2015 After School Guide

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September 1, 2015

The school bell rings and students are quick to park in front of their TV, iPad or video game, but not if we can help it! Toledo Area Parent is giving you ideas to keep their minds and bodies moving, growing and learning.

Hunter’s Run

9241 Secor Rd., Temperance, MI
734-856-2404
huntersrunmhja.com

Horse lovers will delight in the options available at Hunter’s Run- 61 acres to master equestrian skills under the guidance of expert trainers. It’s a safe and fun athletic activity, with the security of knowing parents and their children are in good hands at the family-owned business with more than 25 years of experience. Lessons are available for all ages, with three outdoor rings, an open field and trails for your young rider’s enjoyment!

Mini Motions

2249 Tremainsville Rd.
419-473-0999
minimotionsdance.com

They are celebrating 25 years teaching dance for ages two and up! Combination classes are their specialty. They offer tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, modern and tumbling classes. Affordable prices, family discounts, and fundraisers to pay for costumes are available. Learning is fun and fun is learning! That is what you will experience at Mini Motions Dance Center. Classes start September 8 and the last registration is Wednesday, August 26, from 6-7pm. From the classroom to stage, “Where the student becomes the performer!”

St. Ursula Academy

4025 Indian Rd, Ottawa Hills
419-531-1693
toledosua.org

The school bell might ring at 3pm, but the day is just starting for most St. Ursula Academy students. With 15 varsity sports, over 30 clubs, a yearly musical, Labre, and many other volunteer opportunities, students in grades 6-12 work hard not only in the classroom but, on the field, on the stage, and in the community.

Children’s Theatre Workshop

2417 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo
419-244-5061
childrenstheaterworkshop.org

Children’s Theatre Workshop offers a number of special programs in acting classes and live theatrical experiences for youth ages 5 to 18. With theatre games, improvisation exercises, characterization techniques and public speaking lessons, CTW promotes self-expression, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. If students are looking for live theatre experience, then look no further than CTW to explore the enchanting world of theatre arts.

SuperSchade’s Foundation

419-392-8727
superschades.org

This non-profit organization provides unique activities for the special needs community. Their interactive after-school activities are free of charge throughout the year. A sensory friendly movie night is held four times a year at the Maumee Indoor Theater on Conant Street, where participants enjoy a movie, popcorn and pop. The Family Bowling Day allows individuals and their families to enjoy three games of bowling, along with pizza and pop. Also, their Family Dance Day at a local dance studio gets kids moving with the help instructors and healthy snacks.

Toledo Ballet

5327 Monroe Street, Monroe Street Market Square Shopping
419-471-0049
toledoballet.net

Their name might say “ballet,” but that is just the beginning! Toledo Ballet offers dozens of different kinds of dance, conditioning, and theater classes for all ages from 3 to 83. And if you have an aspiring ballerina or dance show contestant, let them organize their most perfect dance themed birthday party ever! Toledo Ballet offers the ABT® curriculum, an 8 level ballet program that combines the highest quality training with the basics of dancer health and child development.

Toledo Zoo

2 Hippo Way
419-385-4040
toledozoo.org

The Toledo Zoo is full of fun for families! This month, the Backyard Buddies program allows kids to discover wonders in their own backyard. In October, the Animal Disguises program will show kids how animals are great at looking like another animal or blending into a tree. Also, check out the Behind-the-Scenes Tours to get up close to some of your favorite animals, meet their keepers and see the Zoo from an insider’s perspective. Parents and kids can both look forward to Winter Safari camp during holiday break from school!

Valentine Theatre

410 Adams St.
419-242-2787
valentinetheatre.com
Contact Kate Rardin to order tickets at 419-242-3491 ext 20.

School Days, educational outreach theatre productions for students and homeschool groups, are live at The Valentine! They are pleased to announce their third season School Days and will continue the rich tradition of presenting professional touring companies in educational theatre productions geared to schoolchildren for field trips during the school week.

Six presentations are scheduled for 2015/16, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow- Friday, November 6, 2015, Goodnight Moon & Runaway Bunny- Friday, January 22, 2016, Skippyjon Jone’s Snow What- Friday, February 19, 2016, Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream- Monday, February 29, 2016, Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School- Friday, March 11, 2016 and Charlotte’s Web- Monday, April 18, 2016.

All performances, with the exception of Midsummer Nights Dream, are at 10am and 12:15pm and appeal to grades Pre K through 12. Tickets are $8 for groups of 16 and higher, $9 for 15 or less. All performances are approximately one hour in length.

YMCA of Greater Toledo

1500 N. Superior St., 2nd floor
419-729-8135
ymcatoledo.org

The YMCA gives children opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, their programs nurture the potential of every youth and teen and improve the nation’s health and well-being. There is no shortage of after school programs to choose from, and endless chances for kids to make new friends and stay socially and physically active.

Sauder Village

22611 Ohio 2, Archbold
419-446-2541
saudervillage.com

Sauder Village, in Archbold, Ohio, is ready to help make your afterschool programming come to life! With many traveling programs they offer standards based, multi curricular experiences that are engaging and fun for students. Your students can explore Native American life while sitting in a real wigwam or learn the science behind butter making while making their own tasty treat.

Young Voices of Greater Toledo

3613 Monroe St.
419-473-1167, ext. 230
yvgt.org

Young Voices of Greater Toledo is a community children’s chorus that offers quality music education in a caring environment. Children ages 8-8th grade are invited to “Come Sing With Us!” Christmas and Spring Concerts are planned, including a performance with the Perrysburg Symphony Chorale. Registration is September 8, 6pm or September 12, 11am at Monroe St. United Methodist Church. Tuition is low and generous scholarships are available.

Stonehaven Farms

351 Samaria Rd., Temperance, MI
734-854-5825
stonehavenfarms.net

Stonehaven Farms, home of the interscholastic equestrian team, specializes in English hunter/jumper style riding with a mission to develop knowledgeable, safety-conscious, correctly-trained riders and give them the tools they need to pursue their individual riding goals. With group, home school programs, and available Girl Scout outings available for ages five and up, it’s the perfect place for learning more about horses. There is weekly lesson programming offered and year round riding participation. Ask about “Ladies Lessons” and “Mom Outings.”

Chris Eischen is Helping Parents Up Their Game

By

Laura Blair

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September 1, 2015

Chris Eischen is reaching out to parents, especially dads, through several different online and in person projects that seek to empower parents to become role models, living their best lives for their children and for themselves.

Modern Dad Council, a YouTube channel, offers dads a variety of resources on parenting while Kick Ass Dad podcast’s primary focus is elevating parents’ roles in their children’s lives. Chris, a Lambertville native, is also a life coach and hosts workshops to teach people to discover who they are and what makes them happy.

When he’s not focusing on his role as a mentor, he works as the director of social media marketing for thingCHARGER, and he’s soon starting a marketing company called Cultivated Marketing and Consulting.

Impetus to help

The Bedford High School graduate has two children and also raised two of his spouse’s children as part of a blended family. The desire to help other parents stemmed from Chris’s own experience with divorce two years ago. At the time, he was working long hours to support his family. He thought it was the best thing he could do for them. However, after the divorce, he started thinking about the life he was living and how it was different from the life that he wanted to live. He went online to find something uplifting, and he found Kick Ass Dad. From there, he met other dad enthusiasts and with them, created Modern Dad Council.

Chris’s podcasts and workshops help parents create stronger personal relationships with their children through effective communication. Men are generally taught to push emotion away and not talk about it, so dads, generally, aren’t as well equipped as moms to handle emotions. The workshops teach dads the essential tools of good communication so they can hear what their kids are saying, observe what’s happening around them and make better choices to guide their children through life.

Communication is the key

Of course, better communication at home leads to better communication at work, at school and in the neighborhood. As parents build personal relationships with other adults in their children’s lives – principals, teachers, neighbors and the parents of their friends – they build a village where their children can grow and flourish in a safe environment. As the community comes together, they start to work together and celebrate each other. By seeking better relationships with their kids, engaged parents foster engaged communities.

Chris’s dedication to community engagement starts at home. He started a community garden in his neighborhood, where he grew up. He also plans to revive holiday traditions, such as the Fourth of July parade, and local events that were held when he was growing up.

“I want to elevate one family at a time, to elevate one neighborhood at a time, to elevate one city at a time to elevate the world.”

Chris Eischen is hosting Super Dad, a weekend retreat for dads of all ages in October.
For more information on this or other workshops, visit chriseischen.com.

CheerWorks Sparks: Cheers for Kids with Special Needs

By

Christine A. Holliday

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September 1, 2015

There is plenty for special needs children to cheer about at CheerWorks Sparks in Monroe, MI. Owner Brittany Gessner is proud that her team is the only one of its kind in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, and notes that her force team of special needs kids “brings a spirit to our program that humbles our athletes and unifies our teams together as one.”

Gessner was judging a national Cheer and Dance competition when she saw two special needs teams competing. She vowed to have a team like that at her gym, and she worked for a year doing the research, advertising and staff development necessary to make that happen.

The result of her work: certified coaches who work with any and all children who are “special in any way.” The team members practice on Tuesdays from 6-7:30pm, learning to do two and a half minute routines, working on gross motor skills, self-esteem, team interactions and language skills. Gessner notes that the team’s routines are identical to those performed by the competitive cheer teams, with jumps, motions, dance, and tumbling, but tailored to the group so each athlete can participate to the best of his or her ability. (Yes, there are boy team members!)

Megan Vandyke’s two daughters, both with Asperberger’s, have blossomed in the program.

“Brittany works hard to make this opportunity a life-changing one for children like my daughters. I was worried at first that they wouldn’t succeed, but Brittany encouraged both of them to participate and they love it. Nothing really interested my younger daughter Isabelle, 11, until she gave the cheering a try, and she went from being non-verbal to enjoying being at the top of the pyramid. Her sister Madeline, 13, has taken this opportunity and run with it. She works as a helper now and has graduated up to the next team.

I encourage parents of special-needs children to put aside their worries about their kids being hurt and give this a try. The kids find they can do something fun, and they bond with each other and with their coaches!”

Practices start at CheerWorks Sparks, 14750 LaPlaisance Road in Monroe, MI on September 1.
Participants pay $40/month, with competition fees from $5-20.
419 476-6764, www.sparksignite.com, [email protected].
www.facebook.com/CheerWorksSparks/info.

Style 5:16

By

TiAnna Anderson

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September 1, 2015

As of this June, Style 5:16 is one of Toledo’s designer consignment boutiques for women and children. The owner, Jonelle Massey, moved to Toledo from western New York and was eager to bring her sense of style and business acumen to the area when she relocated. The tagline for Style 5:16: shop, consign, party, design, says it all. If you have clothes to sell, or an outfit to buy, or you want to paint with girlfriends, or make your own jewelry, Style 5:16 is a space that can accommodate it all. Located in the Cricket West shopping strip in the Westgate area, this newly opened business has an upstairs loft for private parties and classes in addition to the retail business. Jonelle plans to offer mother daughter tea parties, jewelry design, fairy garden design, painting and much more. Style 5:16 is not only a fashion statement, but also a lifestyle statement. The name and principles for this new boutique were drawn from the fifth chapter and sixteenth verse of various books of The Bible. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men.” James 5:16 says, “Pray for others.” Galatians 5:16 says, “Walking in the Spirit.” These are the principles that Jonelle wants women to clothe themselves in every day.

For a class schedule and more information about the consignment process, contact Jonelle.
3142 Markway. www.facebook.com/style516,
www.style516.com, 419-214-0029.

Good Grief helps children through the loss of loved ones

By

TiAnna Anderson

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September 1, 2015

Imagine having to support a child through the loss of a parent, sibling, or other loved one on your own with no professional experience. Good Grief estimates that there are 15,000 children in Northwest Ohio (NWO) experiencing the void of loss with little to no help on coping with these tragic situations. Medical insurance companies often do not cover such services, so families are left to pick up the pieces on their own; that is where Good Grief comes in.

Good Grief is a free group support service for children and their families in NWO. They offer age appropriate group therapy sessions where children and teens are encouraged to express their feelings by using art, journaling, sand trays, puppetry, music, and free play. Participants also learn coping techniques, such as using worry stones when they feel sad, to help them deal with the difficulty of losing a loved one. Caregivers and parents also learn how to help their children deal with tragedy, and help them through the grief process.

Volunteers, grants, and private donations are the main pillars that make Good Grief possible, and it is the only free children’s group support service in NWO. Their largest fundraiser is a Community Breakfast, which will be held on December 1.

If you would like to donate, volunteer, or get more information on services from Good Grief, please visit www.goodgriefnwo.org or call 419-360-4939.

Eberly Center at UT Encourages Women

By

Christine A. Holliday

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September 1, 2015

Women working on their personal and professional development will find lots of help and many new friends at the Catherine S. Eberly Center at the University of Toledo. Beginning September 21, the center will offer a series of 10 classes in their Women Success Stories program. The target audience are women facing life changes, such as empty nests, returns to the workforce, or divorce, who want to feel empowered about their lives. Jackie Eisel, the center’s records management officer, explains that “volunteers with expertise” in areas from finance to stress management to the use of social media, will teach the classes with the goal of educating, empowering, and engaging women. The classes include topics like time management, conflict resolution, public speaking and job search. There is no charge for any of the classes, and interested women, whether UT faculty, staff, students, or members of the general public, are invited to attend as many of the classes as they find interesting or helpful. “We start slow,” Eisel notes, “so nobody has to be nervous, and there is no commitment to keep coming back. We mark the end of the classes with a dinner party, when we celebrate each other’s success stories.”

The classes are offered two times each Monday, 9-11am and 5:30-7:30pm, in Tucker Hall near the northwest corner of the UT campus.
For more information, call 419 530-8570.