Metro East Parent Jan Issue

VOL 1 Issue 3 / MetroEastParent.com

January 2013 FREE

Parentmetro east

M.E.P Private School Directory Page 33

M.E.P. School Showcase: Althoff Catholic HS

Page 11M.E.P Business Spotlight

Page 25

e d u c a t i o n e d i t i o n

STAR NET is a statewide grant project, funded by the Illinois State Board of Education, through federal funds, that provides training opportunities and technical assistance to families of young children (ages 3, 4, or 5 with IEPs) and the professionals who work with these children.

For more information, please contact Sheri Kraus at 618.825.3969 or [email protected]://roe.stclair.k12.il.us/starnet

STAR NET provides:•information on specific disabilities.•free workshops and conferences on specifictopics and disabilities, including an annualconference just for families.•networking opportunities with other familieswhose child has a similar disability.•a lending library with many resources,including books and DVDs, on specific disabilities.•financial assistance to attend conferences in-state or in theSt. Louis area.

What STAR NET Can Do For Parents

As a parent of a child with special needs, it is important to know that you are not alone.

STAR NET is an early childhood focused program that provides resources and support regarding children with special needs.

You can communicate with other parents who may be facing similar situations, learn more about your child’s disability, learn about your child’s rights, how to advocate for your child and help you understand the services provided by the early childhood community.

Fellowship Funds for Families

Funds are available for family members whohave children ages 3, 4, or 5 with an IEP.The funds may be used to attend conferencesin Illinois or in the St. Louis area.

Funds may be used for lodging, child care reimbursement, and/or registration fees.

STAR NET Mission

STAR NET supports family-centered researched and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

Illinois STAR NET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs.

Althoff Catholic High School

5401 West Main Street, Belleville, IL 62226 (618) 235-1100 • www.althoff.net

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 &

Thursday, February 7, 2013

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

FRESHMAN REGISTRATION

MetroEastParent.com Page 2

Welcome to

Metro East Parent’s

Education Issue

If we failed to mention your school, or had some of our information wrong on you,

please don’t give us a failing grade...just email us at

[email protected] I promise we will

correct it in time for the next issue. Thanks for

reading Metro East Parent and we all wish you a

glorious New Year!

1+1=22+2=4

Page 3 MetroEastParent.com

Inside


January

On the Cover: Photography done by

Studio 314

Vol. 1Number 3

FeaturesMetro East Parent School ShowcaseWe kick off the New Year with a new section by invading Althoff Catholic High School.

The Missing LinkEditor Cherie Washow discovers a gem in the educational system right here in the Metro East Area, Growing Scholars.

Homeschooling Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune - Part 1Thought you may want to homeschool but heard how much it costs? Guest Writer Kelly Ling explains the misconception about this myth.

File your FAFSA now!Guest Writer Beth Juehne, McKendree University Director of Financial Aid explains why.

Metro East Business Spotlight: Plato’s ClosetDid your wallet take a beating over the holiday? Dress your child and self at a fraction of what it costs in the mall.

The Parent ConnectionA new study of the American family’s “passion points” from Just Kids, Inc. reveals that most families (45 percent) agree schools and education are their top priority. Yet, parent involvement in their children’s education is at an all-time low.

Metro East Private School Directory

11

1719

21

25

Departments6 News You Can Use8 Letter from the Publisher9 Voice of Generation “I”

Extra, Extra...15 Guest Columnist: David Robinson16 Guest Writers: Kelley L. Bowers & Rachel Paxton23 Keep Kids Tobacco Free24 Guest Columnist William Miller, personal trainer with DFM answers your questions29 Inspired E-Learning for Kids

Events Calendarpg 37

31

33

VOL 1 Issue 3 / MetroEastParent.com

January 2013FREEParentmetro east

See Metro East Private School Directory on Page 33

Metro East School Show-case: Page 11

e d u c a t i o n e d i t i o n

Want to have your kid on the front cover of Metro East Parent,

and a possible chance of a modeling contract with one of the most prestigious modeling

agencies in the country? Learn out how on page 20...

Oh yeah, there is also ThOUsANDs of DOLLARs worth of PRIzEs for the WINNER as well!

VOLUME I, NUMBER IIIJanuary 2013

PUBLISHERROBERT LUDWIG

[email protected]

MANAGING EDITORCherie Washow

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ GRAPHIC DESIGN

Robert Ludwig

ADVERTISING DIRECTORSteve Grappe

[email protected]

ADVERTISING STAFFJulie Fiorelli, Scott Boekhout,

Rommel Sanchez, Robert Guion

METRO EAST PARENT618-407-5281

MetroEastParent.com2913 Old Caseyville Rd

Swansea, IL 62226

TO SUBMIT EVENTS TO OUR CALENDAR [email protected]

METRO EAST PARENT MAGAZINE IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CREED MEDIA GROUP.NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM

WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PUBLISHER. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN

ENDORSEMENT OR AN INDICATION OF SUPPORT BY ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN

ENDORSEMENT OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.

Parentm e t r o e a s t


Web

sites

We

Love

CHECK Out MOrE News You Can Use on our websitemetroeastparent.com


YOUCANUSE

Parentmetro east

Online

Top Free Apps for StudentsThis is an easy first choice. No matter what device – laptop, iPad, or smartphone – you can use the free Evernote app to organize your notes across your entire class schedule. We recommend mak-ing good use of the ability to attach photos and

voice clips to your notes – it’ll be much easier to understand your own notes if you’ve got a photo of the chalkboard to reference.

GFLASH+Make studying easier with digital flashcards and tests, right on your mobile device. Even better, you can create your card sets in Google Docs and then sync them over to the app, making it really easy to share study guides with others in your group. GOOGLE DRIVE Google has once again put out one of the best prod-

ucts for free for everybody to utilize, especially the busy student. Never carry another thumb drive again, just log whatever device you are using, no matter the platform, and upload your files for easy access for future use on whatever device you are on. You only need a Google account which is free as well.

The BrainPOP app regularly delivers fresh movies, quizzes, and bonus features right to your hand-held device. They cover a breadth of relevant topics including current events, historical figures and milestones, holidays, curricular subjects, and more.

When selecting a school for your child Greatschools.org is hands down one of the best sites to discover. Just plug in your city and state and let Great schools do the rest for you. From Preschool to College, the site will give you all the pertinant information at your fingertips: student-teacher ratio, testing results for the past decade for each grade, how other parents rate the school, as well as a comparison tool to see area schools side by side with each other. Greatschools.org is a must stop site for parents of children of all ages!

Whether you like Bill Gates or not... this is pretty cool. Here’s some advice Bill Gates recently dished out at a high school speech about 11 things they did not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teaching has created

a full generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world.ruLE 1: Life is not fair - get used to it.

ruLE 2: The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish some-thing BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

ruLE 3: You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice president with car phone, until you earn both.

ruLE 4: If you think your

teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. he doesn’t have tenure.

ruLE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping they called it Opportunity.

ruLE 6: If you mess up,it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

ruLE 7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as

they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. so before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent’s genera-tion, try delousing the closet in your own room.

ruLE 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resem-

blance to ANYThING in real life.

ruLE 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are in-terested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

ruLE 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

ruLE 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

A merger of the Internet Public Library and the Librarians’ Internet Index, this site is a comprehensive source of “information you can trust.” Thousands of volunteer library and information science professionals created and maintain the site’s reference collections—sets of links to websites on U. s. presidents, author biographies, museums, research and writing, literary criticism, and many more topics. The Ask an ipl2 Librarian reference service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provides individualized help finding authoritative, free online sources for specific topics.

EVERNOTE

BRAIN POP

Go Figure...Educational Facts

you probably didn’t know16.3 Million

The number of students in the united States grades 9-12.

1.2 MillionThe number of students that drop out of school in the

united States every year.

7000That comes to over 7,000 students that drop-out every day.

26The number of students that drop out of school every second.

$260,000The amount of money a high school dropout will

earn less than a high school graduate.

$800,000The amount of money a high school dropout will

earn less than a college graduate.

380,232The largest school in the united States is the

university of Phoenix Online, with a whopping 380,232 students. That’s over 5x more than the largest public school,

Arizona State university, which has 68,064 students.

40.3 %The percentage of u.S. adults that have a degree.

6.7%The percentage of the world that has a degree.

29%The percentage of Americans that couldn’t name

the u.S. Vice President.

9 out of 10Of the 10 largest high school gymnasiums in the

united States, 9 are in Indiana.

347,985The number of graduates that earned a bachelors degree

in business in 2009.

15,496The number of graduates that earned a bachelors degree in Math.

31,667The number of graduates that earned a bachelors degree

in park, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.


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Is your family ready to GET THE SILLIES OUT? Yo GabbaGabba! Live! is going back on the road in 2013 with a

new show, "Get the Sillies Out!" featuring the one and onlyDJ Lance Rock, plus Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee, and Plex, and of course, hip hop legend Biz Markie.

Buy tickets or Gabba Party Packages (including a meet & greet with the characters) right away and give

your kids an experience they won't soon forget. Plus, you'll have just as much fun as they will!

December 15, 2012

With this month’s issue of Metro East Parent Magazine, we will focus on Education within the Metro area. In my column I was going to speak about what great advantages our area has to offer in regards to the many schools and teachers who work tirelessly to help make our children

reach their fullest potential in this tough, globally economic world they will face as adults. But the one contribution that we sometimes forget that our school system provides for us as parents is keeping

our children safe, and sometimes sacrificing their lives in order to do so.

Yesterday, we as parents and as a country felt our hearts collapse at the tragic events that occurred in Newtown, Connecti-cut when a lone gunman took the lives of 20 small schoolchildren and six staff members of an elementary school. After hearing gunshots in the school, staff members ran to the commotion into the line of fire with their only concern being the safety of their students and made the ultimate sacrifice. Let me repeat that, they ran into the line of fire. The streets of heaven are crowded with Angels today, and heroes alike, and we would be remiss not to mention the countless heroes that will go unmentioned in such a tragedy, and in everyday life.

While our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families, that by the Grace of God silently thanking him that it was not our own children, our thanks should be equally as great for those brave teachers who took their students out of harm’s way, and sometimes shielded them with their own lives without concern for their own safety. Too often in our country teachers give themselves willingly in defense of their students, the media generally only mentions the teaching community is when there is a rarity that a teacher or staff member does something detrimental to their school or students.

Think about it. When is the last time you saw something beyond a footnote or sound-bite in the news about a teacher who has risked himself or herself to help a student in need? Perhaps they stopped a fight that could have escalated into something far more serious, or talked a child down with a weapon in their hands. Or maybe that teacher just stayed late or came in early to help coach a school team or tutor a child that was having difficulty with a science or math problem. When is the last time any of the great things that our teachers accomplish on a daily basis that go far beyond the scope of their job title to help a child ever seen in the media, or thanked publicly? But let one teacher out of thousands in our Metro area do something wrong and all of the sudden there are nightly reports on every station and newspaper and the whole teaching community is investigated as a whole.

We live in a world where there are people whose sole intention is to do harm to our children; Newtown was a true tes-tament to that fact. But thankfully, we also live in a world with people who dedicate their lives to the safety, security and education to our children that far out-balance those crazy people that turn their guns and unwanted attention to do harm to our children. Thankfully we have great schools and teachers who watch over our children when we cannot.

The streets of heaven are crowded with Angels today, and heroes alike.

letter from the publisher...

Robert Ludwig


With a new year come new opportunities. Resolutions are always made and often broken, especially for teens. Last year I vowed not to make fun of my father’s music. he always listens to the music of his youth, bands of the 80’s he calls New Wave music. Iit should be named Old Wave or an Old Tsunami that demolishes a good road trip. What exactly are a Kajagoogoo, Yazoo, or Echo and the Bunnymen? (These are real band names;. If you think I am joking just look them up) Obviously that resolution went out the window by mid-January.

Then there was the New Year’s resolution that I wanted to graduate college at the age of eleven, like sheldon Cooper on Big Bang Theory, and spend all my time hanging out in comic book stores and playing video games while I made a fortune doing Quantum Physics. I think I was eight years old then, and at 13 years old I am still studying my U.s. Constitution to pass the 8th grade. Another resolution never achieved.

But this year will be different. With a new year come new opportunities.

For 2013 I vow to study hard, practice basketball on a daily basis, and become more involved in my community through volunteerism. Think about how many teens are in your school. If every one of them just spends one hour a week, or even a month, volunteering at a local humane society, or serving meals at a local shelter, or shelving books at your local library, how much good could come out of that?.

What is one hour of your life as a teen? One hour less of NBA 2K13, one hour less of talking on Facebook, one hour less of skyping or texting, one hour less of studying. scratch that last one. Please study one hour more.

Now think of what that one hour could mean to someone else. One hour could help someone younger pass a math test,. One hour could feed a hundred people in a homeless shelter,. One hour could give a dozen dogs a five minute walk at your local humane society. One hour could be nothing to you, but

mean the world to someone else.

One of the cheesy songs my father makes me listen to on our road trips is by Whitney houston, “The Greatest Love of All”. The first lines of the song say, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.”

We are the future. It is up to us to help shape our commu-nity into a better place for everyone, especially those who may not have everything that we take for granted. But I am not making this resolution to benefit them; I am making and keeping this resolution to help me become a better person and to become the man I want to be.

Please make this New Year’s resolution with me. Make a difference in something that you enjoy doing. Ask your family and friends to join in and volunteer with you, having fun doing it. see what a difference an hour can mean to yourself and to the world around you.

Places you can volunteer as a teen:

1. Your local Humane Shelter. www.humanesociety.org/about/state/illinois/2. Your local library. www.publiclibraries.com/illinois.htm3. Your local elementary school by tutoring. 4. Your local homeless shelter. www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/illinois.html5. Habitat for Humanity. www.habitat.org/6. Your church. 7. Your local Nursing Home. www.ourparents.com/illinois8. A great website for teens that want to volunteer. www.generationon.org/9. Another great site! www.dosomething.org/10. united Way. www.unitedway.org11. Salvation Army. www.salvationarmyusa.org

Have a great New Year!

Voice of Generation “I”Xavier is an eighth grader at a private school in

Southern Illinois who has a passion for writing and photography. His generation, those of Generation “I”,

are those who have been raised in the digital age of Internet, I-phones, and I-pads.


by XAVIEr LuDWIG

“When kids volunteer it tells others that they don’t have to be perfect or famous or even grown up to make a difference.” – Kalynn Dobos, age 7




MetroEastParent School Showcase:

Called to Lead † Called to serve † Called to Love

By Robert [email protected]

When tradition meets the modern needs of to-day’s youth, mixed in with excellence in academia and dedication to the future of tomorrow’s leaders within the Metro East area and the world, the list is endless for the incredible schools that are scattered throughout the area. One of the many schools that exemplifies these characteristics is Althoff Catholic high school. Metro East Parent spent a day with the wonderful staff and students of Althoff Catholic high school to learn firsthand why the school continues to graduate the future leaders of the area in our first Metro East Parent school showcase.

There are few institutions that can claim 18 Illi-nois state scholars and 2 National Merit Finalists in a graduating class of just 117 graduates, but Althoff Catholic high school seems to succeed in this academic measure year after year, as they did with their 48th graduating class of 2012.

Over 98% of the 2012 graduating class went on to study in a higher learning institute with 45% of the graduates receiving over $18 million in schol-arships. The numbers seem to speak for them-selves in highlighting the academic excellence of Althoff Catholic high school.

Rachel Beyersdorfer, a Junior of Althoff Catholic high school, explains the advantages of her school in regard to preparing for the future. “Althoff has opened so many doors for me and my future. Our Guidance Counselors not only help with college applications but also help us with scholarship applications to try and help pay for

the college we want to attend.”

senior Michael harris who led the Crusaders with eleven interceptions this year in an amazing football season, has placed applications to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities with the help and guidance of Althoff Catholic high school’s teachers and staff, with Notre Dame and Vanderbilt included. Not only was Michael a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end of the football field, but managed to maintain high honors in the classroom as well.

“Althoff teaches you how to succeed in the classroom, and has prepared me for the tough aca-demic road ahead that I will face in college,” stated Michael. “I feel like I can go out and succeed in college and life because of what I learned here. A lot of students at other schools can’t say the same.”

Althoff Catholic high school’s standardized test scores are well above both the state and national average, and with dual enrollment programs with sWIC and st Louis University students can grad-uate high school with college credits under their belt to start their collegiate life off ahead of most incoming college freshman.

But Althoff Catholic high school in not all about studying and preparing for college, it is also about preparing for life as well. Over 95% of the students are involved in some type of extra-cur-ricular activity ranging from band and show choir to athletics.

“There is something for everyone,” says Fresh-man shannon Maitland, who has already gotten involved in Althoff Catholic high school’s vast

student life as a member of the student Council, Rotary Club, volleyball and soccer.

“What I love most about Althoff is that it is more like a family than most other schools. All the teachers know your name and do not have to look at your ID card to see who you are,” say shannon.

Another Freshman has already made his mark on the school by making both the varsity football team and basketball team. Isaiah Williams helped lead his Crusaders to a 2nd place finish in this year’s state tournament in football and hopes to succeed in basketball this year as well.

“Even though we are a small school compared to the much larger teams that we play against, we compete with stands full and win. As a freshman in high school, there is nothing like listening to the crowd cheer you on, and our fans have been the best and traveled right along with us all over the state,” said Isaiah.

With the recent 2nd place finish at state for the Crusader Football Team, Althoff Catholic high school has yet another feather to place in their hat. Winner of three previous state Titles in foot-ball and countless other titles in about every sport offered by the school, the Crusaders remain one of the premier athletic institutions in state.

But where Althoff Catholic high school succeeds in its greatest glory is educating their students in becoming the leaders of tomorrow in their faith-based mission statement, “We are called by Jesus Christ to educate young people, through the Catholic Traditions, to lead successful


and faith-filled lives.”

The young leaders exemplify this tradition of faith and giving with yearly community projects and missions to help build character and service.

Each student volunteers hours within the community each year to help build a com-munity that they hold dear with projects like hands Free Program and st. Vincent de Paul soup Bus to name a few.

“Our motto is ‘Called to Lead, Called to serve, Called to Love’,” states Dennis Jackson, a sophomore. “Althoff Catholic teaches us to do just that.”

special thanks to Althoff Catholic students: Erin McCarkel, Jeremy shutz, sung Min Moon, Matthew stubblefield, Michael harris, Rachel Beyersdorfer, Dennis Jackson, sandy Amorado, shannon Maitland, Isaiah Williams, as well as Director of Admissions Amber Gaither, Vice Principal Greg Leib, and Principal David L. harris, and the rest of the Althoff Catholic students and Teachers who were so gracious to me and my staff.

All Photography by Studio 314

so what’s the value in education and who is it all about?

You’ve heard the little catch phrase, “What’s it worth to you?” Maybe you were the bargain shopper through the holidays, searching out the best deal on that new electronic device. You could have been the one who traveled to the refund/exchange aisle to replace that “what were they thinking” gift that you wouldn’t give away to anyone. Value. Many things in life we put a price tag on. A nice neighborhood. A secure job. A reliable and economic car. how about your child’s education? For many of us as parents, we list the value of our children’s education at the top. The cost for education has changed through the years. We now see that, in the midst of a very competitive job market and tough economic times, the value of a child’s education is supremely important to be competitive and actually employable with a sal-ary that can support one individual, much less an entire family. how do you put a price tag on something like providing the educational foundation for your child to continue to grow from childhood, to adolescence, to college and into the career world?

Our educational world is ever changing. As parents, we’re watching our children go from our days with loaded 25 pound backpacks with 3-inch textbooks to their learning toolkit coming in an i-Pad loaded with resources and instructional aides beyond our imagination. The laptop of 5 years ago is so archaic now (at least that’s what my nine year-old son says!). he can operate my smart devices better than I can! In the midst of all of this “change”, what do we want to stay the same? The value system that is offered within a Christian day school has remained. As a Lutheran school educator and administrator in various schools separated by state and district lines, the commonality among us follows very clear answers to the questions What’s the Value? and Why a Lutheran (or other) school?. The following information is quoted directly from the Lutheran Church – Missouri synod website and, though it may not be adopted in the same words, every school I have served in from Nebraska to Arkansas, will

have these common themes echoing through-out the philosophy and mission statements of the buildings.

Why send Your Child to a Lutheran school?here is a summary of reasons why you should send your child to a Lutheran elementary school. Lutheran schools:

• are driven by a commitment to the Gospel and focused on a mission of bringing hope and

healing to students and their families.• are governed by board members who

clearly understand their roles and focus on the vision and board policies that

effectively govern the operation of the school. • meet or exceed state and national academic standards at all grade levels. • help to develop a minimum of 30 developmental assets in children. • have educators who model visionary leadership. They practice stewardship of resources, build

up others and empathize with others. • have educators who model servant leadership. Do those served grow as persons; do they,

while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely them-selves to become servants? (Robert Greenleaf)

• have educators who model spiritual leadership. They study God’s Word, share their personal

faith story, apply Law and Gospel appropri-ately, exhibit a passion for ministry, act coura-geously, equip God’s people for service, care for others, demonstrate integrity, and pray.

Many of these bullet points are the personal values that you may be looking for in a school. In the weeks ahead, families will be consider-ing the opportunities that are in front of them and their children when it comes to beginning at a school or continuing on in some form of education: preschool, grade school, high school, and even college. Whether it be public, private, or a Christian school, an important piece to keep clear is the value in what you are investing. The true value and investment is all

about your child. And wouldn’t you say they are the most priceless thing you have in your life? The invitation is out there by many com-peting schools to share the biggest and the best there is to find. The key component is what is matching the value that you place on it and the value you hold for your child. As an adminis-trator in Christian educational ministry, I want all families to consider this whether they are looking at becoming part of my school or not. What is the desired outcome? As a parent, you should be saying, “When my child gets out of school today/this year, I want them to. . . .” As a parent myself, the Christian value system we have at home is being modeled in the Chris-tian school they attend daily. Our values are consistent. It’s part of the “system” my wife and I have established in our home (and church), and we continue to follow and model this for our children. Now, will a Christian day school always be where they attend? I can’t say for sure. however, the values that have been established will continue to be modeled and hopefully lived out by our children. You know the proverb, “Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it.” Our hope and prayer as parents, right? The value system, whether it be Christian-based or good citizen-based: it’s the goal, the desired outcome (spoken like a teacher!). In making your decisions for what-ever developmental level of education you will transitioning into with your child in the weeks ahead, continue to hold fast to the value system in your heart and your home. Your children will appreciate it and benefit from it greatly as they grow and establish the values that will guide them into their adult life. In turn, they will be telling their kids, “This is what it’s worth to me!”

David robinson is serving as the interim principal at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Collinsville. He has been part of the metro community for the past eight years, however, on the Missouri side where he was the principal at a Lutheran school in the city of St Louis. For the past 17 years, David has served in ministry as a Director of Christian Education, classroom teacher, and school principal/administrator in 6 states throughout the Midwest. His wife, Diana, is also in education as an early childhood teacher at a charter school in St. Louis. His children, Callie and Preston, have had mom and dad as both teacher and their principal (and they say it’s the BESt!). Da-vid has served as a member of various boards and committees including School Night to Join Scouting, Chairman for the Greater St. Louis Area Council – Thunderbird District, Lutheran As-sociation for Special Education, President-elect for Missouri District Administrators, Lutheran Elementary School Association Marketing team, and has served on various state and national school accreditation teams. David is a native Arkansan and remains loyal to his razorbacks.

National Lutheran School Week will be held January 27 -

February 2, 2013



Check us out online at MetroEastParent.com

Do you ever talk to your children about your failings? About your sometimes unenlightened decisions? I was raised with a distorted view that life is just some-thing that happens to you, and not a reality that is formed, in part, by your everyday decisions.

When you don’t evaluate the impact your decisions have on your life, you are lacking a skill that your children will never learn other than by example.

When you make a decision that negatively affects your life or the lives of others, be the first to admit it. Admit your mistake and resolve to handle any resulting con-sequences of your actions.

sound simple? It really is. It takes a little practice and a humble spirit, but you will be teaching your children a very important lesson: how to honor others.

When you don’t deal with the consequences of your actions and don’t admit your failings, your children will get one or more of the following messages:

- adults don’t make mistakes

- when something goes wrong in my life it is someone else’s fault

- if I make a poor choice and don’t own up to it I am not accountable for it

Is this the message you want to send your child? Talk to your children when you’ve made a decision you could have maybe handled differently. Ask them their opinion on what they would have done in your situation and how they would have handled it differently.

Of course you can also do this when your children make poor choices of their own. But failing to share your own mistakes (after you’ve owned up to them) shows your children that adults, too, make mistakes. The goal is not to grow up to be some-one who always makes the right decision (easy to mistakenly believe), but someone who takes responsibility for their own actions, whatever the cost.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For resources for the Chris-tian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit http://www.Christian-Parent.com

A Little H.O.P.E. Goes a Long Way What if you could celebrate Christmas all year round?...Or your birthday?...Or make a celebration out of any random day throughout the year that involved giving and receiving gifts? What if you take the act of giving one step further and could give to someone who really needed your help and it didn’t cost you anything? What if you are that someone who needs help and a little extra support and the help is just one phone call away…no muss no fuss? What if you could decide what day it would be to share your blessings with someone or receive the blessings of someone who already had you in mind even though you’ve never met? What if all of this was true? Would you give? Would you ask for help?

Well it is true and a little h.O.P.E. definitely goes a long way in this case. h.O.P.E., so appropriately named, is a little house that has been converted into a clothing shop for people who are in need, and it’s filled to the brim with donated clothes in all shapes and sizes for everyone from newborn to adult. Whether it’s a pair of sweatpants needed to lounge around the house or a snazzy business suit needed for an important interview, h.O.P.E. has got it. Even more scrumptious than that is the cost is free! No paperwork, no waiting period, and no questions asked! All are welcome and no one is turned away. The only requirement is you or someone you know has a legitimate need.

seven years ago the staff at New Christian Fellowship Church in Fairview heights took a leap of faith and decided to share their blessings with people in need by partnering with their church family and members of the community to open h.O.P.E. since then, h.O.P.E. has helped an abundance of people from all walks of life. Clothes are donated every day to this little shop of blessings by people who want to ensure h.O.P.E.’s doors remain open for people who need help. All it takes to help is to donate clothes and spread the word. All it takes to receive the blessings that h.O.P.E. has to offer is to ask.

In a nutshell, there are two reasons why someone like you should contact h.O.P.E. today; if you’re interested in being a gift giver and donating clothes you no longer wear or if you’re in need of help and little extra support. It’s really just that simple.

h.O.P.E. is located at 10090 Old Lincoln Trail in Fairview heights. The staff at h.O.P.E. can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (618) 398-2080.

What if you picked up the phone and called today?

– Kelley L. Bowers

The Heart of a Humble

Parent


The Missing Link

By Cherie [email protected]

Where does all the time go? We get up and take our children to school or day care and off to work we go. After work it’s the rush to pick them up; then dinner, homework and the extra-curricular activities. The family dinner is often ordered through a drive-through and homework is done by the light of the mini-van on the way home from basketball practice. What many families are missing is time for the niceties. how great would it be to just pick up the kids and go home for some real family time? There is a place in the Metro East area that is committed to making just that happen in family life.

Growing scholars Educational Center at 6322 Old Collinsville Rd in O’Fallon specializes in academic tutoring and standardized test preparation; but that is only the beginning. The center was opened in 2008 by Anetrise Jones. After 18 years in education which included classroom as well as administrative experience, Anetrise saw a need and had an idea how she could fill it better than the national tutoring chains. students from Pre-K to 12th grade are

interviewed and tested before they are placed with an educator to build a customized learn-ing plan. The objectives range from addressing serious learning disabilities to simply getting ahead in class . Every child who walks in the door is treated like the unique individual he is and the learning plans are evaluated and re-vised often. With a 3:1 student to teacher ratio, your child is sure to get the attention he needs.

While that is the heart and soul of the center, they offer much more. Growing scholars Educational Center is usually open when the schools are not. Their “Beyond the Bell” pro-gram offers both before and after care as well as camps that cover the breaks. Unlike other pro-grams of this nature, they put an emphasis on learning especially during those long summer months when kids can lose what they spent all year learning. Director Desiree’ Tyus with her 12 years in education adds the element of fun to the learning process for the students in ways that extend beyond the classroom. her influence is evident in the five separate services offered to the Beyond the Bell students:

TOTS offers classes starting with pregnant mothers and children with or without their

care-givers all the way through Pre-K.

Gifted Children - fills the void left by the lack of funding in most public schools for the gifted or challenge programs for students K-8th grade.home schoolers - offers classes for students who are home-schooled to supplement their education

Teenagers - encourages teens to keep their focus on education

Imagine Birthdays - a place to have unique parties with themes that are planned and pre-pared from start to finish.

Most recently, the Center has partnered with facilities that offer Karate, Dance and Music Lessons. Imagine being able to get out of work and pick up your kids who have had their lessons, done their homework, and are ready to spend the evening with you. No more power struggles over homework or chauffeuring them around town after working a 10 hour day. If that sounds as amazing to you as it does to me visit their website at www.growingscholarscen-ter.com or call 618-628-4769 for a tour.


All Photography by Studio 314

Growing Scholars Educational Center6322 Old Collinsville Rd, O’Fallon, IL

www.growingscholarscenter.com

618-628-4769

Here Are Some upcoming Events:

JANuArY 25 - Full Day Camp & Parent Night Out [Winter Fun] (5 - 10PM)FEBruArY 7 - Early Dismissal Camp (OFallon 90 Early Release)FEBruArY 8 - Early Dismissal Camp (OFallon 90 1/2 Day)FEBruArY 14 - Early Dismissal Camp (Belleville 118 1/2 Day)FEBruArY 15 - Early Dismissal Camp (Central 104 Early Release)FEBruArY 22 - Parent Night Out [Valentine’s Fun] (5 - 10PM)

Page 19 MetroEastParent.com MetroEast-Parent.com

Author: Kelly Ling

Parents that are new to homeschooling are often overwhelmed with all the products that are now available to homeschoolers. home-schooling has become a big industry. Open a homeschooling catalog full of curriculum and supplies and someone can easily get the impression that homeschooling is going to cost thousands of dollars a year. some parents have no problem going this route, but others have to budget what they spend on curriculum and homeschooling supplies.

For homeschooling parents that have a more limited budget, there are many things that you can do to cut your expenses for homeschooling and not cut the quality of your child’s educa-tion. here are a few tips:

Set a Budget Before you start purchasing supplies for your homeschool, set a budget. Consider how many children you are homeschooling and what their grade levels will be. Look for ways to consol-idate some of your teaching, like teaching the same level of history or science to more than one child at the same time. This will cut down on what you need to budget for your curricu-lum and supplies. Consider this your own “one room schoolhouse”. Then you may only need to purchase one curriculum or one set of supplies and use them for more than one child. This will help keep you from purchasing things that are unnecessary and keeping them in the closet.

Decide on Curriculum Before you decide on curriculum, consider your child/children first. Write down questions and answers about their personality, strengths, and weaknesses. What is their learning style? Does you child like to do lots of exciting hands on activities? Do they love to read or not quite so much? Is character development as impor-tant or less important to you? Considering these questions will help you select the curricu-lum that works best for your child/children.

Once you have written down some of these things, then take a look at the different methods of homeschooling and determine which is the best one for you. These homeschooling meth-ods include (but are not limited to):

* Charlotte Mason Method – simplyCharlotte-Mason.com; CharlotteMason.com

* Classical Education Method – Classi-cal-homeschooling.org; TheWellTrained-Mind.com; TriviumPursuit.com

* Eclectic homeschooling Method – Eclectichomeschool.org

* Montessori Method – American Montessori Consulting* Traditional or school-at-home Method* Unit studies Approach – Amanda Bennett’s

Unitstudy.com; Five In a Row; homeschooling ADD Kids* Unschooling or Natural Learning Method –

Unschooling.com* Waldorf Education Method – Live-Educa-

tion.com; Waldorf Without Walls

Remember, there is not one way of home-schooling. Every child is different and what might work for one child and/or parent, might not work for you. Deciding in advance what your style will be means you can adapt the tools to the method, not the other way around.

Once you’ve decided which route you want to take, then you can “test drive” your chosen curriculum and other tools before you start buying.

1. Look for online demos 2. Check out curriculum reviews online 3. Attend a homeschool convention or expo where homeschool vendors have an opportu-nity to show you their curriculum, products, and supplies 4. Talk to other homeschool parents and find out what they liked or disliked about curricu-lum they’ve purchased or used 5. Check out homeschooling support forums or blogs online and do the same your support group. Ask them what they like and dislike about curriculum they’ve purchased and used. Read messages on homeschooling support forums online and do the same.

Kelly Ling is a work-at-home, homeschool-ing mother of five. She has mentored many homeschooling and work-at-home moms over the past eighteen years. Kelly also owes a home-based web design business. When not doing web design, she is constantly updating some of her homeschooling/work-at-home websites – Home-school Top Sites, ChristianWAHM.com, WAHM Contests, and others.

HomescHooling Doesn’t Have to cost a Fortune > Part 1 <



M a k e Y o u r M a r k

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Get A Great EducationWith Your Degree

McKendree University is committed to providing students with a high quality, affordable private undergraduate and graduate education. Distinguished by great teaching, a vibrant community, successful academic outcomes, and a 98% job placement rate after graduation, McKendree is ranked among the top “Best Regional Universities” by U.S. News & World Report and is the only institution in Illinois tobe named to “America’s 100 Best College Buys.”

by Beth Juehne, Director, Office of Financial Aid, McKendree University

It is that time of year for students and parents to begin thinking about filing the Free Application for Federal student Aid (FAFsA) and preparing their finances for the upcoming 2013-2014 academic year. Beginning January 1, the 2013-2014 FAFsA will be available for students and parents to complete. We advise students and parents to visit the FAFsA website at www.fafsa.gov as early as possible.

When students and parents reach the finan-cial information section of the FAFsA they may utilize the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT), but only if they have already filed their taxes with the IRs. The DRT, introduced last year, allows students and parents the ability to transfer their income information from the IRs to the FAFsA. If they have not filed their taxes at the time they are filling out the FAFsA they may estimate their tax information, as long as they understand they must update the

FAFsA once they have completed and filed their taxes. Going back into the FAFsA and updating their financial information is a very important step in the financial aid process.

students and parents need to be aware of the importance of filing early since The state of Illinois MAP Grant, administered by the Illinois student Assistance Commission (IsAC), does not specify a filing deadline date; it simply states, “As soon as possible after January 1, 2013. Awards made until funds are depleted.” The past two years have seen fund-ing exhausted as early as mid-March. At this time there is no way to know when the IsAC will announce funds are no longer available.

The Department of Education continues to try and make the FAFsA process as simple as possible. small, but significant, changes happen each year to the FAFsA application and the process. There has been a continued increase in the number of FAFsA applicants, and the Department of Education expects an even greater number this year.

Our advice to students and parents is to file as early as possible, and stay in contact with your financial aid office.

“In an effort to assist students and parents, McKendree University is hosting four FAFsA Filing Events. staff members from the Office of Financial Aid will be available to help complete the FAFsA and answer financial aid questions on the following four saturdays, January 19th, February 26th, March 2nd, and March 19th from 9 AM to 2 PM in the Piper Academic Center, Room 120. The event is free. To register visit the Financial Aid web-page at www.mckendree.edu click on FAFsA Event and select the saturday you would like attend.”

We strive to notify our students and their parents as soon as we can about their financial aid. It is important they read all information sent to them and to return any documentation requested immediately. Financial Aid is a joint venture between the student, parents and the attending institution.

File FAFSA Now!


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Keeping Kids and Teens Tobacco-FreeFamily Features

The teen years bring plenty of changes for students, as well as new worries for parents. smoking is at the top of that list for many

parents. Every day in the U.s., approximately 3,600 children between the ages of 12 and 17 start smok-ing cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That number has plenty of parents looking for ways to help keep their children from starting, too.

There are a number of influences that get young people to start smoking, including:

• Having friends, peers or parents who use tobacco.• Linking smoking with a positive social image

and bonding with a peer group.• Seeing tobacco use as a transition to adulthood.• Underestimating the health consequences of tobacco use.• Not understanding that the nicotine in tobacco is addictive. • Low self-esteem.• Lacking skills to resist influences.

What keeps kids and teens from smoking? One of the biggest influencers is having strong parental support. having conversations about the issue re-ally does have an impact on teens’ decisions about tobacco use. here are some tips for talking to your teen:

Keep the lines of communication open. Talk on a regular basis. The more you talk about a wide range of issues with your child, the easier it is to talk

about specific topics such as tobacco. In general conversation, emphasize all the things your child does well rather than things they don’t do well. And demonstrate respect for your child’s opinions. show you’re listening and ask follow-up questions.

Talk, don’t lecture. Discussions will be received far better than a monologue from you. here are some conversation starters:

• “I understand you’ve been talking in school about peer pressure and the health consequences of tobacco use. Tell me about some of the things you’ve learned.”• If you see smoking portrayed in the media, say “I wonder why the director had that guy light up a cigarette in the last scene. What do you think?”• If you and your child see a young person smoking, use it as an opening by saying something like, “how much tobacco use are you seeing in your school? I wonder if it’s the same as when I was your age.”

Talk about health consequences. They need to know what can happen to them.

• Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke, besides nicotine, are tar and carbon monoxide. NIDA also states that tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases, and that carbon monoxide causes heart problems. • According to NIDA, health risks can be immediate, affecting breathing, for example.

And addiction can occur after smoking as few as 100 cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another influencer for adolescents is having a school program that teaches them to identify the social influences of tobacco use, and that teaches them refusal skills. That’s why many middle schools use the free supplemental teaching materials known as Right Decisions Right Now (RDRN), a program sponsored by R. J. Reynolds. RDRN helps educate students about the risk of using tobacco products, helps them build good decision-making skills, and gives them ways to handle peer pressure. The program is available in an easy-to-use, digital format, which lets educators, community youth groups, and anyone concerned about reducing youth tobacco use utilize the free materials.

Learn more about the program, and find more par-ent resources, at www.rightdecisionsrightnow.com.


ask the trainer...New to the Metro East Parent guest columinsts is William Miller of Dynamic Fitness Management. William will answer any and all questions emailed to him at [email protected] and place some of the more pertinant answers in his column every month. Metro East Parent would like to thank William and welcome him to our family.

About William I was born and raised in the Metro East. After graduating from Belleville East I joined the Marine Corps. Upon returning I attended SWIC and then KU where my academic focus was on Psychology. Since college I have dedicated my career to learning everything I could about becoming the best personal trainer I can be. I currently work for DFM as the Director of Personal Training in the Fairview Heights Club Fitness location.

William MillerNFPT, CrossfitL1, USAW L1

At what age is it appropriate for my child to start weight training?

It is almost certain that this question is soon to follow when a parent finds out I work in the fitness industry. There have been many myths passed down through gen-erations of trainers and coaches about this topic. If you were to ask trainers and coaches today, many would say that teens and preteens should not use weights as part of their fitness and sports training because it puts too much strain on their de-veloping bodies. The words they use, like “stunted growth” instill fear in any fitness inclined parent. Fortunately there has also been a lot of research done on this sub-ject so we know that weight training is indeed of significant benefit to your children. The American Academy of Pediatrics released their official stance on the subject in 2001 when they said resistance training can be safe and effective for adolescents

and pre-adolescents as long as it is done properly(1). However they do warn young people to not engage in competitive weightlift-ing, body building or maximal lifts until their bodies mature. A good rule of thumb to help you heed this warning is to never let your child lift more than their body weight until they are at least 16. Another important thing to remember is that resistance training should be one part of a fitness program that also includes aerobic exercise and a healthy diet. So what is the proper way to begin a weight training plan for your child? For beginners, see a doctor; make sure your child is healthy and capable of starting resistance work. Once you have a doctor’s clearance, start with body weight exercises. There is no reason to give a child weights before they are capable of pushups, squats, pull-ups and crunches. After your child has mastered those movements they should be taught how to do the individual exercises with practice equipment like a PVC pipe or broomstick. It is a good idea to have a professional trainer help with this part to ensure proper form and range of motion, because these are the most important ingredients in safe resistance training. Once the movements are mastered, a well designed weight training regimen that progressively increases weights can be started. Resistance training can have a very positive impact on a young person’s development both physically and mentally. Not only will their strength, health and athletic performance benefit but they will be able to develop more confidence and higher self esteem, all of which have high potential to make growing up just a little bit easier.

What can a mother do about “baby fat?”

This is something that is obviously on every new mother’s mind. The first thing I do when asked this question is try to establish ownership of the problem. It might be a little tough to hear but I give my clients 9 months from the delivery, after that it is no longer called “baby fat,” it’s just regular fat. I find that the more someone takes responsibility for their issues the more likely they are to take responsibility for the solution. Nutrition is the most important factor in shedding the pounds gained during your pregnancy. Even if you have been working out for the majority of your pregnancy,

odds are there is going to be a period of time leading up to and following the birth that you will not be able to exercise. But just because you are not using your body to burn extra calories does not mean you have to be storing those unburned calories in your arms and belly. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that you are eating moderate portions of real foods. Avoid any processed foods and foods with ingredients that you cannot pronounce. By eating all real, whole foods you greatly increase the chances that your body will use much more of what you eat and store much less. The next step for new mothers to beat the baby fat is to start working out as soon as your doctor clears you for exercise. This could be anywhere from a few days to a few months depending on how the delivery went. Once you are ready to begin a fitness regimen you should start with light, low impact aerobic workouts like an elliptical or walking up hills and light-weight resistance work with bands or small dumbbells. Once your body is used to the work you can begin to increase weight and intensity progres-sively. Once you are exercising regularly and eating quality foods, it is just a matter of sticking with your healthy lifestyle until you reach your goal. One of the best pieces of advice I can give a woman on this topic is to be a little more proactive. If it is at all possible, start a fitness routine before you become pregnant. If you are already started on a healthy lifestyle before hand, you can continue to do a lot of exercise throughout your pregnancy safely. Having a body that remembers how to be fit offers the best chance to lose the baby weight quickly and efficiently.

Bibliography: 1. Fitness, C. o. (2001 June). Strength Training by Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics Vol. 107(6) , 1470-1472.

By Robert [email protected]

There are little gems within our area that sometimes go unnoticed, Plato’s Closet in Fairview heights is definitely one of them. In this month’s Metro East spotlight, we stay with the focus of getting the biggest bang for your buck. With gently used clothing at 70% off of mall retail prices, you cannot afford to miss out on the great deals at Plato’s Closet. Popular name brand clothing is a staple at Plato’s Closet. You and your children can dress to the nines at a price that won’t break the bank.

“Focusing on the latest styles and hottest names, we carry a wide variety of clothing; and, more importantly, we’re deep in the stuff our customers want – top name brands and acces-sories,” stated Pam hadfield, owner of Plato’s Closet.

With the cost of buying just a few items at a name brand store, an entire wardrobe can be purchased at Plato’s Closet with money to spare for accessories.

“My mother has taken me to Plato’s Closet since I was able to wear the sizes there,” stated Amara Lyons, 17 of sandoval. “Each season we load up on the hottest clothes for school and summer. The money we have saved has allowed me to save countless of dollars to use for other things.”

Plato’s Closet® of Fairview heights is part of a nationwide unique recycling retail store chain that specializes in clothes for teens and “twenty somethings.” Unlike a typical consignment store, Plato’s Closet gives you extra cash in your pocket on the spot.

Not only can you find great deals to clothe your children, you can also sell back your gently used clothing that clutters up your child’s closet. You can receive either cash for your clothing or store credit to go towards your next purchase. “As fast as teenagers grow these days, you can go broke trying to keep them in style,”

stated Rama, Amara’s mother. “Image is important to teenagers, and the ladies at Plato’s Closet have always been gracious enough to help us in picking out just the perfect clothes for Amara with the latest line of cloth-ing that suits her needs. The hour or so that it takes us to drive here is well worth it!”

“With a focus on being fashion savvy and shopping smart, Plato’s Closet® is a cool, ‘hap-pening’ place for teenagers and young adults alike to find the stylish, trendy clothing they need to represent their personal fashion state-ment,” hadfield added.


10900 Lincoln Trail • Fairview Heights, Illinois • 618-397-9986 • www.platosclosetfairviewheights.com


MORGAN‘Aeropostale’ sweatshirt - $12 ($39.50)‘Hollister’ tank - $8 ($15.50)‘Hollister’ denim - $22 ($59.50)‘Keds’ shoes (not shown) - $8 ($40) Total Plato’s Cost $50.00 Total Mall Cost $154.50 Total Savings $104.50

CAMpbell‘‘Abercrombie & Fitch’ sweater - $14 ($68)‘Forever 21’ long sleeve polo - $8 ($24.90)‘Aeropostale’ khakis - $12 ($44.50)‘Merona’ dress shoes - $12 ($29.99) Total Plato’s Cost $46.00 Total Mall Cost $167.39 Total Savings $121.39


AnnIe‘I.N.C.’ jacket - $16 ($89.50)‘BeBe’ tank - $10 ($69)Black leggings - $8 ($14.99)‘Charlotte Russe’ heels - $6 ($26.50)Earrings - $2.99 ($6) Total Plato’s Cost $42.99 Total Mall Cost $205.99 Total Savings $163.00


MORGANForever 21’ long sleeve - $8 (17.80)‘American Eagle’ pink tank - $6 ($15.95) ‘Hollister’ blue tank -$8 ($15.50)‘Hollister’ denim - $22 ($59.50)Keds’ shoes - $8 ($40)Necklace - $2.99 ($8) Total Plato’s Cost $54.99 Total Mall Cost $156.75 Total Savings $101.76

AnnIe‘Forever 21’ jacket - $10 ($32.80)‘Rue 21’ shirt - $8 ($19.99)‘Abercrombie & Fitch’ denim - $16 ($78)‘Rustic Couture’ glitter shoes - $16.50 ($29.99)Flower bracelet - $3 ($8) Total Plato’s Cost $53.50 Total Mall Cost $168.78 Total Savings $115.28

Morgan and Annie on Page 25

bri‘Paige’ denim - $18 ($178) Cotton Candy’ long sleeve - $6 ($24.99) ‘American Eagle’ tank -$6 ($15.95) Scarf - $4 ($12.99)Faux brown boots - $22 ($39.99)Stud earrings - $0.99 ($4.99)Headband - $5.50 ($11.99) Total Plato’s Cost $62.49 Total Mall Cost $288.90 Total Savings $226.41

Brooke‘Forever 21” skirt - $8 ($17.80)‘Lily’ denim jacket - $15 ($39.99)‘A.N.A.’ tank - $5 ($20)‘Shoe Republic LA’ boots - $16 ($53)Kathy Van Zeeland” purse - $25 ($99)Earrings - $2.99 ($7.99)Necklace - $2.99 ($6.99) Total Plato’s Cost $74.98 Total Mall Cost $244.77 Total Savings $169.79

Jackie‘L8ter’ dress - $14 ($58)‘Joy Jeans’ denim jacket - $10 ($36.99) Necklace - $2.99 ($7.99) Total Plato’s Cost $38.99 Total Mall Cost $141.48 Total Savings $102.49

Campbell‘Rocawear’ leather jacket - $35 ($89)‘Carbon’ t-shirt - $12 ($34.99) ‘Levi” denim - $15 ($58) ‘Creative Recreation’ shoes - $20 ($95)Brown leather belt - $6 ($19.99) Total Plato’s Cost $88.00 Total Mall Cost $296.98 Total Savings $208.98

Brooke‘Dots’ leather jacket - $25 ($61.50)‘Allen B.’ tank - $8 ($25) ‘American Eagle” jeggings - $12 ($44.95) ‘Steven Madden” heels - $12 ($59) Earrings - $2.99 ($5.99) Total Plato’s Cost $59.99 Total Mall Cost $196.44 Total Savings $136.45

Shoes on Page 25De Blossom Collection’ heels - $14 ($39.99)‘Qupid’ heels - $12 ($39.95) ‘Keds’ athletic shoes-$8 ($40) ‘Charlotte Russe’ wedges - $12 ($38.50) ‘Rustic Couture’ shoes - $16.50 ($29.99)‘Steven Madden’ heels - $12 ($59) Total Plato’s Cost $ 74.50 Total Mall Cost $247.43 Total Savings $172.93


Inspired E-Learning for KidsFamily Features

With so many e-books, apps and gadgets out on the market today, it’s easier than ever to integrate

learning into your child’s play time. Relying on the right e-books and apps, you can help these early adopting, tech-savvy kids experi-ence reading and fun, interactive learning like never before.

From storybooks to educational games and apps, there are a number of options to choose from, and the countless titles can seem daunting. A creative e-bookstore and mobile platform such as BelugaBloo, that offers an expansive selection of beautifully animated interactive children’s e-books, apps and games tailored to children up to age 12, can help you cut through the clutter and make smart selections.

Before making your decision, here are some tips to find the right learning apps for your family:

• Children learn best when they are engaged in the process. Focus on highly interactive apps that encourage kids to actively

participate and to discover. Apps that incorporate features like coloring and

sound recognition will help your child’s

learning journey through active participation with the content.

• Remember your purpose. Apps that inspire the imagination and spark kids’ interest in learning will pay off greater in the long run than flashy programs that simply pass the time. For example, “Flashcard Beebee” fea-tures a fun-loving monkey that helps teach the ABCs with cute and colorful animations for each letter of the alphabet.

• Look for apps that allow you to customize modes to fit your child’s education level. Versatile options such as “read to me,” “read by myself,” “autoplay” and “games” allow you to create a more personalized experi-ence.

• Although your ultimate goal is education, don’t forget to make your selections fun. This helps children develop a positive association with learning. Updated versions of classic tales like the ”Groovy story of the Tortoise and the hare,” ”The Pig’s Day” and ”The Three Little Gators” will give your kids a chance to experience well-loved stories with a fun and modern twist.

• Like any other shopping experience, when shopping for apps, shop for value. Apps that

do double duty make your investment go further by teaching simultaneous lessons. For example, “The Drip Drops,” a series of e-books and interactive games, centers on art, color, reading and creativity while pro-moting basic problem solving and positive self-esteem. You can also find BelugaBloo titles in a variety of other languages, such as spanish and Chinese, which also allows children to have fun exploring other lan-guages.

• Seek content that matches your child’s personal interests. Use search functions to narrow down titles that focus on topics or activities that will capture his or her attention. “Lullaby Piano,” for example, lets music lovers sing and learn how to play some of their favorite nursery rhymes and songs on a digital keyboard.

• Check out the user comments. One of the greatest features of electronic content is the immediate access to user feedback. high marks from other parents make the odds strong that a particular piece of content will appeal to you and your children, as well.

For additional interactive apps, educational titles and more, visit www.belugabloo.com.

Passionately Engaging Students Delivering Excellence

Equipping Youth to Lead

6305 Center Grove Road Edwardsville, IL

Don’t think you can afford it?

You might be surprised as tuition assistance is available.

618-656-0043 www.melhs.org

Open Houses Sundays—Jan. 27 & Feb. 10

1-3 pm each day

Serving Christian families from across the Metro-East area

since 1977.

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Family Features

a new study of the american family’s “passion points” from Just Kids, inc. reveals that most families (45 percent) agree schools and education are their top priority. yet, parent involvement in their children’s education is at an all-time low.


A Ask — Ask children specific questions about the school day. What projects are they excited about? What did they learn in a particular class? How did they feel? What were the highs and lows of the day? ask, and then really listen to their answers.Advise — You can’t do homework for them, but you can help them establish a study routine, figure out how to use their time wisely and organize their notes, papers and supplies. Show them how to break large tasks into smaller ones so they won’t be over whelmed. And you can help them figure out how to research and get answers for themselves.Advocate — You know your child better than anyone. If you see that your child is struggling — or isn’t challenged enough — you can talk with teachers and counselors to get the help or additional resources they need.BBalance — Schoolwork is important, but it’s equally important that students learn how to lead a well-rounded and balanced life. Encourage your child to join a club or sport, or participate in other extra-curricular activities. after-school activities can help their academic and personal development.Be Proactive — Getting involved early in the school year can help head off some potential problems. But if problems do arise, don’t wait to take action. initiate dialogue with your child and with the teacher or counselor so that together you can find the best solution.Build Relationships — Get to know the teachers and administrators

at your child’s school. Build relationships with other parents, and get involved on committees that affect the school. You can be a much stronger advocate for your child if you have relationships with the people involved in their education.CCreate Space — make sure your child has an appropriate place and environment in which to study. There needs to be room to spread out books, good lighting, and necessary tools such as diction aries or calculators. Some students need a very quiet environment while others do better with some back ground noise. Suit the study space to your child.Challenge — Don’t let your child settle into “cruise control” and do just enough to get by. Find out what he or she is interested in and challenge them to stretch their minds in that subject. If your school doesn’t offer a subject your child would like to study, or if the classes aren’t sufficiently challenging, consider other options such as an online course for enrichment or extra credit. For example, K12 has a wide range of individual courses including foreign languages and college-level aP classes. Communicate — Keep the lines of communication open with your student and your school. make sure your child knows your expectations — and when you are proud of his or her efforts and achievements. stay on top of school communications tools such as newsletters and bulletins. Go to parent-teacher con ferences, and make sure you have contact informa tion for teachers and counselors at the school.

According to studies by the National Coalition for Parent involvement in education, students whose parents are involved in their education are more likely to:n earn higher grades and test scores.n enroll in higher-level programs.n Pass their classes and be promoted.n attend school regularly.n Adapt well to school, have better social skills,

and even show improved behavior.n Graduate and pursue postsecondary education.While parental involvement during the elementary school

years is fairly strong, it tends to drop off dramatically when those children go on to middle and high school. there are several reasons for this:n many parents feel that their children should do their homework alone, or that if parents aren’t experts

in a subject matter, they shouldn’t try to help.n Middle and high schools tend to be bigger than

elementary schools, and less personal.n The structure of the school day can also be a problem

for parents — instead of one teacher that parents can contact, students have multiple teachers who don’t

know them that well.“Of all the choices we as parents will make in our lifetime,

decisions about our children’s education are among the most important,” says rose Fernandez, parent advocate and founder of the National Parent Network for Online Learning. “Schools need to do more to get parents involved and parents need to raise the bar on what they expect of their schools, the teachers and themselves.”

Fernandez says schools that succeed in engaging families from diverse backgrounds share three key practices:n Focus on building trusting, collaborative relation ships

among teachers, families and community members.n recognize, respect and address families’ needs,

as well as class and cultural differences.n Embrace a philosophy of partnership where power

and responsibility are shared.

The ABCs of Parent InvolvementIf you want to be more involved in your child’s education, but aren’t sure how, try implementing these ABCs.

Ask the Right Questionsn Find out about teacher expectations of student performance. What percentage

of the grade comes from tests, homework and class participation? n Find out about the school’s stance on communication with parents. Are there

regular check-ins with your child’s teacher, either in person or via email? Is parental involvement in the education process welcomed or discouraged?

n Find out how individual learning needs are met. are there individualized education plans for students who struggle? How are the needs of gifted students met? Are there paraprofessionals available in class?


Metro East Private

School Directory Sorted by CitySCHOOL NAME Pre-K Grade School High School ADDRESS CITY PHONE NUMBER AFFILATION

Marquette Catholic High School no no yes 219 E 4th St Alton 618-463-0580 CatholicMississippi Valley Christian School yes yes yes 2009 Seminary St Alton 618-462-1071 BaptistSs Peter & Paul Elementary School yes yes no 801 State St Alton 618-465-8711 CatholicSt Mary School yes yes no 536 E 3rd St Alton 618-465-8523 CatholicSt Mary's School no yes no 1015 Milton Rd Alton 618-465-9719 CatholicCatholic Childrens Home no yes yes 1400 State St Alton 618-465-3594 CatholicAlthoff Catholic High School no no yes 5401 W Main St Belleville 618-235-1100 CatholicBlessed Sacrament Elementary School yes yes no 8809 W Main St Belleville 618-397-1111 CatholicCalvary Baptist Academy yes yes no 423 Lucinda Ave Belleville 618) 234-3620 BaptistCathedral Grade School yes yes no 200 S 2nd St Belleville 618-233-6414 CatholicFaith Baptist School yes yes yes 413 E Main St Belleville 618-236-1044 BaptistGovernor French Academy yes yes yes 219 W Main St Belleville 618-233-7542 UnknownOur Lady Queen Of Peace School yes yes no 5915 N Belt W Belleville 618-234-1206 CatholicSt Mary St Augustine School yes yes no 1900 W Belle St Belleville 618-234-4958 CatholicSt Teresa Catholic School yes yes no 1108 Lebanon Ave Belleville 618-235-4066 CatholicTrue Vine Christian Academy School yes yes no 2241 Country Rd Belleville 618-257-8783 UnknownZion Lutheran School yes yes no 1810 Mcclintock Ave Belleville 618-234-0275 LutheranMontessori School-St Clair yes no no 2360 Country Rd Belleville 618-235-4289 UnknownOur Lady Queen Of Peace School yes yes no 618 N Prairie St Bethalto 618-377-6401 CatholicZion Lutheran School yes yes no 625 Church Dr Bethalto 618-377-5507 LutheranAll Saints Academy yes yes no 295 N Clinton St Breese (618) 526-4323 CatholicMater Dei High School no no yes 900 N Mater Dei Dr Breese 618-526-7216 CatholicSt Mary Elementary School no yes no 105 E Main St Brussels 618-883-2124 CatholicLegacy Christian Academy yes yes no 111 S 2nd St Caseyville 618-345-9571 UnknownCollinsville Christian Academy no yes yes 1203 Vandalia St Collinsville 618-345-4224 UnknownGood Shepherd Lutheran School yes yes no 1300 Belt Line Rd Collinsville (618) 344-3151 LutheranHoly Cross Lutheran School yes yes no 304 South St Collinsville 618-344-3145 LutheranSs Peter & Paul School yes yes no 210 N Morrison Ave Collinsville 618-344-5450 CatholicImmaculate Conception no yes no 321 S Metter Ave Columbia 618-281-5353 CatholicSt Peter's Lutheran School no yes no 7182 Renken Rd Dorsey 618-888-2252 LutheranGateway Christian Academy no yes yes 1771 Camp Jackson Rd East St Louis 618-337-1376 BaptistHoly Family Catholic School yes yes no 116 E 1st St East St Louis CatholicSister Thea Bowman Catholic School no yes no 8213 Church Ln East St Louis 618-397-0316 CatholicUnity Lutheran Christian Elementary School yes yes no 1600 N 40th St East St Louis 618-874-6605 LutheranCrossroads Montessori Academy yes yes no 1052 State St East St Louis 618-271-0825 UnknownChildrens Center For Behavioral Developmentno yes yes 353 N 88th St East St Louis 618-398-1152 UnknownHazel Bland Promise Center yes yes yes 2900 State St East St Louis 618-274-3500 UnknownVincent Gray Academy yes yes yes 1048 State St East St Louis 618-875-7880 UnknownCatholic Daycare Center yes no no 617 Summit Ave East St Louis 618-874-7178 CatholicMetro-East Lutheran High School no no yes 6305 Center Grove Rd Edwardsville 618-656-0043 LutheranSt Boniface Catholic School yes yes no 128 N Buchanan St Edwardsville 618-656-6917 CatholicSt Mary Elementary School yes yes no 1802 Madison Ave Edwardsville 618-656-1230 CatholicTrinity Lutheran School yes yes no 600 Water St Edwardsville 618-656-7002 LutheranBerean Christian School yes yes yes 5100 N Illinois St Fairview Heights618-825-0609 UnknownHoly Trinity Catholic School yes yes no 504 Fountains Pkwy Fairview Hieghts618-628-7395 CatholicIllinois Center For Autism yes yes yes 548 S Ruby Ln Fairview Hieghts618-398-7500 UnknownSt Joseph School no yes no 2 N Alton St Freeburg 618-539-3930 CatholicLahr-Well Academy yes yes yes 131 N Main St Glen Carbon 618-288-8024 UnknownLegacy Christian Academy yes yes yes 97 Oaklawn Dr Glen Carbon 618-288-0452 UnknownEvangelical School yes yes no 1212 W Homer M Adams PkwyGodfrey 618-466-1599 UnknownSt Ambrose Catholic School yes yes no 822 W Homer M Adams PkwyGodfrey 618-466-4216 CatholicMontessori Children's House yes yes no 5800 Godfrey Rd Godfrey 618-467-2333 UnknownHoly Family School no yes no 1900 Saint Clair Ave Granite City 618-877-5500 CatholicRivers Of Life Christian School no yes yes 3331 E 23rd Street Granite City 618-797-7933 UnknownSt Elizabeth Elementary School yes yes no 2300 Pontoon Rd Granite City 618-877-3348 CatholicMontessori School yes yes no 4405 Highway 163 Granite City 618-931-2508 UnknownCoordinated Youth & Human Services no yes yes 1611 W 3rd St Granite City 618-451-0552 UnknownSt Norbert School yes yes no 401 Vineyard St Hardin 618-576-2514 CatholicSt Paul Catholic School yes yes no 1416 Main St Highland 618-654-7525 CatholicSt Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School yes yes no 412 S State St Jerseyville 618-498-4910 CatholicMaryville Christian School no yes yes 7110 State Route 162 Maryville 618-667-8221 BaptistSt John Neumann Catholic School yes yes no 142 Wilma Dr Maryville 618-345-7230 CatholicHoly Childhood School yes yes no 215 N John St Mascoutah 618-566-2958 CatholicSt James Catholic School yes yes no 412 W Washington St Millstadt 618-476-3510 CatholicSt Agatha Elementary School no yes no 207 S Market St New Athens 618-475-2170 CatholicFirst Baptist Academy yes yes yes 1111 E Highway 50 O'Fallon 618-632-6223 BaptistImmaculate Conception School no yes no 2089 Hanley Rd O'Fallon 636-561-4459 CatholicNew Enterprise Academy yes yes no 206 W Adams St O'Fallon 618-632-1505 UnknownSt Clare Catholic School no yes no 214 W 3rd St O'Fallon 618-632-6327 CatholicCentral Baptist School yes no no 3940 Highway 111 Pontoon Beach 618-931-0964 BaptistDuchesne High School no no yes 2550 Elm St Saint Charles 636-946-6767 CatholicSt John The Baptist School no yes no 101 Stoerger St Smithton 618-234-2068 CatholicMetro Christian Academy no no yes 1654 Elevator Rd Sorento 217-272-4787 UnknownBethel Christian Academy yes yes yes 1417 Herbert St South Roxana 618-254-0188 BaptistBishop Du Bourg High School no no yes 5850 Eichelberger St St Louis 314-832-3030 Catholic

If we failed to address your school, please email us at [email protected] to add your school to our list.


School Directory Sorted by CitySCHOOL NAME Pre-K Grade School High School ADDRESS CITY PHONE NUMBER AFFILATION

Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School no no yes 701 N Spring Ave St Louis 314-446-5501 CatholicChaminade College Prep School no yes yes 425 S Lindbergh Blvd St Louis 314-993-4400 CatholicChristian Brothers College High School no no yes 1850 De La Salle Dr St Louis 314-985-6100 CatholicCor Jesu Academy no no yes 10230 Gravois Rd St Louis 314-842-4429 CatholicDe Smet Jesuit High School no no yes 233 N New Ballas Rd St Louis 314-567-3500 CatholicIncarnate Word Academy no no yes 2788 Normandy Dr St Louis 314-725-5850 CatholicLutheran High School North no no yes 5401 Lucas And Hunt Rd St Louis 314-389-3100 LutheranLutheran High School South no no yes 9515 Tesson Ferry Rd St Louis 314-631-1400 LutheranNotre Dame High School no no yes 320 E Ripa Ave St Louis 314-544-0455 CatholicSt Louis University High School no no yes 4970 Oakland Ave St Louis 314-531-0330 CatholicSt Michael School yes yes no 419 E Main St Staunton 618-635-3210 CatholicZion Lutheran School yes yes no 220 W Henry St Staunton 618-635-3060 LutheranSt Paul Lutheran School yes yes no 112 N Border St Troy 618-667-6314 LutheranGibault Catholic High School no no yes 501 Columbia Ave Waterloo 618-939-3883 CatholicSts Peter & Paul School yes yes no 217 W 3rd St Waterloo 618-939-6426 CatholicWm Bedell Achievemnt/Resource Center yes yes yes 400 S Main St Wood River 618-251-2175 UnknownTrinity St Paul Lutheran School no yes no 6961 W Frontage Rd Worden 618-459-3621 Lutheran

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Governor French Academy is a thirty-year old private, college preparatory school for students in Kindergarten-Prep through twelfth grade.

Our Mission:Governor French Academy’s mission is quite simple. We provide the finest preparation for college-level edu-cational work, thoughtful preparation for college testing procedures – including interviews – and one-on-one assistance in obtaining college financial aid. This mission is accomplished in an atmosphere that recognizes and celebrates the competitive nature of our global economic environment.

Student results:Governor French Academy’s 5-year average score on the IOWA Tests Core: 94.4Governor French Academy’s average score on the ACT over the past 5 years: 23.5Over the past 5 years, the average scholarship offer for graduating senior has exceeded $81,000.

219 W. Main St. • Belleville, IL 62220 • 618-233-7542www.gfacademy.com


have an event you would like to see in Metro East Parent Calendar? Email us at [email protected] with the details and we will be happy to place it in there for you! Also, there are more events online at our new interactive website MetroEastParent.com!

Metro East Parent Magazine Calendar of Events!

ConCerTS...Wicked @ The Fox Theatre Dec 12 - Jan 6

WICKED The Untold story of the Witches of Oz. After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in three previous engage-ments, WICKED, Broadway’s biggest block-buster, returns marking the fourth engagement of WICKED in st. Louis since 2005. Back by “Popular” demand. Variety calls WICKED “a cultural phenomenon.” Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest block-buster” (The New York Times). Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misun-derstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. how these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the most complete - and com-pletely satisfying - new musical in a long time” (UsAToday). Tickets: $150 to $38

Les troyens (Berlioz): Met at the Hett @ McKendree university Jan 5, 11am - 2pm

Metropolitan Opera broadcasts live in hD Join a worldwide audience from your “better than front row seat” for the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy award-winning Live in hD se-ries of high-definition simulcast transmissions. $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 student/child

COCA Family Theatre Series: In the Loop @ COCA Jan 5, 2pm & 5pm, Jan 6 - 1:30 & 3:30

start the year off on a high note with this dance concert showcasing the talents of COCA dance and the COCA hip-hop Crew. Fast-paced and wildly entertaining, In the Loop features con-temporary dance and commercial hip-hop, cho-reographed by internationally-known visiting choreographers and COCA faculty members

Flashdance @ Peabody Opera House Jan 8 – Jan 13

FLAshDANCE – ThE MUsICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will perform at Peabody Opera house. FLAshDANCE tells the unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh striving to make her dreams of becoming a professional dancer a reality. she works by day at a steel mill, where she catches the eye of her boss Nick hurley. By night she works as a “flashdancer” at a local bar, but longs to become a student at the prestigious ship-ley Dance Academy. The original Paramount Pictures film was a worldwide smash hit that became a pop culture phenomenon,grossing over $150 million and featuring a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack

StOMP @ The Fox TheatreJan 11-14

sTOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave re-views, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instru-ments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.

James and the Giant Peach @ COCA Family Theatre Jan 18-19

COCA Theatre Company (CTC) presents James and the Giant Peach, the classic adven-ture story written by Roald Dahl and adapted by David Wood. This CTC production is directed by Josh Routh.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! Get The Sillies Out! @ The Fox Theatre Jan 18, 7pm - 9pm

Is your family ready to GET ThE sILLIEs OUT? Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Is going back on the road in 2013 with a new show, “Get the sillies Out!” featuring the one and only DJ Lance Rock, plus Muno, Foofa, Bro-bee,Toodee, and Plex, and of course, hip hop legend Biz Markie. Winner of Billboard’s Creative Content Award, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! has performed in front of countless fans across the U.s. and Canada over the past three years, and the new show “Get the sillies Out!” is sure to be one you won’t want to miss. They have taken the fan favorites from the past two tours and combined them with some all-new music and other surprises that we can’t tell you about… yet! Buy tickets or Gabba Party Packages (including a meet & greet with the characters) right away and give your kids an experience they won’t soon forget. Plus, you’ll have just as much fun as they will! For more information, visithttp://www.yogabbagab-balive.com.


Maria Stuarda (Donizetti): Met at the Hett @ McKendree university Jan 19, 12pm - 3pm

Metropolitan Opera broadcasts live in hD Join a worldwide audience from your “better than front row seat” for the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Emmy award-winning Live in hD series of high-definition simulcast transmissions . $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 student/child

Circus Harmony: Capriccio @ The St. Louis City Museum Jan 19, 2pm - 4pm

Catch the flying children! Circus harmony presents its annual confluence of circus and music in their new show, Capriccio. This vaude-ville based show features thirty fantastic flying children accompanied by the sensational Circus harmony Band in a lively show with all new acts that will amaze and amuse the entire family. The term “Vaudeville” is thought to have derived from the expression voixde ville which means “voice of the city”. Capriccio features children from all corners of st. Louis. For this first time ever, this Circus harmony production will include singing along with trapeze, juggling, wire walking and other feats of skill and daring. Come see and hear the most talented voices and bodies of st. Louis!

tony La russa’s Stars to the rescue @ Peabody Opera House Jan 19, 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Please join host Tony La Russa for the Animal Rescue Foundation’s (ARF) stars to the Rescue

fundraising gala. This fabulous evening of music and entertainment featuring the5th Dimension’s Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., country singer Rodney Atkins, and coun-try rock performer Uncle Kracker. Proceeds from stars to the Rescue will benefit ARF and more than 20 animal rescue organizations in the greater

Sesame Street Live “Can’t Stop Singing @ Peabody Opera HouseJan 24-25

When Elmo gets his furry fingers on Abby Cadabby’s magic wand, there’s something in the air - and sesame street becomes a non-stop, all-singing, all-dancing musical mon-tage! Grover and Baby Bear sing their highs

and lows, Cookie Monster sings fast and slow, Bert and Ernie converse in song and Murray makes mouth music for all to sing along! Learn why it feels good to sing a song, but why it feels good to stop, too! What will Elmo learn about the power of musical magic? Join the conga line of fun to find out!

The Mark of Zorro @ COCA Family Theatre Jan 26, 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm

scotland’s Visible Fictions performs The Mark of zorro, a timeless tale about a mysterious masked avenger that conjures up all the fast-paced drama, wit and nail-biting suspense of an action film. zorro ricochets from one sticky situation to another in a world where adventure is the name and justice is the game. A trio of actors performs every role. For ages 5+.

PrISCILLA Queen Of The Desert, The Musical @ The Fox Theatre Jan 29 – Feb 10

Don’t miss the most OUTRAGEOUsLY FUN Broadway musical: PRIsCILLA QUEEN OF ThE DEsERT! This spectacular show tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. An international hit with over 500 dazzling, 2011 TonyAward®-winning costumes, PRIsCILLA features a hit parade of dance-floor favorites including “It’s Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will survive.

O’Fallon Public Library – 120 Civic Plaza10:30 AM - 11:30 AM ................ Every Thursday ................................Storyteller Gail Long 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM ................. Every other Monday ........................Preschool Storytime 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ...................... 3rd Monday of Month .....................Fun and Furry reading

— PrOGrAM —9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ................... Every other Wednesday ..................Babygarten10:45 AM -11:45 AM .................. Every other Wed. and Friday ..........Beyond the Gartens9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ................... Every other Friday ...........................Tween the Gartens

Eckert’s Country restaurant 951 s. Green Mount Rd, Belleville

Your children will sure to be entertained during our holiday story hour. The kids will be enjoy hearing the story of the

gingerbread man. After the story is over, each child can make a gingerbread craft. Fun for kids of all ages. FREE.

story will be told at 9 am and 11 am in the Garden Center. For more information call Eckert’s at (618) 233-0513

Wicked at Fox Theatre Dec 12 - Jan. 6

area storytelling times

Belleville Library Presents

DIAL-A-STORYDial 234-0555 and a child can

listen to stories over the phone!

There is a new story every week!

ShoWS And FeSTivALS...Gardenland Express @ Missouri Botanical Garden 9am - 5pm Jan 1

Gardenland Express is a one-of-a-kind holiday flower and train show for all ages. This st. Louis tradition delights children and adults alike. Visitors will see G-scale trains of many eras traveling through a holiday landscape made up of festive decorations and thousands of fresh plants and beautiful poinsettias. This year’s display celebrates “Merry Botanical Traditions.” The Orthwein Floral Display hall is transformed into a holiday wonderland surrounding a whimsical fairy tale cottage. Admission is $5 per person for ages 3 and up. Garden members are free More information: www.mobot.org

Let’s Go Fishing Show @ Collinsville Gateway Center Jan 4-6

Let’s Go Fishing http://www.letsgoshows.com Fri: 12-9 PM, sat: 9AM - 7PM, sun: 10AM -4PM $7 Fee

Audobon Eagle Festival @ Alton Jan 5- 6 10pm - 12am

The Audubon Center at Riverlands Environ-mental Demonstration Area & Downtown Alton Illinois Join in the fun for the kickoff of eagle watching season. see a live bald eagle up close and personal. Meet and greet with knowledgeable people from the area’s Eagle Watching hot spots to see what is in store for the rest of the season. Receive a “bird band” and become an official Alton Eagle Watcher. Bring the kids for fun activities and crafts. Learn about eagle watching: how to spot eagles, where to look, and what brings the eagles to this region each year. Then, head back across the river to Downtown Alton for ice sculpting on the streets and a wildlife art walk to view eagle and wildlife photography displayed by artists fromAlton and beyond! 1-800-258-6645 FREE

Motorcycle Swap Meet @ Belle Clair Expo Center Jan 6-7

Gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts featuring over 300 booths of new and used parts for harley-Davidson Cycles, plus accessories and related items. $7 - $10 Admission

Bald Eagle Festival @ Pere Marquette State Park Grafton Jan 13 11 am- 3pm

Come out to Pere Marquette Lodge where you can not only be personally introduced to our nation’s most majestic symbol, but also shop our unique vendor booths, grab a bite to eat in our restaurant and enjoy time with friends and family. The festival will feature live music and entertainment by the World Bird sanctuary as they showcase the Bald Eagle and several other raptor species in their Masters of the sky show at 1:30pm. show up a little early and meet a Bald Eagle up close and personal! Free to the event, Masters of the sky show tickets are $3 For more information call 618-786-2331 ext 338.

Minority Scientists Showcase @ St. Louis Science Center Jan 19-21 11am - 4pm

Minority scientists showcase is an impor-tant opportunity to highlight the work that scientists have contributed to the scientific community. This event gives local youth and their families a chance to interact one-on-one with scientists in informal discussions about science and science careers. Youth can hear from scientists about their encouraging experiences in the science field. scientists share their insights with youth, encouraging and inspiring the youth toward academic and professional success as well as use the opportu-nity to demonstrate their work.

SLSrC Winterfest 2012 @ Collinsville Gateway Center Jan 26, 8am - 1pm

Admission: $7 at door $6 in advanced

CLASSeS...New Classes at Starlight Visual and Performing Arts Studio and Gallery, 903 Main St., Highland, IL, 62249 Call 618-654-3915 or 618-339-8884 for more info

Every Thursday in the Month of January

Dabblers 10am - 10:45amA little of this and a little of that for ages 4-6 years old. Four Week Course at $40.

Every Saturday in the month of January

Dabblers 9am - 9:45amA little of this and a little of that for ages 4-6 years old. Four Week Course at $40

Drawing 10am - 11am Pencil, color pencil, charcoal, marker, oil pastel, ages 7 and up, a class for all ages $50.

Painting Class 12:45pm - 1:45pmAges 7-13, exploring watercolor and acrylic $50

Adult Painting Class 2pm - 3:30pmExploring watercolor and acrylic $60

Oven Fired Clay: Hand Building Class 11:15am – 12pmPinch, coil and slab for ages 7-13- $50


Every tuesdayBallroom Dancing @ MSCC 10:15am - 11:15am1003 N. Main sT, Edwardsville 618-656-0300Pull out those dancing shoes and get ready to move! Every Tuesday, Betty and Gene Fedder will be teaching Ballroom Dance at MsCC. Ev-eryone is welcome and you don’t have to have a partner to participate. The classes are from 10:15 to11:15am. The instruction is for basic ballroom only.

Every tuesday and ThursdayKids Art Programs @ The Magic House 9:30am - 10:15amPetite Picasso January—Cool Creations Children ages 3-5 and their special grownup discover the magic of art through special 4-week multisen-sory art classes in the museum’s new Art studio. Cost: $60 for non-members $40 for members

Every SaturdayYoga @ Glen Carbon Library 1pm - 2pmDesigned to enhance vitality and a sense of well-being, this Yoga workout will help participants gain improved flexibility, balance, strength and posture. The Yoga class will borrow from the in-structor’s experience with Yoga and may incorpo-rate basic poses from various Yoga styles. Please bring your own Yoga mat if desired. Classes are limited to 15. Registration is required and is available online. www.glencarbonlibrary.org

Every SundayMiniature Painting Instruction @ Fantasy Books, Inc. Fairview Heights 1pm- 2pm

Jan 5, 2pm & Jan 18, 10:30Essentrics Class @ Fairview Heights Public Library Essentrics: similar to yoga/pilates based class, with isolated motions specific to each muscle group saturday,

Jan 7Healthy and Quick Meals Cooking Workshop @ Glen Carbon Library 6:30pm - 8pmInstructed by: Culinary student Kathy seibel This workshop is a cooking demonstration with recipes & handouts. Learn how to make quick and healthy meals. Participants may bring in their favorite recipe and Kathy will give sug-gestions on how to make it healthier. Cooking Demonstration: Chicken Breast and Brown Rice with a twist recipe. Registration is Required. Reg-ister on line at glencarbonlibrary.org or by phone at 618-288-1212.

Mommy 911: Beware of toxins @ O’Fallon Public Library 7pm - 8pmWhat kind of toxins are brewing in your home? Get the dirt on home products and what they are doing to you and your family

Jan 9Backyard Adventures: Bug Art @ The Butterfly House Chesterfield 9:30am - 11amDiscover the amazing world of insects with your preschooler at Backyard Adventures at The Butter-fly house. This program includes engaging hands-on activities, a craft, story and a snack. 9:30 to 11 a.m. For ages 3 to 5. Registration is required. Call 314-577-5140 or go to www.mobot.org/classes More information: www.butterflyhouse.org

Jan 11Zumba Class For Seniors @ Fairview Heights Public Library 10:30am - 11:30amzumba: Involves dance and aerobic elements. zumba’s choreography incorporates a variety of styles that include hip-hop, samba, salsa, martial arts and many others.

Jan 12 – 13Snowflakes Art Workshop @ The Magic House 10am - 5pmThere’s no business like snow business when art-ist Marion Nichols shares the unique art of cut-ting paper into intricate snowflakes at The Magic house. . Visitors are invited to join the blizzard of activity to discover how to snip fantastic flakes using their own designs. The snowflake Workshop is apart of The Magic house’s Visiting Artist series. This drop-in workshop is free with museum admission and no reservations are re-quired. More information: www.magichouse.org


Jan 12 Dance Fitness Class @ Fairview Heights Public Library 10:30am - 11:30amDance Fitness You’ll never know it’s exercise because it’s so much fun. Move to the groove and enjoy!

Jan 14 Knitting Basics Workshop@ Glen Carbon Library 6:30pm - 7:30pmLearn the basics with Kathy sedlaceck. Reg-istration required. Available online at or call 618-288-1212.

Jan 18 - 19Experimental Painting Workshop @ The Magic House 9am - 12pmWith the help of The Foundry Art Centre and local Artist Fran Null, kids ages 6 to 9 will have the opportunity to learn non-traditional painting techniques and create masterpieces of their very own. Fran Null’s approach to inspir-ing children to make art is to use story books to spark the child’s own original composition. space is limited and reservations are required. To make a reservation, please visitwww.magichouse.org or call 314-822-8900.

Jan 19SSSnakes @ the St. Louis Zoo 10am - 11:30amslither with us into the wonderfully weird world of snakes. Limited to14 children. Fee: zoo Members $16/General Public $18

Zumba Class @ Fairview Heights Public Library 10:30am - 11:30amzumba: Involves dance and aerobic elements. zumba’s choreography incorporates a variety of styles that include hip-hop, samba, salsa, martial arts and many others.

Jan 23Medicare Informational Workshops @ Fairview Heights Public Library 10:30am - 11:30amMedicare Overview: An introduction to Medi-care and its key components

Jan 26using EBooks And Ereaders @ Glen Carbon Library 10:30am - 11:30amNew to using eBooks and eReaders? Join Ryan Johnson of the Glen Carbon Library for an instructional session on downloading and using e-books. The Library’s eBooks are compatible with most readers (Nook, iPad, iPhone, sony Reader, Kindle, etc.) Feel free to bring your eReader in.Workshop is limited to 15. Registra-tion is required. Register online or by phone at 618-288-1212. www.glencarbonlibrary.org

Staying Home Alone @ Eckert’s Belleville 1pm - 2:30pmThis workshop, taught by st. Louis Children’s hospital, will help parents and children deter-mine a child’s readiness – physically, mentally, socially and emotionally – to stay at home alone and help prepare the child for this experience. Parent and child workbooks are included. $25 per family. Event will take place from 1pm - 2:30pm. Call 314-454-KIDs to register.

And The reST...Jan 1

New Year’s DayJan 2

Wednesday Morning Play Dates @ Contemporary Art Museum 10am - 11amWhere do hip kids and their cool parents go for culture? To CAM Play Dates on the first Wednesday of each month. Visitors have fun creating artwork together and meeting other families with an interest in contemporary art. This free program features hands-on activities, art projects, gallery activities, storytelling and more. Complimentary pastries and coffee are provided. 10 to 11 a.m. Ages 2 to 5. Free

Family Game Night @ Belleville Public Library 5:30pm – 7:45pmFamily Game Night will be held in the meeting room of the Main Library on the first Wednes-day of every month from 5:30 PM – 7:45 PM. All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Call Michele at 234-0441 for more details. Free

Jan 3totally tots Playtime @ CArD 9:30am - 11amCollinsville Area Recreation District, 10 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234 618.346.7529 Free

Our Mississippi @ Collinsville Memorial Library 3:30pm - 4:30pmOur Mississippi is an educational activity about the Upper Mississippi River. The activities are taken from a teacher’s guide designed by the U.s. Army Corps of Engineers. Youth will learn about common words connected to the river, mapping the Mississippi River watershed, ex-plore their ecosystem, habitats around the river, plants and animals that use the river, ancient civilizations near the river, trappers-traders-farmers-sailors, how to float a boat, locks & dams, water safety, and how to protect the pre-cious resource. Presenter: Katie heaton Free

ADHD Support Group @ the O’Fallon Public Library 5pm - 7pmIf you or someone you know is struggling with ADhD come meet up with others who are

going through similar situations, whom may have even similar experiences in hopes to help you realize you do not have to be alone. This is a ChADD associated satellite meeting presented by Kristin Weber. Open to adults only, no chil-dren please! Free

Thursday Night at the Movies@ Collinsville Memorial Library Center 6pm - 8pm Free

Jan 4Free Lunch Friday@ Immanuel uMC EDW 11am - 1:30pm800 N. Main st, Edwardsville Open to all, in the church fellowship hall. Free

Centene Fitness First @ The Magic House 5:30pm - 9pmChildren can earn free admission and take the first step toward a healthy lifestyle on the first Friday evening of every month. Families can stretch their muscles and their minds as they take the 1,000 step circuit through the museum touring hundreds of fun, educational exhibits and looking for “Fit Facts” filled with useful health and nutrition information. Each month will feature a different fitness theme as well as special guests and activities to get families energized about getting fit. All ages. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free with museum admission.

Sci-Fi trivia Night @ Saint Louis Science Center 6pm - 10pmBring your family to participate in a trivia con-test that will have something for everyone from casual science fiction fans to experts. Come in costume to add to the atmosphere and enjoy hands-on activities that explore the science behind the science fiction. www.slsc.org

Friday Fun Night @ Vetta Sports – Powerhaus 6pm - 10pmKids will have a blast playing soccer, dodge ball, jumping on inflatables, playing games and being entertained by a DJ. Friday Fun Night features sports, bouncers and games for kids who love to be active. For kids in second through eighth grades. Admission is $10 per child. www.vettas-ports.com or call 618-939-4287.


Stories @ Stages stages Performing Arts Academy

444 Chesterfield Center(across from Chesterfield Mall)

10:15 AM and 1:15 PMPreschool and early elementary age children are invited to experience their favorite classic kids’

stories in a whole new way! stories @ stages features an interactive reading, and performances

by sTAGEs artists, followed by dramatic play activities. These unique storytelling sessions

are free, but reservations are required. www.stagesstlouis.org or call 636-449-5775

Harlem Globetrotters@ Scottrade Center 7pm - 9pmThe harlem Globetrotters return to scottrade Center January 4! Your family’s smiles will begin before you even get to the show as the harlem Globetrotters 2013 “You Write the Rules” World Tour takes kid participation to a whole new level. For the first time ever, fans will decide the rules for the game that could affect the final outcome. Vote for your favorite, craziest rule now at www.harlemglobetrotters.com,then see the winning rules implemented live into Globetrotter basketball. After the game, Globetrotter stars remain on court for autographs and photographs with fans.* Before the game, take part in a once-in-a-life-time experience with your family where you get to actually spend time on the court with the Globetrotters – shooting, trying out ball tricks, autographs and photos! The unique 30-minutepre-show, “Magic Pass,” will create memories of a lifetime. This year’s Globetrotters roster features stars such as Big Easy Lofton and scooter Christensen. They will join many other fan favorites, including 7-ft4-in stretch Mid-dleton. ** * subject to availability ** rosters may vary in each city and are subject to change

Jan 5Eagle Weekends @ tree House Wildlife Center 10am - 2pmTree house Wildlife Center, 23956 Green Acres Road, Dow, ILVisit the Tree house Wildlife Center on satur-days in January and February to view live bald eagles being rehabilitated at the center. While you’re there, visit some of the other wildlife that call the center home - hawks, owls, falcons and

more. For more information call618-466-2990 or visit www.treehousewildlifecenter.com Free

Family Workshop @ St. Louis Art Museum 10:30am - 11:30amEach of these child-centered workshops combines a playful visit to the galleries with an art activity. Adults participate and create along with children — no experience necessary. Pre-registration is required.

Holistic Fair @ Holistic Journey 11am - 4pmholistic Journey. 106 E. Main st, BellevilleOur holistic Fair features our service providers here to answer any questions and provide mini-services.$1/min Chair, Foot massage and Reiki, $20 Readings, Ear Candling or Detox Foot Bath, $25 Aura Photos

1773 twelfth Afternoon Ball @ The Old Courthouse 12pm - 4pmhistoric Old Courthouse, st Louis, MOThe National Park service hosts a series of saturday programs presenting st. Louis holiday celebrations of the past. Jan 5 we will show how early French residents ended the holiday season in 1773. 12:00- 4:00 PM music & dance instruction. Cookies and cider provided. his-toric holiday food demo also featured. At Old Courthouse. Free

Way of Lights run/Walk 5pm - 8pmExperience this one-of-a-kind evening 5K Competitive Run and Fun Walk through the beautiful Way of Light. http://WayofLights.org/run

Family Day @ St Louis Art Museum 1pm - 4pmUpcoming Family sundays Get surreal January 6, 13, 20, and 27 stop in on wintery sundays in January: We’ll be highlighting the works of modern artists such as Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian with art projects that have fun with form, color, and design. You can also take a kid-friendly tour through the Muse-um’s galleries to learn about surrealism and abstract art.

Jan 7Parent/tot tumbling @ CArD 5:45pm - 6:30pmCollinsville Area Recreation District, 10 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL. 62234 Phone: 618.346.7529

Jan 8teen read @ Belleville West Branch Library 6:30pm - 8pmOur Teen Read gatherings currently focus on speculative fiction. spec Fic includes alternate histories and universes, low and high fantasy, super powers, science fiction, and classic monster stories. suggest your favorite books for our recommended reading list.

Jan 10totally tots Playtime @ CArD 9:30am - 11am, Thursday Night at the Movies@ Collinsville Memorial Library Center 6pm - 8pmsEE JAN 3 FOR DETAILs


Chess Club @ O’Fallon Public Library 4pm - 5pmLike to Play Chess? Join our chess club. We meet the 2nd Thursday afternoon from 4-5 pm. For ages 9 and up.

Craft Club @ O’Fallon Public Library 6pm - 8pmAttention Teens and Adults! We are starting a monthly craft club. Join us in January for Crocheting! Our supplies are limited, so please bring a size G crochet hook. We will provide the yarn. Must sign up to join class, and must be at least 13 years old.

Jan 11Free Lunch Friday@ Immanuel uMC EDW 11am - 1:30pm, Friday Fun Night @ Vetta Sports – Powerhaus 6pm - 10pmsEE JAN 4 FOR DETAILs

Jan 12Eagle Weekends @ tree House Wildlife Center 10am - 2pm, Family Day @ St Louis Art Museum 1pm - 4pmsee Jan 5 for Details

Wild Saturday @ St Louis Science Center On selected saturdays, learn more about local wildlife rescue efforts from area animal organizations and interact with live animals! The featured group this saturday is World Bird sanctuary with their armadillo, Russell.

Family Film Day @ the Missouri History Museum 12:30pm - 2:30pmYour family can enjoy a free movie and light snacks at the Missouri history Museum. Kids can enter to win a prize basket from Radio Disney. Today’s film: The Incredibles. Free

Brian Madrid Comedy Hypnosis Show @ Metro East Lutheran High School 7pm - 9pmMetro East Lutheran hs, 6305 Center Grove RD, EDWThe Brian Madrid Comedy hypnosis show benefits the Metro East humane society. Tickets are available for $10 at MEhs and at the door the night of the show. Limited seating! For more information call MEhs at618-656-4405, or visit www.Facebook.com/profession-alhypnosis


Jan 13Illinois Center for Autism’s 7th Annual trivia Night@ American Legion, Glen Carbon 4:30 - 9pmsAVE ThE DATE start the year by putting your brain (or your friends’)to the test at ICA’s 7th Annual Trivia Night. Get your team of 8-10together and register now for 10 rounds of fun filled trivia. The night will include Mulligans, prizes, 50/50 & raffle items. Beer, wine & soda available for purchase - NO outside drinks please. For brain power -outside food encouraged! All net proceeds will go to benefit ICA. For more details, or to register,618-398-7500 ext. 221

Jan 14Parent/tot tumbling @ CArD sEE JAN 7 FOR DETAILs

Bunko Night @ Eckert’s Country restaurant BellevilleAn old-fashion game for all ages. Play Bunko at Eckert’s Country Restaurant on the second and fourth Monday of each month. $5 per person includes game, prizes, beverages, and snacks. Open to the public. No reservation required. For more information call Eckert’s Country Restaurant at (618) 233-0513 x 3.

Money Monday with Edward Jones@ O’Fallon Public Library 6pm - 7pmDo you have money questions? have a financial conundrum? Join Lisa Regula, an Edward Jones Financial Advisor, every month as she explores new topics in the world of investing and money Free

Jan 15Collinsville Area Women’s Connection @ Gateway Center, Collinsville 12:15pm - 2:15pmAdmission: $13 For more information, please call: Barbara at 344-7967 or Mavis at 346-1331

Cultural Adventure Club @ O’Fallon Public Library 4:15pm - 5:15pmYou are invited to sEE ThE WORLD on every third Tuesday at 4:15! We will learn about other cultures and traditions through games, guest speakers, crafts, and an occasional snack. For 2nd grade and up. Free

Family Med School Lab: The Incredible Human Body@ SLu 6pm - 8pmExperience a unique evening with your family exploring human anat-omy and contemporary health issues at this family workshop called: The Incredible human Body: A 3-D Look Into how the Body Works. Activities include 3-D demonstrations of human organs and hands-on anatomical dissections in a special, state-of-the-art laboratory. Physicians and educators from the saint Louis University community will facilitate these educational programs for you and your children, 5th grade and older. have an unforgettable evening learning about the human body, diseases, and ways to stay healthy. This event is held at Young hall on the saint Louis University campus and is sponsored by the saint Louis science Center. Cost is $12 ($10 for science Center members) per person. 6 to 8 p.m. space is limited. Call 314-289-4424 for reservations. More information: www.slsc.org

Jan 16Medicare Informational Workshops @ Fairview Public Library 10:30am - 11:30amMedicare Overview: An introduction to Medicare and its key compo-nents. Free


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‘CAUSE THAT’SWHAT IT’S

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TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Is your family ready to GET THE SILLIES OUT? Yo GabbaGabba! Live! is going back on the road in 2013 with a

new show, "Get the Sillies Out!" featuring the one and onlyDJ Lance Rock, plus Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee, and Plex, and of course, hip hop legend Biz Markie.

Buy tickets or Gabba Party Packages (including a meet & greet with the characters) right away and give

your kids an experience they won't soon forget. Plus, you'll have just as much fun as they will!

Collinsville Police Explorers- Child ID registration @ Collinsville Pub-lic Library 9:30am - 4pm Child ID registration. Come on in to this free event. hosted by the Collinsville Police Explor-ers. Kids will be finger printed, photographed and information sheet completed and given to parents. Free hot dogs and drinks for all who come provided by the Police Explorers.

Great Green Adventures: Preparing for Winter @ Missouri Botanical Garden 10:30am - 2:30pmWinter will soon be approaching. Kids can search the Missouri Botanical Garden and discover what the plants and animals do to prepare for winter. For children ages 6-12 with an adult. Walk-ins welcome!

13th Annual FOtAD trivia Night @ Collinsville Knights of Columbus Hall 6pm - 10pmThe sIUE Friends of Theater and Dance (FO-TAD) The evening will offer trivia during the regular question-and-answer sessions as well as during survivor trivia. FOTAD also will of-fer a 50-50 raffle, mice races and free popcorn and pretzels.

Murder Mystery Dinner- Bullets in the Bathtub @ Eckert’s Belleville 7pm - 10pm


YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! Get The Sillies Out! @ The Fox Theatre 7pm - 9pmIs your family ready to GET ThE sILLIEs OUT? Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Is going back on the road in 2013 with a new show, “Get the sillies Out!” featuring the one and only DJ Lance Rock, plus Muno, Foofa, Brobee,Toodee, and Plex, and of course, hip hop legend Biz Markie. Winner of Billboard’s Creative Content Award, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! has performed in front of countless fans across the U.s. and Canada over the past three years, and the new show “Get the sillies Out!” is sure to be one you won’t want to miss. They have taken the fan favorites from the past two tours and com-bined them with some all-new music and other surprises that we can’t tell you about… yet! Buy tickets or Gabba Party Packages (including a meet & greet with the characters) right away and give your kids an experience they won’t soon forget. Plus, you’ll have just as much fun as they will! For more information, visithttp://www.yogabbagabbalive.com.

Jan 19Eagle Weekends @ tree House Wildlife Center, Family Day @ St. Louis Art Museum see Jan 5 for Details

Belle Clair Flea Market @ Belle-Clair Expo Center 9am- 4pm

Parkinson Support Group Of Glen Carbon @ GCSCC 10:30am - 12:30pmThis is an uplifting support group whose purpose is to share information, experiences, and friendship with Parkinson patients and/or their caregivers from the Metro East area. New members are always welcome. For more information, contact Marilynn Kozyak at 618-288-3508 Free

International Fiction Book Club@ Collinsville Memorial Library 6:30pm - 7:30pmMeet us at the Blum house on the 3rd Wednesday of the month! Everyone welcome.

Jan 17Thursday Night at the Movies@ Collinsville Memorial Library Center 6pm - 8pm sEE JAN 3 FOR DETAILs

Diva Night @ Belleville Downtown 5pm - 8pmDiva Night, Christopher Mikal’s Photography to Lincoln / seven (serving in the lobby)

Jan 18Free Lunch Friday@ Immanuel uMC EDW, Friday Fun Night @ Vetta Sports – Powerhaus sEE JAN 4 FOR DETAILs

Gateway Spring Home Show @ Collinsville Gateway Center 11am - 8pm; Jan 18, 2013 - Jan 20 Free

Free Family Night @ The Magic House 5:30pm - 6:30pmsome of the best things in life are free! The Magic house holds Emerson Free Family Nights every third Friday of the month from 5:30 pm to 9pm. These special nights enable a family (no more than two adults and four of their own children) to enjoy more than 100 hands on exhibits in the museum at no charge through the generosity of Emerson. Reserva-tions are not required. Free

Owl Prowl @ World Bird Sanctuary 7pm - 9pmWorld Bird sanctuary, 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road, Valley ParkCome over to the dark side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight. Owl Prowls are an opportunity for families to learn about owls from the naturalists at the World Bird sanctuary. First, you’ll be introduced to live owls and hear their unique calls. Then you’ll take an easy night bike through the World Bird sanctuary grounds to try and call a wild owl. Reservations are required.

Come Shadow a Student for a day and discover how Marquette Catholic High School is one of the top schools in the Metro East area. Call Meg Miller at 618-463-0585.

Welcome to the 1920s where bathtubs were made for one thing only – to make gin! Lot’s of gangsters are showing up at “Cherry’s speakeasy” to talk about the turf war going on between the Corneolis and the Buttafuccos. serve with roasted chicken or meatloaf plus lots of other traditional 1920s fare. $35.00/Person includes appetizer, meal, drink(iced tea, soft drink or coffee), entertainment and tax.

Jan 21Martin Luther King, Jr’s Day

Jan 24Thursday Night at the Movies@ Collinsville Memorial Library Center sEE JAN 3 FOR DETAILs

Gateway Bridal Show @ Collinsville Gateway Center 5pm - 9pmFree admission for brides Admission: $5

Jan 25Free Lunch Friday@ Immanuel uMC EDW, Friday Fun Night @ Vetta Sports – Powerhaus sEE JAN 4 FOR DETAILs

Jan 26Eagle Weekends @ tree House Wildlife Center, Family Day @ St. Louis Art Museum sEE JAN 5 FOR DETAILs


Wild Saturday @ St Louis Science Center sEE JAN 12 FOR DETAILs

Hot! Hot! Hot! @ The Butterfly House 11am - 3pmKids can shake off the cold weather with a trop-ical-themed celebration at The Butterfly house. Activities include tropical-themed games and crafts that will make them go absolutely buggy, as well as live steel drum music to dance to, face painting and a toddler sandbox. For children ages 3 to 8 and their families.

Open House @ Good Shepherd Lutheran School Kindergarten 7pm - 8pmGood shepherd Lutheran school, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville, ILBring your future Kindergartner and see one of the best schools of thearea!

trivia Night for Metro East Montes-sori School @ St Cellia’s Glen Carbon 7pm - 10pm“On the Road” trivia night benefitting Metro East Montessori school. $20 per person; $150 per table; 8 players per table. To reserve a table call Katrina Knebel, (618) 514-0425 Free beer and wine included with admission. Feel free to bring your own food or snacks. There will also be a silent auction, 50/50 drawing, attendance prizes, and jello shots! Jan 27

Midwest Bicycle Swap and Expo @ Gateway Center 10am - 3pmAdmission: $5

Jan 28Bunko Night @ Eckert’s Belleville sEE JAN 14 FOR DETAILs

Jan 31Thursday Night at the Movies@ Collinsville Memorial Library Center sEE JAN 3 FOR DETAILs

American Cancer Society Coaches Vs. Cancer Shootout @ Scottrade Centersports fans won’t want to miss a day filled with premier high school basketball games to ben-efit a cause that’s close to so many. Area high school coaches and volunteers of the American Cancer society Coaches vs. Cancer program have teamed up to plan the event which will benefit research, education, advocacy and free patient services for our local communities. seven games will be played throughout the day, with the first game starting at 10 am and the final contest set for 8:30 pm. The matchups include programs from Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky.

MArQuEt tE CAtHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLA Catholic School of Excellence

upcoming Events at Marquette:

• Jan 12, 2013 at 8:30am. Entrance Exam for Incoming Freshmen for 2013-2014 at Marquette

• Jan. 12, 12-2pm- Open house to showcase renovations to the buildings.

• March 9, 2013- Incoming Freshman Registration.


Lahr-Well Academy maximizes your child’s educational future by empowering your child

K4—12th Grade

A unique, comprehensive curriculum combines instruc-tion in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities and art: all grades.

Daily: intensive math, intensive science (chemistry, biolo-

gy, physics, earth science), hands-on science experiments, an IEP (individualized educational plan) for every child

Weekly: hands-on art, and composition

4 times weekly: four foreign languages for every child K4-12: Spanish/Italian/French/German…on a two-year rota-tion

An Ivy-League Education… at a fraction of the cost

Student Enrollment : 15

Lahr-Well Academy maximizes your child’s edu-cational future by empowering your child for success!

How is Lahr-Well Academy different from the rest? Students taught in combined “levels” -not grades...Our students test 2-4 years beyond chronological age in math, reading and English

Students are unique in their learning.

At Lahr-Well Academy, we individualize each lesson plan with each student, knowing they are not a carbon copay of another.

Want to learn more about Lahr-Well Academy?

Call 618-288-8024 to arrange for a free day’s attendance!

LAHR-WELL ACADEMY

LAHR-WELL ACADEMY

903 North Second Street

Edwardsville, IL 62025

618-288-8024 ph

[email protected]

www.lahrwellacademy.org


You don’t have to look far to find one of the top 50 universities in the

nation recognized in Washington Monthly for its “contribution to the

public good in three categories: Social Mobility, Research and Service.”

Just 25 minutes from St. Louis, SIUE offers easy access to a broad range

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encourages students to explore their academic passions.

Excellent educationEasily accessible.

Visit siue.edu to see why the “e” equals excellence.

2013 CADILLAC SRX JACK SCHMITT CADILLAC PRESENTS

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OPEN

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