Deciphering Individual Education Plans

Transcription

[ FREE ]
Afterschool Adventures | Eat, Play, POA | Outside at PCM
AUGUST 2014
Back to
School
(Yes, already...)
But th
ere’s
still tim
late su e! Our
PDX p mmer
ic
on pgks start
. 42.
metro-parent.com | August 2014 3
[ Contents ]
FEATURES
Adventures in Afterschooling...............................................................................14
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.
14
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
30
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.
34
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........................................................................................................................................47
On Our Cover: Back-toschool glee captured by local
photographer Rachael May.
See more of her work at
rachaelmayphotography.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’s
been 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 to
yourself, “what have I gotten us all into?” If you’re like me, you’re unsure whether the nurses ever should
have 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 sure
of what I’m doing, but hopeful that alongside my tribe, I’ll figure out it. Only in this case, the tribe is you — all
of 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-ofbook” — 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 ]
Michael Barton (Field Trip) spends a
great deal of time exploring Portland’s
natural areas and blogging about
connecting children to nature (at
exploreportlandnature.wordpress.com).
He lives in SW Portland with his son,
Patrick, daughter, Afton, and wife,
Catherine, a librarian for Multnomah
County Library. He owns more books
than he’ll ever be able to read.
Helyn Trickey Bradley (Deciphering
Individual Education Plans) is
passionate about proper semicolon
use, re-homing stray animals and
potato chips, preferably with extra salt.
When she isn’t writing on deadline,
she’s trying to find her zen among the
chaos of three children, one dog, one
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
Cathie Ericson (Adventures in
Afterschooling) Cathie Ericson is a
Portland-based mom of three who
contributes freelance pieces to a
wide variety of parenting, business
and fitness publications for print
and online. When she’s not at her
computer, she’s out chauffeuring kids
or doing laundry, and keeps sane with
exercise and reading. Follow her @
Cathie Ericson for her thoughts on the
writing biz, parenting, fitness, and yes,
sometimes laundry.
Ryan White (Unhappy Meals) is the
author of “Springsteen: Album by
Album,” which comes out in October.
He won’t mind if you go and preorder
it right now. He lives in North
Portland with his wife and their
4-year-old daughter.
[ In The Cloud ]
Serving the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Area
Looking to get out of the house with your kids? We’ve got you covered with the metro area’s biggest and most
comprehensive daily events calendar, an online exclusive. From sing-a-longs to library storytimes to free days at
the museum, it’s all there on our sister site, www.pdxkidscalendar.com.
PDXKidscalendar.com is also the place to look for great giveaways, plus the next round of voting for local family
favorites. Next up are schools and birthday party venues, so show your favorites some love.
Metro Parent’s website is in the midst of upgrades, but it’s still the place to look for online exclusives. This
month, we’re featuring stories on what to do with itchy tweens after school gets out, and local pediatrician
Dr. Katie Oldread answers more of your medical questions.
Want more ways to stay connected? Make sure you’re signed up for our PDXkidscalendar email newsletter, a
handy-dandy summary of our top picks that comes out twice a week, once with the week’s best kid-friendly
events, and once for the weekend warriors.
Metro Parent
P.O. Box 13660
Portland, OR 97213-0660
Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445
Publisher
Keith Goben, 503-460-2774
[email protected]
Editor
Julia Silverman, 503-922-0893
[email protected]
Managing Editor
Teresa Carson
[email protected]
Director of Online, Social Media
& Marketing Strategy
Tabitha Rhodes, 503-975-6978
[email protected]
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]
COURTESY OF EMILIA BRASIER / EMILIABRASIERPHOTOGRAPHY.WORDPRESS.COM
Stop by and say hi in person. We’ll be hanging out at several local events
this month, including Rox in Sox in Lake Oswego on August 2,
the Alberta Street Fair on August 9, Multnomah Days on August 16 and
the Hawthorne Street Festival on August 17.
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 endorsement of the products or services advertised
herein.
Metro Parent does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, religion,
sex or sexual orientation.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @Metro_Parent
8
or friend us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MetroParentPortland.
Although every effort is taken to ensure the
accuracy of published material, Metro Parent
Publishing, Inc., and its agents and employees
cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of any information contained herein. The
contents of Metro Parent and its website are
for informational purposes only and are not
intended to be a substitute for professional
advice or treatment.
[ Play Room ]
Take Four
Leanne Littrell DiLorenzo is a
Portland mother to a son and a
daughter, and the founder of Vote
ERA, the organization behind
this November’s Oregon ballot
measure that would prohibit
discrimination on the basis
of gender. We asked her to
answer a few questions:
Q: Why is the time right for the ERA in Oregon?
A: Why on earth would anyone oppose half the
population having their equality written in any
constitution? My 93-year-old grandmother, Lorraine, was
born in 1921, the year after women gained the right to
vote. She stayed at home, raised five kids who all see her
every week still and she sewed clothes and baked pies.
When I asked her why she thinks we need the ERA she
paused and said “it goes without saying.”
Q: What’s the next step for your campaign?
A: The next step for our campaign is outreach. We’d like
to ask all Oregonians to please help us by sending an email
to [email protected] to let us know you support us and
also if you can help us in any way.
Q: You were a backer of HIllary Clinton’s campaign in
2008. Do you think she’ll run for president again?
A: In 2008, I took it upon myself to fly to Dallas to help
her with her primary. I do not know if Hillary is running.
I do know that we must stand together to support the
candidate who will stand up for women and children.
Q: As a former legislative staffer, you’ve spent a lot of time
in Salem. Any tips for exploring the Cherry City with
kids?
A: I think a trip to Oregon’s Capitol should be part of the
curriculum for every child in Oregon. I’ve taken my son
to the Capitol many times and he loves it. The walk to
the top to see the “Gold man” is amazing and the view is
extraordinary. Age 5 and up is good to have them sit in
on a committee hearing. Calling ahead of time to see if
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. n
Getaway: Vernonia
What kid doesn’t love a swimming
hole in high summer? Find one of
the metro area’s hidden gems in
Catching
crawfish
along Rock
Creek in
Vernonia.
No cars allowed, making it perfect for
little ones. Or, head to the Vernonia
Pioneer Museum, with exhibits
Vernonia, about 43 miles from
on the lives of early settlers in the
Portland, where Rock Creek is
Nehalem Valley, plus Native American
dammed up every year around the
artifacts from local tribes. Eat at
summer solstice to make a perfect
the Blue House Mediterranean
wading pool and shady swim area
Cafe, whose owners say they
for families at Hawkins Park. There’s a
cook the food they make for their
lifeguard on duty Monday-Saturday
own kids, and no item on the kids’
from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Pro tip from local
menu is more than $4. Camp out at
mom Caitlin Hunter: Below the pool is
PHOTO BY CAITLIN HUNTER.
a little waterfall, where kids can poke
around the rocks in the shallow water to look for crawfish.
Anderson Park, at the confluence
of Rock Creek and the Nehalem River;
reservations are available via Vernonia City Hall. Or splash
There’s also a stocked fishing pond and several local
out with a stay at the McMenamins Grand Lodge,
playgrounds around town. Hunter says that even on the
18 miles away in Forest Grove, where family-friendly bunk
stickiest days, the temperature in Vernonia is usually about
bed rooms start at $40-$45 a night per person.
10 degrees lower than it is in the city, so go ahead and
Directions: Take Highway 26 West to Highway 47, and
make a weekend out of it. Bring everyone’s bikes for a spin
down the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon’s original
rails-to-trail path, which features 21 easy-grade miles that
wind past streams and more than 13 old railroad bridges.
head north on 47 for about 15 miles. If you’re headed to the
swimming hole, stay on the main road, past the flashing
light, for about three blocks. Hawkins Park is on your left,
just past the Rock Creek Bridge. n
9
45,026 18,148
Total number
of babies born
in Oregon in
2013:
en and now
h
t
,
s
me
a
n
y
b
Oregon ba
Number
that were
first-borns:
13
190
28
20
Ran
459
Rank of “Leonard” in 2013,
on a list of the top 500
names for boys
k
MA of
RY
in
Chalkboard:
[ Play Room ]
Number of Emmas
born in Oregon in 2013:
RANK OF
LEONARD
IN 1928:
Rank of Mary
in 1928:
Number of Years
“Emma”has
been the
1
1
Number
baby name for
girls in Oregon:
252
261
Number
of Liams
born in
Oregon
in 2013
NUMBER OF
YEARS “LIAM”
HAS BEEN THE
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 • Evelyn
10
[ Play Room ]
Apps We Love:
When Dr. Katie Oldread,
a pediatrician at
Sellwood Medical
Clinic, isn’t at work or
answering our readers’
questions, she likes
being silly with her
two daughters.
Headed out this summer on a classic Oregon family road
trip? It’s a long way to Sunriver or Crater Lake or Cannon
Beach. Ward off the “Are-we-there-yets?” with our picks for
COURTESY OF MURTHA DESIGN
the best kid apps for a long car ride.
Drawing Pad: Budding artists of all ages will
love this virtual sketchbook, which gives kids an
array of tools to pick from. They can “draw” with
charcoal or colored pencil, chalk or paintbrushes,
and save or share their creations when they’re done. Bonus:
no markers on your car seats, or lost somewhere in the
COURTESY OF DR. KATIE OLDREAD.
deepest recesses of the backseat. $1.99, ages 3 and up.
Ask Dr. Katie
Road Trip Bingo HD: Think the classic car ride game, with an
y Dr. Katie Oldread, Pediatrician,
B
Sellwood Medical Clinic
interactive twist. Give the device a little shake, and the app
will generate a “bingo” card for you. Then you and your little
Q
one can watch out the window for a police car here, a stop
: It’s summer, and it’s hot outside, but I’ve noticed that my
kid is a very sweaty sleeper. Is this normal? What can I do
to keep her cool and comfortable?
12
ages 3 and up.
The Oregon Trail: Come on. How could
COURTESY OF GAMELOFT
A
: Summer is here and it has been a hot one so far! It is very
common for young children to sweat during sleep,
whether fall, winter, spring or summer. Children are more
likely to sweat in their sleep simply due to the fact that they
spend more time in deep stages of sleep, and that their ability to
regulate their body temperature has not fully developed.
That being said, some kids sweat because they are hot …
so how to tell the difference and make sure your little ones are
indeed comfortable at night? One nice trick is to feel your child’s
head early on after they have fallen asleep. An overheated child
will typically feel warmer earlier in the night, before they have
reached deep stages of sleep.
If your child is sweating early in the night you can adjust
the room temperature, avoid overdressing (typically one
layer of pajamas is sufficient, even in the winter), and choose
lightweight cotton sheets or blankets as bedcoverings.
In addition to normal sleep patterns as well as overheating,
there are some situations in which night sweats can indicate a
medical condition that warrants further examination. If your
child has any additional symptoms that accompany sweating
during sleep (fever, bone pain, bruising, lethargy, pallor, snoring
as some examples), it is recommended that you contact your
doctor 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. n
sign there. First one to five in a row is the winner. $1.99,
we NOT pick this one? Best for older
kids who have probably learned about
the pioneers in their covered wagons
already at school. They’ll navigate their way across the
country, trying their virtual hands at river-crossing, rafting and
gold-panning — but watch out for the disease (dysentery,
anyone?) and bandits (those nasty varmints!). Ages 5 and up.
$4.99.
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
worth it to spring for the $4.99 one. Ages 5 and up.
Bonus: Don’t have a touchscreen device, or maybe you’re
a low-media family? Head to your county library and check
out their audiobooks selection. We’re particularly partial to
Roald Dahl’s reading of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and Judy Blume’s
narration of “Superfudge.”
Happy trails!
[ 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
3-5
Who doesn’t love
Sandra Boynton? Her
latest introduces ten
rabbits who like to
dance, sing, jump, and
content and pithy hamsters might amass
thousands of Twitter followers, we might
as well start the next generation early.
Bring on “Underwater Doggies:Colors,” by
COURTESY OF CARTWHEEL/SCHOLASTIC.
COURTESY OF HACHETTE PUBLISHING GROUP
Internet’s most popular
the threat of attack is constant. How to
letters and numbers?
survive? The Official Combat Handbook will
Make your bed? Or set
teach you everything you need to know to
the table? Can you do
defend yourself from hostile monsters and
enemy players. By Scholastic, Inc.
Due August 26.
Fisher. In stores now.
bunny ears. Due September 9.
videos are some of the
In Minecraft, you’re never alone and
shoe? Write your
picture book from author-illustrator Valorie
join the chorus line after donning a pair of
In a world where cat
Can you tie your
stones like these are tracked in this new
their audience, but anyone is welcome to
Colors
Minecraft Combat Handbook
I Can Do it Myself
it by yourself? Important childhood mile-
wiggle their noses in unison to entertain
Underwater Doggies:
6 up:
and
Fly Guy’s
Amazing Tricks
The latest in one of the
best series for early
readers we’ve found, Fly
Guy has learned a lot of
new tricks. But showing off at dinnertime
doesn’t work out for Fly Guy or his owner,
Buzz. By Ted Arnold. Due August 26.
COURTESY OF SCHOLASTIC, INC.
COURTESY OF WORKMAN PUBLISHING
Bunny Rabbit Show
COURTESY OF RANDOM/SCHWARTZ&WADE
0-2
AGES
Emma and
the Blue Genie
Younger readers know
Cornelia Funke for
her groovy books on
princesses who are
perfectly capable of
saving themselves
from the dragon, thankyouverymuch. Her
latest is a full-color chapter book for young
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...
Places to
Picnic in
Portland
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
➍ On the trail at Cooper Mountain in Beaverton ➎ Under the peach trees at Sauvie
Island Farms.
13
Getting messy is
part of the fun.
f
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPFIRE COLUMBIA.
or 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
Afterschooling
BY CATHIE ERICSON
“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,
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.
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 variety
14
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
“Their art choices
are always so
in-depth, much
more than just
painting and
drawing. These
kids are never just
killing 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 projects
that are also art, like creating and playing with “slime,” to woodworking, Myers
says they strive for both a “play” and “learn” aspect. For example, a group might
repurpose electronic parts and turn them into a robot, allowing kids to exercise
both creativity and fine motor skills.
Kirsi Baird Barber, director of before-and-after-school programs for Campfire
Columbia, which reaches kids around the Portland area and in West Linn,
said the group’s “Choice and Voice” program ensures that that kids are directly
involved in choosing the activities.
Through surveys, suggestion boxes and brainstorming sessions, they seek
input from the kids and families on what activities they’d like. “We have found
that kids are most engaged when they are interested in the subject matter so we
want to tap into that,” she said.
continues on page 16
15
Beyond the school walls, Barber
says Campfire emphasizes community
projects. She’s had a group who
wanted to work with seniors at a
nearby retirement center, participating
in scrapbooking and T’ai chi. At
another school, kids worked together
to make healthy homemade dog
treats, created packaging and sold
them at Grant Park, raising $128
for the Oregon Humane Society. In
Sunnyside, a group worked with the
church across the street to make
sandwiches for food insecure families.
Parent Amber Kern-Johnson,
whose sons Zach and Lucas go
to aftercare through Campfire at
Beverly Cleary, says they have really
embraced the service component. Her
son Zach loved working on the dog
treat project, and they even whipped
up another batch at home.
“We’ve seen our boys grow into
strong community members and
develop great character traits,” KernJohnson said. “It’s so much more than
just daycare.”
Alan Bagnall, whose son Malcolm is a
sixth grader at Beverly Cleary Elementary in
Northeast Portland, appreciates how hard the
staff works to create programs that reflect the
kids’ interests.
“There is always a string of options so enticing
that sometimes Malcolm can’t even decide which
one he wants to do,” Bagnall said. One recent
favorite was a comic book group, where Malcolm
learned more about the graphic medium.
“Their art choices are always so in-depth,
much more than just painting or drawing,”
Bagnall said. “These kids are never just killing
time.”
An important component is allowing the
older kids to help plan and teach. “This makes them feel
empowered, since we find they want to set a good example,
have fun and help these younger kids,” Barber said. Studentled clubs include activities such as building models of the
solar system or folding origami.
“Leading a group emphasizes planning, writing and public
speaking skills, but it also teaches patience and helps them
think about their own behavior in a classroom setting.”
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,
16
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
17
serving the food of the country they’re studying, and
practicing their table manners. “You can change people’s
world through art and through food,” Santoro says.
Who’s In Charge?
A second crucial aspect of aftercare is the providers. After
all, no matter how compelling the activities, it’s the staff who
brings them to life.
“It’s so apparent that the staff at my son’s school really love
their jobs,” Bagnall said. “I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Camille Campbell, whose daughters Shaylin and Kadence
attend Jason Lee Elementary in Northeast Portland, finds the
Vermont Hills teachers friendly, compassionate and patient:
“They have really helped my girls flourish,” she says.
“We put together
teams that have
different skills and
life experiences to
really bring that rich
background to our
students.”
And this excellent care
is reflected in how the staff
themselves are treated and
the support they receive.
Staff training is a key part of
all the programs.
Barber holds monthly
sessions where staff talk
about what’s working
and what they might do
differently.
Myers adds that communication with parents is an
important part of his role. “I want them to know that they can
talk to the staff or me if they have any questions or concerns
about our program,” he said. “We are all in this together.”
Santoro of Art4Life says that her program’s staff stands
out because of their credentials — each of her staff has a
degree in a related field, whether it’s art, theater, literature
or music. They all have also traveled outside the United
States, which allows them to bring that cultural aspect to the
classroom.
“We put together teams that have different skills and
life experiences to really bring that rich background to our
students,” Santoro said.
18
She also prides herself on a ratio that’s below the statemandated guidelines, a program aspect echoed by Jennifer
Merrill, afterschool department director for the Portland
Jewish Academy. “Our parents really appreciate our low
teacher-to-student ratio, as well as the stability of the staff.”
Merrill says that PJA, which hosts after-care programs
onsite at local Portland schools as well as at its own facility,
only hires staff with degrees and specific experience in
education. “Because we pay living wages for part-time work,
as well as offer benefits and vacation, we have staff who
return year after year,” she added. “Parents appreciate that we
have staff who invest in their child and care about them as
much as their teacher does.”
After School, At School
The bottom line is that as good as any childcare might
be, if the child can’t get there easily, it’s not going to work
for the family. That’s why school-based programming is so
popular — kids just head right over after school. Not only does
it eliminate transportation logistics, but they are also able to
stay with their peers, in an environment that’s familiar.
Nancy Hauth, program manager for aftercare at
Portland Public Schools, says, “By a huge margin, our school
communities are really happy with the on-site care we offer.
There will always be some parents who opt out, and in some
school communities there are more options than others.
There might be dance, art or tae kwon do studios nearby, or
even a stand-alone child care facility, that can transport kids.
But by and large, we find that quality on-site care is the most
convenient for most parents.”
To ensure that the quality stays high at each facility, she
maintains an ongoing system for evaluation, including an
annual parent survey and input from principals.
And the true measure of a program’s quality? The reaction
from the kids. Says Kern-Johnson, “I know that the program
is high-quality because it’s hard to get them to leave. My boys
really want to be there.” Echoes Campbell, “Almost every day
when I pick the girls up, they complain about having
to leave.” n
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Story times, classes,
and camps for
toddlers, pre-k
and elementary
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
Montessori
Montessori
School of Beaverton
Beaverton
School
20
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
21
Deciphering
Individual
Education
Plans
BY HELYN TRICKEY BRADLEY
22
W
hen 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 be
eligible for school services.”
his behavior. He was rowdy in the classroom, regularly answering questions out
of turn and having trouble concentrating, they said.
It’s important to note that even if a physician has diagnosed a student with a
disability such as ADD, dyslexia or anxiety,
“I knew something was going on with [my son],” says Portland parent Laney
Masterson*, who asked that her and her son’s name be changed to protect their
unless the disability interferes with the
identities.
child’s performance in school, academically,
behaviorally or socially, she may not be
“The school thought he had Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], but I was
eligible for an IEP. But having a firm medical
suspicious of that diagnosis,” says Masterson, who works as a full-time nurse. “I
hemmed and hawed for a bit, and then the school tested him and found that he
diagnosis can help parents and school of-
scored on the Autism spectrum.”
ficials understand where a student struggles
John’s teachers advocated for him to be placed on an Individualized Education
Plan (IEP), but Masterson admits the thought of putting him in any kind of special
and how best to meet her needs.
“I would tell parents that IEPs are great,
Parents should
ask questions
when they don’t
understand
something about
the process.
but don’t accept the first diagnosis,” says
education track made her nervous.
“When I went into this I knew nothing about it. I didn’t even know what an IEP
stood for,” she says. “I didn’t realize that an IEP was a good thing — the services are
Masterson. “The IEP [may] not go away, but it might change, and the student
might qualify for different services.”
so helpful.”
Keep Up Communication
IEPs for school-aged kids fall under the umbrella of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA], which was passed at the Federal level in the 1970s
Margaret Zuercher, a learning specialist with the Lake Oswego School District,
and makes available services to more than 6.5 million special needs youth around
urges parents to view the IEP evaluation process as a collaborative effort between
the nation ages zero to 21.
the school, your child and you.
Students who struggle academically, socially and/or emotionally may qualify
“The best way to help is to stay informed [about the IEP process] and in contact
for a wide range of services through an IEP, including preferred seating; speech,
with the teachers and learning specialists. Everybody is on the road together, and
physical or occupational therapy; extra time to take
we’re all working together for the sake of the child. There needs to be trust and
tests; tests tailored to a child’s specific learning style;
open communication,” she says.
and educational assistants who can provided one-
Parents are an integral part of the IEP evaluation and planning process. According to attorney Hungerford, it’s mandatory for a parent to be included in
IEP is developed with the idea that a student should
the meetings, along with educators who work with your child, and a district
be educated alongside peers in general education
representative (usually the school’s principal). Other school employees who work
COURTESY OF NANCY HUNGERFORD.
on-one classroom help, among other services. An
classes as much as possible, making allowances for
special needs.
Some services such as speech therapy may take
place before or after school hours, according to
Nancy Hungerford, the founder of the Portlandbased Hungerford Law Firm, which specializes in
Portland attorney
Nancy Hungerford.
with your child, such as counselors or therapists, may also attend. Once a student
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 determine
if they still qualify for the IEP under evaluation measures that differ district by
district.
“Parents should ask questions when they don’t understand something about
student rights and disability education law. Homeschooled students may also
the process,” says Jennifer Peterson, a learning specialist with the Clackamas
qualify for specialized educational services, but each student is considered on a
School District. “What kinds of tests will my child take? If my child is removed
case-by-case basis.
from her classroom, how long will she be gone? Will my child need to attend a different school? Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask any of these questions.”
First Step: Evaluation
To initiate an IEP, either a parent or teacher may request an evaluation, and by
law the school must consider the application.
“The evaluation is structured to each child, and could address [among other
things] behavioral or cognitive problems,” says Hungerford.
“The evaluation team, which includes a parent, must determine if a child’s
issues affect her schooling,” she says. “For instance, the child could be anxious
Additionally, Peterson advises, parents should make sure they are offered a
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 learning
plan.
“Disability is just a different way of accessing information, but it can be a
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 of
supporting the child — it is an avenue to access those services.”
23
“He’s met all his goals and exceeded them because he got
proper treatment,” says Masterson. She says she’s learned
how important it is to be involved with her son’s education
every step of the way.
“As a parent, you know your own child well. Follow up
when you see your child is not meeting goals, and advocate
for any services that you are entitled to by law,” she says.
Here are a few more tips from our experts and parents:
• If a child is on medication, make the school aware and let
teachers know if medication doses change.
• Be aware of all accommodations open to a student on an
IEP. There is a comprehensive list available on the Service
Summary page of an IEP.
• Parents should feel free to ask a psychiatrist/psychologist
or other professional who has been working with your
child to attend an IEP meeting if they feel it would help
advocate for their child.
• Make sure an IEP spells out in specific detail the kinds of
accommodations your child will receive, including how
many hours of the day she will spend out of her regular
Teaching kids
to advocate for
themselves is
one way to make
special education
students feel
more powerful.
Keep Kids in the Loop
IEP services can change dramatically as a student progresses from elementary school to high school, so it’s important for parents to actively participate in setting their child’s
learning agenda for each school year. As students become
more independent, they are encouraged to come to each
IEP meeting and take part in the assessment and planning
document, so make sure to take as much time as you need
to be thorough. Make sure any accommodations helpful to
your child and discussed in an IEP meeting are documented 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
that what may seem like a fun activity for the elementary
to make any educational professionals aware of a student’s
student — going to special classrooms for learning activities
personal history that might be pertinent to the child’s
or taking tests differently than peers — can suddenly seem
educational progress.
“The child knows they are different, and the more honest
• Review your child’s report cards from the past year before
attending each IEP meeting, and have handy a list of your
parents can be with them, the better,” says Zuercher who
goals for your child for the next year. If your goals and the
says teaching kids to advocate for themselves is one way to
goals of your child’s educators differ, make sure to note
make special education students feel more powerful.
that in the parent comment section of the IEP.
“A huge gift a parent can give a child is the acceptance of
the disability,” Zuercher says.
For some special education students, a decision to pursue
• 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
a modified diploma may come up in high school, usually in
problem, scheduling an appeal with the
the student’s sophomore year. A modified diploma means
school district’s special education
that the high school curriculum has been changed to best
director is the next step. n
meet the special education needs of the student, and it can
impact the eligibility of the graduate to enter a four-year
university or the military.
An eighth grader this year, Masterson’s son, John, is
thriving. With the correct diagnosis, he’s been getting the
tools through his IEP to blossom in school.
• Parents should fully review an IEP before signing the
process. Zuercher, the Lake Oswego learning specialist, notes
mortifyingly uncool at the middle and high school level.
24
classroom.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
RESOURCES:
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) can be a lifesaver for
both students and parents trying to navigate school in the
face of academic, behavioral or social challenges, but the
acronyms alone associated with special education can make
anyone’s head spin. Here are a few tips and resources that can
help 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 educational services available for children (newborn to 21 years old)
with disabilities. www.droregon.org/resources/5-publications-1/
education/Special-Education-Guide-6ed.pdf
25
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
26
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
27
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
28
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
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
and seek.
see natural history specimens, or
interact with science exhibits. Kids
spend their time roaming around
a large building,
and only when it’s
time to leave do
they head outside.
A new exhibit
at the Portland
Children’s
Museum in
Washington Park,
however, prompts
visitors to enter
the museum and
to then head right
back outside.
In Outdoor
Adventure, which
BY 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.
scramble on rocks and get wet in a manmade creek, which
The exhibit is designed to spotlight natural elements that can
descends from the top of the hill on down.
be found around the Pacific Northwest, focusing “on natural
At the bottom of the hill
elements that promote a sense of place.”
Children can
kiddos
can observe nature in The
When you first enter at the top of the hill you’ll find a gated
Meadow, an area with native
meander
area where you can let your toddler clamber over rocks and
plants and a good view of the
engage in messy fun in a large sand pit and water play area.
among trees
sky, perfect for lying on your
(Hint: have a change of clothes for little ones.) From there a
and test
back and looking for pictures in
trail descends to the bottom of the hill. Along the way, The
their climbing
the clouds. The overlook at the
Campsite lets older kids tap into their inner “Survivor” as they
top
of
the
hill
is
a
great
place
to
skills on the
construct shelters and forts from building materials such as
have lunch (whether packed from
tarps, big pieces of driftwood and twine. In The Grove, farther
instantly iconic
home or purchased from the
down the trail, children can meander among trees and test
and massive
museum café), while a pavilion
their climbing skills on the instantly iconic and massive Zoom
and
natural
amphitheater
down
Zoom Tree.
Tree. Up to a point, of course. The tree boasts a sign stating,
Running
Wild in
the City
Outdoor Adventure
at the Portland
Children’s Museum
30
Patrick Barton, 8,
explores the creekbed.
OUTDOOR
ADVENTURE
Portland Children’s
Museum
4015 SW Canyon Rd
Portland, OR 97221
(503) 223-6500
www.portlandcm.org
Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
closed major holidays
Admission: Under 1 free,
1-54 $10, over 55 and
military $9
Target Free
First Fridays:
free admission from
4 p.m. -8 p.m. Local libraries
also allow you to check out
free admission passes for
the museum.
Outdoor Adventure
is free for members and
included in museum
admission.
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BARTON.
below are designed for programs, performances
and birthday parties.
In May, internationally renowned artist
Patrick Dougherty, with help from volunteers,
constructed a woven stick sculpture that twists
and turns, perfect for a game of hide-and-seek.
And students from the museum’s Opal School
created art pieces for a large mural of animals and
plants that now graces the side of the building
facing Outdoor Adventure.
My kids and I have visited Outdoor Adventure
once during the grand opening celebration in
April and again in June. Families could easily
spend a couple of hours exploring the exhibit.
Before entering the museum from the exhibit,
visitors pass through The Field Station, an indoor
space to relax and learn more about nature.
During our first visit, it rained pretty hard, and
while many folks hurried into The Field Station
(my 1-year-old daughter and myself included), my
8-year-old son remained outside. After the rain
stopped and we went back outside, he told me,
“I was already soaking wet from playing in the
creek. So I figured I could stay and play in the rain.”
He hit the nail on the head: As Outdoor
Adventure reminds us, when you’re a kid — and
hey, it’s true for grown-ups too — it’s okay to get
dirty, and it’s okay to get wet. n
Parking: Washington Park
pay stations: $1.60/hour;
$4.00 All Day (OctoberMarch); $6.40 All Day
(April-September). Parking
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.
31
[ Family Supper ]
At Poa,
Food As Good
As The Playroom
BY JULIA SILVERMAN
I
n the nearly six years since our twins were born, our family
has made the rounds of kid-friendly restaurants in this
town. If there’s a play area, or just even a bucketful of toys
somewhere stashed away, if there’s a kids’ menu, or crayons
and a coloring page available, if there’s a stack of high chairs
in the corner, we’ve probably been there, done that and made
our apologies on the way out for the inevitable mess under the
kids’ chairs.
And so I’d like to think that I can speak with a certain
amount of authority when I say that the kids’ play area at Poa
Cafe, newly opened at the far end of a bustling stretch of North
Williams Street is among the very most thoughtfully designed
and well-appointed restaurant playspaces in town.
For starters, it’s huge, making it much less likely that your
toddler will get trampled by some third-grade ringer. For
another, the owners clearly gave some thought to kids of all
different ages — for grade-schoolers and up, there’s a massive
chalkboard wall, a shelf of books and games, and even a row of
standalone keyboards on which to bang. (The restaurant’s blog
says iPads are coming soon — a first for a PDX-area restaurant,
as far as I know. I’ll be watching to see how that one turns out.)
For the preschool set, there’s a play kitchen, a Duplo table,
and a handful of well-chosen, sturdy wooden toys that are big
enough to share and share alike.
For the littlest ones, the cafe is already playing host to a
roster of well-known Portland entertainers, including tunes
from the perennially popular Mr. Ben and an every-otherweek Spanish storytime with the Portland Early Learning
Project. And everyone will like the sunny back patio garden,
with enough open space for games of Simon Says and Red
Light, Green Light while you wait for your food.
Okay, okay, but how is the food? Too often in Portland,
we’ve found that kid-friendly can mean mediocre, as if
restaurant owners know that you’re so grateful not to be
cooking dinner for once, and so relieved not to be being glared
at by laptop toters or couples out for romantic evenings that
you will settle for soggy fries and and a greasy burger.
So, I’m extra-pleased to report that I texted my healthiesteating 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 prepared
32
with care. (The restaurant has attracted a few ornery Yelp
complaints that the waits are too long, but in my book, good
food is worth waiting for. Our wait was a totally doable
15 minutes for kid food, five more for the adults, and the
restaurant offers complimentary bowls of organic popcorn
with sea salt and nutritional yeast to snack on while kids wait,
which is a nice touch.)
Also a plus: The kids’ menu goes beyond the hot doggrilled cheese-chicken fingers trifecta, and offers some more
unexpected choices — my daughter the vegetarian was pleased
with her bowl of black beans and brown rice, especially after
we stirred in some of the avocado from my husband’s plate,
and my son put his head down and refused to share his wholewheat pizza, though I snagged some bites of the generous bowl
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
honey yogurt, for a total of $6.95 for a meal that includes all
three. You can also get solo servings of the kid-sized entrees,
which also included a grilled cheese on whole grain bread
and steamed carrots with yakisoba noodles for just $3 apiece,
without the sides.
Pro tip for the grownups: Try to go during happy hour (not
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
are all just $5, and a glass of red wine clocks in at $4. That deal
is from 3-6 p.m., seven days a week. A glass of the house wine,
paired with a large salad full of fresh greens, brussel sprouts,
cucumbers and lemon tahini dressing, alongside a small plate
of sliced salami, cheese, bread and olives, made a perfect light
summer supper. A grown-up version of the rice-and-bean bowl
came with corn, tomatoes, fresh herbs and a garlicky sauce,
plus a hunk of sweet cornbread, made in-house.
I’m already plotting a return for their breakfast menu,
which includes avocado baked eggs ($10.50) and a kid-sized
serving of oatmeal with pure maple syrup. There’s also a long
list of tasty sounding smoothies available, some baked goods
available at the counter and fresh fruit for sale, making Poa a
good stop if you’ve forgotten to pack a snack.
All-in-all, I’m calling this one a keeper. The restaurant is
billing itself as an “oasis for the modern day family” — that
sounds just about right. n
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE TAYLOR.
[ Recipe File ]
Poa owner Janice Grube
and her son, Rocket.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE TAYLOR.
A Favorite
Smoothie
From
Poa’s
Owner
BY JANICE GRUBE
34
O
ur family’s go-to nutritional staple is a green
smoothie. The ingredients are colorful with
different textures, so it keeps the kids interested.
Plus they taste yummy. My kids like when I use my
different-sized glass mixing bowls (Duralex makes a set
of 10 for $40) so they can see all the colors and shapes in
front of them.
For the little ones, it’s like magic when they blend into
something they can suck through a straw.
When we decided to open Poa Cafe, smoothies were
high on our menu list. Most everyone loves them.
We like to blend together a bunch of kale or spinach,
along with fruit, seeds or protein and a milk sub such as
almond or coconut milk. I let them pick the fruit, veggies
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. n
A favorite: SuperGreen Smoothie
A little less than 1 cup of milk substitute,
such as almond or coconut milk
2 handfuls of soft kale, such as lacinato or
dinosaur varieties
1 handful of frozen fruit (I love mango or peaches when
using greens so they won’t turn the drink brown)
1/2 ripe banana
1 tablespoon chia seeds
a tiny bit of sweetener such as agave/honey/stevia
a scoop of almond butter or greek yogurt
Blend on high (we have a Vitamix and it rocks) for
10-15 seconds, pour in a cup and enjoy.
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35
[ First Person: Daddy Issues ]
The author’s 4-year-old daughter,
Stella, in full-on superhero mode.
Unhappy
Meals
BY RYAN WHITE
PHOTOS BY RYAN WHITE.
“Is that Happy Meal for a
boy or a girl?”crackled the speaker.
I hate that question, and I’m not alone. In April, Slate ran
a piece by Antonia Ayres-Brown, who, in 2008, when she
was 11, wrote a letter to McDonald’s CEO wondering if it
would be legal for McDonald’s “to ask whether someone
wanted a man’s job or a woman’s job.” She also hated that
question and decided to do something about the problem.
At 11, she was better than me. She also had less to do. I was
in a hurry, or I wouldn’t have been at McDonald’s.
I also realize the person asking that question is wearing
A perfectly rational
response to a
Spiderman compact.
a headset and is in the middle of a long day of dealing
with people like me. That person doesn’t deserve, and isn’t
paid nearly enough, to deal with Dad acting aggrieved on
behalf of a 4-year-old who doesn’t care.
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
36
doesn’t make any sense. There’s no reason for it to exist in
the Marvel (or any other) universe.
Spider-Woman wouldn’t need it. She’s a crime fighter,
not a Kardashian. She’s far too busy saving sizable urban
populations to worry about her bangs.
But let’s say she does hit the town with friends. She’s
immediately. Not because of its colors. Not because a
going to assume her secret identity, and she’s definitely not
major movie studio and a nearly $30 billion company were
going to use branded product in public. That’s just asking
engaged in team gender stereotyping. I hated it because it
for someone to make the connection.
Makeup and accessories are
nowhere to be found in the
origin story.
“Excuse me, could I borrow your mirror for a … Oh my
god, you’re Spider-Woman!”
Then the movie ends. No sequel. No reboot. And now
Right. Merchandise. It was, technically, a Spider-Man
compact. Same logic applies. Bruce Wayne doesn’t keep his
pants up with Batman’s utility belt, Aquaman doesn’t use
that I mention it, where is the Spider-Woman movie?
the public pool, and Toby Maguire doesn’t pretty up with a
Because there is indeed a Spider-Woman. I Googled her
compact. That’s what standing next to Leonardo DiCaprio
origin story. That alter ego, Jessica Drew, grew up on a
is for.
uranium farm, was inevitably poisoned, then saved by her
(I know. Toby Maguire isn’t the new Spider-Man, but I
mad-scientist father, who injected her with untested spi-
have no idea who they’re using these days. I’ve made my
der serum (must have seemed like a good idea?) and locked
peace with the fact that Toby Maguire is probably the last
her 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.”
Spider-Woman’s corporate origin story is a little more
direct: Marvel wanted to nail down the copyright.
Still, Spider-Woman seems like a tough character and
I like tough characters. I especially like tough characters I
Which brings us back to McDonald’s. Or me to McDonald’s because without a doubt you’re a better parent than
me in this one regard. We can at least agree that a Happy
Meal beats untested spider serum.
The good news, of course, is, that like all cheap plastic
can 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 least
only be alive in this country to know of Spider-Man.
it’s not a genetic accelerator,” I told myself), we didn’t get
Every six or eight months there’s a new Spider-Man
movie that isn’t substantially different from the last
Still, Spider-Woman
seems like a tough
character and I like
tough characters.
I especially like
tough characters
I can point my
daughter toward.
the question. We got a Pokemon toy, which was easy. I
knew what to do with Pokemon. I do it all the time.
Spider-Man movie, but for a slightly better waxed leading
“What is it?” my daughter said.
man. You know the drill: Peter Parker, radioactive spider,
“I don’t know.” n
Uncle Ben nooooooooooo, a love interest, super villain, big
fight, good guys win, merchandise, fin.
37
[ Pay Attention ]
i
f you’re a parent, then you know the drill: you wake
up to a feverish child on a work day and your first
thought is what
you’ll do about
work that day
Paid Sick Leave:
The Time
Is Now
It’s a good start. But in our opinion, it’s not enough.
America’s work-family policy needs a makeover.
Paid sick time is one step towards the kind of
workplaces that today’s families need to combine work
home, or how
and family. It is a type of “workplace flexibility” that
miserable your
makes it possible for parents to provide and care for
child will be if
their families, without sacrificing one or the other. It
you send her to
makes it possible for parents to care for a sick child the
school anyway
way they want to and should: at home, for as long as the
(not to mention
child needs it. With paid sick time, pregnant women can
that you’ll
get to their prenatal appointments and take their young
be spreading
kids in for well child visits and vaccines. Without paid
contagion at
or protected sick time, missing work for these important
your school
services is out of reach for too many.
and breaking
their 24-hour
exclusion rules). You can’t win! You’re forced to choose
between your job and your child (and it won’t be the last
time).
voted on a similar sick leave proposal.
if you stay
or childcare
BY LISA FRACK,
FAMILY FORWARD
OREGON
the stands, city council members in Eugene will have
Other policies that would help American families
better meet the often competing demands of work and
family include paid family and medical leave (currently
only some workers are eligible for unpaid family and
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
— and that’s about 50% of us —
missing work to care for a sick
child also means losing pay. And
provide for their families (about
A paid sick leave
supporter, at a
recent Eugene City
Council meeting.
2/3 of mothers today are either
primary or co-breadwinners for
their families.)
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
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
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
Portland’s Peninsula Park on
portlandoregon.gov/sicktime/.
Other Oregon cities are following
suit: By the time this issue hits
COURTESY OF JUVENTUD FACETA.
time — and if your employer
new law applies to you: www.
38
we are working hard to make it
of January 1, 2014, if you work
Saturday, August 16th. Think
cake, ice-cream, music, and free
massages for parents! See you
there, we hope. n
39
[ Angels Among Us ]
Ladybug, ladybug,
fly away home.
Schoolyard
Farms
BY COURTNEY LEEDS, COFOUNDER
AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
H
ow many times have you heard your child
say, “I don’t want to eat that,” when served a side
of vegetables at dinner? And forget about getting
them to eat the vegetables served in the school
cafeteria — usually pre-cooked and reheated, and
therefore tasteless and uneaten. Kids have a hard
time eating vegetables. Schoolyard Farms is trying
to change all that.
The program’s one-acre pilot farm is tucked
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 the
40
The high
tunnel at
Schoolyard
Farms.
produce to help fund the program. Since 2012, the farm has
produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce.
The farm at Candy Lane not only serves as a source for
fresh produce, but also as a classroom. Each week, Schoolyard
Farms’ garden educators bring every student from Candy
Lane out to the farm for a garden-based lesson. One week
students will learn how to prep a bed and plant a seed, the
next week they will learn how nitrogen from the atmosphere
can become fixed in the soil, and the third week they will
harvest the produce and learn how to prepare a healthy
snack.
Cast Your Vote
Today!
Showing off
the garden’s
treasures.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCHOOLYARD FARMS.
In the summer, the farm transforms into a summer camp where
first through sixth graders spend a week exploring the farm,
harvesting the produce and preparing healthy snacks.
Metro Parent’s Family
Favorites continue
as we invite you to
vote for your family’s
favorite education
and birthday
resources.
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 likely
to think positively about fruits and vegetables. And when kids are
involved in a school garden that circles its food back the cafeteria,
they are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables.
BIRTHDAY
RESOURCES
Kids Cooking
Amusement Parks/Bowling/
Swimming & Water Parks
Language Education
Schoolyard Farms’ vision is to see a school farm on every
schoolyard. We imagine scaling up the traditional size of a school
garden — around a dozen raised beds — to the size of a school farm,
at least one acre. By expanding, enough produce can be grown
to sell, generating revenue to support the program. Also, there is
enough space to host programs like summer camp and after-school
classes for the community.
Instead of hearing, “I don’t want to eat that,” the question we
often hear at the farm is, “Do we get to eat the vegetables?!” We’re
so happy to tell them, “Yes!”
EDUCATION
RESOURCES
Arts & Crafts/Cooking
Performing Arts
Preschools/Daycares
Dance/Gymnastics/
Acrobatics/Martial arts
Schools
Entertainers
Science/Technology/Math
Indoor Playspaces
Sports and Active
Outdoor Venues
Tutoring/Learning Assistance
Party Suppliers
Restaurant/Theater
You can support Schoolyard Farms by becoming a CSA member
or sending a child to summer camp next year. We are always in
need of volunteers on the farm and to help with our garden-based
classes. Or simply making a donation goes a long way toward
realizing our vision of a farm on every schoolyard. You can learn
more at schoolyardfarms.org. n
#M P
Fam
es
Fav
Science/Nature/Museums/
Animals/Farms/
Horseback Riding
Sports and Active
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
41
[ Time Out ]
En Plein Air:
Pack your smocks, and perhaps a
beret for this oh-so-French event
on the Portland Park Blocks,
right in front of the Portland Art
Museum. The museum is hosting
a giant outdoors art party, with
nature-inspired art projects for
the littles, an outdoor exhibition of
the park-inspired paintings made
by local “plein air” artists, and
free admission to this summer’s
blockbuster museum show, “The
Art of the Louvre’s Tuileries
Gardens.” The fun starts at noon
and goes until 5 p.m.; big kids can
stay out later for the free screening
of romantic comedy Gigi in the
museum’s courtyard at 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 10. FREE.
COURTESY OF THE DANCERS OF OREGON BALLET THEATRE AND COURTESY OF M REALTY
Dance, Dance Revolution:
Pack up your toe shoes, leotard and aspiring
ballerina or ballerino, and head to Pioneer
Courthouse Square in downtown PDX, when
the venerable Oregon Ballet Theater
moves their dance studio to the open
air. Kids and their grownups can
watch the dancers rehearse
for this fall’s untitled-asof-press-time premiere
ballet by choreographer
Nicolo Fonte, and even
take a class with OBT’s
faculty members and its
guest artists. It’s all FREE.
Monday, August 25-Thursday,
August 28. Check www.obt.org/
outreach_events_exposed.html
for performance times.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON, D.C.,
AILSA MELLON BRUCE COLLECTION.
Go. Play.
Explore.
August | 2014
COURTESY HIGH MUSEUM OF ART.
42
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF PORTLAND.
Night Owls:
Go meet your neighbors,
plus local emergency
responders, at parks and
schools all over the metro
area. It’s National Night
Out, when kids and their
grown-ups make like
Mr. Rogers and mingle
with the people in their neighborhood, be it the family next door, the local
police officer or the fire chief. SE Portland’s Piccolo Park does this one in style,
with the members of the Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood association
scooping up free ice cream, plus a bubble machine, chalk for kids to draw to
their heart’s content and police motorcycles to clamber on (stationary ones, of
course). Or head to Beaverton City Park Fountain, where you can watch the
police K-9s in action. Check your local police department web page for
NNO events in your backyard. Tuesday, August 5. FREE.
43
[ Time Out ]
Training Wheels:
No cars + lots of bikes = a really good summer Sunday.
Rainy weather will be back soon
enough, so get out for a family bike
ride this month while the getting is
good. Balance bikes, tricycles, training
wheels, cargo bikes, unicycles, trailer
bikes, ride-along bikes and tandem
bicycles — all are welcome at the
Sunday Parkways in SE Portland.
Seven miles of road are closed to
cars, so kids can bike as fast (or, more
likely) as slow as they want. Along
the way, neighborhood residents
set up lemonade stands and snowcone machines — be neighborly,
and partake. Better yet, there are
convenient pit stops every couple of
miles, at parks along the route, where
kiddo entertainers have set up shop.
Our pick is Laurelhurst Park, where
the Joy Now project, a motley crew of
circus arts performers usually camps
out, giving free juggling lessons and
hula hoop demonstrations. There’s
food for sale too, from Portland’s
trusty army of mobile food trucks.
Sunday, August 24, 11 a.m-4 p.m.
FREE.
Meanwhile, the Providence
BridgePedal attract hordes of serious
cyclists to downtown Portland to
coast over the bridges that span
the Willamette, mostly all closed
to cars for this once-a-year event.
It can be overwhelming for the
youngest pedalers, which is why
the BridgePedal folks came up with
KidsPedal, a shorter, three-mile route
that only crosses the Hawthorne and
Steel Bridges. Adults can ride this
route only if they are “chaperoned”
by a kid 8-years-old or younger.
There’s no charge to ride, but there’s
only room for 1,000 participants —
and every one of them needs to be
wearing a bike helmet, organizers
say. The KidsPedal starts at a familyfriendly 10 a.m. at SW Morrison and
Naito Parkway. FREE.
44
COURTESY OF THE PORTLAND BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION
Picture break, on top of
the Fremont Bridge.
Ready to put the pedal to the metal.
COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE BRIDGEPEDAL.
COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE BRIDGEPEDAL.
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 deepfried butter statues — this isn’t Iowa, people — but there’s plenty to keep a family
busy, from all the farm animals that have ever showed up in a Sandra Boynton
board book to 20 different kiddie carnival rides. If you’d rather hit a concert, let
your littles rock out to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on August 30, at 4 p.m. The
fair lasts from August 22 to September 1, but one great day for families to go is
Saturday, August 23. That’s Les Schwab Kids Day, with free kids admission tickets
available 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.
45
[ Time Out ]
COURTESY OF METRO
Under the Stars
COURTESY OF SEAN MINOGUE.
Rox Out
Books, music, sunshine — what’s not to love? All three should be
out in full-force at Rox in Sox, a jumbo celebration of kids’ music
and books in Lake O. The grown-ups say you should bring chairs
and blankets. But who will have time to sit down? Kids will be
too busy jamming out to the sounds of Recess Monkey, Mesta
Cookie Jar, The Not Its and Red Yarn. Some really cool authors
will be there to read and show you how they create their books.
As if that’s not enough, you can play games, make crafts and
much more. Rox rocks from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sat. Aug. 2. It’s FREE
with a donation of new shoes, socks or books. Head over to The
West End Building, 4101 Kruse Way in Lake Oswego.
Sleep with the lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Pitch your tent and snuggle
into your sleeping bag on the big lawn for Camperoo at the Zoo. But before
you nod off, you’ll get guided tours to see what the animals are up to when
those picture-taking humans go home. Get a peek behind the scenes and
learn about some of the Zoo’s newest residents. The fun starts at 4 p.m. on
August 2 and lasts until 9:30 a.m. the next morning. Camperoo costs $54 per
person for ages 12 and up and $40 for ages 3-11. Kids 0-2 are FREE. It sounds
pricey, but you get dinner, snacks, a campfire with s’mores and continental
breakfast. Zoo members get a discount. Registration is required. Ewe otter
have more fun than a barrel of, well, you know.
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.
Music Al Fresco:
COURTESY OF PORTLAND FESTIVAL SYMPHONY
46
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.
PARTIES
COURTESY OF RASMUSSEN FARMS, PHOTOS BY PATRICK MILLING
Fruit Loops:
If a trip to the Hood River Valley’s Fruit Loop is not already on your family
bucket list, it should be. Head out there August 16-17 for the annual Summer
Fruit Celebration, when heirloom Gravenstein apples (the baker’s choice for pies
and applesauce) are just coming into season, late-blooming cherries are ripe for
picking and peaches are at their peak. Fruit stands all along the Fruit Loop are
open, but a few have family-friendly events planned, including pie walks, a corn
maze and treasure hunts at Rasmussen Farms, and visiting the alpaca babies at
Foothills Yarn&Fiber. More info is at www.hoodriverfruitloop.com. FREE, but be
sure to weigh your kids before they start picking.
Advertiser Index
Academy Theater.............................................39
German American School..........................15
Northwest Children’s Theater................19
Portland Montessori Collaborative.29
AHSC Yu Miao Chinese
Immersion Preschool..................................... 29
Gifted Journeys..................................................39
Northwest Chinese Academy............. 20
Portland Symphonic Girlchoir............... 28
Bada’s Place...............................................................21
Oaks Park Association..................................47
Portland Waldorf School............................ 28
Harmony Road Music,
Westside Music School..................................21
Beanstalk Children’s Resale................... 26
Gresham Pediatric Dentistry..................35
Odyssey School.................................................. 28
Portland Youth Ballet.................................... 29
Providence Health & Services.................11
Resurrection Catholic Preschool....... 20
Bella Organic...........................................................43
Heartwood Preschool....................................27
OHSU Doernbecher
Children’s Safety Center.............................35
Bodhi Tree Language Center.............. 26
Help Eliminate
Learning Problems Inc................................. 29
Oregon Association
of Talented & Gifted....................................... 26
Bridges Middle School....................................17
Hollywood Children’s Dentistry...............9
Oregon Children’s Theatre Co..............25
Child Care Resource & Referral.............21
Hopworks Urban Brewery.........................35
Chinese American
International School..........................................17
Joy Central (Childcare)....................................15
Oregon Coast Aquarium........................... 45
Kumon North America, Inc....................... 26
CLASS Academy....................................................7
Legacy Health..........................................................4
Clogs-N-More Kids.............................................35
Little Engineers......................................................17
Columbia Slough
Watershed Council...........................................43
Living Wisdom School.................................. 28
Creative Children’s Center......................... 31
Micha-el School................................................... 20
Cedarwood School............................................19
Dentistry for Kids...................................................3
Doula Love...................................................................9
Dove Christian School.................................. 29
Franciscan Montessori
Earth School..............................................................21
French American
International School....................................... 28
Metropolitan Pediatric Clinic...................27
Mobile Minds Tutoring....................................17
Montessori School of Beaverton...... 20
Mt Hood Ski Bowl.............................................. 29
Multisensory Learning Academy..... 26
Music Together....................................................39
North Clackamas Aquatic Park............. 31
North Portland Orthodontics.................. 31
Oregon Coast Scenic Railway..............43
Oregon Episcopal School..........................27
Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival....... 45
Oregon Home Education
Network (OHEN)......................................................17
Oregon Rail Heritage
Foundation...............................................................47
Rasmussen Farms........................................... 45
Saturday Academy......................................... 26
Scuola Italiana..........................................................21
Shining Star School........................................ 28
AUGUST COUPONS & DISCOUNTS
Academy Theater..................................17
Little Engineers........................................14
North Clackamas
Aquatic Park............................................. 33
Small Friends Inc. Preschool....................19
Storybook School, The...................................17
Sunshine Montessori Preschool..........17
Tidee Didee.............................................. 35
Swallowtail School............................................ 28
Sweet Peas Kidzone..................................... 29
Tidee Didee..............................................................35
Pediatric Associates of the NW.............2
Tillamook Forest Center..............................43
PELP - Adventures in Spanish.............19
Trinity Lutheran School............................... 20
Penny’s Puppet Productions.................47
Vermont Hills Family Life Center..........21
Pizazz Sweets..........................................................9
Village Home.......................................................... 20
The Playschool at Mountain Park... 29
Westside Dance & Gymnastics.......... 28
Portland Christian Schools...................... 28
Whole Foods Market......................................48
Portland Metro Arts.........................................27
World of Smiles.................................................... 26
47

Deciphering Individual Education Plans

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