[ FREE ]Afterschool Adventures | Eat, Play, POA | Outside at PCM AUGUST 2014 Back to PDlsoatXtniBlelpuptsitigcumtk.mh4see2!msrO.teae’usrrtr School(Yes, already...)
metro-parent.com | August 2014 3
[ Contents ] 14 FEATURES 30 Adventures in Afterschooling...............................................................................14 34 It’s 3 pm. School’s out, but you’re still at work. Now what? By Cathie Ericson. Deciphering Individual Education Plans......................................................22 We go behind the scenes to help you navigate the IEP process, start to finish. By Helyn Trickey Bradley. DEPARTMENTS Editor’s Note.......................................................................................................................... 6 Play Room...............................................................................................................................10 Oregon baby names, by the numbers, plus MP’s favorite apps for long summer car rides. Field Trip................................................................................................................................. 30 Digging the new outdoors exhibit at the Portland Children’s Museum. Family Supper.....................................................................................................................32 Healthy, fresh food and a playroom to boot at Poa Cafe in NoPo. Recipe File............................................................................................................................ 34 Did someone say kale smoothie? Janice Grube turns on the Vitamix. First Person: Daddy Issues.................................................................................... 36 Our new columnist, Ryan White, works out his drive-thru dilemmas. Pay Attention .................................................................................................................. 38 Campaign season is just around the corner. Family Forward Oregon’s Lisa Frack highlights issues to watch. Angels Among Us........................................................................................................... 40 Schoolyard Farms brings vegetables to the cafeteria. Time Out..................................................................................................................................42 PDX’s best family-friendly August activities, from bike rides to camp outs. RESOURCES Back-to-School.............................................................................................................15 - 29 Parties........................................................................................................................................47On Our Cover: Back-to-school glee captured by localphotographer Rachael May.See more of her work atrachaelmayphotography.com. metro-parent.com | August 2014 5
[ Editor’s Note ] If you’re a parent, you’ve heard the term “fourth trimester.” It’s those first few months after the baby’sbeen born, when you’re finding your sea legs together, so to speak, and learning all about your new normal.Some moments are just the way you imagined they would be, but most of the time you’re thinking toyourself, “what have I gotten us all into?” If you’re like me, you’re unsure whether the nurses ever shouldhave let you leave the hospital in the first place — whose idea was it to put you in charge? That’s pretty much the way I’m feeling about my new job as the editor of Metro Parent — not quite sureof what I’m doing, but hopeful that alongside my tribe, I’ll figure out it. Only in this case, the tribe is you — allof the kids and their grown-ups who keep Portland weird and make it such a great place to raise a family. I’ve got lots of plans for the magazine in the coming year. The goal is to become even more local, more relevant and more fun to read. By the end of the summer, we should have our new website up and running, and I’m hoping to hear plenty from our readers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — find, friend and follow at @Metro_Parent or www.facebook. com/MetroParentPortland. In the magazine, look for some new features in this month’s issue, including a focus on family-friendly restaurants and dining in Portland’s ever-expanding food scene, and a new look for what’s called the “front-of- book” — those first few pages you leaf through. In the coming months, we’ll roll out more stories about the way we — and our kids — live now, from lifestyle to neighborhoods to technology. So here’s to the fourth trimester, and beyond, to keeping it weird and finding those sea legs. I’m so glad you’re all along for the ride. — Julia Silverman [ Contributing Writers ] Cathie Ericson (Adventures in Afterschooling) Cathie Ericson is a Michael Barton (Field Trip) spends a Portland-based mom of three who great deal of time exploring Portland’s contributes freelance pieces to a natural areas and blogging about wide variety of parenting, business connecting children to nature (at and fitness publications for print exploreportlandnature.wordpress.com). and online. When she’s not at her He lives in SW Portland with his son, computer, she’s out chauffeuring kids Patrick, daughter, Afton, and wife, or doing laundry, and keeps sane with Catherine, a librarian for Multnomah exercise and reading. Follow her @ County Library. He owns more books Cathie Ericson for her thoughts on the than he’ll ever be able to read. writing biz, parenting, fitness, and yes, sometimes laundry. Helyn Trickey Bradley (Deciphering Individual Education Plans) is Ryan White (Unhappy Meals) is the passionate about proper semicolon author of “Springsteen: Album by use, re-homing stray animals and Album,” which comes out in October. potato chips, preferably with extra salt. He won’t mind if you go and preorder When she isn’t writing on deadline, it right now. He lives in North she’s trying to find her zen among the Portland with his wife and their chaos of three children, one dog, one 4-year-old daughter. cat and a patient husband. Also, she’s trying to hold the perfect triangle pose for more than two seconds. She lives in Portland with her family.6 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
[ In The Cloud ]Looking to get out of the house with your kids? We’ve got you covered with the metro area’s biggest and most Serving the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Areacomprehensive daily events calendar, an online exclusive. From sing-a-longs to library storytimes to free days atthe museum, it’s all there on our sister site, www.pdxkidscalendar.com. Metro ParentPDXKidscalendar.com is also the place to look for great giveaways, plus the next round of voting for local family P.O. Box 13660favorites. Next up are schools and birthday party venues, so show your favorites some love. Portland, OR 97213-0660Metro Parent’s website is in the midst of upgrades, but it’s still the place to look for online exclusives. This Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445month, we’re featuring stories on what to do with itchy tweens after school gets out, and local pediatrician PublisherDr. Katie Oldread answers more of your medical questions. Keith Goben, 503-460-2774Want more ways to stay connected? Make sure you’re signed up for our PDXkidscalendar email newsletter, a [email protected] summary of our top picks that comes out twice a week, once with the week’s best kid-friendly Editorevents, and once for the weekend warriors. Julia Silverman, 503-922-0893 [email protected] OF EMILIA BRASIER / EMILIABRASIERPHOTOGRAPHY.WORDPRESS.COM Managing Editor Teresa CarsonStop by and say hi in person.We’ll be hanging out at several local events [email protected] month, including Rox in Sox in Lake Oswego on August 2, Director of Online, Social Mediathe Alberta Street Fair on August 9, Multnomah Days on August 16 and & Marketing Strategythe Hawthorne Street Festival on August 17. Tabitha Rhodes, 503-975-6978 [email protected]’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @Metro_Parent or friend us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MetroParentPortland. Web Administrator Casey Rhodes [email protected] Online Calendar Director Kelly Horsford [email protected] Customer Accounts Manager Christie Kline, 503-810-9817 [email protected] Advertising Account Executives Westside/Outside Metro Area Debbie Dille, 503-997-4044 fax: 503-352-4373 [email protected] Eastside/Vancouver/Washington Ali King, 503-331-8184 fax: 503-331-3445 [email protected] National Sales: contact Publisher Design & Production: Susan Bard For distribution issues, e-mail us at [email protected] For calendar submissions, e-mail us at [email protected] Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent Publishing, Inc., and is copyright 2014 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Metro Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorse- ment of the products or services advertised herein. Metro Parent does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing, Inc., and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for the use or mis- use of any information contained herein. The contents of Metro Parent and its website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or treatment.8 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
[ Play Room ]Take Four Leanne Littrell DiLorenzo is a to [email protected] to let us know you support us and Portland mother to a son and a also if you can help us in any way. daughter, and the founder of Vote ERA, the organization behind Q: Y ou were a backer of HIllary Clinton’s campaign in this November’s Oregon ballot 2008. Do you think she’ll run for president again? measure that would prohibit discrimination on the basis A: In 2008, I took it upon myself to fly to Dallas to help of gender. We asked her to answer a few questions: her with her primary. I do not know if Hillary is running. I do know that we must stand together to support theQ: Why is the time right for the ERA in Oregon? candidate who will stand up for women and children.A: Why on earth would anyone oppose half the Q: A s a former legislative staffer, you’ve spent a lot of timepopulation having their equality written in anyconstitution? My 93-year-old grandmother, Lorraine, was in Salem. Any tips for exploring the Cherry City withborn in 1921, the year after women gained the right to kids?vote. She stayed at home, raised five kids who all see herevery week still and she sewed clothes and baked pies. A: I think a trip to Oregon’s Capitol should be part of theWhen I asked her why she thinks we need the ERA shepaused and said “it goes without saying.” curriculum for every child in Oregon. I’ve taken my son to the Capitol many times and he loves it. The walk toQ: What’s the next step for your campaign? the top to see the “Gold man” is amazing and the view isA: The next step for our campaign is outreach. We’d like extraordinary. Age 5 and up is good to have them sit in on a committee hearing. Calling ahead of time to see ifto ask all Oregonians to please help us by sending an email there are a few representatives or Senators who would be willing to meet the children is fantastic — the legislators are great with kids. And there are flags from all the states outside the Capitol and it’s a great place for kids to run around while learning about our country. nGetaway: VernoniaWhat kid doesn’t love a swimming Catching No cars allowed, making it perfect forhole in high summer? Find one of crawfish little ones. Or, head to the Vernoniathe metro area’s hidden gems in along Rock Pioneer Museum, with exhibits Creek in on the lives of early settlers in the Vernonia. Nehalem Valley, plus Native American artifacts from local tribes. Eat atVernonia, about 43 miles from the Blue House Mediterranean Cafe, whose owners say theyPortland, where Rock Creek is cook the food they make for their own kids, and no item on the kids’dammed up every year around the menu is more than $4. Camp out at Anderson Park, at the confluencesummer solstice to make a perfect of Rock Creek and the Nehalem River; reservations are available via Vernonia City Hall. Or splashwading pool and shady swim area out with a stay at the McMenamins Grand Lodge, 18 miles away in Forest Grove, where family-friendly bunkfor families at Hawkins Park. There’s a bed rooms start at $40-$45 a night per person.lifeguard on duty Monday-Saturday Directions: Take Highway 26 West to Highway 47, and head north on 47 for about 15 miles. If you’re headed to thefrom 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Pro tip from local swimming hole, stay on the main road, past the flashing light, for about three blocks. Hawkins Park is on your left,mom Caitlin Hunter: Below the pool is PHOTO BY CAITLIN HUNTER. just past the Rock Creek Bridge. na little waterfall, where kids can pokearound the rocks in the shallow water to look for crawfish.There’s also a stocked fishing pond and several localplaygrounds around town. Hunter says that even on thestickiest days, the temperature in Vernonia is usually about10 degrees lower than it is in the city, so go ahead andmake a weekend out of it. Bring everyone’s bikes for a spindown the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon’s originalrails-to-trail path, which features 21 easy-grade miles thatwind past streams and more than 13 old railroad bridges. metro-parent.com | August 2014 9
[ Play Room ]Chalkboard: Total number Oregon baby names, then and now of babies born in Oregon in Number 2013: 45,026 18,148first-borns: that were459 Rank of “Leonard” in 2013, 190 1Rank of Mary on a list of the top 500 in 1928: names for boys iRnMan2Ak0R1oYf3 Number of Years 1“Emma”has been the Number baby name for girls in Oregon: bNournminbOerregoofnEinm2m01a3s: 252RANKOF Number NUMBER OF LEONARD of Liams YEARS “LIAM” born in28 261IN1928: Oregon HAS BEEN THE in 2013 MOST POPULAR BOY’S NAME IN OREGON. Source: Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Back in the 1980s, you could walk into just about any elementary school classroom in Oregon and be guaranteed to find a few little Jessicas or Jasons in attendance. These days, those names, and other 1980s and early ‘90s favorites (Brittany, anyone?) are out of favor — there were just 12 Jeffreys born in Oregon in 2013, compared with about 1,900 of them in the 1980s. Instead, parents are influenced by celebrity choices (think baby Mason, from the Kardashian family tree), and reaching back to the Victorian era for names, or even futher back, to the Bible. Aiden and Caleb are on the rise for boys; Penelope and Charlotte are moving up the list for girls. So hear this, new parents: if you really want a unique name, you might just consider Jessica. Or maybe Jason. Liam may be king for boys, but here are the other top Oregon baby boy names from 2013: Mason • Elijah • Benjamin • William • Henry • Ethan • Noah • Logan Emma rules for girls, but other names gained ground in 2013, too: Olivia • Sophia • Abigail • Ava • Emily • Amelia • Isabella • Evelyn10 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
[ Play Room ] When Dr. Katie Oldread, COURTESY OF MURTHA DESIGN Apps We Love: a pediatrician at Sellwood Medical COURTESY OF GAMELOFT Headed out this summer on a classic Oregon family road Clinic, isn’t at work or trip? It’s a long way to Sunriver or Crater Lake or Cannon answering our readers’ Beach. Ward off the “Are-we-there-yets?” with our picks for questions, she likes the best kid apps for a long car ride. being silly with her two daughters. Drawing Pad: Budding artists of all ages will love this virtual sketchbook, which gives kids an COURTESY OF DR. KATIE OLDREAD. array of tools to pick from. They can “draw” with charcoal or colored pencil, chalk or paintbrushes, Ask Dr. Katie and save or share their creations when they’re done. Bonus: no markers on your car seats, or lost somewhere in the B y Dr. Katie Oldread, Pediatrician, deepest recesses of the backseat. $1.99, ages 3 and up. Sellwood Medical Clinic Road Trip Bingo HD: Think the classic car ride game, with anQ: It’s summer, and it’s hot outside, but I’ve noticed that my interactive twist. Give the device a little shake, and the app kid is a very sweaty sleeper. Is this normal? What can I do will generate a “bingo” card for you. Then you and your little to keep her cool and comfortable? one can watch out the window for a police car here, a stop sign there. First one to five in a row is the winner. $1.99,A: Summer is here and it has been a hot one so far! It is very ages 3 and up. common for young children to sweat during sleep,whether fall, winter, spring or summer. Children are more The Oregon Trail: Come on. How couldlikely to sweat in their sleep simply due to the fact that they we NOT pick this one? Best for olderspend more time in deep stages of sleep, and that their ability to kids who have probably learned aboutregulate their body temperature has not fully developed. the pioneers in their covered wagons already at school. They’ll navigate their way across the That being said, some kids sweat because they are hot … country, trying their virtual hands at river-crossing, rafting andso how to tell the difference and make sure your little ones are gold-panning — but watch out for the disease (dysentery,indeed comfortable at night? One nice trick is to feel your child’s anyone?) and bandits (those nasty varmints!). Ages 5 and up.head early on after they have fallen asleep. An overheated child $4.99.will typically feel warmer earlier in the night, before they havereached deep stages of sleep. UNO: Everyone loves UNO, but it’s tough to play cards in the car. Problem solved! There’s a free version, but it might be If your child is sweating early in the night you can adjust worth it to spring for the $4.99 one. Ages 5 and up.the room temperature, avoid overdressing (typically onelayer of pajamas is sufficient, even in the winter), and choose Bonus: Don’t have a touchscreen device, or maybe you’relightweight cotton sheets or blankets as bedcoverings. a low-media family? Head to your county library and check out their audiobooks selection. We’re particularly partial to In addition to normal sleep patterns as well as overheating, Roald Dahl’s reading of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and Judy Blume’sthere are some situations in which night sweats can indicate a narration of “Superfudge.”medical condition that warrants further examination. If yourchild has any additional symptoms that accompany sweating Happy trails!during sleep (fever, bone pain, bruising, lethargy, pallor, snoringas some examples), it is recommended that you contact yourdoctor to discuss further. Got a question for the doctor? Tweet it to us at @Metro_Parent, or hit us up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/metroparentportland. n12 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
[ Play Room ] Bookshelf: Still got some summer reading to do? Check out hot-off-the-presses picks from Kira Porton, children’s book buyer at A Children’s Place on NE Fremont in PDX. AGES AGES 0-2 3-5 6AGES aunpd :COURTESY OF WORKMAN PUBLISHING Bunny Rabbit Show COURTESY OF RANDOM/SCHWARTZ&WADE I Can Do it Myself Minecraft Combat Handbook Can you tie yourCOURTESY OF HACHETTE PUBLISHING GROUP Who doesn’t love COURTESY OF CARTWHEEL/SCHOLASTIC. shoe? Write your COURTESY OF SCHOLASTIC, INC. In Minecraft, you’re never alone and Sandra Boynton? Her letters and numbers? the threat of attack is constant. How to latest introduces ten Make your bed? Or set survive? The Official Combat Handbook will rabbits who like to the table? Can you do teach you everything you need to know to dance, sing, jump, and it by yourself? Important childhood mile- defend yourself from hostile monsters and wiggle their noses in unison to entertain stones like these are tracked in this new enemy players. By Scholastic, Inc. their audience, but anyone is welcome to picture book from author-illustrator Valorie Due August 26. join the chorus line after donning a pair of Fisher. In stores now. bunny ears. Due September 9. Emma and Fly Guy’s the Blue Genie Underwater Doggies: Amazing Tricks Colors Younger readers know The latest in one of the Cornelia Funke for In a world where cat best series for early her groovy books on videos are some of the readers we’ve found, Fly princesses who are Internet’s most popular Guy has learned a lot of perfectly capable of content and pithy hamsters might amass new tricks. But showing off at dinnertime saving themselves thousands of Twitter followers, we might doesn’t work out for Fly Guy or his owner, from the dragon, thankyouverymuch. Her as well start the next generation early. Buzz. By Ted Arnold. Due August 26. latest is a full-color chapter book for young Bring on “Underwater Doggies:Colors,” by readers. Heroine Emma frees Genie Karim photographer Seth Casteel. The board from a bottle, but he’s lost his magic mojo, book pairs simple text on color identifica- and needs Emma to help him recover his tion with portraits of swimming dogs. Think lost powers. Due October 14. William Wegman, but for the toddler set. On sale now. TOP 5... ➊ At the top of Mount Tabor ➋ The Skidmore bluffs at sunset ➌ Tanner Springs park, after you’ve hit the playground at The Fields and the fountains at Jamison Square Places to ➍ On the trail at Cooper Mountain in Beaverton ➎ Under the peach trees at Sauvie Picnic in Island Farms. Portland metro-parent.com | August 2014 13
Getting messy ispart of the fun.PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPFIRE COLUMBIA. for Atkinson Elementary School fifth grader August Reinhart, after-school care is as much a part of his day as school itself. His mother, Kate Reinhart says that over the years, her family’s been very pleased with the continuity and care that on-site childcare provider Vermont Hills Family Life Center has offered. Adventures in “There are people there I have known since Auggie started attending in kindergarten,” she said. At the program, Auggie can choose to sit quietly and work on homework or throw himself into activities with other kids, Afterschooling including games, small groups and outside play. That freedom — and staff with the wisdom, enthusiasm and flexibility to handle whatever kids throw their way — is key to a good aftercare program. BY CATHIE ERICSON Fun for Big Kids, Small Kids Aftercare providers have to offer a wide range of activities that will keep kids engaged — no easy feat when you consider the level of ages and interests of a typical group. Staffers at Vermont Hills, which provides aftercare to 30 schools around the Portland metro area, as far out as Hillsboro, say the goal is to meet the needs of its student and parent population alike. “We know that some of our kids want to just breathe after coming in from a tough day at school,” said Jon Myers, who oversees Vermont Hills’ aftercare program, “while others crave a wide variety14 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
“Their art choices BACK-TO-SCHOOLare always soin-depth, much metro-parent.com | August 2014 15more than justpainting anddrawing. Thesekids are never justkilling time.” of activities that might include literacy, drama, science experimentation or manipulative building. “We pride ourselves on involving kids in different activities throughout the day. Once kids get bored, you lose them,” Myers said. From science projectsthat are also art, like creating and playing with “slime,” to woodworking, Myerssays they strive for both a “play” and “learn” aspect. For example, a group mightrepurpose electronic parts and turn them into a robot, allowing kids to exerciseboth creativity and fine motor skills. Kirsi Baird Barber, director of before-and-after-school programs for CampfireColumbia, which reaches kids around the Portland area and in West Linn,said the group’s “Choice and Voice” program ensures that that kids are directlyinvolved in choosing the activities. Through surveys, suggestion boxes and brainstorming sessions, they seekinput from the kids and families on what activities they’d like. “We have foundthat kids are most engaged when they are interested in the subject matter so wewant to tap into that,” she said. continues on page 16
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPFIRE COLUMBIA. Beyond the school walls, Barber says Campfire emphasizes community Alan Bagnall, whose son Malcolm is a projects. She’s had a group who sixth grader at Beverly Cleary Elementary in wanted to work with seniors at a Northeast Portland, appreciates how hard the nearby retirement center, participating staff works to create programs that reflect the in scrapbooking and T’ai chi. At kids’ interests. another school, kids worked together to make healthy homemade dog “There is always a string of options so enticing treats, created packaging and sold that sometimes Malcolm can’t even decide which them at Grant Park, raising $128 one he wants to do,” Bagnall said. One recent for the Oregon Humane Society. In favorite was a comic book group, where Malcolm Sunnyside, a group worked with the learned more about the graphic medium. church across the street to make sandwiches for food insecure families. “Their art choices are always so in-depth, much more than just painting or drawing,” Parent Amber Kern-Johnson, Bagnall said. “These kids are never just killing whose sons Zach and Lucas go time.” to aftercare through Campfire at Beverly Cleary, says they have really An important component is allowing the embraced the service component. Her older kids to help plan and teach. “This makes them feel son Zach loved working on the dog empowered, since we find they want to set a good example, treat project, and they even whipped have fun and help these younger kids,” Barber said. Student- up another batch at home. led clubs include activities such as building models of the solar system or folding origami. “We’ve seen our boys grow into strong community members and “Leading a group emphasizes planning, writing and public develop great character traits,” Kern- speaking skills, but it also teaches patience and helps them Johnson said. “It’s so much more than think about their own behavior in a classroom setting.” just daycare.” Barber said. Overall, the program leaders say the goal is to create variety so there’s something for everyone – whether it’s being active, or learning more about art and science. “Some kids just want to shoot baskets, but we try to encourage them to make new choices and try something new,” Barber said. And while programs like Vermont Hills and Campfire focus on variety in daily activities, Art4Life takes a different approach, tying its offerings to a particular country. Sandra Santoro, director of Art4Life, which reaches seven schools in Portland, says the program’s goal is to connect the world through arts and community, using visual and performing arts to focus on a different country each month. The week before school starts, she and her teachers pick the countries they are going to explore in the coming year, taking care that it’s not a country they have covered in the past two years. Santoro said kids are especially partial to “Etiquette Fridays,” where they create a restaurant-like atmosphere, continues on page 1816 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOLmetro-parent.com | August 2014 17
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPFIRE COLUMBIA. serving the food of the country they’re studying, and She also prides herself on a ratio that’s below the state- practicing their table manners. “You can change people’s mandated guidelines, a program aspect echoed by Jennifer world through art and through food,” Santoro says. Merrill, afterschool department director for the Portland Jewish Academy. “Our parents really appreciate our low Who’s In Charge? teacher-to-student ratio, as well as the stability of the staff.” A second crucial aspect of aftercare is the providers. After Merrill says that PJA, which hosts after-care programs all, no matter how compelling the activities, it’s the staff who onsite at local Portland schools as well as at its own facility, brings them to life. only hires staff with degrees and specific experience in education. “Because we pay living wages for part-time work, “It’s so apparent that the staff at my son’s school really love as well as offer benefits and vacation, we have staff who their jobs,” Bagnall said. “I couldn’t have asked for more.” return year after year,” she added. “Parents appreciate that we have staff who invest in their child and care about them as Camille Campbell, whose daughters Shaylin and Kadence much as their teacher does.” attend Jason Lee Elementary in Northeast Portland, finds the Vermont Hills teachers friendly, compassionate and patient: After School, At School “They have really helped my girls flourish,” she says. The bottom line is that as good as any childcare might “We put together And this excellent care be, if the child can’t get there easily, it’s not going to work teams that have is reflected in how the staff for the family. That’s why school-based programming is so different skills and themselves are treated and popular — kids just head right over after school. Not only does life experiences to the support they receive. it eliminate transportation logistics, but they are also able to really bring that rich Staff training is a key part of stay with their peers, in an environment that’s familiar. background to our all the programs. students.” Nancy Hauth, program manager for aftercare at Barber holds monthly Portland Public Schools, says, “By a huge margin, our school sessions where staff talk communities are really happy with the on-site care we offer. about what’s working There will always be some parents who opt out, and in some and what they might do school communities there are more options than others. differently. There might be dance, art or tae kwon do studios nearby, or even a stand-alone child care facility, that can transport kids. Myers adds that communication with parents is an But by and large, we find that quality on-site care is the most important part of his role. “I want them to know that they can convenient for most parents.” talk to the staff or me if they have any questions or concerns about our program,” he said. “We are all in this together.” To ensure that the quality stays high at each facility, she maintains an ongoing system for evaluation, including an Santoro of Art4Life says that her program’s staff stands annual parent survey and input from principals. out because of their credentials — each of her staff has a degree in a related field, whether it’s art, theater, literature And the true measure of a program’s quality? The reaction or music. They all have also traveled outside the United from the kids. Says Kern-Johnson, “I know that the program States, which allows them to bring that cultural aspect to the is high-quality because it’s hard to get them to leave. My boys classroom. really want to be there.” Echoes Campbell, “Almost every day when I pick the girls up, they complain about having “We put together teams that have different skills and to leave.” n life experiences to really bring that rich background to our students,” Santoro said.18 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOLStory times, classes, and camps for toddlers, pre-k and elementary metro-parent.com | August 2014 19
BACK-TO-SCHOOL HOME EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER real choices for real learning Classes and Community For Homeschoolers Open House September 15 & 17 www.villagehome.org [email protected] (503) 597 - 9100 Personalized Education for Teens Independent Learning for Independent Minds Child focused. Life oriented. A Portland tradition since 1977. Educating children 3 - 12 years. msb.org MMoonntteessssoorri i SS ooooll of Beaavveerrttoonn20 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOLmetro-parent.com | August 2014 21
Deciphering Individual Education Plans BY HELYN TRICKEY BRADLEY22 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
When John* was in kindergarten his teachers complained to his mother about in situations, but if it doesn’t come to bear on education, the student may not behis behavior. He was rowdy in the classroom, regularly answering questions out eligible for school services.”of turn and having trouble concentrating, they said. It’s important to note that even if a physician has diagnosed a student with a“I knew something was going on with [my son],” says Portland parent Laney disability such as ADD, dyslexia or anxiety,Masterson*, who asked that her and her son’s name be changed to protect their unless the disability interferes with the Parents should child’s performance in school, academically, ask questionsidentities. behaviorally or socially, she may not be when they don’t eligible for an IEP. But having a firm medical understand“The school thought he had Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], but I was diagnosis can help parents and school of- something about ficials understand where a student struggles the process.suspicious of that diagnosis,” says Masterson, who works as a full-time nurse. “I and how best to meet her needs.hemmed and hawed for a bit, and then the school tested him and found that he “I would tell parents that IEPs are great,scored on the Autism spectrum.”John’s teachers advocated for him to be placed on an Individualized EducationPlan (IEP), but Masterson admits the thought of putting him in any kind of specialeducation track made her nervous. but don’t accept the first diagnosis,” says“When I went into this I knew nothing about it. I didn’t even know what an IEP Masterson. “The IEP [may] not go away, but it might change, and the studentstood for,” she says. “I didn’t realize that an IEP was a good thing — the services are might qualify for different services.”so helpful.”IEPs for school-aged kids fall under the umbrella of the Individuals with Dis- Keep Up Communicationabilities Education Act [IDEA], which was passed at the Federal level in the 1970s Margaret Zuercher, a learning specialist with the Lake Oswego School District, urges parents to view the IEP evaluation process as a collaborative effort betweenand makes available services to more than 6.5 million special needs youth around the school, your child and you.the nation ages zero to 21. “The best way to help is to stay informed [about the IEP process] and in contact with the teachers and learning specialists. Everybody is on the road together, andStudents who struggle academically, socially and/or emotionally may qualify we’re all working together for the sake of the child. There needs to be trust and open communication,” she says.for a wide range of services through an IEP, including preferred seating; speech, Parents are an integral part of the IEP evaluation and planning process. Ac-physical or occupational therapy; extra time to take cording to attorney Hungerford, it’s mandatory for a parent to be included in the meetings, along with educators who work with your child, and a districttests; tests tailored to a child’s specific learning style; representative (usually the school’s principal). Other school employees who work with your child, such as counselors or therapists, may also attend. Once a studentand educational assistants who can provided one- receives an IEP, an annual meeting is scheduled to assess a student’s progress and set new goals. A student on an IEP is evaluated every three years to determineon-one classroom help, among other services. An if they still qualify for the IEP under evaluation measures that differ district by district.IEP is developed with the idea that a student should “Parents should ask questions when they don’t understand something aboutbe educated alongside peers in general education the process,” says Jennifer Peterson, a learning specialist with the Clackamas School District. “What kinds of tests will my child take? If my child is removedclasses as much as possible, making allowances for COURTESY OF NANCY HUNGERFORD. from her classroom, how long will she be gone? Will my child need to attend a dif- ferent school? Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask any of these questions.”special needs. Additionally, Peterson advises, parents should make sure they are offered aSome services such as speech therapy may take copy of their rights at each yearly IEP meeting, a document that clearly outlines parents’ rights and responsibilities in relation to their child’s specialized learningplace before or after school hours, according to plan.Nancy Hungerford, the founder of the Portland- Portland attorney “Disability is just a different way of accessing information, but it can be abased Hungerford Law Firm, which specializes in Nancy Hungerford. difficult thing for parents to hear,” says Peterson. “It is [the school’s] obligation to make sure kids meet specific criteria, and having that label is our district’s way ofstudent rights and disability education law. Homeschooled students may also supporting the child — it is an avenue to access those services.”qualify for specialized educational services, but each student is considered on a continues on page 24case-by-case basis.First Step: Evaluation To initiate an IEP, either a parent or teacher may request an evaluation, and bylaw the school must consider the application. “The evaluation is structured to each child, and could address [among otherthings] behavioral or cognitive problems,” says Hungerford. “The evaluation team, which includes a parent, must determine if a child’sissues affect her schooling,” she says. “For instance, the child could be anxious metro-parent.com | August 2014 23
Teaching kids Keep Kids in the Loop “He’s met all his goals and exceeded them because he gotto advocate for proper treatment,” says Masterson. She says she’s learnedthemselves is IEP services can change dramatically as a student pro- how important it is to be involved with her son’s educationone way to make gresses from elementary school to high school, so it’s impor- every step of the way.special education tant for parents to actively participate in setting their child’sstudents feel learning agenda for each school year. As students become “As a parent, you know your own child well. Follow upmore powerful. more independent, they are encouraged to come to each when you see your child is not meeting goals, and advocate IEP meeting and take part in the assessment and planning for any services that you are entitled to by law,” she says. process. Zuercher, the Lake Oswego learning specialist, notes that what may seem like a fun activity for the elementary Here are a few more tips from our experts and parents: student — going to special classrooms for learning activities or taking tests differently than peers — can suddenly seem • If a child is on medication, make the school aware and let mortifyingly uncool at the middle and high school level. teachers know if medication doses change. “The child knows they are different, and the more honest • Be aware of all accommodations open to a student on an parents can be with them, the better,” says Zuercher who IEP. There is a comprehensive list available on the Service says teaching kids to advocate for themselves is one way to Summary page of an IEP. make special education students feel more powerful. • Parents should feel free to ask a psychiatrist/psychologist “A huge gift a parent can give a child is the acceptance of or other professional who has been working with your the disability,” Zuercher says. child to attend an IEP meeting if they feel it would help advocate for their child. For some special education students, a decision to pursue a modified diploma may come up in high school, usually in • Make sure an IEP spells out in specific detail the kinds of the student’s sophomore year. A modified diploma means accommodations your child will receive, including how that the high school curriculum has been changed to best many hours of the day she will spend out of her regular meet the special education needs of the student, and it can classroom. impact the eligibility of the graduate to enter a four-year university or the military. • Parents should fully review an IEP before signing the document, so make sure to take as much time as you need An eighth grader this year, Masterson’s son, John, is to be thorough. Make sure any accommodations helpful to thriving. With the correct diagnosis, he’s been getting the your child and discussed in an IEP meeting are document- tools through his IEP to blossom in school. ed in the IEP plan. • There should be a section of the IEP dedicated to your child’s background, and this is the area a parent should use to make any educational professionals aware of a student’s personal history that might be pertinent to the child’s educational progress. • R eview your child’s report cards from the past year before attending each IEP meeting, and have handy a list of your goals for your child for the next year. If your goals and the goals of your child’s educators differ, make sure to note that in the parent comment section of the IEP. • If you feel your child’s needs are not being met through her current IEP, make a prompt appointment with the school principal. If that meeting does not solve the problem, scheduling an appeal with the school district’s special education director is the next step. n24 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOLRESOURCES:An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) can be a lifesaver forboth students and parents trying to navigate school in theface of academic, behavioral or social challenges, but theacronyms alone associated with special education can makeanyone’s head spin. Here are a few tips and resources that canhelp set parents on the right path:• How to Read an IEP: Acronyms and Language This is a comprehensive list of acronyms a parent may read on an IEP. www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/iep-504-plan/ individualized-education-program-terminology• Oregon Department of Education Standard IEP forms www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1163• Oregonlaws.org Individualized education plan and special education law in Oregon www.oregonlaws.org/ors/343.151• Disability Rights Oregon Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Advocates is an 88-page guide to the educa- tional services available for children (newborn to 21 years old) with disabilities. www.droregon.org/resources/5-publications-1/ education/Special-Education-Guide-6ed.pdf metro-parent.com | August 2014 25
BACK-TO-SCHOOL26 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOLmetro-parent.com | August 2014 27
BACK-TO-SCHOOL28 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOLmetro-parent.com | August 2014 29
[ Field Trip ] V isiting a museum generally means One-year-old Afton Barton finds going inside — to view art displays, a perfect place to play hide see natural history specimens, or and seek. interact with science exhibits. Kids spend their time roaming around a large building,Running and only when it’sWild in time to leave dothe City they head outside. Outdoor Adventure A new exhibit at the Portland at the Portland Children’s Museum in Washington Park, however, prompts visitors to enter the museum and to then head right back outside.Children’s Museum In Outdoor Adventure, whichBY MICHAEL D. BARTON opened at the museum on Earth Day, 2014, kids and their grown-ups tromp and explore through 1.3 acres of previously unused land. And, given that the exhibit’s logo includes a rain boot splashing in a puddle, Outdoor Adventure is intended for visitation at any time of year, rain or shine. In most natural areas that families can visit, visitors are required to stay on trails and in some cases to not even climb on trees. Our risk-averse culture demands that children stay close and keep two feet on the ground. But at Outdoor Adventure, one of several emerging nature play areas in Portland, kids “You’ve climbed high enough.” Venturing on, older kids can can run wild without leaving city limits. The exhibit is designed to spotlight natural elements that can scramble on rocks and get wet in a manmade creek, which be found around the Pacific Northwest, focusing “on natural elements that promote a sense of place.” descends from the top of the hill on down. When you first enter at the top of the hill you’ll find a gated At the bottom of the hill area where you can let your toddler clamber over rocks and engage in messy fun in a large sand pit and water play area. kiddos can observe nature in The Children can (Hint: have a change of clothes for little ones.) From there a trail descends to the bottom of the hill. Along the way, The Meadow, an area with native meander Campsite lets older kids tap into their inner “Survivor” as they construct shelters and forts from building materials such as plants and a good view of the among trees tarps, big pieces of driftwood and twine. In The Grove, farther sky, perfect for lying on your and test down the trail, children can meander among trees and test back and looking for pictures in their climbing their climbing skills on the instantly iconic and massive Zoom the clouds. The overlook at the Tree. Up to a point, of course. The tree boasts a sign stating, top of the hill is a great place to skills on the have lunch (whether packed from instantly iconic home or purchased from the and massive museum café), while a pavilion and natural amphitheater down Zoom Tree.30 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
Patrick Barton, 8, OUTDOOR explores the creekbed. ADVENTURE PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BARTON. Portland Children’s Museumbelow are designed for programs, performances 4015 SW Canyon Rdand birthday parties. Portland, OR 97221 In May, internationally renowned artist (503) 223-6500Patrick Dougherty, with help from volunteers, www.portlandcm.orgconstructed a woven stick sculpture that twistsand turns, perfect for a game of hide-and-seek. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,And students from the museum’s Opal School closed major holidayscreated art pieces for a large mural of animals andplants that now graces the side of the building Admission: Under 1 free,facing Outdoor Adventure. 1-54 $10, over 55 and military $9 My kids and I have visited Outdoor Adventureonce during the grand opening celebration in Target FreeApril and again in June. Families could easily First Fridays:spend a couple of hours exploring the exhibit. free admission fromBefore entering the museum from the exhibit, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Local librariesvisitors pass through The Field Station, an indoor also allow you to check outspace to relax and learn more about nature. free admission passes for the museum. During our first visit, it rained pretty hard, andwhile many folks hurried into The Field Station Outdoor Adventure(my 1-year-old daughter and myself included), my is free for members and8-year-old son remained outside. After the rain included in museumstopped and we went back outside, he told me, admission.“I was already soaking wet from playing in thecreek. So I figured I could stay and play in the rain.” Parking: Washington Park pay stations: $1.60/hour; He hit the nail on the head: As Outdoor $4.00 All Day (October-Adventure reminds us, when you’re a kid — and March); $6.40 All Dayhey, it’s true for grown-ups too — it’s okay to get (April-September). Parkingdirty, and it’s okay to get wet. n can be paid at any pay station throughout Washington Park. Trimet: Washington Park and its attractions are easy to access by light rail (MAX Red Line and MAX Blue Line) www.trimet.org. metro-parent.com | August 2014 31
[ Family Supper ] At Poa, Food As Good As The Playroom BY JULIA SILVERMAN with care. (The restaurant has attracted a few ornery Yelp complaints that the waits are too long, but in my book, good In the nearly six years since our twins were born, our family food is worth waiting for. Our wait was a totally doable has made the rounds of kid-friendly restaurants in this 15 minutes for kid food, five more for the adults, and the town. If there’s a play area, or just even a bucketful of toys restaurant offers complimentary bowls of organic popcorn somewhere stashed away, if there’s a kids’ menu, or crayons with sea salt and nutritional yeast to snack on while kids wait, and a coloring page available, if there’s a stack of high chairs which is a nice touch.) in the corner, we’ve probably been there, done that and made our apologies on the way out for the inevitable mess under the Also a plus: The kids’ menu goes beyond the hot dog- kids’ chairs. grilled cheese-chicken fingers trifecta, and offers some more unexpected choices — my daughter the vegetarian was pleased And so I’d like to think that I can speak with a certain with her bowl of black beans and brown rice, especially after amount of authority when I say that the kids’ play area at Poa we stirred in some of the avocado from my husband’s plate, Cafe, newly opened at the far end of a bustling stretch of North and my son put his head down and refused to share his whole- Williams Street is among the very most thoughtfully designed wheat pizza, though I snagged some bites of the generous bowl and well-appointed restaurant playspaces in town. of cut-up seasonal fresh fruit that came as a side to his meal. Kids can also choose to have a bowl of applesauce or Greek For starters, it’s huge, making it much less likely that your honey yogurt, for a total of $6.95 for a meal that includes all toddler will get trampled by some third-grade ringer. For three. You can also get solo servings of the kid-sized entrees, another, the owners clearly gave some thought to kids of all which also included a grilled cheese on whole grain bread different ages — for grade-schoolers and up, there’s a massive and steamed carrots with yakisoba noodles for just $3 apiece, chalkboard wall, a shelf of books and games, and even a row of without the sides. standalone keyboards on which to bang. (The restaurant’s blog says iPads are coming soon — a first for a PDX-area restaurant, Pro tip for the grownups: Try to go during happy hour (not as far as I know. I’ll be watching to see how that one turns out.) so much of a problem when your little Vikings start demanding their dinners at around 5 p.m.) when Poa’s long list of cocktails For the preschool set, there’s a play kitchen, a Duplo table, are all just $5, and a glass of red wine clocks in at $4. That deal and a handful of well-chosen, sturdy wooden toys that are big is from 3-6 p.m., seven days a week. A glass of the house wine, enough to share and share alike. paired with a large salad full of fresh greens, brussel sprouts, cucumbers and lemon tahini dressing, alongside a small plate For the littlest ones, the cafe is already playing host to a of sliced salami, cheese, bread and olives, made a perfect light roster of well-known Portland entertainers, including tunes summer supper. A grown-up version of the rice-and-bean bowl from the perennially popular Mr. Ben and an every-other- came with corn, tomatoes, fresh herbs and a garlicky sauce, week Spanish storytime with the Portland Early Learning plus a hunk of sweet cornbread, made in-house. Project. And everyone will like the sunny back patio garden, with enough open space for games of Simon Says and Red I’m already plotting a return for their breakfast menu, Light, Green Light while you wait for your food. which includes avocado baked eggs ($10.50) and a kid-sized serving of oatmeal with pure maple syrup. There’s also a long Okay, okay, but how is the food? Too often in Portland, list of tasty sounding smoothies available, some baked goods we’ve found that kid-friendly can mean mediocre, as if available at the counter and fresh fruit for sale, making Poa a restaurant owners know that you’re so grateful not to be good stop if you’ve forgotten to pack a snack. cooking dinner for once, and so relieved not to be being glared at by laptop toters or couples out for romantic evenings that All-in-all, I’m calling this one a keeper. The restaurant is you will settle for soggy fries and and a greasy burger. billing itself as an “oasis for the modern day family” — that sounds just about right. n So, I’m extra-pleased to report that I texted my healthiest- eating friend right after our meal at Poa to tell her that if she hadn’t already been there with her kids, they should check it out. The food there is simple, fresh and clearly prepared32 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE TAYLOR.
[ Recipe File ]PHOTO BY CHRISTINE TAYLOR. Our family’s go-to nutritional staple is a green Poa owner Janice Grube smoothie. The ingredients are colorful with and her son, Rocket.A Favorite different textures, so it keeps the kids interested. Smoothie Plus they taste yummy. My kids like when I use my A favorite: SuperGreen Smoothie different-sized glass mixing bowls (Duralex makes a set A little less than 1 cup of milk substitute, From of 10 for $40) so they can see all the colors and shapes in such as almond or coconut milk Poa’s front of them. 2 handfuls of soft kale, such as lacinato or Owner dinosaur varieties For the little ones, it’s like magic when they blend into 1 handful of frozen fruit (I love mango or peaches when BY JANICE GRUBE something they can suck through a straw. using greens so they won’t turn the drink brown) 1/2 ripe banana When we decided to open Poa Cafe, smoothies were 1 tablespoon chia seeds high on our menu list. Most everyone loves them. a tiny bit of sweetener such as agave/honey/stevia a scoop of almond butter or greek yogurt We like to blend together a bunch of kale or spinach, along with fruit, seeds or protein and a milk sub such as Blend on high (we have a Vitamix and it rocks) for almond or coconut milk. I let them pick the fruit, veggies 10-15 seconds, pour in a cup and enjoy. and anything else they might want to try in it, such as avocado. Herbs are great as well and a ripe banana for some sweetness. n34 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
DIAPER SERVICE and Natural Baby Boutique www.tideedidee.com Redeem this ad for 1 FREE WEEK DIAPER SERVICE with 4 prepaid weeks One per customer per calendar yearVancouver and Salem (800) 540-4547 Portland (503) 777-3856 metro-parent.com | August 2014 35
[ First Person: Daddy Issues ] The author’s 4-year-old daughter, Stella, in full-on superhero mode.Unhappy Meals BY RYAN WHITE “Is that Happy Meal for a PHOTOS BY RYAN WHITE. boy or a girl?”crackled the speaker. A perfectly rational I hate that question, and I’m not alone. In April, Slate ran response to a a piece by Antonia Ayres-Brown, who, in 2008, when she Spiderman compact. was 11, wrote a letter to McDonald’s CEO wondering if it would be legal for McDonald’s “to ask whether someone doesn’t make any sense. There’s no reason for it to exist in wanted a man’s job or a woman’s job.” She also hated that the Marvel (or any other) universe. question and decided to do something about the problem. At 11, she was better than me. She also had less to do. I was Spider-Woman wouldn’t need it. She’s a crime fighter, in a hurry, or I wouldn’t have been at McDonald’s. not a Kardashian. She’s far too busy saving sizable urban populations to worry about her bangs. I also realize the person asking that question is wearing a headset and is in the middle of a long day of dealing But let’s say she does hit the town with friends. She’s with people like me. That person doesn’t deserve, and isn’t going to assume her secret identity, and she’s definitely not paid nearly enough, to deal with Dad acting aggrieved on going to use branded product in public. That’s just asking behalf of a 4-year-old who doesn’t care. for someone to make the connection. I swallowed my guilt — which tastes better than the food; the resulting acid reflux tends to be roughly the same — and said, “a girl.” My 4-year-old daughter opened the box, delighted to find a purple and pink, Spider-Man-themed beauty compact. Its super power: a retractable comb. I hated it immediately. Not because of its colors. Not because a major movie studio and a nearly $30 billion company were engaged in team gender stereotyping. I hated it because it36 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
Makeup and accessories arenowhere to be found in theorigin story. “Excuse me, could I borrow your mirror for a … Oh my Right. Merchandise. It was, technically, a Spider-Man Still, Spider-Womangod, you’re Spider-Woman!” compact. Same logic applies. Bruce Wayne doesn’t keep his seems like a tough pants up with Batman’s utility belt, Aquaman doesn’t use character and I like Then the movie ends. No sequel. No reboot. And now the public pool, and Toby Maguire doesn’t pretty up with a tough characters.that I mention it, where is the Spider-Woman movie? compact. That’s what standing next to Leonardo DiCaprio I especially likeBecause there is indeed a Spider-Woman. I Googled her is for. tough charactersorigin story. That alter ego, Jessica Drew, grew up on a I can point myuranium farm, was inevitably poisoned, then saved by her (I know. Toby Maguire isn’t the new Spider-Man, but I daughter toward.mad-scientist father, who injected her with untested spi- have no idea who they’re using these days. I’ve made myder serum (must have seemed like a good idea?) and locked peace with the fact that Toby Maguire is probably the lasther in a genetic accelerator. What he missed in Father’s Spider-Man I’ll ever know. Unless they come around to Af-Day cards he made up for by being able to say, “I made fleck, because the world always comes around to Affleck.)Spider-Woman what she is today.” Which brings us back to McDonald’s. Or me to McDon- Spider-Woman’s corporate origin story is a little more ald’s because without a doubt you’re a better parent thandirect: Marvel wanted to nail down the copyright. me in this one regard. We can at least agree that a Happy Meal beats untested spider serum. Still, Spider-Woman seems like a tough character andI like tough characters. I especially like tough characters I The good news, of course, is, that like all cheap plasticcan point my daughter toward. She knows not of Spider- toys, this one was quickly forgotten. Or lost. Or hidden.Woman. She knows only Spider-Man, because you need And the next time we swung into the drive-thru (“at leastonly be alive in this country to know of Spider-Man. it’s not a genetic accelerator,” I told myself), we didn’t get the question. We got a Pokemon toy, which was easy. I Every six or eight months there’s a new Spider-Man knew what to do with Pokemon. I do it all the time.movie that isn’t substantially different from the lastSpider-Man movie, but for a slightly better waxed leading “What is it?” my daughter said.man. You know the drill: Peter Parker, radioactive spider,Uncle Ben nooooooooooo, a love interest, super villain, big “I don’t know.” nfight, good guys win, merchandise, fin. metro-parent.com | August 2014 37
[ Pay Attention ] i f you’re a parent, then you know the drill: you wake the stands, city council members in Eugene will have up to a feverish child on a work day and your first voted on a similar sick leave proposal. thought is what It’s a good start. But in our opinion, it’s not enough. you’ll do about America’s work-family policy needs a makeover. work that day Paid sick time is one step towards the kind of if you stay workplaces that today’s families need to combine work home, or how and family. It is a type of “workplace flexibility” thatPaid Sick Leave: miserable your makes it possible for parents to provide and care for child will be if The Time you send her to their families, without sacrificing one or the other. It school anyway (not to mention makes it possible for parents to care for a sick child the way they want to and should: at home, for as long as the child needs it. With paid sick time, pregnant women canIs Now that you’ll get to their prenatal appointments and take their young be spreading contagion at kids in for well child visits and vaccines. Without paid or protected sick time, missing work for these important your school services is out of reach for too many. or childcare Other policies that would help American families and breaking better meet the often competing demands of work and their 24-hour family include paid family and medical leave (currentlyBY LISA FRACK, exclusion rules). You can’t win! You’re forced to choose only some workers are eligible for unpaid family andFAMILY FORWARD between your job and your child (and it won’t be the lastOREGON time). medical leave), affordable child care (Oregon tops the charts for expensive care), and equal pay for equal work For parents who don’t have so mothers are better able to paid sick time where they work provide for their families (about — and that’s about 50% of us — A paid sick leave 2/3 of mothers today are either supporter, at a primary or co-breadwinners for missing work to care for a sick recent Eugene City their families.) Council meeting. child also means losing pay. And the lower your income, the less If you are committed to a likely you are to have sick time, more family forward Oregon, making it even more challenging we invite you to join us at www. for low-wage families. familyforwardoregon.org, where But things are changing. As we are working hard to make it of January 1, 2014, if you work possible for parents in Oregon to within the city of Portland, you raise families with enough time have a right to job-protected sick to care for them and enough time — and if your employer income to provide for them. And, has five or more employees, that we’re celebrating our 5th birthday time must be paid. Check the with a fun, free family party in City’s web site to learn how this COURTESY OF JUVENTUD FACETA. Portland’s Peninsula Park on new law applies to you: www. Saturday, August 16th. Think portlandoregon.gov/sicktime/. cake, ice-cream, music, and free Other Oregon cities are following massages for parents! See you suit: By the time this issue hits there, we hope. n38 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
metro-parent.com | August 2014 39
[ Angels Among Us ]Ladybug, ladybug,fly away home.ScFhoaorlymarsd How many times have you heard your child The high tunnel at say, “I don’t want to eat that,” when served a side Schoolyard Farms. of vegetables at dinner? And forget about getting produce to help fund the program. Since 2012, the farm has them to eat the vegetables served in the school produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce. cafeteria — usually pre-cooked and reheated, and The farm at Candy Lane not only serves as a source for fresh produce, but also as a classroom. Each week, Schoolyard therefore tasteless and uneaten. Kids have a hard Farms’ garden educators bring every student from Candy Lane out to the farm for a garden-based lesson. One weekBY COURTNEY LEEDS, COFOUNDER time eating vegetables. Schoolyard Farms is trying students will learn how to prep a bed and plant a seed, the AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to change all that. next week they will learn how nitrogen from the atmosphere can become fixed in the soil, and the third week they will The program’s one-acre pilot farm is tucked harvest the produce and learn how to prepare a healthy snack. away on the northeast corner of Candy Lane Elementary’s spacious schoolyard in Oregon City. Over the last few years, the once unused acre of the schoolyard has been transformed into a working farm, complete with 33 raised beds, a high tunnel (a round-topped structure with a plastic covering) and a greenhouse. This summer, Schoolyard Farms is adding an outdoor classroom/basic kitchen where students can prepare simple, healthy meals with the produce from the farm. Late-summer harvests include locally adapted tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash and greens, all packed for Community Supported Agriculture members (CSA), local restaurants and, most important, the school cafeteria. Schoolyard Farms sells the40 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
Cast Your Vote Today! Showing off Metro Parent’s Family the garden’s Favorites continue treasures. as we invite you to vote for your family’s PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCHOOLYARD FARMS. favorite education and birthday In the summer, the farm transforms into a summer camp where resources.first through sixth graders spend a week exploring the farm,harvesting the produce and preparing healthy snacks. Now through August 10th, visit us online to cast your vote in the following categories: When kids are involved in a school garden they are more likelyto think positively about fruits and vegetables. And when kids are EDUCATION BIRTHDAYinvolved in a school garden that circles its food back the cafeteria, RESOURCES RESOURCESthey are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables. Kids Cooking Amusement Parks/Bowling/ Schoolyard Farms’ vision is to see a school farm on every Language Education Swimming & Water Parksschoolyard. We imagine scaling up the traditional size of a school Arts & Crafts/Cookinggarden — around a dozen raised beds — to the size of a school farm, Performing Arts Dance/Gymnastics/at least one acre. By expanding, enough produce can be grown Preschools/Daycares Acrobatics/Martial artsto sell, generating revenue to support the program. Also, there is Entertainersenough space to host programs like summer camp and after-school Schools Indoor Playspacesclasses for the community. Science/Technology/Math Outdoor Venues Party Suppliers Instead of hearing, “I don’t want to eat that,” the question we Sports and Active Restaurant/Theateroften hear at the farm is, “Do we get to eat the vegetables?!” We’re Tutoring/Learning Assistance Science/Nature/Museums/so happy to tell them, “Yes!” Animals/Farms/ #MPFamFaves Horseback Riding You can support Schoolyard Farms by becoming a CSA member Sports and Activeor sending a child to summer camp next year. We are always inneed of volunteers on the farm and to help with our garden-basedclasses. Or simply making a donation goes a long way towardrealizing our vision of a farm on every schoolyard. You can learnmore at schoolyardfarms.org. n We’re hosting five separate voting periods this year, covering all your family’s favorite destinations, attractions, resources and more. Categories include educational attractions, visual and performing arts, outdoor and indoor attractions, sports and active fun, food and dining, day trips, parenting support, education, and more. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●● pdxkidscalendar.com/mpfamfaves-vote metro-parent.com | August 2014 41
[ Time Out ]COURTESY OF THE DANCERS OF OREGON BALLET THEATRE AND COURTESY OF M REALTY En Plein Air: Pack your smocks, and perhaps aDance, Dance Revolution: beret for this oh-so-French event on the Portland Park Blocks,Pack up your toe shoes, leotard and aspiring right in front of the Portland Art Museum. The museum is hostingballerina or ballerino, and head to Pioneer a giant outdoors art party, with nature-inspired art projects forCourthouse Square in downtown PDX, when the littles, an outdoor exhibition of the park-inspired paintings madethe venerable Oregon Ballet Theater by local “plein air” artists, and free admission to this summer’s moves their dance studio to the open blockbuster museum show, “The Art of the Louvre’s Tuileries air. Kids and their grownups can Gardens.” The fun starts at noon and goes until 5 p.m.; big kids canGo. Play. watch the dancers rehearse stay out later for the free screeningExplore. for this fall’s untitled-as- of romantic comedy Gigi in the of-press-time premiere museum’s courtyard at 8 p.m. ballet by choreographer Sunday, August 10. FREE. Nicolo Fonte, and even take a class with OBT’s PHOTO: COURTESY OF NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON, D.C., AILSA MELLON BRUCE COLLECTION.August | 2014 faculty members and its guest artists. It’s all FREE. COURTESY HIGH MUSEUM OF ART. Monday, August 25-Thursday, August 28. Check www.obt.org/ outreach_events_exposed.htmlfor performance times.42 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF PORTLAND.Night Owls:Go meet your neighbors,plus local emergencyresponders, at parks andschools all over the metroarea. It’s National NightOut, when kids and theirgrown-ups make likeMr. Rogers and minglewith the people in their neighborhood, be it the family next door, the localpolice officer or the fire chief. SE Portland’s Piccolo Park does this one in style,with the members of the Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood associationscooping up free ice cream, plus a bubble machine, chalk for kids to draw totheir heart’s content and police motorcycles to clamber on (stationary ones, ofcourse). Or head to Beaverton City Park Fountain, where you can watch thepolice K-9s in action. Check your local police department web page forNNO events in your backyard. Tuesday, August 5. FREE. metro-parent.com | August 2014 43
[ Time Out ]Training Wheels: No cars + lots of bikes = a really good summer Sunday. Picture break, on top of the Fremont Bridge.Rainy weather will be back soon COURTESY OF THE PORTLAND BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATIONenough, so get out for a family bike Ready to put the pedal to the metal. COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE BRIDGEPEDAL.ride this month while the getting isgood. Balance bikes, tricycles, training COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE BRIDGEPEDAL.wheels, cargo bikes, unicycles, trailerbikes, ride-along bikes and tandembicycles — all are welcome at theSunday Parkways in SE Portland.Seven miles of road are closed tocars, so kids can bike as fast (or, morelikely) as slow as they want. Alongthe way, neighborhood residentsset up lemonade stands and snow-cone machines — be neighborly,and partake. Better yet, there areconvenient pit stops every couple ofmiles, at parks along the route, wherekiddo entertainers have set up shop.Our pick is Laurelhurst Park, wherethe Joy Now project, a motley crew ofcircus arts performers usually campsout, giving free juggling lessons andhula hoop demonstrations. There’sfood for sale too, from Portland’strusty army of mobile food trucks.Sunday, August 24, 11 a.m-4 p.m.FREE.Meanwhile, the ProvidenceBridgePedal attract hordes of seriouscyclists to downtown Portland tocoast over the bridges that spanthe Willamette, mostly all closedto cars for this once-a-year event.It can be overwhelming for theyoungest pedalers, which is whythe BridgePedal folks came up withKidsPedal, a shorter, three-mile routethat only crosses the Hawthorne andSteel Bridges. Adults can ride thisroute only if they are “chaperoned”by a kid 8-years-old or younger.There’s no charge to ride, but there’sonly room for 1,000 participants —and every one of them needs to bewearing a bike helmet, organizerssay. The KidsPedal starts at a family-friendly 10 a.m. at SW Morrison andNaito Parkway. FREE.44 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
Flying High at the state fair.COURTESY OF OREGON STATE FAIR.Rides-O-Rama:Oregon State Fair: This is the big one. The Oregon State Fair might not have deep-fried butter statues — this isn’t Iowa, people — but there’s plenty to keep a familybusy, from all the farm animals that have ever showed up in a Sandra Boyntonboard book to 20 different kiddie carnival rides. If you’d rather hit a concert, letyour littles rock out to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on August 30, at 4 p.m. Thefair lasts from August 22 to September 1, but one great day for families to go isSaturday, August 23. That’s Les Schwab Kids Day, with free kids admission ticketsavailable at Les Schwab stores around the metro area. Oregon State Fairgrounds,Salem. Monday to Thursday 10a.m.-10 p.m. Friday to Sunday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.Adults $8, kids 6 to 11, $6. metro-parent.com | August 2014 45
[ Time Out ]COURTESY OF SEAN MINOGUE. COURTESY OF METRO Rox Out Under the Stars Books, music, sunshine — what’s not to love? All three should be Sleep with the lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Pitch your tent and snuggle out in full-force at Rox in Sox, a jumbo celebration of kids’ music into your sleeping bag on the big lawn for Camperoo at the Zoo. But before and books in Lake O. The grown-ups say you should bring chairs you nod off, you’ll get guided tours to see what the animals are up to when and blankets. But who will have time to sit down? Kids will be those picture-taking humans go home. Get a peek behind the scenes and too busy jamming out to the sounds of Recess Monkey, Mesta learn about some of the Zoo’s newest residents. The fun starts at 4 p.m. on Cookie Jar, The Not Its and Red Yarn. Some really cool authors August 2 and lasts until 9:30 a.m. the next morning. Camperoo costs $54 per will be there to read and show you how they create their books. person for ages 12 and up and $40 for ages 3-11. Kids 0-2 are FREE. It sounds As if that’s not enough, you can play games, make crafts and pricey, but you get dinner, snacks, a campfire with s’mores and continental much more. Rox rocks from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sat. Aug. 2. It’s FREE breakfast. Zoo members get a discount. Registration is required. Ewe otter with a donation of new shoes, socks or books. Head over to The have more fun than a barrel of, well, you know. West End Building, 4101 Kruse Way in Lake Oswego. For the more rugged campers, Oxbow State Park near Troutdale accepts reservations for tent sites, and has great Sandy River access for tubing and splashing. The park gets crowded during the day, but things quiet down after dark, and there are family-friendly singalongs, stargazing parties and naturalist presentations on weekends all summer long. We like the sound of “Bear Stories” on August 9, with tracker Linda Jo Hunter promising to tell some tall tales and teach you some bear body language to boot. Head to www.oregonmetro.gov/oxbow to reserve your site. COURTESY OF PORTLAND FESTIVAL SYMPHONY Music Al Fresco: In our minds, nothing says summer more than a concert in the park. Think a picnic dinner, maybe a bottle of wine and plenty of room for the kids to roam. There are outdoor concerts almost every day of the week in the Portland area this month, but one of our longtime favorites is the Portland Festival Symphony’s weekend shows. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to live, classical music, but the best part is the very end, when kids are given their own plastic recorders and invited to tootle along with courtly conductor Lajos Balogh and the rest of the musicians during the “Toy Symphony” number. Just one warning: Those recorders are yours to keep. We recommend putting them on a high shelf, unless you like being awakened by your mini-bugler at 5 a.m. Saturday, August 2, Laurelhurst Park, Sunday, August 3, Peninsula Park, Saturday August 9, Grant Park and Sunday, August 10, Washington Park. All shows start at 6 p.m. FREE.46 August 2014 | metro-parent.com
PARTIESCOURTESY OF RASMUSSEN FARMS, PHOTOS BY PATRICK MILLINGFruit Loops:If a trip to the Hood River Valley’s Fruit Loop is not already on your familybucket list, it should be. Head out there August 16-17 for the annual SummerFruit Celebration, when heirloom Gravenstein apples (the baker’s choice for piesand applesauce) are just coming into season, late-blooming cherries are ripe forpicking and peaches are at their peak. Fruit stands all along the Fruit Loop areopen, but a few have family-friendly events planned, including pie walks, a cornmaze and treasure hunts at Rasmussen Farms, and visiting the alpaca babies atFoothills Yarn&Fiber. More info is at www.hoodriverfruitloop.com. FREE, but besure to weigh your kids before they start picking.Advertiser Index German American School..........................15 Northwest Children’s Theater................19 Portland Montessori Collaborative.29 AUGUST COUPONS & DISCOUNTSAcademy Theater.............................................39 Gifted Journeys..................................................39 Northwest Chinese Academy............. 20 Portland Symphonic Girlchoir............... 28 Gresham Pediatric Dentistry..................35 Oaks Park Association..................................47 Portland Waldorf School............................ 28 Academy Theater..................................17AHSC Yu Miao Chinese Harmony Road Music, Odyssey School.................................................. 28 Portland Youth Ballet.................................... 29 Little Engineers........................................14Immersion Preschool..................................... 29 Westside Music School..................................21 OHSU Doernbecher Providence Health & Services.................11 North Clackamas Heartwood Preschool....................................27 Children’s Safety Center.............................35 Rasmussen Farms........................................... 45 Aquatic Park............................................. 33Bada’s Place...............................................................21 Help Eliminate Oregon Association Resurrection Catholic Preschool....... 20 Tidee Didee.............................................. 35 Learning Problems Inc................................. 29 of Talented & Gifted....................................... 26 Saturday Academy......................................... 26Beanstalk Children’s Resale................... 26 Hollywood Children’s Dentistry...............9 Oregon Children’s Theatre Co..............25 Scuola Italiana..........................................................21 Hopworks Urban Brewery.........................35 Oregon Coast Aquarium........................... 45 Shining Star School........................................ 28Bella Organic...........................................................43 Joy Central (Childcare)....................................15 Oregon Coast Scenic Railway..............43 Small Friends Inc. Preschool....................19 Kumon North America, Inc....................... 26 Oregon Episcopal School..........................27 Storybook School, The...................................17Bodhi Tree Language Center.............. 26 Legacy Health..........................................................4 Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival....... 45 Sunshine Montessori Preschool..........17 Little Engineers......................................................17 Oregon Home Education Swallowtail School............................................ 28Bridges Middle School....................................17 Living Wisdom School.................................. 28 Network (OHEN)......................................................17 Sweet Peas Kidzone..................................... 29 Metropolitan Pediatric Clinic...................27 Oregon Rail Heritage Tidee Didee..............................................................35Cedarwood School............................................19 Micha-el School................................................... 20 Foundation...............................................................47 Tillamook Forest Center..............................43 Mobile Minds Tutoring....................................17 Pediatric Associates of the NW.............2 Trinity Lutheran School............................... 20Child Care Resource & Referral.............21 Montessori School of Beaverton...... 20 PELP - Adventures in Spanish.............19 Vermont Hills Family Life Center..........21 Mt Hood Ski Bowl.............................................. 29 Penny’s Puppet Productions.................47 Village Home.......................................................... 20Chinese American Multisensory Learning Academy..... 26 Pizazz Sweets..........................................................9 Westside Dance & Gymnastics.......... 28International School..........................................17 Music Together....................................................39 The Playschool at Mountain Park... 29 Whole Foods Market......................................48 North Clackamas Aquatic Park............. 31 Portland Christian Schools...................... 28 World of Smiles.................................................... 26CLASS Academy....................................................7 North Portland Orthodontics.................. 31 Portland Metro Arts.........................................27Clogs-N-More Kids.............................................35Columbia SloughWatershed Council...........................................43Creative Children’s Center......................... 31Dentistry for Kids...................................................3Doula Love...................................................................9Dove Christian School.................................. 29Franciscan MontessoriEarth School..............................................................21French AmericanInternational School....................................... 28 metro-parent.com | August 2014 47
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1 - 48
Pages:
