Different Ways to Celebrate

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June 14, 2013

This time of year is special for cultures and religions all over the world. Toledo is no exception, with a number of cultures that celebrate with different traditions in and around December, bringing together tolerance and understanding at a time of year when universal peace and love can be shared by one and all.

The Rosen family
Barry and Lisa Rosen
TOLEDO

For the family of Barry and Lisa Rosen of Toledo, Hanukkah, the Jewish eight-day celebration of light, is spent focused on family. “Hanukkah is a very peaceful, quiet time for our family; there’s no hype and big explosion, because it really isn’t one of the major Jewish holidays,” Lisa said. “We give gifts to the kids and light the Menorah for eight nights.” Making potato latkes, putting out decorations and adding to their collection of dreidels are also in keeping with the traditions celebrated by their family. The Rosen family honors the traditions of family during Hanukkah. The Shamash is the candle that stands at the highest point in the menorah. “It is really beautiful,” said Lisa. “It continues to build each night, so it just gets brighter and brighter.” For the Rosen family, the peaceful time of Hanukkah is looked forward to for the special memories and time spent with their family.

The Sherman family
Meredith and Ryan Sherman
PERRYSBURG

The Sherman family in Perrysburg gets ready for the holidays with an Advent calendar, counting down the days until Christmas on December 25. A past tradition was to gather at their great grandmother’s home to bake Christmas cookies, until splitting up to go to various church services on Christmas Eve, a tradition still observed by the Shermans. With a Christmas tree and hanging stockings, the Sherman family opens all their gifts and stockings from Santa and family on Christmas morning. “We have the kids sit at the top of the stairs for a photo each Christmas morning; we’ve been doing that since they were small,” said Meredith. Sharing time with family and friends makes the holiday season for the Shermans extra special.

The Mohamed/Nazzal family
Iman Mohamed and Dr. Munier Nazzal
TOLEDO

The family of Iman Mohamed and Dr. Munier Nazzal of Toledo have just enjoyed celebrating the season of the Hajj. The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and is a pilgrimage to Mecca. The holiday, Eid al-Adha, celebrates the story of Abraham. This year, the holiday was celebrated in mid-November; however, in years past, it has fallen during December because Islam follows a lunar calendar. “We eat lamb, invite friends and family, donate money to the poor and wear something new,” said Iman. The pilgrimage to Mecca is a strenuous journey, so the participants are not to fast for health reasons; however, those who do not take the pilgrimage do fast from sunrise to sunset in celebration. The Hajj is taken once in a lifetime, and all Muslims stand on Arafat Mountain in Saudi Arabia to worship. The family of Iman Mohamed and Dr. Nazzal made the pilgrimage to Mecca in 2006, but enjoy the celebration with family and friends during this special time of year.

The Ward family
PERRYSBURG

The Ward family of Perrysburg celebrates the Christian holiday of Christmas, and as Mormons, observe the holiday with special family traditions. After Thanksgiving, Leah Ward wraps a collection of Christmas stories, and the family opens one or two per night during the month of December. Coming together to celebrate the holiday season with caroling, fruit basket delivery, and even a live performance of the Christmas nativity, the Wards share some special traditions in their family. Opening gifts on Christmas Eve, reading from Luke Chapter Two from The Bible and awakening to a Christmas breakfast and stockings are loved by all members of the family. “We try to make it fun for the kids, while keeping the religious meaning,” said Steve. The Ward family also uses a scrapbook with passages of scriptures as well as their children’s drawings and other pictures to teach and relate the special meaning Christmas holds to their family.

A doctor with a vision

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Toledo Parent Staff

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June 14, 2013

Mental deficiencies, ADD, and bullying aren’t the only things that can cause kids to struggle for good grades and comprehension in schools. Learning related vision problems are often overlooked as reasons behind educational difficulties in children, but they’re often at the heart of the problem. Schmakel Eye Care offers special vision therapy for children (and adults) of all ages to help treat nearsighted disorders like convergence insufficiency, tracking problems, eye turns, focusing issues, and other visual problems and conditions that greatly affect school performance. “Some visual conditions cannot be treated adequately just with glasses, contact lenses and/or patching,” says owner and optometrist Dr. Jeffrey G. Schmakel. “And are best resolved through a program of vision therapy.”

With vision therapy, children are given highly individual and supervised methods and coaching on exercises to improve their visual-motor connections between the brain and the eye. Depending on their individual needs, children working with Dr. Schmakel are taught to take control of their eye alignment, tracking and teaming, focusing abilities, and visual processing.

“Vision therapy can help those individuals who lack the necessary visual skills for effective reading, writing, and learning,” says Dr. Schmakel, who, with the help of his staff, has developed an effective intensive, manageable 12-week program that allows each child to achieve maximum results and improve how they process information.
In addition to comprehensive vision therapy programs and advanced Optometry services, Dr. Schmakel brought the Sensory Learning Program to Toledo. This program helps patients with special needs — developmental delays, PDD, ADD/ADHD, autism disorder, birth traumas, brain injuries, strokes, and other complicated conditions.

Schmakel Eye Care is located on 3454 Oak Alley CT in #200. For details about vision therapy, sensory integration therapy, upcoming informational workshops, and general optometry services, please call
419-578-0057 or visit https://www.toledoeyecare.com.

Bringing focus for all kids

By

Toledo Parent Staff

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June 14, 2013

Akram Geelani, director of Northwest Ohio Japan Karate Academy, knows that when he teaches children martial arts, they learn more than just physical movement and routines. One of the only martial arts instructors from this area certified to teach children diagnosed with conditions of Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Asperger’s syndrome, Geelani trains these special students to focus, center themselves, breath, concentrate on conquering mental and physical road blocks, by setting and acheiving attainable goals.

“Every child is different,” Geelani says, “but I believe in being strict, firm, and fair to everyone…to help build the kids, to (help them) focus and be successful in their lives (to avoid) becoming a statistic.” Children with special needs of Summit Academy School are taught by Geelani, who continues to attend seminars, programs and certification classes, always striving to become the best teacher that he can be for all of his students. “It is hard to keep the interest of these children and to keep them motivated,” he says. But by staying positive, and developing trusting relationships with each of his students, Geelani says, “it is unbelievable the change that you can see in these children.”

Geelani has been teaching Shotokan Karate, one of the four traditional karate styles which includes basic movements, pattern work and sparring. In addition to Shotokan, Geelani also offers instruction in mixed martial arts, the ancient art of Iaido (a Japanese discipline of swordsmanship that encourages spiritual development as well as combat effectiveness), and other disciplines.

Japan Karate has locations on Laskey Road, on International Dr. in Holland, at the Tiffan Mall, and in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Visit www.japankarateacademy.com for more information.

Bowl invitation

By

Toledo Parent Staff

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June 14, 2013

In celebration of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, the Friendship Circle of Toledo hosts a Chanukah Bowl party for children with special needs, their families and teenage volunteers. Join the fun on Sunday, December 6 at Bowler Lanes (4398 Monroe St.) from 3 – 5 p.m. Children will also play dreidel, create Chanukah crafts, watch an interactive presentation of how olive oil is made and enjoy refreshments.

For more information, contact Mushka Shemtov at 419-509-0105, [email protected].

Meet Up Moms

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Toledo Parent Staff

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June 14, 2013

Toledo Signing With Baby
https://babysigning.meetup.com/115/
Location: Toledo
Members: 66
Founded: January 14, 2007
Signing with Baby is a group that meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at various locations around the Toledo area. Parents learn new signs, practice signing, see how other babies sign, and share strategies, tips and the benefits of signing. It is a great way for parents and children to make friendships and to practice signing with others. For hearing children and those with special needs.

Playgroup in Toledo
www.meetup.com/playgroup-in-Toledo
Location: Toledo
Members: 34
Founded: June 4, 2009
Share milestones and embrace differences with this group for children ages 18 months – 5 years old. This group meets 5-8 times a month at various places such as the Toledo Zoo, Imagination Station, Paint Your Masterpiece, story time at Barnes & Noble in Fallen Timbers, and many more. There is no fee or attendance policy so feel free to show up to as many or few of the meetings as you would like.

Mother’s Center of Greater Toledo
www.meetup.com/Mothers-Center-of-Greater-Toledo/
Location: Sylvania
Members: 27
Founded: August 5, 2008
This group is unique in the fact that it provides childcare for children while mothers take part in activities geared towards mothering and parenthood, such as guest speakers on topics like immunizations and staying fit with yoga. The group also has social activities like book clubs, mom’s night out, and children’s social events. ($45/11 weeks)

For more information about the next meet-up, contact each group's organizer. To find more groups visit www.meetup.com and search by zipcode.

The secrets of success

By

Toledo Parent Staff

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June 14, 2013

Toledo Public Schools has partnered up with the Women’s Initiative of United Way and the Toledo Federation of Teachers to create a program at two local schools to boost academic achievement, remove barriers to learning and increase recruitment and retention. East Side Central Elementary has piloted the Successful Children, Successful Schools process for three years; Sherman Elementary has piloted it for two years.

With the help of an expert consultant in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and a Family Support Coordinator, the schools have received intensive professional development, coaching and consultation to create caring learning connections between students, teachers, parents and the school community. A leadership team has also been developed at each school to develop school-wide practices to promote community and further professional development for teachers.

At East Side Central Elementary, the benefits are already apparent. Discipline referrals have declined by 4.75% from years 1 to 2 of SEL implementation. Suspensions have declined by 7.75% in the same period. Math and reading scores increased and the average rate of attendance has also increased steadily.

To learn more about the United Way’s Women’s Initiative and their promotion of Social Emotional Learning, visit www.unitedwaytoledo.org or call Lisa Fink at 419-254-4681.