Archive for 'Education'

Jun201113

Jeremy

0

Father’s Day Fun!

Need ideas for celebrating Father’s Day? Here’s a roundup of options, with something for every family: SATURDAY: Make a Gift: If the kids haven’t made dad a gift yet, head to Lakeshore Learning Crafts on Saturday, June 18 between 11 am and 3 pm. Children 3 and older can make a Father’s Day wallet for FREE! (16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com .) Pick Some Berries: Show dad how sweet you think he is by celebrating at French Prairie Gardens’ Strawberry Festival or Kruger’s Berry Jam. The French Prairie event is open from 9 am to 6 pm June 16 & 17, 9 am to 5 pm June 18, and 10 am to 5 pm June 19. $4 admission, with an extra charge for some activities and berries. (17673 French Prairie Rd., St. Paul. 503-633-8445. frenchprairiegardens.com ). Kruger’s Berry Jam is open from 11 am to 4 pm June 18 & 19. Free admission; purchase berries. (17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-621-3489. krugersfarm.com .) Have a Date Night: How about an evening out for the parents to celebrate Father’s Day? The Little Gym of Lake Oswego is hosting a Parents’ Survival Night from 6 to 9:30 pm on Saturday, June 18, for kids from 3 to 12. Call for details. (503-595-9702. tlglakeoswegoor.com .) Sleep with the Sharks: If a road trip is Dad’s idea fun, how about driving out to the coast for a Father’s Day Family Sleepover at the Oregon Coast Aquarium? The event, for families with kids 4 and older, runs from 6 pm on Saturday, June 18, through 9 am on Sunday, June 19. You’ll sleep with the sharks and enjoy dinner, a scavenger hunt and breakfast in the morning. ($55; pre-registration required. Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, Newport. 541-867-3474 xt 5301. aquarium.org .) Check Out Cool Cars on the Coast: While you’re in the area, dad might also enjoy the Oregon Coast Exotic Car Show on Saturday, June 18, which not only features cool cars but music, exotic animals, kid’s crafts and more. Runs from 10 am to 4 pm. $5; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. (Salishan Spa and Golf REsort, 7760 Hwy. 101 N, Gleneden Beach. oregoncoastexoticcarshow.com .) THE BIG DAY (SUNDAY): A Spectacular Car Exhibit … and Pancakes, too! The Portland Art Museum is hosting a Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast, featuring the new exhibit The Allure of the Automobile . The event runs from 9 am to noon and includes a special pancake breakfast, admission to a Tribute to Cambellini , featuring a built-from scratch 2006 Cambellini, plus “The Allure of the Automobile” exhibit. And all for $10 members and children, $20 non-members (plus handling fee). (1219 SW Park Ave. 503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org .) Zen and the Art of Father’s Day: The Japanese Garden also is hosting a special Father’s Day event, with a treasure map activity for the whole family plus a prize drawing and the garden’s incomparable peace and beauty. They’re open from 10 am to 7 pm. (611 SW Kingston Ave. 503-223-1321. japanesegarden.com .) Did Someone Say Free Admission? The Portland Children’s Museum and A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem are offering free admission for dads to celebrate the day, too. (Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org ; AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org .) Make Time for a Brewsky: And for that special Dads’ Day dinner, we recommend one of the area’s many family-friendly brew pubs. Read our review of The Lucky Labrador Brewing Company in our June Family Fare column . The column also includes a list of many other fabulous local brew pubs for families. Happy Father’s Day!

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Father’s Day Fun!

Jun201101

Samantha

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Our Education & Enrichment Issue

Our annual Education & Enrichment issue is hitting the stands beginning this week, packed with articles and listings to help you find the best school for your children and support their academic success. Inside you’ll find a primer on many of the different Educational Philosophies available around the area as well as a feature to help you decide if it’s Time for a Tutor . We offer tips about helping your child with homework and helping them succeed academically throughout their school career. And for those of you looking ahead to college, we have a feature on college savings and one debunking the myth of the “best” colleges . You’ll also find listings for a host of local schools to help you find the one that best fits your family and your child. Pick up a copy wherever Metro Parent is distributed, or look for it online beginning next week.

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Our Education & Enrichment Issue

Apr201127

Jeremy

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Family Fire Safety (Part 2 of 2)

Last week I wrote about my family’s efforts to learn about fire safety . This week, I want to share some valuable — and surprising — information I gathered along the way. One of my main fire safety questions turned out to something of a red herring because what I had considered an important part of our home fire safety plan is, in reality, questionable at best. I was curious to find out how many fire extinguishers we should have in our home, where they should be placed, if they need to be inspected at regular intervals and, if so, how/where? Unable to find information online to satisfy my curiosity, I emailed Portland Fire and Rescue (PPR) for help. Here’s an excerpt of the answer I received from PFR firefighter and Public Education Office Don Porth: “Fire extinguishers can be both good and bad. We don’t recommend having or not having one. Most homeowners will get a break in their insurance rates for having them, so we know many are out there. “The bigger question becomes when or when not to use them. The answer to that is quite simple: Think like a firefighter. Firefighters always make life safety their top priority. We don’t begin fighting a fire until life safety is secured or ensured (by the firefighting operation). When a fire occurs, get everyone out of the house. Once all lives are secure and a person who has training, experience, and is confident in their ability to use a fire extinguisher decides they can take on the fire, they may certainly do so. “Because the starting point should be from outside the home, the extinguisher should be kept near a door. When the person intent on using it steps in the door and picks it up, they now have their escape route at their back (a firefighter would never let the fire get between them and their escape route). Obviously, the fire has had time to grow and create smoke (the deadly part of a fire) so the situation is far more dangerous now. We do not recommend people ever re-enter a building they’ve already escaped due to fire. “The major problem with fire extinguishers is that the majority of people have never used them. To encounter an emergency and then try to do something about it that you’ve not practiced nor are confident with is a recipe for disaster. “Some fires are discovered when very small. When fire can be confined to the vessel of origin (a pan, trash can, etc.), it can be quite easy to extinguish. However, the method can be much simpler. A tight fitting lid or even a cutting board can be slid over the top of a pan of burning grease or liquid and easily extinguish a stove top fire. Burning food in an oven can be contained in the oven by keeping the door closed and turning off the heat. Even a trash can (metal) can be covered to contain a fire (plastic or wicker won’t work so well with this strategy). But when fire escapes these vessels, it becomes a very different creature and extinguishment by an untrained person with a fire extinguisher is a long shot. Sometimes the effort can actually make the situation worse by knocking burning pans off the stove or delaying a call to 9-1-1. “… In short, be prepared to contain a fire to the vessel of origin (like a pan using the lid). Otherwise, life safety should be your priority. Get everyone out of the house, call 9-1-1, and only fight the fire if you are trained, practiced, and confident in the fire extinguisher that is near the exterior doors of your home. But even that is very risky. The best strategy is an early call to the Fire Department and keeping you and your family safe.” As far as inspecting any fire extinguishers you do have in your home, here’s what Mr. Porth has to say: “(Fire extinguishers) are not required to be inspected but like anything you might expect to use in an emergency, you cannot ignore it or take it for granted. Extinguishers should be picked up and turned upside down a couple of times every few months to ensure the dry chemical inside has not packed or caked in the unit. Check the nozzle to see if any powder is in it. If so, it may have a leaky valve or it was used previously and may not work when needed. If it has a gauge, tap it with your finger in case it is stuck and see that the needle remains pointing at the “charged” indicator in the gauge. If the condition of the unit is in doubt, dispose of it and replace it if you feel you need to. Metro considers the contents of an extinguisher to be a hazardous waste so they need to be disposed of at a local metro transfer/recycling center or taken to a recycling station during the annual haz waste clean up days. For details, contact Metro at 503-234-3000. You may also be able to contact a local fire extinguisher sales/service company for disposal options.” How has your family prepared for fires and other potential emergencies? What do you think are the most important things we can all do to prepare for natural and human-caused disasters?

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Family Fire Safety (Part 2 of 2)

Apr201126

Jeremy

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Portland Village School Auction

The Portland Village School, a Portland Public Charter School inspired by Waldorf education is preparing to host its third annual auction. This year our theme “Common Roots” revolves… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Portland Village School Auction

Apr201118

Samantha

0

Family Fire Safety (Part 1 of 2)

Like most of the parents I know, the recent earthquake/tsunami/nuclear fiasco in Japan got me thinking, once again, about how prepared my family is for emergencies. The answer? Not very. I created a disaster kit several years ago (after 9/11), but I’ve done little to keep it updated. (Expired canned goods anyone?) Plus, it’s in the basement and quite bulky, so it’s not really portable and probably wouldn’t be accessible if there’s serious damage to our home. I now realize it’s not feasible for me to keep everything we’ll need in any given emergency available and accessible, so I’ve decided to focus on the things we CAN do to prepare. Besides the minimum “supplies” – water, flashlights, blankets and a crank-powered radio – that means putting our energy into education. Here at Metro Parent , we’re working on a series of safety articles for our June issue that will include information on emergency preparedness. In the meantime, I decided to begin my own family’s education by learning more about fire prevention and safety. I began my research online, at the City of Portland Fire and Rescue website. Their “Top 10 Safety Tips” provided an ideal outline for my family’s fire safety lessons. One in particular, “Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it” had been on our to-do list for years, though we haven’t gotten around to actually practicing. This coming weekend, we’re planning to remedy that by showing our son how to remove the screen from his window and climb out (which, of course, I know he’ll love and probably want to practiced over and over) and taking turns attaching the expandable ladder in our attic to the window frame and climbing down. I’m kind of scared to climb down the ladder from the second story, but I know it will be better to practice it once or twice now rather than trying to do it for the first time in the midst of a house fire! The PFR website also provides information about smoke alarms and other fire and general safety topics, including an interesting list of FAQs . Did you know PF&R has smoke alarms available to senior citizens, low income families and people with disabilities? (Call the smoke alarm hotline at 503-823-3752 for details.) You can even get your blood pressure checked at any fire station as long is crew is available. (You might want to call first to make sure it’s a good time.) (Sadly, they won’t fill your swimming pool! Now, can anyone tell me why that’s a frequently asked question, especially here in Portland?) …TO BE CONTINUED: Next week I’ll share what I learned from Portland Fire & Rescue about home fire extinguishers, and you’ll probably as surprised as I was by the information! Does your family have a fire escape plan? Have you practiced family fire drills?

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Family Fire Safety (Part 1 of 2)

Apr201113

Samantha

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KidFest! BabyFest! CampFest! SportFest!

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend – and you want to learn about some cool local resources for families – you’re in luck! The northwest’s largest family-focused expo is hitting the Portland Expo Center April 16 and 17. With four different themes – KidFest, BabyFest, CampFest and the new SportFest – there’s sure to be something useful for every parent. And with loads of live entertainment, interactive exhibits and fun zones, the kids will stay entertained, engaged and happy all day, too! Here’s a taste of what’s in store: * Family-friendly entertainment on two stages * Disney featured artists performing live on the Radio Disney Main Stage * Special character appearances * Game Truck video game challenge & interactive zone * Sports demos * Kids’ physical fitness challenge * Diaper Derby crawling races (for prizes!) * A Pint-Sized Disco especially for the little ones Special theme areas include Sports & Fitness, Education & Youth Enrichment, and Resources for Families Raising Kids with Special Needs. Plus, the Extreme FunZone includes giant slides, jump houses, rock climbing, petting zoo & “Walk On The Wildside” reptile exhibit, Mad Science, hands-on crafts, games and more! New this year is a Spring Eggstravaganza – a benefit for Easter Seals – with an Easter Egg Hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Admission to the egg hunt, which begins at 9 am both days, is $10 per child and includes photos with the Easter Bunny, a bouquet of tulips from Wooden Shoe Bulbs, VIP admission to KidFest and more. (Parents are free with paid child!) Regular show hours are 10 am to 6 pm Saturday, April 16, and 10 am to 5 pm Sunday, April 17. Admission is $5 for adult & kids 4 and over; kids 3 and under are free. You can get a family pass for up to 5 people for $20 at TicketsWest.com . Plan to arrive early – the first 250 families each day will receive free passes from show sponsors! For more information, visit kidfestnw.com .

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KidFest! BabyFest! CampFest! SportFest!

Feb201128

Jeremy

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PaganFaire XXI @ Portland-OR Venue (03.19.11)

PaganFaire XXI When: Sat 03.19.11 , March 19, 2011 19:00:00 Where: Portland-OR Venue Art ; Family ; Community : Religious; Music ; Education PaganFaire XXI: 10am-5pm Features Vendors, Craftsmen, Healers and Readers. Entertainers, Dancers and Musicians. Food. Ongoing Classes and Workshops. Raffle to benefit Michelle's Heart Emergency Fund for women and children.Equinox Ritual: Magickal Warriors–Earth Healers begins 7pm. Venue Name: Unknown Venue City: Portland Venue State: OR View Page At CultureMob.com

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PaganFaire XXI @ Portland-OR Venue (03.19.11)

Feb201123

Jeremy

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Recognizing Local “Super” Schools

There’s plenty of talk these days about what’s wrong with public schools, but in our February issue we approached the issue from a different perspective: We took a look at what’s “right” with some local public schools. Just as director Davis Guggenheim challenged all of us to become everyday heroes for education in his film Waiting for Superman (now available on DVD and Blue-ray), we found five local schools with superhero staff and administrators who are overcoming the challenges of high poverty rates and significant percentages of English Language Learners to help every child reach his or her full potential. To learn how these schools — Beach K-8 in north Portland, Kinnaman Elementary in Aloha, Menlo Park Elementary in the David Douglas district, Salish Ponds Elementary in the Reynolds district, and Forest Grove High School — are beating the odds, and what you can do to help improve education at your child’s school and beyond, read the article beginning on page 12 of our February issue . What successful programs or efforts have impressed you at your child’s school? What changes would you like to see in the near future?

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Recognizing Local “Super” Schools

Feb201116

Jeremy

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Get Smart(er) With Our Parents’ Calendar

You know we have a great online Family Fun calendar where you can find activities and events to share with your kids every day, but did you know we also have a fabulous online Parents’ Calendar ? We do! It’s filled each month with everything from lectures, classes and workshops to fundraisers, conferences, and the all-encompassing “miscellaneous” parent-focused events. This month, you could learn how to deal with the “Big Emotions of Young Children” at Providence Portland Medical Center on Feb. 26, or find out how to “Connect by Coaching Your Kid” with Dr. Kathy Masarie, beginning Feb. 17. There’s a class on “The Drug Free Approach: Prevention And Treatment For Learning And Behavioral Problems” at People’s Coop on Feb. 23; a series of Parent-Child Bullying workshops for families with elementary age kids at Barnes and Noble Tanasbourne every Thursday in Feb.; and a class on “Raising Financially Responsible Children” offered several times this month at local boutiques Milagros and Segal’s. We’ve also got details on a Cooperative Preschool Fair on Feb. 5, an introduction to Cross-Cultural Volunteering on Feb. 28, and much more. The March calendar will be posted Mar. 1 with more great parenting-related events, from an “ Adoption Reunion Panel “ with adult adoptees who have reconnected with their birth families to an “ Expecting Multiples Parents Coffee Hour “ to a workshop on surviving “Life with Teens!” March fundraisers include a Crafty Mamas Bazaar at Milagros Boutique to benefit Mercy Corp, Sleep Country USA’s Pajama Bowl , Girls Inc.’s fabulous Power of the Purse event, and Woodstock Elementary School’s Rummage Sale . You’ll also find a comprehensive listing of recurring classes and groups for parents every month, from babywearing, infant massage, cloth diapering, and diaper-free families to monthly blood lead screenings, child safety seat clinics, dads’ groups, breastfeeding support, and groups for kids dealing with cancer and grief. Have an event to submit to our online Parents Calendar? Fill out our online form (click “Submit an Event” on the Parents’ Calendar page), or email the information to calendar@metro-parent.com . Oh, and even more parent education, support group and other parenting resources can be found on our Parent Support and Emergency Services page.

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Get Smart(er) With Our Parents’ Calendar

Feb201102

Samantha

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Jackson Bottom Wetlands

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is just outside downtown Hillsboro, Oregon. It's a nice location for hiking with younger children and viewing birds/wildlife. There is a beautiful Education Center… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Jackson Bottom Wetlands

Jan201131

Jeremy

0

Our February Issue

Our February issue is on the stands this week and you’re definitely going to want to pick up a copy to keep. Inside, you’ll find our annual Birthday Party Resource Guide , listing pretty much everything you need to plan and pull off a totally excellent party at home or away, with minimum stress for you and maximum fun for the kids! You’ll also find a fabulous feature introducing you to five local schools that are beating the odds -– overcoming poverty and language barriers to help all their students excel. Find out how they’re doing it, and how you can get involved in improving education at your child’s school and beyond. Of course all of our regular features are in there, from a Family Fare featuring Por Que No? Taquerias and an Out & About showcasing family ice skating fun to an Angels Among Us spotlighting Writers in the Schools . Ramona gets a big girl room makeover, too. Pick up a copy wherever Metro Parent is distributed — and be sure to pull out the Birthday Guide and save it for your future party planning needs! You can also find the issue online beginning Feb. 1.

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Our February Issue

Jan201117

Samantha

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Our Annual Family Resource Guide

The Metro Parent 2011 Family Resource Guide is currently being distributed throughout the region. It’s the ONLY regional directory of family-friendly activities, destinations, businesses and resources made available to area parents free of charge! Inside the guide you’ll find everything from Educational Attractions to Visual and Performing Arts to Playgrounds, Public Fountains and Hiking Opportunities to Sports, Gymnastics and Horseback Riding to Family-friendly Restaurants and Cafes to area Farmers Markets and so much more. There’s also a special section with resources for parents and families and a guide to Multicultural Fairs and Festivals happening around the area all year long. Pick up a copy wherever Metro Parent is distributed, or read it online today.

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Our Annual Family Resource Guide

Jan201112

Samantha

0

School Open Houses

It’s that time of year again — the time parents start looking in earnest at schools for their kids to attend next fall. With so many great options in the area, the process can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together this list of upcoming School Open Houses with links to each school’s website. For more information about choosing the best school for your child and making the most of your school visit, read “Finding the Best School for Your Child and Your Family” beginning on page 6 of our 2010 Education and Enrichment Guide .

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School Open Houses

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