School Year Ever continues on page 18
16 Metro Parent • www.metro-parent.com • September 2007
September 2007 • www.metro-parent.com • Metro Parent
17