September

PRESTON
HOLLOW
Early Childhood Association
In Association with the Texas and National PTA
From the President...
by Anne Rosselli
Inside this issue:
From
the President
Events
Member
Spotlight:
Liliana Olea
August
Wrap up
Announcements
Oh goodness! Summer is over
and almost all the kids are back in
school. Can’t believe my kids are
growing up so fast - two are now in
“big” school. I have one straggler
left at home and she is soaking up
the mommy time. We go back to
school on Wednesday - I say “we”
because I’m heading back into the
classroom a little this school year.
And I’m pretty excited about it!
We had a wonderful first
meeting of the year. So many friendly faces - new and familiar. Larry
North and Kidville were a terrific location combo. I announced our
Recipe Corner
Calendar
Sponsors
RENEW
your PHECA
membership
today at
www.phecpta.
org
School bound! Oliver and Sophie Rosselli
on their first day.
say that I have my heart in this
group, I really do!
Thank you to Merrilee Anderson, PhD. for helping us navigate
through the CATS process - a daunting task that my oldest had to endure before your reassuring explanation.
We look forward to our next
meeting when we are hosting Annette Stanislav and Kimberly Palmer
from Chatterbugs (speech and language therapy). They are going to
give insight into the world of language and speech while sharing
helpful activities for our young children to boost their skills. We also
hope to hear from a local business
owner who has taken the link between physical activity and brain
function to jumping, leaping, swinging, hanging new levels.
I also want to thank all our
sponsors - without your support, our
group would not be able to grow like
it is and give back to our community.
No matter what level of commitment we want
your help!
From hosting events, planning and organizing
parties, taking photos, writing for the newsletter or recruiting new members, we are sure
to find something for you!
theme for the year at our meeting:
“Home is where the heart is...” Not
only am I thrilled to have our group
returning to the heart of Preston
Hollow and bringing back favorites
like
meeting raffles, I am aware that
Dallas has become my home. I have
spent many years creating my home
with my husband and children - taking knowledge that I’ve acquired
from PHECA meetings and deepening
friendships within the group. When I
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
SEPTEMBER Events
Mom’s Night Out
ZIZIKI’S
September 18, 2013
7:00 pm
Preston-Forest Village
11661 Preston Rd #309,
Dallas, TX 75230
Leave the kiddos at home and join
us for food and drinks at Ziziki’s
This is a great way to meet new
friends and catch up with old ones.
Storytime at Preston-Royal library.
General Meeting
TALK TO ME:
Language and your child.
September 23, 2013
9:00 am
Children’s Activity
THE LITTLE GYM
Preston-Forest
September 20, 2013
5:30 pm
Cost: $5.00/child
11909 Preston Road #1442
Dallas, Texas 75230
Pizza and drink dinner is included
for the kids after they explore and
practice their skills in the gym.
EVITE coming soon and we hope
everyone can come!
Larry North
6025 Royal Lane, Suite 120,
Dallas, Texas 75230
Annette Stanislav , MS, CCP/SLP,
CALT-QI and Kimberly Palmer, MS,
CCP/SLP, CALT from Chatterbugs,
speech and language therapy services will shed some insight into
the world of language and speech.
They will share helpful activities for our
young children to boost their skills.
CHILD CARE is available for our daytime general
meetings at neighboring Kidville (NE corner of PrestonRoyal) with advance reservation. Children less than 6
months of age are welcome at the meeting. Email:
[email protected] to make your reservation today. Please list the number of children and ages when
making a reservation.
COST: $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional
child.
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT...
there was amazing.
By Dimple Sureka
Liliana Olea has been a
PHECA member since
2011. She serves as the
Arrangements
Chairperson.
Q: What is your all-time favorite family vacation spot?
A: Disneyland! One place that
you might not think of was New
Orleans. We went when Mia was
2. There were a lot of great
places to take the kids. There
was a fairytale playground with
a little restaurant across the
street. We ate at popular restaurants and they were very accommodating.
Liliana
“Lili”
Olea
grew up in humble surroundings in Brownsville, Texas. Although not a native to Dallas, Lili has Olea family at San Antonio Hill Country Golf Recome to love living in this diverse and sort.
cosmopolitan city. She and her husQ: List your favorite couples
band fondly refer to it as the “L.A. of
vacation
spot.
Texas”. “I love how close we are to downtown,
where we can enjoy the museums, parks and festivals.” In addition, Lili and her husband Alejandro A: Puerto Rico. We stayed at the Westin. Rented a
have been impressed with the warmth and openness car and drove to local beaches. We would ask the
of neighbors and organizations. “…it has made our staff where to get local food and we ate rotisserie
transition here easier because we don’t have family chicken on the street. [The beaches] were so pretty. There were live sand dollars on the beach.
here.”
Acutely aware of the wealth and luxury seen
in Dallas, Lili and her husband hope to impart a
sense of social responsibility onto their children.
She is an active member of Community Partners of
Dallas (http://www.cpdtx.org/), a not for profit
organization devoted to helping abused and neglected children.
Together with her daughter Mia, they attend
the Mommy and me events that occur approximately 4 times a year. The projects are simple enough
that even preschoolers can take an active role. For
example, they put together hygiene kits containing
basic supplies such as toothpaste, toothbrush,
shampoo and soap. “Our parents struggled. The last
thing that I want is for [Mia and Liam] to feel that
everything is given to them. They need to know that
there are other kids who don't have the same
things.”
Keeping the kids busy is a challenging task
and Lili shared with us some of her favorite adventures of the summer.
Q: Where did you go this summer?
A: We went to San Antonio and stayed at the Hill
Country Marriott, Memorial Day Weekend. It was
fuuunn! I highly recommend it for families. They
have a great pool, restaurants on site. The staff
Who are the people in your neighborhood?
Do you know someone within PHECA or Preston
Hollow with an interesting story? We’d love to
spotlight them in our newsletter. Email us at
[email protected] with your nomination.
Q: What were some of your favorite finds in Dallas?
A: We spent a lot of time at the Perot. Mia had one
on one time with the staff. But our “find” was
Summer Adventures in Fair Park. The ticket covers
unlimited rides. The Aquarium and Butterfly Garden were included in the ticket price. There was a
nominal $5.00 parking fee. There were no lines.
They have old school carnival rides. It was like going to mini Disneyland!
Book Recommendations
And the Mountains Echoed
by Khaled Hosseini,
Liza Schlitt says, “ It's a sweet
story about love, loss and sacrifice . The story begins with a
dad who tells folklores, particularly one about a man who must
choose one of his five children
to give away. The next day the
father is asked to give his daughter away. The
story is set in Afghanistan and covers wartime
and beyond, painting the demise of the country
through decades of political unrest while weaving in a family's dynamics and struggles as they
face many difficult decisions.
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
AUGUST WRAP UP
FROM LAST MONTH:
FINDING THE “RIGHT” SCHOOL
FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD
Dr. MerriLee Anderson,
president of Collaborative
Academic Testing Services
(CATS) and a panel of
PHECA moms representing
several
local
schools
kicked off our first general meeting on Aug. 26
at Larry North.
Dr. Anderson provided her
number one piece of advice regarding the private
school admission’s testing
process. “Mothers, just take a deep
breath!,” said Dr. Anderson.
She said there is nothing major you
can do to prepare your children for a private school admissions test other than provide them with a good night’s sleep, hardy
breakfast and be straightforward about
where they are going. She recommends not
telling your kids they’re going somewhere
to play as it may set the wrong expectation
once they arrive.
She also provided debate on the issue of tutoring for the CATS test stating it
generates unethical and inaccurate results,
thus placing children in a school they likely
won’t be able to thrive in. CATS adminis-
Sunny Knocke, Jennifer Bryarly, Liliana
Olea and Rackel Patel share their
thoughts on select local schools.
ters testing for 11 local independent
schools. For more information please visit,
www.catstexas.com.
Dr. Anderson was followed by a panel of four mom’s representing Christ the
King, Northway Christian, Lamplighter and
an update on the proposed enhancements
to Preston Hollow Elementary. For more
information on these schools or for a list of
PHECA members at various schools, please
email [email protected].
We look forward to another great
meeting in Sept. with speaker Mr. Joel
from The Little Gym.
PRESTON HOLLOW ELEMENTARY
UPDATE
Rackel Patel, Preston Hollow Neighborhood Advancement Organization (NAO)
board member highlighted some of the
changes that are being proposed to DISD
for Preston Hollow Elementary.

Implementing a International Baccalaureate Program. For more information on International Baccalaureate, visit www.ibo.org.

Implementing a Dual Language Immersion Program. This program will enable all students to speak and write bilingual fluently.

Converting PHES into a PK-8 grade
school.

Converting PHES into a partial magnet
school. Children residing within the
boundary lines of PHES will have automatic
acceptance
into
the
school. Children residing out of the
boundary lines interested in attending
PHES will need to apply for admission.
via testing and interview requirements.
For more information on PHES and/or interested in volunteering, please emailRackel Patel at: [email protected].
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
RECIPE
CORNER
NEW MEMBERS
Andrea Earnhart
Hunter, 2
Due in October
Julie Bagchi
Jillian Toomay
Cora, 23 months
Crystal Smith
Anjali, 3
Brinley Grace, 16
months
Christine Nevitt
Grant, 7
Dean, 4
Audrey, 3
Luke, 1
Denise Marshall and her
husband Dustin welcomed
their fourth child, Madelyn
Paige.
Maddie was 8 pounds 11
ounces and 20 ¾ inches
long. Her siblings Lily, Jack
and Hailey are looking forward to spending time
with her.
Slow cooker Pulled-pork
sandwiches
Ingredients: (serves 6)
 6 pounds pork spareribs
 1 cup ketchup
 1.5 cups barbeque sauce (Texas
Texas BBQ and Grilling sauce)
 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
(more if you like spicy)
 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
 2 tablespoons minced garlic
 1 onion chopped
Boil ribs in salted water. Mix
all of the remaining ingredients except onions to make
the sauce. Line bottom of slow
cooker with onions. Alternate
layers of ribs and sauce and
cook on low for 7 hours. Serve
with fresh rolls and a side of
veggies.
*Tip: Hide some veggies in
this dish by finely grating
carrots and zucchini.
Adapted from Sylvia’s
www.Allrecipes.com
ribs
on
Next issue: Vegetarian
Send us your favorite recipes.
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
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General Meeting:
Talk to me
9:00am
Larry North
MNO
Ziziki’s
7:00pm
Member Roundup
9:30am
Kidville
Children’s Activity
Little Gym 5:30pm
Pizza Included
$5.00/child
Mark your calendar!!!
 October 3rd:
New Member Coffee at Liza Schlitt’s home (All are welcome!)
 October 16th:
Halloween Party, Preston Hollow Park
 October 16th:
MNO (more details to come)
 October 24th:
Halloween Parade, Emeritus Senior Center
 October 28th:
General Meeting 7:00pm (no childcare available)
 November 9th: Holiday Party (Couples event)
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
Please be sure to thank these PHECA sponsors for their support!
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]
September 2013
Please be sure to thank these PHECA sponsors for their support!
www.phecpta.org
Comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, please contact us at: [email protected]