Auburn - Opelika Parents December 2020 by KeepSharing

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December2020 25

Volume 11 Number 10

Columns 4

Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

Improving Parent/ Teen Communication Research study advice for you!

Common Sense Media Making sure your kidsâ€™ online interactions are safe.

Kids Health Watch sponsored by Pediatric Associates of Auburn

25 Parenting, Media &

Everything in Between Common Sense Media

Dave Says Dave Ramsey

10 Commandments for Holiday Cheer

Simple ways to find Christmas joy.

Our guide shares whatâ€™s going on around town and nearby to fill the holidays with joy and memories!

Departments 6

Bits and Pieces

On The Cover Parker (6) and Thompson (4) Cresawn,

School Bits

are the children of Charles and Page Cresawn. Parker is in 1st grade at Auburn Early Education Center and Thompson attends Opelika First Class

Family Calendar

Pre-K Academy. Parker enjoys playing football and basketball, building Legos and drawing. His brother, Thompson, likes to play with Hot Wheels, ride his scooter and color.

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Publisher’sNote

Auburn Opelika Lee County’s Foremost Parenting Source

Wow! What a wide ride 2020 has been! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that we have all had our ups and downs this year. With quarantine, travel restrictions, masking up and school adjustments to juggle, it’s been a year to remember. I don’t know about you, but I have learned a lot about myself and my family along the way. Our family has been able to take this year’s challenges, deal with them the best way possible, and come out resilient in the end. Choosing to look at the positives, in most situations, helped us to grow and embrace this year in a different light. Now that the year is coming to a close, we have the holidays to look forward to. As usual, I put up my Christmas décor as soon as the last trick-or-treater left the front porch. I decided that 2020 needed to end with brightly lit Christmas trees, glittery ribbons, cinnamon scents and a house filled with cheer and joy. In the feature article, 10 Commandments for More Holiday Cheer, the author gives some great tips to guide us this season. With all the ups and downs that 2020 brought, the culmination of this year should not bring any extra stress. Her first tip reminds us to throw perfection out the window. I am guilty of this when it comes to decorating the house for Christmas. Normally, I put up four to five trees and hundreds of angels and displays. While standing in front of the tree and fretting that it just wasn’t looking like it did last year, I had a realization that this year isn’t like last year. This year, I need to give myself grace and be okay with things as they are. So, I gathered the kids, handed them the ornaments, and told them to go for it. They enjoyed the time together and the tree looks amazing! This year, only two trees are up and they are enough to brighten our home and bring us happiness. When you are ready to get out of the house for some Christmas joy, turn to our 2020 Holiday Happenings Guide. You’ll find amazing events with a social-distancing twist. Make sure to mark your calendars for the Sno Much Fun Christmas Extravaganza, featuring a reverse walking parade. Also, there will be a few drive through events like the Victorian Front Porch Driving Tour, Collingwood Luminaries and the Drive Through Nativity Story off Robert Trent Jones Trail. Pick a few that your family doesn’t want to miss and go! 2020 has been a roller coaster ride for us all. For me, the ups outweighed the downs, and we found joy in a renewed sense of family and home through it all. There is so much to celebrate and reminisce on, like being together at home more, our health and finding joy in the little things. This month, slow down and relax. Take in the sights and sounds of the season. Here’s to a year of growth and resiliency... and looking forward to a Happy New Year.

Kendra

kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Kendra Sumner Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson Associate Editor Kelly Watson Contributing Writers Christa Melnyk Hines Cheryl Maguire Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Katie Meadows, MSN Dave Ramsey Cover Photography Keightley Garnett Simple Joy Photography www.simplejoyphoto.com

President Jason Watson Director of Sales Justin Sumner (334) 209-0552 Ad Design Tim Welch

Visit us online at www.auburnopelikaparents.com Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: 475 Bennington Ct, Auburn, Alabama, 36830. The phone number is (334) 209-0552 and fax is (334) 826-7303. Auburn-Opelika Parents is copyrighted 2020 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

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TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP

Improving Your Child’s Sleep Sleep during parenthood is a bit of an oxymoron. It is about as precious as that first sip of coffee, yet as unattainable as the ability to drive to work in the morning without spilling that coffee on your newly ironed shirt. As parents, we tend to put an enormous amount of focus on sleep. We want it, we seek it, we are willing to mortgage the house to get it. It is the hidden gem of parenthood that will make us feel human again. And when our kids pass through that precious newborn stage, where the sleep deprivation is expected, but then enter early toddlerhood and preschool and we still see no sign of quality, sustained sleep on the horizon – we tend to want to curl up on the floor of the closet and call it a day… at 10am. I wish I had THE answer for you, but I don’t. Before you stop reading, though, I will say there are certainly things you can be aware of that might help encourage those little “fighting sleep” soldiers to not only lay down and sleep, but stay asleep… at least until the sun crosses the horizon. Here are a few things to consider:

1: Be aware of the temperature. Our body temperature naturally lowers at night. This is intentional and for our good, and we don’t want to work against that effect. Keeping a cool, but not cold, room will help the body maintain sleep cycles a bit longer. 2: If your child is above the age of three you can speak with your physician about introducing a weighted blanket that is titrated to no more than 10% of your child’s body weight, plus one pound. This gentle pressure mimics the effect of being held and increases rates of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that aids in sleep regulation and has an overall calming effect. 3: Consider adding a white noise maker. These machines tend to mimic a womblike environment, which can help silence your baby’s built in alarm clock that wakes them frequently as they progress between sleep cycles. Note there is a difference however between “light” white noise (raindrops, crashing waves, heartbeat sound) and “heavy” white noise (a whirring fan, an

A/C fan). Heavy white noises are what you are after, as they will work to keep them in those deeper sleep cycles longer. 4: If your child has a bigger problem falling asleep, rather than staying asleep, consider gifting them some fun new accessories for their bedroom this year that may help. Consider items like a bed tent, a projector that casts stars and planets around the room, and a speaker wherein you can play a calming bedtime story from your phone (available on the app store), complete with calming sound effects. You can also go old school for your preschooler and get a Walkman and headphones with some tapes or CD’s of bedtime stories. Let’s be honest – any gift you buy them to help them sleep is really a gift to you. Hang in there! Another 15 years and you will be begging them to get out of bed before noon. Funny how that works. Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to mitigate negative behaviors. She is the Director of Central Alabama for Lifeline Children’s Services and is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of which were internationally adopted and she is a foster parent.

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2020 • WWW.OPELIKACHRISTMAS.COM • #MYOPELIKACHRISTMAS SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Start Your Christmas Shopping!

November 28 • Normal shopping hours CHRISTMAS IN CAMELOT Month of December • 4:30 - 10 p.m. Off of Rocky Brook Road DECORATIONS SWAP & BIG BOOK SALE December 5 • 10 a.m. - Noon Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library SNOW MUCH FUN CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA Featuring a Reverse Walking Parade, Snowfall & Christmas Tree Lighting December 5 • 4:30 - 6 p.m. Courthouse Square opelikachamber.com VICTORIAN FRONT PORCH TOUR Driving Tour • December 9 - 13 • 5 - 10 p.m. Bike Tour • December 10 • 6 p.m. Walking Tour • December 12 • 6 - 9:30 p.m. Pooch Tour • December 13 • 12 - 2 p.m. (Pups are welcome to stroll the tour.) victorianfrontporchtour.com VICTORIAN FRONT PORCH TOUR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES December 9 • 5 - 8 p.m. December 10 • 5 - 8 p.m. December 13 • 2 - 5 p.m. December 13 • 6 - 8 p.m. Provided by Friends of the Library Purchase tickets at opelikalibraryfriends.com

CHRISTMAS IN A RAILROAD TOWN December 11 • 5 - 8 p.m. Sponsored by AUBURN OPELIKA Lifestyle Group opelikamainstreet.org OPELIKA THEATRE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA December 12 • 9 - 11 a.m. Southside Center for the Arts (1103 Glenn) opelikatheatrecompany.com OPELIKA THEATRE WINTER SHOWCASE December 13 • 3 - 4 p.m. Sportsplex Amphitheater Donations only opelikatheatrecompany.com OPELIKA THEATRE SANTA’S O’TOWN CHRISTMAS BALL December 17 • 6:30 - 8 p.m. Mothers & Sons (ages 4-8) Fathers & Daughters (ages 4-8) December 18 • 6:30 - 8 p.m. Mothers & Sons (ages 9-13) Fathers & Daughters (ages 9-13) Southside Center for the Arts (1103 Glenn) opelikatheatrecompany.com

FA-LA-LA FESTIVAL TO GO December 19 • 10 a.m. - Noon Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON December 23 • 10 a.m. - Close Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library New movie starts every 2 hours OPELIKA THEATRE NEW YEAR’S EVENT RAISING THE CURTAIN CABERET FUNDRAISER December 31 • 7 - 9 p.m. & 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Southside Center for the Arts (1103 Glenn) Reservations 334-663-4480 or 334-663-2593 Presented by Opelika Theatre w/ Auburn Knights opelikatheatrecompany.com Please take personal responsibility by wearing masks and social distancing when attending events. Thank you.

COLLINWOOD LUMINARIES December 18 • 5 - 9 p.m. 53rd Anniversar• Off of 10th Street Rain date December 19 • 5 - 9 p.m.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: City of Opelika • Opelika Parks & Recreation • Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library • Opelika Chamber of Commerce • Opelika Main Street • Victorian Front Porch Tour • Auburn-Opelika Tourism • Opelika Theatre Company 5

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Jingle Jog 2020

The Jingle Jog 5k is back in 2020 – so pull out those ugly sweaters and Santa hats, Auburn! Join Active Auburn on Saturday, December 19 at 7 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner. The Jingle Jog 5k will start in waves between 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. When registering, please enter your estimated 5k time. Your start time will be emailed to you on December 17. www.activeauburn.org/events/jingle-jog-5K

Fantasy In Lights – The South’s Christmas Tradition

Treat your family to a fun tradition that’s filled with holiday cheer! It’s Christmas at Callaway, featuring Fantasy In Lights, one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Light Displays in the world. Come make merry in the Christmas Village and ride through the dazzling illuminated forest. Extend the celebration with an overnight stay, enjoy mouth-watering meals or cozy cups of cocoa in our beautiful accommodations, and explore 2,500 acres of stunning natural landscape. Create a season that’s magical with a getaway to remember – at Callaway Resort & Gardens, November – Monday, January 4, 2021.

CHICAGO

One night only! December 17 at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. There’s never been a better time to experience “CHICAGO”, Broadway’s razzledazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, thousands of standing ovations, and now the #1 longest-running American Musical in Broadway history. www.eastalabamaarts.org

Ho! Ho! Ho! Hike Sponsored by Kreher Preserve and Nature Center

Come help us find Santa in the Kreher Nature Center forest on Saturday, December 5, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon! On our annual HoHoHo Hike, we will venture out on a guided hike to try and find the elusive man in red. We'll also explore all the other red things might we find in nature! Then, we'll return to a warm campfire, hot chocolate, crafts, and more. Tickets are available online or at the door. Admission is $5 per person and $4 for members; children 2 and under are free. The rain date for this event is December 14. www.preserve.auburn.edu

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

Drive-Thru Nativity Story

Join The Church of the Highlands Opelika this December 1-31 for a unique Holiday Event. The whole month of December the Opelika Sportsplex will be having a drive-thru nativity scene. Come and see this beautiful display in the parking lot of the Sportsplex. Signs will clearly mark where to go. This showing is sponsored by Church of the Highlands Opelika. 334.705.5560 6

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Christmas in a Railroad Town

Join us, December 11, 5:00-8:00 p.m., in Downtown Opelika, for this year’s Christmas in a Railroad Town. Whether you’re a young child or simply a child at heart – there will be activities for everyone at this great night out in historic downtown Opelika on Friday, December 11. Festivities include: Children's train, Pony rides, Large and small animal petting zoo, Wagon rides, Trolley rides, Photobooth, Hot chocolate, Face painting, Gingerbread house contest, Make your own Reindeer Food, Make a Life Bead Bracelet, Storybook reading by the Opelika Theatre Company, Firetruck, Late-night shopping and dining and more! Be transported back in time and take a wagon ride through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour. Leave straight from Christmas in a Railroad Town and be delivered back once you’re done. Enclosed trolley rides also available at the Museum of East Alabama. www.opelikamainstreet.org

Victorian Front Porch Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

Take a horse-drawn carriage ride during the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour from 5-8 p.m. on December 9-10! A team of horses will pull a beautiful wagon through the historic Victorian Front Porch Tour. The carriage accommodates up to 6 people. We recommend that you include all people over 18 months of age in your count, so this is a perfect event to do with your family, friends, or colleagues. Each ride will last approximately 10 minutes and is a delightful way to see the beautiful Victorian Front Porch Tour. Carriage loading and unloading will take place at Trinity United Methodist Church at the Student Center on 2nd Avenue. The proceeds from this event support the Friends of the Cooper Library. Their mission is to support the programs and services of Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library. www.opelikalibraryfriends.com

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K Eric Essix, Virtual Performance

Downtown Christmas Parades: Auburn & Opelika

The Gogue Performing Arts Center LIVE: Alabama Artists Series concludes with a live concert by Birmingham great Eric Essix—broadcast live from the Marentes stage in the Woltosz Theatre, December 3 at 7:30 PM. This performance is free to view with online registration. Over a period of more than 30 years and 25 full length album releases, Eric Essix has not only maintained a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz, he appears to have no intention of stopping. This fact is evident with the release of nine compositions, all written, arranged and produced by Essix called, “Songs From The Deep.” This latest effort by Essix, revisits the artist’s favorite theme, his Birmingham, Alabama roots. It is a project that reveals the soul of the man and his music as he continues to reconcile love for his homeland with its tumultuous history. www.goguecenter.auburn.edu/eric-essix/

Downtown Auburn is hosting their annual Christmas parade on Sunday, December 6, at 2 p.m. You can come out and celebrate the holidays with a parade including all your local favorites. Santa asks that you social distance safely and wear a mask. www. downtownauburnonline.com Downtown Opelika will celebrate with a unique, COVID twist to it’s annual parade event. This year, December 5, 5:30 p.m., the event will feature a reverse walking parade which means the parade entries will be stationary while attendees walk through the parade route. This allows the parade entries to maintain a proper distance within their space, but also allows organizations who are not yet allowed to participate in large events to set up and leave their spaces decorated for all to appreciate. Walking Parade Route is OPEN (enter from the Breezeway area on 8th St). On the parade route, you'll find a Socially Distanced Santa Claus, plus snow will be falling & Christmas music will be playing! www.opelikachamber.com

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Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Pediatric Associates of Auburn

Adolescent Depression Depression is one of the four most common mental health disorders affecting children in the US. According to the CDC, 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years old were diagnosed with depression in 2016. That’s at least 1.9 million children diagnosed with depression! Since the pandemic started, depression rates are increasing even more. Therefore, it is critical for parents and caregivers to be aware of the causes, warning signs and treatment of adolescent depression. Causes. Teens may experience depression because of certain life events, negativity in their environment such as being bullied at school, an inherited tendency toward depression, hormonal changes, medical conditions or negative thought patterns. Depression can be triggered by the loss of a family member or friend. Drug and alcohol abuse can also lead to depression. Recently, adolescents are becoming depressed due to isolation and experiencing a major change in routine related to the pandemic. Warning signs. Depressed teens may be sad or cranky for most of the day. The parent may notice the teen no longer wants to hang out with friends or seems disinterested in sports or hobbies he or she once enjoyed. The adolescent may suddenly lose or gain weight. The teen may be sleeping excessively during the day and/or experience insomnia at night. Many have low self-esteem and develop poor school performance. Some may experience pain such as abdominal pain or

headaches, causing absences from school. Most importantly, if the teen is not concerned about the future or starts giving away valuable possessions, the teen may be having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, which is an emergency. Take action. Upon first noticing the signs and symptoms of depression, the parent should first talk with the teen and help them open up about their feelings. Really listen to what he or she has to say. If the teen is uncomfortable sharing with the parent, having the teen seen by their pediatrician and/or counselor can be helpful as well. If the teen is experiencing suicidal ideation, seek emergency medical treatment by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800-273-8255, which will likely include going to the nearest emergency department. Ways to help. There are several ways parents can help their teen navigate symptoms of depression. The parent will want to ensure the teen is eating three healthy meals per day, drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeinated and sugary drinks. Ensure the adolescent is sleeping well and exercising for at least one hour on most days. Limiting screen time and promoting positive personal connections with family and friends can be very beneficial. Many teens have a low stress tolerance, so helping them find healthy coping skills is important, such as deep breathing exercises or taking a walk. The caregiver should provide safety for the child who is

bullied and comfort for the child who may be grieving a loss. Along with positive parental support, medical support may be a helpful addition to the adolescent’s care. Counselors and psychologists are trained in helping adolescents discover positive coping strategies when feeling depressed. Make a plan. Depression does not go away overnight. The parent and teen will need to make a safety plan for the days that the teen has negative thoughts and is feeling really down. Keep the phone numbers of the teen’s medical provider and counselor close by for emergencies. Be consistent with counseling. If the teen has been prescribed an antidepressant, ensure the adolescent is taking their medication as prescribed, even on their best days. For more information about adolescent depression, visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/youth and healthychildren.org. References: CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics/ healthychildren.org Katie Meadows is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who joined Pediatric Associates of Auburn in July 2020. She is an Opelika native who began nursing school at SUSCC. She received her BSN degree from JSU and MSN degree from UAB. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Katie and her husband Conner live in Opelika and have one son. They are active members of Church of the Highlands and enjoy spending time at the lake as a family.

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Autauga County Schools

Alabama Apple Crunch

Auburn City Schools celebrated the 4th Annual Alabama Apple Crunch, which is an effort to show support for local foods in partnership with the Alabama Farm to School Program. This year features a virtual farm tour where students can “ridealong” with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey to see the apple and peach trees at Scott's Orchard in Hazel Green, Ala. Students also virtually participated in two apple labs, where they learned about math, science, and nutrition, all through apples!

Lights On After School

Lights On After School, held on Thursday, October 22, is the only nationwide event celebrating after school programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. This effort showcases the great things happening each day after school. This year, after school programs are working more diligently than ever to help with students’ learning loss due to COVID-19 and campus closures. ACS wants to thank all our afterschool employees and volunteers!

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Opelika HS Culinary Teacher Receives Award

Congratulations to Chef Judy Eldred, culinary teacher at Opelika High School for being named the Educator of Excellence at the ARHA - Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association 2020 Stars of the Industry Awards!

Heart Safety Awareness

Campuses across Auburn City Schools are becoming Project ADAM Heart Safe Schools! Cris Brown, Executive Director of Alabama Life Start, delivered Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to ACS Nurse Administrator Brenda Lindahl. These AEDs will be distributed in all 13 schools along with promotional material that comes with being named a Heart Safe School. The designation of "Heart Safe School" is attained upon the successful implementation of a quality sudden-cardiac arrest program consisting of awareness, training, and effective response when it comes to proper use of the devices and how to follow procedures in the event of an emergency.

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

Lee-Scott Student Named Lee County Distinguished Young Woman

Congratulations to senior Mary Helen Miller who was chosen as Lee County’s Distinguished Young Woman! She will now represent Lee County and Lee-Scott Academy in the state’s DYW Virtual Program. Joining Mary Helen in this year’s program representing LSA was senior Kendal Hull. Mary Helen won fitness, talent, scholastics, self expressions, and was the program’s overall winner. Kendal won the spirit award and essay competition. We are so proud of these two young women and their commitment to leadership and talent in young women! 10

St. Michael Students Honor Public Safety Workers

St. Michael Catholic Preschool and Kindergarten helped celebrate and honor all of those employed in the "public safety field" (i.e. police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, 911 operators and EMS personnel). The Stewart Family is pictured after they received posters and thank you cards from the students at SMCPK.

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Healthcare Brought to Life

Students studying health sciences at Auburn High School met Bailey, the new (lifelike) midfidelity manikin on campus! The purchase of this manikin was made possible through a Career Technical Education expansion grant secured from the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). The healthcare workforce requires training opportunities that are current and relevant for a career field that is in high demand. With so much patient assessment and treatment being subjective, Bailey offers students the opportunity to have access to realistic patient simulation with accurate vital signs including, but not limited to breathing, pupil dilation, and pulse activity. Students can also perform CPR with instant feedback and proper use of AEDs on this manikin. This piece of equipment will serve for years to come with all its capabilities and applications pertaining to healthcare training that better prepares students for the clinical setting within hospitals and caregiving facilities.

Training up the next generation of Christian leaders TCSOpelika.org | 334-745-2464

Auburn City Schools Celebrates National School Lunch Week

NSLW increases student participation and awareness of healthy and delicious meal offerings within our schools. Governor Ivey also officially proclaimed October 2020 as Farm to School Month. The Alabama Farm to School Program promotes nutritional practices, fresh and local foods, school gardens, and teaching agriculture education. Local farms play an important role in Alabama school systems by providing a variety of fresh, affordable, and healthy produce options. Check out the Alabama-sourced sweet potatoes being served in ACS! 11

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Trinity Honor Society 2020-2021

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Autauga County Schools

Congratulations to the members of the Trinity Christian School Honor Society for the 20202021 school year!

October HymnSing at Trinity

The monthly HymnSing is an important part of school life at Trinity as the entire student body gathers in worship.

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Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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Lee-Scott Students Learn Process of Voting

Sixth graders set up their very own LSA polling site to allow our lower school students the opportunity to learn about the process of voting in a national election! Thank you sixth grade for your hard work to provide this fun experience on campus.

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Chambers Academy Students Visit Pumpkin Patch

On Friday, October 23, the K5 â€“ 6th grade students at Chambers Academy had a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch at Jack O Lantern Lane here in LaFayette. The students saw the corn grinding station, visited the petting zoo, hunted their own personal pumpkin from acres of pumpkins ready to pick, rode the hayride and played in the vast assortment of inflatables. At the corn grinding station, students learned first-hand how fresh corn can be ground into cornmeal. Over 97 students made the trip along with a number of parents and grandparents for an enjoyable field trip that the children had looked forward to making. Students also fed many of the animals at the petting zoo and were able to get up close to see a camel that smiled for them! Overall, it was a great outing for the children to enjoy during this era of the pandemic in 2020.

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Autauga County Schools

Alabama Teachers of the Year

The Alabama Teacher of the Year Program seeks annually to honor and recognize excellence in the teaching profession by identifying outstanding Alabama classroom teachers at local, district, and state levels. Congratulations to the following teachers for being named Teacher of the Year: • Ashley Wood, Teacher of the Year at Creekside Elementary School • Coach LaDextric Oliver, Teacher of the Year at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School • Brooke Braswell, Teacher of the Year at Cary Woods Elementary School • Leigh Green, Teacher of the Year at Pick Elementary School • Tracey Oprandy, Teacher of the Year at Yarbrough Elementary School • Coach Tim Meeks, Teacher of the Year at East Samford School • Whitney McBride, Teacher of the Year at Dean Road Elementary School • Abby Brown, Teacher of the Year at Auburn Early Education Center • DeAnne DeWeese, Teacher of the Year at Ogletree Elementary School • Traci Curry, Teacher of the Year at J.F. Drake Middle School • Silvia Scaife, Teacher of the Year at Auburn High School • Kim Johnson, Teacher of the Year at Auburn Junior High School.

1204 OGLETREE VILLAGE LANE AUBURN, AL 36830 • (334) 887-0099

Congratulations to the Liles Smiles no cavity winners! LAURA KATE BACAK THAD BACAK OWEN BELL AVA BROWN NACORIAN BROWN NATHAN BUTLER HARRISON CARL LANDON CARL SIMMONS COBB RAY COBB III SAVANNAH DAWSON AMELIA DOMINGUEZ SARAH DOMINGUEZ BRENNAN FINCHER LILLY FINCHER HAYES GAMBLE MALLORY GAMBLE EASTON GOLDEN HOLLYN GOLDEN MADISON GREER ANGELLA LIM CHRISTINA LIM BECKETT MADSEN MARGARET MADSEN PENELOPE MCNEELY BOWLIN PAYNE GIULIANA PAYNE JOEL PEREZ BENJAMIN RUDD JOSHUA RUDD MARY RACHEL RUDD FRAN SALTER JACE SCOTT HENRY VAUGHAN OWEN VAUGHAN DAYLEN WALTON ERICK ALCANTARA BRAIDEN ANDERSON CAMEIA ASKEW ZIKORA ASOGWA ZOBAM ASOGWA CHRISTOPHER BALLARD SAVANNAH BALLARD SAWYER BOZEMAN BENTLEY BROOKS JACE BROWN JUSTICE BROWN KENDALL BRYANT JONATHAN CALDWELL JOHNNI CESENA ANDREW COCHRAN ERIC DE LEON

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MACKENZIE DAVIS MAKHYE DUKES JAYCE DUNN MARLEE EDWARDS CAROLINE GILLILAND NOAH GILLILAND JORDAN GRIFFIN DAVIS HATCHETT JAXON HATCHETT MALLIE HATCHETT OLIVIA HATCHETT JAMES HOLLAND SOPHIE-ANNE HOLLAND NOVA HUGHLEY RANDY INGERSOLL EMILY LEON LONDON LOVE TREVOR MILES ANDRE MOORE ANDREW MOORE VICTORIA PORTER MARKEIAH ROWE KODIE SIMMONS MASEN SMITH AVERY SMITH LOGAN SPIKES ZOEY STUCKEY NOAH THOMASTON ADELYNN THORNTON KAYDEN TOLBERT KENNEDI TREADWELL AUBREY TYSON HUNTER TYSON LAKEN WESLOSKI CLARYBETH WHITE ROBERT WHITE GREER WILLIAMS WALKER ZAPP HENRY ANKERSON ISALENA ANKERSON AUBREE BETTENCOURT SALLY BOSWELL ETHAN BROWN HENRY CHILDS CARTER DEMYAN ANN LANGSTON HENDRIX HARPER HENDRIX WILLIAM HENDRIX LEAH JACKSON MADISON JERNIGAN SERINITY JOHNSON ADDYSON JONES

ALY JONES ANA JONES HUTTON JONES JASON JONES EMORY LLOYD WAYLON MARTIN JUNIPER MCKELVEY BROOKLYN MIXON TAYLOR MIXON CHRISTIAN ORANTES GABRIEL ORANTES LETTIE PAUL HUNTER POE KADELY ROBERTSON ANDERSON SINCLAIR CHRISTOPHER SINCLAIR HAVYN WIDEMAN NATALIE WIDEMAN GREYSON YOUNG ELIJAH ZABALA YASEEN ABDALLA LAUREN AKINS SAMANTHA BELCHER BANKS BERRY BECKETT BERRY TRESTON BOLER JUCASION BROOKS BLADON BROWN TUCKER BROWN ARIE BURGESS TA`MYRIA CARLISLE IYANI CARWELL KONNER CAULEY LOGAN CAULEY ANNE COOPER JOHN COOPER CREW CRAWFORD KIERSTIN CRAWFORD DEAN DUBOSE GLENDA DUBOSE NANCY DUBOSE MIA GARCIA- PACHECO MALAKIA HOLSTON ALEXIS HOOKS MALEIGHA HOOKS SHANIYA HOOKS KELSON JAMES STEPHANIE SALGADO MERCADO BENJAMIN SEALES ELI SEALES CASEY SHACKELFORD GABRIEL STONE

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

JORDYN STONE MANUEL STONE III MELEAH TIGNER TRENISE TIGNER TREYSHUN TIGNER WILLIAM TRAVIS DARCY TROUSE ROBERT TROUSE DAVIS ALEXANDER SPENCE ALEXANDER HAMED ALMAGHRABI MESHAAL ALMAGHRABI KAYDEN BEASLEY KAYLON BEASLEY EMMA BROWDY NOLAN CARTER ZACHARY CARTER LANDEN FOX KYLEE GRAYS JACKSON HILL THOMAS HILL DANIEL INGRAM ELLIS INGRAM ADDIE INGRAM SAWYER JACKS CREWE JACKSON KAMIRA JEFFERSON HENRY KOBECK HADLEY LEDBETTER JARED LEDBETTER SADIE LEDBETTER BRADEN LEE JASEN MOORE DAVID NGUYEN JEWEL PAULEY BRIESLY PEREZ CHRISTOPHER PEREZ COOPER PUCKETT LILLY PUCKETT ABRAHAM REINHARDT RAELYN REINHARDT BREYANNA ROBINSON TYQUARIUS ROBINSON ZYUNA ROSS ADDISON RUSSELL JOHN SEAGLE CREED SIMMONS SAWYER SIMMONS CHAMBLESS SMITH LANE SMITH ASHER STEPHENSON JUDAH STRAND

CONTWEZ BULGER KEYSHAWN BULGER KYLER CLARK WILLIAM CROUCH JONATHAN CROUCH JACKSON CRUZ LACEY CRUZ WALLY CRUZ JA`LYN HUTCHERSON SHELDON HUTCHERSON CONNOR JENNINGS JACKSON LEE CARIA MADDOX DERRICK MADDOX ELLA MARTIN MAKENNA MARTIN ANISTYN MERRITT JORDAN MILLER MAKINLEY MUNNERLYN GERSON PAGAN OMAR PAGAN KYSON PANNELL KAYLEE PARK JOHN PARSONS MICHAEL PARSONS NICHOLAS PARSONS JAXON POWELL ANUAR SANCHEZ DAKODA STEPHENS ELAND STEPHENS TINLEY SULLIVAN ANGELA VASILAS LOGAN WHITE TIMOTHY WHITESIDE ANGEL WHITLOW NATHANIEL WHITLOW CARTER WILLIAMS MARIAM ALI KENSLEY BALDWIN TAYLOR BALDWIN JOHN BLACKSTOCK PATRICK BOOKER KYLERIAH BRISKEY ZYKERIAH BRISKEY EMMA BRUCE ISABELLA BRUCE KINGSTON COLLINS FISHER DANIEL AURY DELEON VERA MC`KENSLYE FORD JOSIAH FREEMAN SAKURA FUKAI SOICHIRO FUKAI SKYLAR HALL XAVIER HARRIS CARLOS HERNANDEZ BRISTOL HUBBARD KELSIE HUBBARD ASHER KIM NOAH KIM BRYSON LAMB OWEN LAWRENCE OLIVIA LAWRENCE ALISTER MARTIN JAXON MARTIN LILLIAN MARTIN MEMPHIS MARTIN LAMERIO PENNYAMON

GABRIEL TERRY SAMUEL TERRY TYMNA TERRY KAYLEIGH THORNTON WILLIAM WILES JACKSON WILLIAMS JOHN WILLIAMS FREDRICK WILSON NEVAEH BARRESI TRINITY BATTLE MILLIE BONNER GRACIE BRADY RAELYN BRADY AALIYAH BROOKS RYLEE CANNON HENRY COCHRAN MARGARET COCHRAN MICHAEL COCHRAN SANTONY COPE JR BELLA DAVIS AKAYLA DOSS NOAH FARRIS ALIYAH GAFFNEY KALYN GAFFNEY MARLEY GOLDEN KELIS HARPER DAVID HEWITT JON HEWITT J`MIRACLE JENKINS AALIYAH MADDOX ARIYAH MADDOX BAILEY MADDOX MATTHEW MADDOX KYNLEE MASON LEELA MAULDEN DALIA MAZHER EVELYN MAZHER MARIAM MAZHER CHANCE MCELROY LE`ONNA REAVES-YOUNG CARTER RIGSBY MARY LYLE RIGSBY CARTER RYLES ARVID SANCHEZ EASTON SMITH STEVEN SMITH ADDISON THROWER GRACIE TOMIK TRENTON WEATHERS AUSTYN WILLIAMS BRADLEY WILLIAMS KALEAH WILLIAMS JACE YOUNG LORRAINE ACEVEDO SOPHIA ACEVEDO KEINSTON ACUFF ANNALEE ADAMS BENTLEIGH ADAMS HARRIS ADAMS LAWSON ADAMS REEMA ALQAHTANI GABRIELLE BEASLEY NAOMI BEASLEY NEHEMIAH BEASLEY ZACHARY BEASLEY III TIANNA BRITT BRAYLEIGH BROWN BRAYLEN BROWN

PRECIOUS PENNYAMON GENISIS RAMOZ- HERNANDEZ BRAYLON SITZ SKYLAR STORM TANNER STORM ISAIAH TAYLOR CAMDEN WYATT ROMIE ALEXANDER CALEB ATWELL ISABELLA ATWELL AMOURA BAILEY BANKS BRADHAM BECK BRADHAM ZADIE BRADHAM CODIE BROWN GAVINO CALDERON DAYANARA CALDERON BLANTON CALLEN LILA DAHL-RUIZ TARON DOLEMAN JAIDEN DUNN WILDER GARRISON FAYTH GLENN PHOENIX GUIZAR CAMAURI HARRIS CAMPBELL JONES MOHINI KAMATH SAAHIL KAMATH HALLE KIRKLAND PORTER KIRKLAND ADDISON LEE CALEB LEWIS ANSLEIGH MARTIN CATHRYN MARTIN JOSEPH MARTIN MARY BRENTLEY MOORE BROCK PERKINS ARIANA PHILPOT DAVID SMALLEY STISHER SMALLEY TRINTON SMITH ALLIE THOMPSON EMANUEL VASQUEZ ELLIE WARD NAOMI WARD TIMOTHY WESLEY KOLLIN WHITE RYLEE BAILEY HENRY BEVARD MAGGIE BEVARD EZARI BRYANT GIBSON BUCKNER HUDSON BUCKNER KAMRYNN BURGESS KANE BURGESS KARSYN BURGESS CARTER BURNEY TREVON CARR EDGAR CRUZ JAXON FINLEY KAIRO FULLER BENNETT GREEN REMINGTON GREEN GAVIN HARRIS JESSICA HERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ JUSTIN HOLLOWAY KASEN JACKSON ELIANA CHAERYN KIM

CHARLOTTE LEE SKYLAR MATTHEWS NEVAEH MAYFIELD KAIRO MCCALL ANNA MCCORMICK KADEN MCINTYER KAYLEE MCINTYER AVERY MILLER PRESLEY MILLER CORNELIUS MURRAY TYSON PRINCE RAE PURSER GARRETT SAXTON SHAWNTIA STAFFORD JAVYUN TARVER NARIAH UPSHAW NIYANA UPSHAW NORMAN UPSHAW MACILEIGH WEBB MIRANDA WEBB BRAELIN WILKERSON PAYTON BEAN CHRISTIAN BERRY KALPANSH BHANDARI PRANITI BHANDARI NATALIE COFFMAN NATHANIEL COFFMAN WILLIAM CRAMER ELSIE CRAWFORD EVERLEIGH CRAWFORD JAX CRAWFORD AVERY CREED HANNAH CROY TAYLOR CROY RILEY FREEMAN RIAN GREENE SAMUEL GREENE STELLA GRIDER BRAELIN HARRIS CLARKE IVATT SUTTON IVATT GREYSON JOHNSON KAYDEN LARKIN URIAH LARKIN EMORY LEAF NORA LEAF BEAU LEE ELIZABETH LEE NORAH LOCH SAMUEL LOCH HUDSON MCLAUGHLIN TUCKER MCLAUGHLIN JACK MCPHERSON CAIDEN PAYNE JOSHUA PERRY LUKE PERRY BROOKLYN POPE CHRYSTAL POPE MADISON STADLER RILEY STADLER CALEB THORNTON EPHRAIM THORNTON RAMSEY VARDMAN RILEY VARDMAN HAYDEN WOOD AVA APLIN NOAH APLIN DEVIN BARNES-SIMON

HUNTER BEASLEY ROBERT BRADSHAW WILLIAM BRADSHAW KARSEN BRUNER BRAYDEN DENNEY ELIJAH EASON LOGAN EASON JOHN FREEZE PENELOPE FREEZE OLIVIA GARNETT AMELIA GARNETT ONNI GRANT RYLEE HALLMARK CAROLINE HILL JOHN HILL RILEY HILL ARNETAS JAMES JULIA JOHNSTON ADALYN KILLCREAS ADEN KILLCREAS AMAURI LOCKHART AMAYAI MITCHELL AMIR MITCHELL DESTINY MITCHUM MATTHEW NORRIS AIDEN PADGETT DREW PAISLEY JACOB PARKER JONATHAN PARKER VANN PEARSON EDEN REECE KENNETH SPRATLIN STELLA STANFIELD NOAH TAPLEY BENNY THOMAS RACHAEL TRUETT ROBERT TYSON ANNA (GRACIE) WILSON CHARLES (CHARLIE) WILSON JON WILSON WYATT YOUNG CAMILLE ABRAMS CHARLI BAILEY LIAM BAILEY ADDALYN BANKSTON RAMIYAH BELL KENNETH BOWERSOCK LEVI BOWERSOCK JAMES BRAND RA`KHELL BROWNING RAPHEAL BROWNING WALKER BRUCE ANNA COUNTS JOHN COUNTS MERRILL COUNTS JOSEPH COXWELL WILLIAM COXWELL JORDAN DUNN CADE EDWARDS KASEY FAULK GABRIEL FEQUIERE CULVER GILMORE CHANNING GRAF PALMER GRAF GUILLERMO GUEVARA BRODY HAWKINS COLTON HAWKINS GRAYSON HAWKINS

ELLIS HERRING RANSOM HERRING DANIEL HORNADY JUAN IBARRA SAWYER KIRK AIDEN LANE MASON LANE MELODY LOPEZ KAINEN MITCHELL ISSABELL MOONEY SUMMERLIN OMASTIAK SYDNEY SALATTO JACKSON SMITH MARLEE SMITH ASTON STAPLES MARY BERKLEY TATUM LANDON THORNELL ISSAK WASHINGTON JAMES WHITE OLIVIA WHITE AMY ZHOU ALIVIA BAKER JAXON BAKER IRIE BIGGERS ANNESLEE BRITTON KHALIA CORE HAVEN COX PEYTON CRAIG PIPER CRAIG CLARA GRACE CULBRETH WYATT CULBRETH KYLEIGH DAUGHERTRY DALLAS DAVIS HAYDEN ELIO RYELEIGH GANN JASON GARRETT SKYE HENDERSON MADELYN HIXON KENDARIUS HOLMES TREVEONTAE HUTCHINSON RANA KOUK WAFIA KOUK MADISON LARIMORE PABLO LEON BRITTNEY LOPEZ ELI LORE MCKINZIE MCCAIN MARCUS MCNEIL IVY MONK JAXCIRI MORALES AUSTIN MORGAN GRACE MORGAN BERKLEY PETERS RY`KING PHILLIPS CARSYN PIKE JA`QUEZ REESE JALIYAH REESE DANIELA RODRIGUEZ DEREK RODRIGUEZ CED`DARIUS TELL HAILEY TIEKLING DOMINIQUE WILKERSON JR AVERY BAKER HAYES BAKER LONDON BALLARD ELIZABETH BROWN JOHN HENRY BROWN KATHRYN BROWN

DAVIS CORMAN WILLIAM CORMAN KEVIN ENRIQUEZ CONNELLY ETHEREDGE PEYTON ETHEREDGE AMELIA FARRIOR TOWNES FARRIOR JOHN FORD CARSON FOSTER EASTON GILMORE PEYTON GILMORE DAYMEON JENKINS BRISLI LOPEZ-CASTILLO ASHER MALONEY CLINTON MARLEY LILY MARLEY COLEMAN MEZICK DYLAN NORRELL VERA PODLESNIK FISCHER PRINCE LUCY STOKES OWEN STOKES GRADY TRUETT EMMY WHITE WILLIAM WHITE NOAH WILLIAMS CHARLEE AMBROSE APLIN ARD MAGGIE BEAMS MASON BOOTH LILLIAN BOOTH JARREL BOWEN JUSTIN BOWEN MAKYA BOYD ZAQUAN BOYD DAXTON BUCKNER JAYLEN CARLTON HARRISON FLURRY EASTON GREGORY HAWKINS JOHNSON JOSEPHINE JOHNSON WAYLON JOHNSON JANIYA JONES KADEN JONES NATHANIEL KING NICHOLAS KING ANNALYN LAMBERT HALIN LEDBETTER JAYDEN LOWERY LORELAI MASSINGILL RAELYNN MOORE KAMONI NUNN WILLIAM RAYFIELD EMALEIGH REAVES JEREMIAH REAVES CHRISTIAN REGGIO STELLA ROBERT HAYDEN ROOKER TRISTAN ROOKER MATTEO SANCHEZ MOLLYANN SASSER EMERY SLOCUMB JACOB SMITH JOHNATHAN (DREW) SMITH JONAH SMITH SUMMER SMITH BROOKLYN TOSTI NOLAN TOSTI

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Autauga County Schools

Auburn Classical Academy Students Visit Pumpkin Patch

Mrs. Jill Roberts and her kindergarten class at Auburn Classical Academy recently enjoyed wagon rides and pumpkin picking at Jack O’ Lantern Lane in Lafayette, Alabama.

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Lee-Scott Class Hosts Guest Reader

Ms. Sanders’ Kindergarten class had a surprise guest reader recently! Thank you Dr. Martin-Smith for reading “Stellaluna” and sharing your preserved bat with the class. We love guest readers in our classrooms!

Please send your school news to: kendra@auburn opelikaparents.com.

We Are Auburn City Schools

Sarah Armstrong has 20 years of experience in education with 10 of those years as a sixth-grade math teacher, six years as an assistant principal, and four years as principal of J.F. Drake Middle School. Mrs. Armstrong’s favorite thing about being principal at DMS is watching teachers and staff work hard every day to connect with students and their families in a meaningful way. Whether that be asking students questions about their interests, sharing positive news, or productive phone calls to parents. Building relationships is at the core of the culture at DMS. “I consistently see teachers go out of their way to make students feel seen, heard, and loved – that makes me proudest of our DMS family.” - Sarah Armstrong DMS is known for a variety of fun and exciting events in the fall, so Mrs. Armstrong and her staff have found creative ways to offer experiences for students amid new protocols. Teachers have scheduled “Tie-Dye Tuesdays” and “College Spirit Fridays” as a way to keep the mood light and morale high. Mrs. Armstrong is proud of the school community for continuing to celebrate successes and positive behaviors in new and innovative ways.

Chambers Academy Students Celebrate Red Ribbon Week

Students at Chambers Academy took time to plan activities through their SGA to celebrate National Red Ribbon Week to promote safe and drug free schools. This year’s 2020 Red Ribbon campaign theme is to “Be Happy, Be Brave, & Be Drug Free. CA is committed to work alongside their families to encourage their students to live healthy, happy and drug-free lives. On Wednesday, October 28th, students throughout CA wore red to support the Red Ribbon Week theme. Thursday’s theme was for students to wear crazy socks to school and Friday’s was to wear blue to school for favorite team day because drugs give you the blues! Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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Chambers Academy Students Join Zoom Live Event with Gizmo and Friends

On Thursday, October 29th, students in Chambers Academy lower school classes in K5-3rd grade classes joined a unique virtual classroom presentation to help educate students on the upcoming Presidential election. Author Suzanne Kline recently published a new election themed book entitled “Gizmo 4 President” that partnered with a program using skills of professional puppeteers to help children understand the election process. The program focuses on Gizmo, the surfing dog who goes on a campaign trail as the canine candidate for President. Gizmo promotes the idea that he can’t run his campaign without the help of his friends and supporters resulting in his efforts to get everyone on board to promote a great lesson in civic responsibility. CA first grade teacher Norma Hyde organized the Gizmo

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and Friends Zoom Live Event and had her class join with K5 teacher, Leanna Hamer, the second grade class with their teacher, Ruth Bass and the third grade class with their teacher, Yvonne Flannary. Below are the CA lower school students enjoyed their civics themed program with Gizmo and Friends on the Presidential Election.

Auburn Classical Academy Students Study Anne of Green Gables

Ms. Laura Lee Logan’s 5th grade students at Auburn Classical Academy dressed as characters from Anne of Green Gables, which they recently read as part of their literary studies.

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Autauga County Schools We Are Auburn City Schools

Karen Snyder has 29 years of experience in education and is currently in year eight of leading Cary Woods Elementary School as principal. Before serving as an administrator, Mrs. Snyder taught fourth grade at Yarbrough Elementary School for six years and then went on to become the English as a Second Language (ESL) Coordinator for the school system. Mrs. Snyder loves all things about school, from the students and teachers to the books and supplies. “Being a Principal at Cary Woods allows me to spend my days around the things and people who make me happy and give me hope for our future. It’s absolutely the best job in the whole world.”- Karen Snyder This school year has been out of the ordinary. Even more so for Mrs. Snyder with the opening of a new facility on the CWES campus. Mrs. Snyder commends the teachers, staff, students, and their families for their resilience during that process. The new building will be a wonderful place for children and families to enjoy for years and years to come.

Watershed Lesson at Auburn Classical Academy

Auburn Classical Academy 4th graders have a science lesson on how watersheds can be polluted when rainwater washes trash and other pollutants into streams and how it negatively impacts aquatic insect larvae and other macroinvertebrate populations.

Chambers Academy First Grade Reading Unit on “Who Works Here?”

During the week of October 19 - 23, Chambers Academy first grade teacher Norma Hyde helped her 16 students complete a Reading Street curriculum unit on “Who Works Here?” The unit specifically focused on who works where you live? Mrs. Hyde had several tasks planned for the class with a guided visit to Farmer’s & Merchant Bank on Tuesday, a visit with LaFayette Mayor Barry Moody on Wednesday, and a visit with Chambers County Chief Deputy, Richard Carter on Thursday. The students got to visit with Chief Carter and see the Chambers County helicopter up close on the CA football field on Thursday morning. Joining the first grade were additional lower school classes from the kindergarten, second grade and third grade with Chief Carter for his helicopter tour visit.

Please send your school news to: kendra@auburn opelikaparents.com.

Auburn Classical Academy Students Dress up for Spirit Day

Here some of Mrs. Laura Lee Logan’s 5th graders at Auburn Classical Academy representing their favorite teams on Spirit Day. As you can see, there was quite a variety! Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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Lee-Scott Students Explore Owl Pellets

Music Class at Trinity

Kindergartners in Mrs. Ennisâ€™s room learned all about owls recently! They ended their unit by exploring an owl pellet. The children were so excited to discover which animals the owl had for dinner!

Music classes proceed as usual at Trinity this fall with fourth graders learning note and rhythm reading through the playing of hand chimes.

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Reformation Day at Trinity

Trinity Seniors dress in costume and perform reenactments of events that teach grammar school students about the Protestant Reformation!

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Autauga County Schools

Distinguished Young Woman of Lee County

The Distinguished Young Woman of Lee County Program was held November 7 at Parkway Baptist Church. The 2021 winner was Mary Helen Miller from Lee Scott Academy. First Runner up was Eleanor Wilson from Opelika High School and second runner-up was Cara Herring from Auburn High School. Category Winners were: • Be Your Best Self Essay Winner: Kendal Hull • Spirit Award Winner voted on by participants: Kendal Hull • Interview Winners: Mari Miles Dempsey and Cara Herring • Scholastics Winners: Mary Helen Miller and Eleanor Wilson • Talent Winners: Mary Helen Miller and Eleanor Wilson • Fitness Winners: Cara Herring and Mary Helen Miller. High school senior girls from across the county joined together to participate and compete for college scholarships as well as the opportunity to represent Lee County at the Alabama Distinguished Young Woman Program in January of 2021. The nine young women competing were evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories: Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and SelfExpression (15%). Participants have been practicing and preparing each week at Nix Dance Studio with choreographer, Kasey Shepherd, for the group routines. Interview and talent workshops were held in October. All workshops and events focus on the “Be Your Best Self” program which includes: Be Healthy, Be Ambitious, Be Involved, Be Responsible, Be Studious. Special guests joining and sharing with the young women on the “Be Your Best Self Program” included Dominique Vermille, Alabama’s Distinguished Young Woman, and Ada Ruth Huntley, Auburn University’s SGA President. The Distinguished Young Women is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplishments.

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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Lee-Scott Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admission policies or its academic, athletic, financial assistance, or other school programs. 21

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“Mom please stop interrogating me.”

My daughter says this to me more often than I care to admit. I ask a lot of questions because she does not give me much information. So I’m left wondering, how could I change? Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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As a mother of twin 15-year-olds, I often struggle to find ways to effectively communicate with them. A recent research study done at CHOP explored ways for parents to improve communication with their teens. Dr. Victoria Miller, psychologist, and author of the study explained some of the prompts used in the study that helped parents and their teens promote reciprocal communication instead of one way. She also discussed common mistakes parents of teens make when trying to talk to them.

Common Parenting Communication Mistakes Focusing only on problems. “One of the biggest mistakes parents make is that they tend to focus only on problems like when our teens make a mistake or don’t live up to our expectations rather than also communicating with them about their teens’ strengths and what is going well. We can sometimes forget to do that in the busyness of daily life,” says Dr. Miller. Asking too many questions or offering unsolicited advice. Dr.

Miller explains that another mistake parents make is giving advice and lecturing which can backfire and cause teens to shut down especially when they didn’t ask for advice. It can teach them that they can’t handle problems on their own, which can get in the way of their confidence. It is better to wait until they ask for advice. Teens can feel that parents are too controlling when they ask too many questions. They can also feel as if they are being interrogated instead of having a conversation causing them to shut down.

Letting emotions get out of control. Dr. Miller says that when

your teen comes to talk to you about a problem, it can be difficult to hide your emotions. She suggests trying not to get angry or upset, but instead, focus on the fact that they were willing to talk with you. This will help to keep those lines of communication open by listening and offering guidance when asked.

Turn off “the parent alarm”.

Parents may react emotionally when their teen tells them something upsetting. “When your teen comes to you saying something like, ‘Tom asked me out,’ a parent’s first reaction might be, ‘My daugh 23

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ter’s too young to date’ but instead, try to use this opportunity to navigate conversations about how to have a healthy relationship,” says Dr. Miller.

Don’t over-empathize. Dr. Miller says it may seem counter-intuitive to not over-empathize with your teen. But it can backfire. She offers the example that if your child comes to you and says they got in a fight with their best friend, you might want to jump to the rescue and say, “Good riddance! I didn’t like them anyway, you’re better off without them.” But if they make up the next day, your child may be too embarrassed to come to you and say they resolved their differences.

Ways to Improve Communication According to Dr. Miller, one reason parents make these mistakes is because there is a lot of negative portrayals of teens in the media and in our culture. “You get the eye roll ‘oh well she’s a teenager.’ Which can cause parents to really worry about the teenage years and focus on the problems because they worry about their teens and they want them to do well and succeed,” says Dr. Miller. It is important to remember that it is normal for parents to have some challenges communicating with their teen.

Focus on how teens years are an exciting time. Most teens are well-

adjusted, and they have good relationships with their families, peers, and they contribute to their communities.

“I think shifting the focus on how well adjusted most teens are and remembering that adolescents is a positive time in development and very exciting is a good thing that will help to improve communication with your teen,” says Dr. Miller.

Focus on strengths. “It is important

to notice and talk with your teen about his or her strengths” says Dr. Miller. She explains that strengths don’t mean what they are good at or what they have achieved, but rather the qualities about your teen that will contribute to becoming a healthy productive adult. For example, if your daughter is a star soccer player think about what it is that makes her good at it like her work ethic or being a good team player. “It feels good to notice what is going well for our kids instead of worrying about that test that didn’t go well or that she is upset with something with a friend,” says Dr. Miller.

Allow for independence. Dr. Miller

explains that during adolescents teens are trying to separate themselves from their parents, so they might do those things like walk away when you are trying to have a conversation or keep 10 feet behind you at the mall or focus on their phone when you are trying to have a conversation. “This is really because teens need to see themselves as different and separate from their parents in order to figure out who they are and to become more independent. This can make parents feel like they don’t matter, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she says.

Use conversation prompts. In Dr. Miller’s research study she used conversation prompts to help the parent and teen facilitate conversations that focused on strengths. The parent/teen pair were instructed to take 10 minutes together and look at examples of strengths and then come back together and talk about it. Dr. Miller explains that prompts included things like:

• Why did you choose these strengths for you and the other person? • Give examples of ways the other person demonstrates these strengths you choose. • Did the other person choose strengths that you didn’t expect? “They both gave strengths for each other which was the reciprocal aspect of the intervention that was really interesting and unique” says Dr. Miller. She explains that by shifting to the positive it can help parents and kids feel better. It doesn’t mean your teen doesn’t have weaknesses, but the key is to support your teen and use their strengths to address those limitations. She also stresses that it is important to shift your thinking of strength from achievement and what you are good at to who you are as a person. AOP

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Grown and Flown, Your Teen Magazine, and many other publications. She is a professional member of ASJA. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05.

BLOW UP II INFLATABLE CONTEMPORARY ART Engaging humor, scale, and surprise, the artworks in this exhibition will take you on a whimsical journey. Open six days a week, the Museum is free and open to all. Plan your visit at mmfa.org. FriendsWithYou, Never Ending Story, Spider Man’s Eye, 2019, ripstop nylon fabric, electric fan, 150 x 108 x 168 inches. BLOW UP II: Inflatable Contemporary Art was organized by Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA.

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

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How to Tell Who Your Kid Is Talking to Online

What a spot check reveals. You should be able to see all of your kids’ contacts from their account profile page. On Instagram and TikTok, you can read chats by tapping on a contact name and viewing the history. You can also follow your kids on those platforms to see what they post publicly. But Snapchat automatically deletes chats and public posts (stories) after they’re viewed.

The fact that kids can stay in touch with friends and family by texting, video-chatting, and gaming has been a lifesaver for many families in 2020. There’s just a little problem: Who the heck are they talking to? And how do you make sure they stay safe? Below, we’ll break down exactly whom kids can talk to on different platforms, what you can determine from a routine spot check of their devices, and settings you can use to limit their circle.

What to watch out for. Cyberbullying, drama, and time spent are all hazards of social media chatting. Unwanted contact, such as predatory behavior or inappropriate requests, is a risk⁠—and it can come from strangers or kids they know. Useful settings. Most platforms offer privacy settings that allow kids to keep their accounts private, prevent contact from strangers, and limit comments. Some apps go further: Instagram offers an array of settings for kids to manage their circle of friends, and TikTok offers a small suite of parental controls, including the ability to disable direct messaging.

Basic phone texting

Who kids are talking to. Texting is mostly limited to people kids know in real life, but anyone with your kid’s number can call, text, and even video-chat with them. What a spot check reveals. A lot (unless kids delete their call logs). Phones log every call and text and may add the sender to your kid’s contact list automatically.

Games

Who kids are talking to. Kids play with friends they know in real life, but competing against new people is a huge part of the fun. So most gamers have lots of casual online pals they’ve made just from playing certain games or playing on a certain platform, such as Steam or Roblox.

What to watch out for. Group texting is huge with kids who have their own devices. It also opens them up to being contactable by anyone on the chain⁠—and some people may be strangers. Contacts can be hidden and texts can be deleted, so looking at your kid’s phone may not show you everyone they’re talking to. Also, watch out for spam bots⁠—texts that look like they’re from real people but are actually ads; if kids don’t recognize the number, they shouldn’t respond.

What a spot check reveals. It depends. In most games, you can see a list of your kids’ contacts, and you might be able to read your kids’ chats and private message history. But some game chat is done by voice⁠—so you might be able to only hear what your kid is saying when they’re gaming, which is possible if you keep their console or computer in a family room instead of a bedroom.

Useful settings. iPhones allow you to manage kids’ contacts (go to Settings/Screen Time/Communication Limits). Both iPhones and Android phones allow you to restrict third-party apps from automatically adding all of your contacts, which helps kids keep their circle smaller.

What to watch out for. Game chat⁠—whether voice, video, or written⁠—can run the gamut from edgy (with really graphic language) to cruel (including hate speech and homophobic slurs) to kind (since gamers can forge friendships through gaming). Game chat can be totally off topic, too. Be aware that not all game chat occurs on the platform kids play on. Some gamers prefer to use the chat app Discord to talk with their teammates, so you’ll want to find out whether your kid uses it (it has the same visibility as other social media).Useful settings. Games usually offer privacy settings that allow players to keep a tightly curated list of contacts. You’ll want to go through the game settings to enable the protections you’re comfortable with, from limiting all contact to just friends to moderated chat, which is available on some platforms.

Social Media

Who kids are talking to. Kids usually chat or send pics back and forth with only friends, as well as friends of friends, but they can pretty much chat with anyone they want. For example, on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, unless kids enable privacy settings to prevent contact with strangers, they can direct-message (DM) anyone who follows them and anyone they follow. The platforms also make it super easy to extend your network by recommending new accounts to follow, allowing you to sync all your social media contacts, and offering QR codes that let you add people with your camera. 25

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Want to experience a more joyful holiday season this year that doesn’t leave you depleted, miserable and broke? Here are 10 ways to shift your perspective and take command of this “hap-happiest” time of the year!

10- Thou shall quit worshipping perfection. Nothing burns holes into the

fantasy holiday like real life. Maybe the tree is a lopsided, the dog ate your sevenyear-old’s gingerbread house, or you were so focused on creating the best holiday ever that you ended up too sick to enjoy it when the big day finally arrived. “Decide to do things differently this year. Strive for the good and be satisfied with the good. Too often the focus is on the result, and we tend to lose focus on the beautiful process of getting to the result,” says therapist Julia Flynn, LCPC, CRADC.

9- Thou shall not overcommit.

Decide ahead of time which activities won’t work this year. Instead of committing to five parties and multiple gift exchanges, choose a few that you’re enthusiastic about attending. “Be firm, decisive and assertive, always coming from a place of love for everyone and keeping the focus on the origin of the holidays,” Flynn says, who specializes in helping women manage anxiety, depression and holiday overwhelm. “Graciously decline and send a nice card or note.”

8- Thou shall rediscover “the why.” Take time to reevaluate your priori-

ties. How do you want the season to feel? What do you want your kids to remember most? “Sometimes we need to take a step back and ask ourselves why this time of year is important to us because I think ‘the why’ gets lost. It just becomes an expectation of self and family—or whoever— to have it look a certain way,” says Maki Moussavi, a transformational coach, speaker and author of The High Achievers Guide: Transform your Success Mindset and Begin the Quest to Fulfillment. “Take a step back to assess, from an intangible, emotional perspective, why the holidays are important.”

7- Thou shall rest. Self-care is es-

sential all year long, but especially during the extra busy holidays when you’re stress level is more likely to sky-rocket. Pare down your list to what reasonably makes sense for your health, time and emotional wellbeing. And practice restorative techniques that relax and re-energize you. Simple ways to recharge include a warm bath, watching a favorite TV show, a walk outside, curling up with a juicy novel, a nap or a massage.

6- Thou shall honor thy family.

Attempts to please others by saying yes to everyone else’s holiday gatherings without taking into account you and your family’s

desires can cause undue anxiety, frustration and resentment. “The holidays are about family time, appreciating one another and caring for each other. If the focus is switched to the less important gift exchanges and gatherings, all planned at the same time, you can’t enjoy the experience and the original meaning is lost,” Flynn says. For those events that you’d like to attend, but can’t, firmly communicate to your extended family or friends that you value time spent with them and would like to discuss alternative ideas for getting together. And, don’t feel guilty about standing by your decisions. “You have every right in the world to establish what you want your holiday tradition to be. You are not obligated to participate in somebody else’s version of the season,” Moussavi says.

5- Thou shall invite thy partner’s participation. If you feel overwhelmed

and stressed because you’re trying to manage the bulk of holiday prep on top of working and taking care of your family, ask your spouse for help. Discuss what you’d both like the season to look and feel like. “Sometimes it’s not that men don’t want to be involved. It’s that they are never invited to be, and they don’t ask,” Moussavi says. Maybe your husband can mail the packages for out of town family, purchase

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tickets to the holiday play your family wants to see, or take charge of a few of the gifts.

4- Thou shall not allow others to steal thy happiness. Plan ahead for

those individuals who love to bait you into an upsetting conversation at annual gatherings. Since you know how the person is likely to behave, rehearse how you will respond when they pounce. “The only thing you can do is get better at making it clear what you will and won’t tolerate,” Moussavi says. “You have to shut it down. You standing up for yourself is normal, empowered adult behavior.” Arm yourself with responses like: “I’m here to enjoy myself. I don’t want to talk about that right now.” Or, “Let’s agree to disagree.” Also, physically exit from the situation by saying: “I’m going to go refresh my drink.” Or, “I have to make a call.”

3- Thou shall simplify. “The holiday

can be manageable and simple if we allow it to be,” Flynn says. “What makes the holiday so difficult is our own thinking about it. We make it difficult for ourselves.” Experiment with small changes that can relieve your stress. Hire a caterer for your party. Forgo Christmas cards this year. For the relative who has everything, send flowers or make a donation in their name to an organization that is important to them.

2- Thou shall not compete with thy neighbors. As Theodore Roosevelt

once quipped: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Some people enjoy casting their home in a professionally-created holiday glow while others prefer to hang a festive wreath on their door and call it good. Do what brings you pleasure and makes sense for your budget.

1- Thou shall give from thy heart.

Rather than twisting yourself in knots seeking the perfect present for everyone on your list, take a more light-hearted approach to gift-giving. For example, give a t-shirt with a meaningful quote, a digital photo album commemorating a fun getaway, or an experience like tickets to the zoo or a concert. Volunteering your time is also a fulfilling way to give. “If you are intentional, you can make the holidays about the ideas of love, caring for one another, understanding, enjoying quality time together and treating each other as the precious beings each of us are,” Flynn says. AOP Freelance writer Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two sons and a menagerie of pets. Her intention this holiday is to slow down and focus more on the magic of the season and less on lopsided Christmas trees.

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Annual Christmas in a Railroad Town ad on page 5

December 13, 6:00-9:00pm Historic Downtown Opelika, 1032 South Railroad Avenue Opelika, Al 36801 Whether you’re a young child or simply a child at heart – there will be activities for everyone at this great night out in historic downtown Opelika. Join us for Christmas in a Railroad Town. Visit with friends and enjoy a variety of food vendors and restaurants. Bring the kids to write letters to Santa, enjoy pony rides, caroling, entertainment and other new activities! Guaranteed fun for adults includes Loft Tours, personalized gifts made on site and bundles of sweet treats for sale. Local retail shops will be open late for all your Christmas needs. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be available for family photos! Be transported back in time and take a wagon ride through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour. Leave straight from Christmas in a Railroad Town and be delivered back once you’re done. Enclosed trolley rides also available at the Museum of East Alabama. 334-745-0466 director@opelikamainstreet.org www.opelikamainstreet.org

Auburn Day School: ‘Tis the Season to Discover! ad on page 23

1199 S Donahue Dr, Suite E Auburn, Al 36832 November 27- December 20. Join us in the AO Discover Winter Wonderland for safe and distanced photos with Santa, Llama Claus and The Christmas Unicorn, STEM demonstrations, music, food trucks and a month of holiday movies! Get your family passes for this magical experience today! (334) 209-0460 aodiscover.org/tistheseason www.auburndayschool.com

OZZ. “Sparkly Soiree” themed date night boxes will go on sale Monday, December 7th, 2020 and will contain items you can use during your DaddyDaughter Date Night at home. Visit www.auburnalabama.org/parks to purchase your boxes starting at 8 a.m. on Dec. 7th; Boxes are $20/each. Jingle Jog 5K: The Jingle Jog 5K is back in 2020 – so pull out those ugly sweaters and Santa hats Auburn! Join Active Auburn on Saturday, December 19th at 7 a.m. as we ring in the holiday season in style! The Jingle Jog 5K will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner. There will be no Santa Stroll this year. Please visit auburnalabama.org/parks/register to register. A schedule of registration fees is as follows: Jingle Jog 5k: Early Bird Registration ends November 23: $20; Registration: November 24 – December 14: $25; In order to be guaranteed a t-shirt, participants must register by Monday, November 30. A limited number of t-shirts will be available to late registrants on a first-come, first serve basis at packet pick up. Packet pick-up for the races will be on Thursday, December 17th and Friday, December 18th from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Harris Center. YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR RACE PACKET PRIOR TO THE RACE. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact us at activeauburn@auburnalabama.org. *COVID-19 note: You will be required to sign a COVID – 19 waiver prior to race day. 334-501-2930 www.auburnalabama.org

Christmas In Camelot Lighted Tour ad on page 5

December 1-31, 4:30-10:00pm Camelot Way Opelika, Al 36801 The magic of Christmas comes alive throughout Camelot with the many large Christmas Cards, painted under art teacher, Roslyn Stern, by Opelika High art students. The neighborhood lights are adorned with lighted wreaths and all the houses are decorated with the wonders of Christmas. This drive-through event begins at sundown www.opelikachristmas.com

Auburn Parks and Recreation ad on page 35

425 Perry Street Auburn, Al 36830 Reimagined Annual Daddy Daughter Date Night in a Box: Tickets go on sale December 7. The 32nd annual Daddy Daughter Date Night is going to look a bit different this year, but will still be a blast! We will hold TWO nights of virtual Daddy-Daughter Date Night on Zoom featuring the infamous DJ Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

City of Opelika Christmas Parade ad on page 5

December 5, 5:30pm Downtown Opelika, 1032 South Railroad Avenue Opelika, Al 36801 Downtown Opelika will celebrate with a unique, COVID twist to it’s annual parade event. This

year, December 5, 5:30pm, The event will feature a reverse walking parade which means the parade entries will be stationary while attendees walk through the parade route. This allows the parade entries to maintain a proper distance within their space, but also allows organizations who are not yet allowed to participate in large events to set up and leave their spaces decorated for all to appreciate. Walking Parade Route is OPEN (enter from the Breezeway area on 8th St). On the parade route, you’ll find a Socially Distanced Santa Claus, plus snow will be falling & Christmas music will be playing! 334-745-4861 www.opelikachamber.com

Collingwood Christmas Luminaries ad on page 5

December 18, 5:00-9:00pm Collinwood Street Opelika, Al 36801 Holiday Decoration Swap & Big Book Sale: December 5, 10am. Spruce up your holiday decorations without spending a fortune!

Drive Thru Nativity Story Sponsored by The Church of the Highlands ad on page 5

December 1-31 Off Robert Trent Jones Trail, 100 Spa Loop Opelika, AL 36801 Through stunning artwork and dramatic narration, the Drive-Thru Nativity brings to life the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2 and Matthew 2. Drive down Grand National Parkway, past the Auburn Marriott, and take a left on to Spa Loop and listen to the Biblical account on your mobile device. While looking at the art that illustrates the birth of Christ. A free outdoor event that is for the whole family and COVID safe. 334-705-5560 www.opelikachristmas.com

Ho! Ho! Ho! Hike! & Holiday Walk in the Woods ad on page 7

Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, 2222 North College Street Auburn, Al 36082 On our annual HoHoHo Hike, December 12, 10 am to 12 pm, we will venture out on a guided hike to try and find the elusive man in red. We’ll also explore all

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the other red things might we find in nature! Then, we’ll return to a warm campfire, hot chocolate, crafts, and more. December 18-19: “Holiday Walk in the Woods” at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. A walking small-group tour through the piney winter woods, with lights, decorations and songs by local talent at stations along the trail. All performances will be family-friendly and highlight the diverse traditions and culture of our community. Additionally, daytime walks will have special surprises and songs for the kids! Pre-purchased timed ticket slots only, $5 ages 5 and up, Group purchases available too. www. AuburnACT.org. Family Discovery Hike Winter Solstice: December 8, 3:30-4:30pm. Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center. Discovery Hikes offer excellent opportunities to learn about nature and see wildlife up close, while enjoying fresh air and exercise in our beautiful outdoors. 334-844-8091 www.wp.auburn.edu/preserve/

Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library ad on page 5

200 South 6th Street Opelika, Al 36801 Holiday Decoration Swap & Big Book Sale: December 5, 10am. Spruce up your holiday decorations without spending a fortune! Fa-La-La Festival To-Go: December 19, 10:00am-12:00pm. Opelika students are invited to kick off their Christmas break with fun, games, and learning. Christmas Movie Marathon: December 23, 10am-6pm. Join us at one or all of our Classic Christmas movies. We will begin at 10 am and a new movie will start every two hours. The schedule of movies will be posted on December 1st. 334-705-5380

Opelika Theatre Company ad on page 5

December 12, 9:00-11:00am. Southside Center for the Arts. There will be crafts and of course breakfast. Reservation is required so buy your tickets today! Winter Showcase: December 13, 3:00-4:00pm, SportPlex Amphitheater. Event is free but donations are encouraged. Santa’s O’Town Christmas Ball: December 17 and 18, 6:30pm. This event is for Mothers and Sons and Fathers and Daughters (ages 4-8). Come dance the night away with your child. There will be a dance contest, prizes, and even a photo with Santa. Tickets are $30 per parent/ child and $10 for each additional child. New Year’s Event- Raising the Curtain Cabaret Fundraiser: December 31, 7:00pm. Its purpose is to raise money to refurbish Southside Center for the Arts auditorium with stage lighting and sound system - among other improvements to enhance the audience’s experience. www.opelikatheatrecompany.com

Parkway Baptist Church ad on page 19

766 East University Drive, Auburn, Al 36830 Parent’s Night Out- December 4, 4:00-7:00pm. Christmas Eve Service- 3:30pm and 5:00pm. Please join our church family for a Christmas Eve communion service in the sanctuary. 334-887-3782 www.parkwayauburn.org

Snow Much Fun Christmas Extravaganza ad on page 5

December 5, 4:30-6:00pm Historic Downtown Opelika Opelika, Al 36801 Celebrate Christmas in downtown Opelika with the Snow Much Fun Christmas Extravaganza.

Opelika’s Official Kick-Off Event to the Christmas Season will be at Courthouse Square on December 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This is a free event for all! This year parade kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and it is a reverse parade. A reverse walking parade means that the parade entries will be stationary while attendees walk through the parade route. This allows the parade entries to maintain a proper distance within their space but also allows organizations who are not yet allowed to participate in large events to set up and leave their spaces decorated for all to appreciate. Children will enjoy playing in the falling snow at Courthouse Square. The event schedule is as follows: 4:30 p.m. Christmas Parade Ribbon Cutting: At Breezway (8th Street), 4:30-5:30 p.m. Walking Parade Route, Socially Distanced Santa. Snowfall and Christmas Music , 5:30 p.m. Christmas Tree Lighting.

334-745-0466 www.opelikachristmas.com

Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour ad on page 5

December 9-13 Opelika Historic District, 8th & 9th Streets Opelika, Al 36801 The homes are decorated with life size Santa’s, angels, toys, carousel horses and Christmas themed figures. The Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour has been voted one of the southeast’s top rated tourism events and featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living. The event is a self directed driving tour. However, on Saturday night North 8th and 9th streets will be closed to traffic to encourage visitors, neighbors and friends to stroll through the neighborhood. This enables everyone to leisurely enjoy the homes up close, listen to the carolers, and talk

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with residents dressed in Victorian costumes. This tour begins on North 8th street and 2nd Avenue and includes over ten city blocks. Admission to this spectacular production is free. On the Friday night of the tour the City of Opelika sponsors Christmas in a Railroad town which includes wagon rides through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas tour which includes tour guides who take you back in time while enjoying the festively decorated homes. Horse Drawn Carriage Rides: During the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour from 5-8 p.m. on December 9-10! A team of horses will pull a beautiful wagon through the historic Victorian Front Porch Tour. The carriage accommodates up to 6 people. We recommend that you include all people over 18 months of age in your count, so this is a perfect event to do with your family, friends, or colleagues. Each ride will last approximately 10 minutes and is a delightful way to see the beautiful Victorian Front Porch Tour. Carriage loading and unloading will take place at Trinity United Methodist Church at the Student Center on 2nd Avenue. Bike Tour: December 10, 6:00pm, Walking Tour: Saturday December 12, 6:00-9:00pm. Tree lighting with Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and his wife Laura at 6:00pm at the corner of North 8th Street and 2nd Avenue. (weather permitting). www.opelikavictorianfrontporchtour.com

Santa On the Corner

December Toomer’s Corner, 100 North College Street Auburn, Al 36830 Santa Claus will be in downtown Auburn on select December weekends. Bring your family! Donations will be accepted to The United Way. www.downtownauburnonline.com

25th Anniversary Annual Cookie Walk

December 5, 8:00am-1:00pm Grace United Methodist Church, 915 E Glenn Avenue Auburn, Al 36830 Habitat for Humanity Annual Fundraiser is still a unique way to welcome in the Holiday Spirit of generosity and celebration. Folks from the Lee County community come out to buy fresh and delicious holiday-decorated cookies. The big event is sponsored by the Auburn We Help Coalition of 12 local churches. Our guests “Walk” the aisles lined with tables displayed with thousands of home-baked holiday Cookies and goodies while they select their favorites. After generously filling their boxes, shoppers happily pay only $6 per pound. 334-329-4879 dlrwork@yahoo.com

Auburn Christmas Parade

December 6 122 West Magnolia Avenue Auburn, Al 36830 The entire community is invited to celebrate the season with the Auburn Chamber Christmas Parade in downtown Auburn. The parade will include Aubie, Santa, Christmas characters, live music and lots of other favorites! For float entry forms, contact Auburn Chamber. www.auburnchamber.com

Auburn Area Community Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol”

December 10-13 Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, 222 East Drake Avenue Auburn, Al 36832 The Charles Dickens holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, complete with vintage commercials, sound effects, and musical underscoring. A handful of radio actors bring dozens of characters to the stage as the familiar story unfolds: Three ghosts take Ebenezer Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

Scrooge on a thrilling journey to teach him the true meaning of Christmas. The live sound effects will be performed on-stage by Foley (sound effects) artists creating the bells, footsteps, ghostly chains, and thunder effects. This unique experience of “A Christmas Carol” as a live radio drama is sure to delight. COVID-19 Note: With only 4 performances and modified seating arrangements, we recommend that you order your tickets early! 334-246-1084 info@auburnact.org www.auburnact.org

Opelika Parks and Recreation

December 11-13; 5:00-8:00pm 1001 Andrews Road Opelika, Al 36801 Rocky Brook Rocket Reindeer Express: Come take a train ride through the lights at Municipal Park! December 11-13, 5:00-8:00pm. Enjoy food, hot chocolate, face painting, entertainment, pictures with Santa and more! Ages 2nd grade and younger. Reindeer Express Holiday Market: December 11-13, 5:00-8:00pm at Municipal Park, Opelika. 334-705-5560 www.opelika.org

Annual Christmas Tree Recycling

December 26 1032 South Railroad Avenue Opelika, Al 36801 A project of Opelika Tree Commission and Keep Opelika Beautiful. This takes place the Saturday after Christmas at the Opelika Chamber from 8am-12pm. Citizens receive a tree seedling in exchange for the tree. 334-749-4970 www.keepopelikabeautiful.com

“Back in Time” A Tradition Filled Historical Holiday Celebration

TBA Pioneer Park, 6500 Stage Road Loachapoka, Al 36830 Traditional seasonal music will be provided as guests gather and prepare to enter the early 1800 to 1900s. Once escorted to their tables, costumed servers will provide a period appropriate multi-course meal within the historic buildings. Character actors and actresses will visit each table and provide up close and personal opportunities for guests to honor the people of Alabama. This educational entertainment will provide event participants a special glimpse “Back in Time.” Tickets are $50.00 each with all proceeds considered donations to The Lee County Historical Society. They can be purchased on the website or by calling. 334.887.3007 www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org

Junior League of Lee County’s Annual Holiday Poinsettia Sale

Auburn, Al 36830 Poinsettias are available in two sizes and three colors (red, white, and marble.) Prices are $12.00 for 6.5-inch and $22.00 for 10-inch plants. Orders may be placed with any JLLC member or online at juniorleagueofleecounty.org. juniorleagueofleecounty@gmail.com

The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center

241 South College Street Auburn , Al 36830 Gingerbread Village Unveiling- In partnership with Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction Master of Integrated Design and Construction Program presents the 2020 Auburn Gingerbread Village. DTA 334-821-8200 www.auhcc.com

Phenix City/Columbus 28th Annual Fantasy in Lights

November 20-January 4 17800 Us Highway 27 Pine Mountain, Ga 31822 Callaway Gardens’ Fantasy In Lights, in Pine Mountain, Georgia, is not only the South’s most spectacular holiday light and sound show, it is one of the world’s “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights,” as named by National Geographic Traveler. Follow the links below for complete details on 2020 Fantasy In Lights. New this year are Bike Hour- December 30 Sunday, Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve Party at Fantasy In Lights 800-898-4868 www.callawaygardens.com

The Lundy’s Christmas Light Spectacular

Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve 5784 Ironstone Drive Columbus, Ga 31907 Drive into a light display set to music like none other...over 155,000 lights! Featured on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight”. 706-443-6975 www.lundychristmas.com

“Winter Wonderettes”

December 10-21 Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street Columbus, Ga 31901 The Wonderettes are back! This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party. Featuring great 60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday production is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. 706-327-3688 www.springeroperahouse.org

Valley/LaGrange Follow the Shepards Christmas Walks & Under the Bethlehem Star Light Show

Weekends December 1-23 Explorations in Antiquity Center, 130 Gordon Commercial Drive LaGrange, Al 30240 Follow the journey of Joseph and Mary as they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem and learn new insights into the Christmas story. These walks can be done in conjunction with the Christmas multi-media presentation in the evening. Reservations required. 706-885-0363 www.biblicalhistorycenter.com

Christmas Village at the Historic Langdale Mill

Weekends in December US Hwy 29 at Fob James Road Valley, Al Beginning the first weekend in December, experience the spirit of the season in Historic Valley. There is a life-size nativity scene in the meadow, the Madonna light-sculpture, and the Christmas Merry-go-Round that has given over 1,000,000 FREE rides to families. As you take a walk through history, you will be greeted with caroling and much more festive fun. Also, don’t miss the “A Cotton Mill Christmas” production at Langdale Theatre, as the local actors tell the history and stories of Valley, Al. 334-756-5290

www.cityofvalley.com

LaGrange Christmas Parade

December 3, 6:00pm 111 Bull Street LaGrange, Al 30241 The floats begin at 6:00pm. Start the holiday

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season off right with this spirited Troup County tradition. Each year hundreds of businesses, community groups, schools and churches create floats for the annual parade that makes its way through downtown city streets. Marching bands, live animals, clowns and a variety of novelty entries complete the festive environment. And, much to the delight of both the young and young at heart, Santa always manages to make a special guest appearance on the top of a fire truck. 706-844-8671 www.lagrangechamber.com

Christmas Holidays at Hills & Dales Estate

December 4-31 1916 Hills and Dales Drive LaGrange, Ga 30240 Experience our circa 1940’s, tinsel-laden Christmas tree, brilliant Poinsettias and other seasonal decorations during the holiday season. The Fuller E. Callaway family home and the visitor center will be decorated for the holidays this December, Tuesdays to Saturdays. Regular tour prices apply. Also offering wreath workshops, family tabletop luminaries workshop, mixed green Christmas wreath workshops and Children’s Christmas Celebration. 706-882-3242 www.hillsanddales.org

Alexander City/Lake Martin Christmas at Crossroads

November 27 Russell Farms Road Alexander City, Al 35010 Christmas at Crossroads is a great way to spend the day after Thanksgiving with your family at Russell Crossroads. The Holiday Bazaar is moving from The Stables this year to make it easier for all to see Santa and do some Christmas shopping too! The Holiday Bazaar will run from 9 until 4 and will be under the big tent on the Town Green! Santa will arrive at 11 by horse-drawn wagon and the Jolly Ol Elf will spend time with the kids until 2. There will be games and crafts for the kids and lots of other fun stuff too. Come be a part and grab the Christmas Spirit! There is no charge, except what you choose to spend at the Bazaar! 256-496-4232 www.russelllandsonlakemartin,com

An Eclectic Christmas

November 29- December 6 Falk Farm, 1733 Claude Road Eclectic, Al 36024 It was the night that saved the world. The star shone so bright in the night sky. There was not room in the inn. Forced out into the cold night air surrounded with animals, Christmas was born in a stable. Come join us in December to experience the true story of the first Christmas. In the atmosphere of an outdoor walking trail, you and your guests will be part of live drama that is set during the Roman Empire. As decreed by Caesar, everyone must be counted in the census. As you make your way to Bethlehem, you will visit the field where shepherds received the angel’s message and news of the Messiah. Then visit the wise men as they journey in search of the New Born King. You too shall be counted. Reservations highly recommended. 334-578-4846 www.aneclecticministry.org

Annual Hometown Christmas Parade

December 7 Comer Street Alexander City, Al 35010 Join us as we light up the night, when Alexander City’s Annual Hometown Christmas Parade winds its way through the streets of Alexander City the first Monday of each December. Spectators are invited to line the parade route to watch bands and dancers perform, see the festively decorated

floats, and wait for the much anticipated arrival of Jolly Old St. Nick himself. www.alexandercity.org

Atlanta Area License to Chill Islands & Magical Night of Lights

November - January Lake Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway Buford, Ga 30518 License to Chill Snow Island: Be transported to a wintery vacation state of mind on the fastest snow tubing hill in North America. Magical Nights of Lights: As you drive through our holiday inspired front gate, you crossover the magnificent snowflake bridge, through the 12 Days of Christmas, pass the illuminated diamond wonder light, under the blanket-lit bridge, all through the dancing Holiday House, Santa’s Workshop, Winter Carnival and more! Your magical night does not stop with the lights. Santa’s Village is a must for guests of all ages. Roast marshmallows on the bonfire, treat your tastes buds to delicious holiday treats, do some holiday shopping at Bucky’s Gift Shop or the many concessions that abound. Children of all ages will enjoy the many rides in our Winter Carnival. Tis’ the season to be jolly with Old St. Nick. You will find Santa taking pictures and discussing holiday wish lists with children at Santa’s Workshop. 770-945-8787

www.lanierislands.com

Stone Mountain Christmas

November 14- January 3 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 Have a Holly Jolly Christmas at Stone Mountain Park, where the true magic of the season is in the air. Enjoy the glow of more than two million lights, festive music and visits from some your favorite holiday characters. Start a new tradition and create memories that will last a lifetime for your kids...and you. 800-401-2407 www.stonemountainpark.com

Atlanta Children’s Christmas Parade

December 5 Peachtree and 16th Street Atlanta, Ga 30308 With floats, giant helium-filled balloons and marching bands, the Children’s Christmas Parade will be the largest holiday parade in the southeast. Thousands of spectators will be lined up along the streets eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa and the official beginning of the holiday season in Atlanta. www.choa.org

Birmingham and North Alabama Ballet presents George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”

December 17-20, 22, 23 2726 1st Avenue South Birmingham, Al 35233 Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies transport the young and young at heart to a magical world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of toy soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets. 205-322-4300 www.alabamaballet.org

and friends a safe, joyous event to wrap up 2020 together with love, laughter and LOTS of lights! We believe everyone will be in need of a little Christmas magic with us this year and we want to make that possible! Plan to unwrap the wonder and beauty of Christmas 2020 with us this December at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum... a big announcement is coming SOON! 205-668-3435

www.hodrrm.org

Millbrook/Wetumpka

Christmas On the Coosa ad on page 20

December 12, 10am-6pm Gold Star Park, Ready St Wetumpka, Al 36092 Wetumpka’s Christmas on the Coosa continues to bring people from all over the state to enjoy Wetumpka’s family atmosphere and unique heritage. Called the “City of Natural Beauty” Wetumpka is a quaint, historic town nestled along the banks of the Coosa River and is home to the annual Christmas on the Coosa celebration. The event features activities and events for the whole family. The day-long Christmas on the Coosa celebration features a car show, children’s character breakfast, entertainment for children and a show case for local talent. The annual street parade features over 100 entries and passes along the area for arts & crafts vendors. The evening continues with a ski-in by Santa and the ends with a grand fireworks finale. 334-567-5147 www.cityofwetumpka.com

Montgomery Annual Christmas Light Festival at the Montgomery Zoo

December 5-25 The Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway Montgomery, Al 36110 See the Montgomery Zoo transformed into a Winter Wonderland sparkling with thousands of lights and festive decorations. Take a leisurely stroll, a brisk train ride or see the lights from atop the Zoofari Skylift Ride. Visit Santa, enjoy the live nightly entertainment and no winter’s night would be complete without some warming hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies. 334-625-4900 www.montgomeryzoo.com

Montgomery Ballet presents the 49th Annual Performance of “Nutcracker”

November 29-December 13 Davis Theatre, 251 Montgomery Street Montgomery, Al 36104 Join the Montgomery Ballet as it presents their annual performance of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same..the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads. www.montgomeryballet.org

Calera The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum’s Christmas at the Museum

December 1919 9th Street Calera, Al 35040 This holiday season, our goal is to offer families

Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

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FamilyCalendar Friday, November 27 Blue Friday in Downtown Auburn Tis’ the season to shop local! In Auburn, it is not Black Friday, but BLUE FRIDAY! Our downtown merchants will be open on the busiest shopping day of the year to offer you doorbusters, specials, and extended shopping hours. www.downtownauburn.com Storytime with Mrs. Claus The Marriott Resort at Grand National. Get in the holiday spirit at the Auburn/Opelika Marriott on Friday nights in the resort’s lobby! Enjoy a craft and treat at these free storytime events. No reservations are needed. Stories and crafts will be different each week. 334.741.9292

Saturday, November 28 Downtown Opelika Tailgate In need of a place to tailgate for the Auburn Football games? Tailgate in downtown Opelika. Multiple free downtown viewing stations will be set up to show many of Auburn Football’s big games! Grab some friends and head downtown! www. opelikamainstreet.org Small Business Saturday Downtown Opelika. Support and shop local during normal business hours in downtown Opelika. Young Eagles Day: FREE Flights For Kids “Flightways” at the Columbus Airport. FREE for kids. Parent or Legal Guardian approval required. Since 1982, Young Eagles has promoted introductory airplane flights for youth between 8 and 17 years old. www.youngeaglesday.org Gingerbread House Building The Marriott at Grand National. Families are invited to build a gingerbread house at the Auburn/Opelika Marriott Resort & Spa at Grand National! Each family will receive one gingerbread house and all the items needed to decorate their own unique creation. Awards will be given for the top three houses. The cost is $25 per family. The gingerbread events will be held in the Southern Oak Café and Bar from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For reservations, please go to opentable.com. 334.741.9292

Sunday, November 29 Sugar Plum Performances The Shoppes at EastChase, Montgomery. This holiday season, join The Shoppes at EastChase in welcoming performances by the local community EVERY SUNDAY from Black Friday until Christmas! In lieu of our Lights Up Parade, we are searching for performers to visit The Shoppes to showcase their talents and Christmas spirit! www.theshoppesateastchase.com

December Christmas with the Elves December 2-19. Santa’s Elves will be hanging out at Dream Field Farms and are sure to whip up some adventures. They are known to lead activities such as wrapping presents, creating ornaments, making reindeer food, baking cookies and sharing about the wonders of the north pole. Santa may even show up driving a tractor! Second and third Saturday features a full breakfast buffet along with lots of silly fun

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

(reservation only). Weekdays are open for school field trips with a slightly different schedule. Email info@ dreamfieldfarms.com to make a reservation or get more information.

Thursday, December 3 Virtual Performance of Eric Essix at the Gogue Center The GPAC LIVE: Alabama Artists Series concludes with a live concert by Birmingham great Eric Essix—broadcast live from the Marentes stage in the Woltosz Theatre. This performance is free to view with registration. Over a period of more than 30 years and 25 full length album releases, Eric Essix has not only maintained a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz, he appears to have no intention of stopping. Sign up at aub.ie/gpaclive-120320. www.goguecenter.auburn.edu.

Friday, December 4 Chili Country Christmas at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge Evening features local and nationally acclaimed storytellers. Ticket price Includes pre-show entertainment, homemade chili supper with all the trimmings and the storytelling concert. Event is held annually on the first weekend of December. 50th Annual Montgomery Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show Admission: Adults $2 or weekend pass $3. Youth 18 and under FREE with student ID and paid adult admission. FREE parking, FREE door prize ticket with each paid adult admission. (Must be present to win. Door prizes donated by the vendors.) $1 Wheel of Fortune for the kids and young at heart! Everyone that spins... Wins! Football, Fans and Feathers Southeastern Raptor Center. The Southeastern Raptor Center is hosting a ticketed eagle flight event. This will be held at the Southeastern Raptor Center and these shows will be limited to 50 people and tickets MUST be bought online in advance for $8. www.vetmed.auburn.edu Storytime with Mrs. Claus See Nov. 27 for details.

Saturday, December 5 2020 Breakfast with Santa Columbus Convention & Trade Center. Don’t miss breakfast with Santa! Tickets $10-15. All proceeds benefit The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Astronomy Night Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Columbus. Enjoy a “home-game” astronomy night! The evening begins with a talk and presentation by Dr. Rosa Williams, followed by viewing an hour later. Downtown Opelika Tailgate In need of a place to tailgate for the Auburn Football game vs. Texas A&M? Tailgate in downtown Opelika. Multiple free downtown viewing stations will be set up to show many of Auburn Football’s big games! Grab some friends and head downtown! www.opelikamainstreet.org Holiday Decoration Swap & Big Book Sale Opelika Public Library. Spruce up your holiday decorations without spending a fortune! 334-705-5380.

Backyard Botanical Art: Holidays + Horticulture Montgomery Museum of Fine Art. This monthly livestream is an evolution of the Museum’s Botanical Art Workshop that traditionally takes place in the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden. Through the MMFA’s Instagram account, Assistant Curator of Education Laura Bocquin shares the basics of botanical art that you can accomplish in your own backyard. Join Laura as she talks about historical and botanical aspects of the poinsettia plant while painting its likeness. https:// www.instagram.com/montgomerymfa/ Gingerbread House Building See Nov. 28 for details.

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Sunday, December 6

7th Annual Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade Dadeville. Events on the square begin at 12 PM. Parade begins at 3 PM. www.dadevillechamber.com

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50th Annual Montgomery Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show See Dec. 4 for details.

Tuesday, December 8

Family Discovery Hike Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center. Discovery Hikes offer excellent opportunities to learn about nature and see wildlife up close, while enjoying fresh air and exercise in our beautiful outdoors. Discovery Hikes are for families with children ages 5 to 12 and are offered the second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Each month features a new seasonal theme. Groups meet at the pavilion.

Friday, December 11 Pioneer Museum - Ole Time Christmas Troy. Ole Time Christmas brings memories to life as we celebrate Christmas of days gone by. This traditionfilled event will feature colorful decorations, holiday treats, storytelling, ornament making, Christmas music, Santa Claus and lots of holiday fun. Bring all of the family to make lasting memories. Storytime with Mrs. Claus See Nov. 27 for details.

Saturday, December 12 The Annual Holiday Art Sale Held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center and Harris Center, Auburn. This event features a variety of handmade goods from over 60 artists. Handmade items available for purchase include pottery, paintings, photography, pet goods, jewelry, wood-turned items, gourmet foods, embroidered and appliqued goods, candles, and more. Opelika Theatre Breakfast with Santa Join the Opelika Theatre Company for Breakfast with

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Calendar Santa from 9 - 11 a.m. There will be crafts and of course breakfast. Reservation is required so buy your tickets early! www.opelikatheatrecompany.com Gingerbread House Building See Nov. 28 for details. Pioneer Museum - Ole Time Christmas See Dec. 11 for details.

Thursday, December 17 Chicago Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. There’s never been a better time to experience CHICAGO, Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, thousands of standing ovations, and now the #1 longest-running American Musical in Broadway history. www.eastalabamaarts.org

Friday, December 18 Storytime with Mrs. Claus See Nov. 27 for details.

Jingle Jog 5K

The Jingle Jog 5K is back in 2020 – so pull out those ugly sweaters and Santa hats Auburn! Join Active Auburn on Saturday, December 19th at 7 a.m. as we ring in the holiday season in style! The Jingle Jog 5K will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner. There will be no Santa Stroll this year. Please visit auburnalabama.org/parks/register to register for 2020 Jingle Jog.

Saturday, December 19

A SCHEDULE OF REGISTRATION FEES IS AS FOLLOWS: Jingle Jog 5k: Early Bird Registration ends November 23: $20 Registration: November 24 – December 14: $25

Fa-La-La Festival To Go Opelika Public Library. Opelika students are invited to kick off their Christmas break with fun, games, and learning during Lewis Cooper, Jr. Memorial Library’s Fa La La Festival. Gingerbread House Building See Nov. 28 for details.

There is NO day of race walk up registration must register prior to the race. In order to be guaranteed a t-shirt, participants must register by Monday, November 30. A limited number of t-shirts will be available to late registrants on a first-come, first serve basis at packet pick up.

Wednesday, December 23 Christmas Movie Marathon Opelika Public Library. Join us at one or all of our Classic Christmas movies. We will begin at 10 a.m. and a new movie will start every two hours. The schedule of movies will be posted on December 1st. 334-7055380.

YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR RACE PACKET PRIOR TO THE RACE.

Saturday, December 26 Young Eagles Day: FREE Flights For Kids See Nov. 28 for details.

January 2021

*COVID-19 note: You will be required to sign a COVID – 19 waiver prior to race day. There will be NO day of packet pick-up. All packets must be picked up prior to the race. Mask required prior to race start. 6ft between each runner will be marked for starting waves. No race day award ceremony. No spectators allowed along finisher chute.

Jan. 8: The Gogue Performing Arts Center welcomes Sierra Hull Band A mandolin prodigy, Sierra Hull had already signed to a record label by age 13 and released her debut “Secrets” three years later. The bluegrass virtuoso’s latest album, 2016’s “Weighted Mind,” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album and was produced by banjo master Béla Fleck, who said of Hull: “She plays the mandolin with a degree of refined elegance and freedom that few have achieved.” www.goguecenter.auburn.edu

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Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19 and Hurricane Sally, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

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Get Dialed In

Q. My wife and I have two kids and one on the way. We’re debt-free except for our home, and we have our emergency fund in place. We’ve also been saving for retirement, with me putting 15% into a 401(k) and her putting 10 percent into her retirement account. On top of all this, we’re putting a little money toward college funds for the kids. We talked the other night, and after that we started thinking about pulling back from retirement saving and getting the house paid off. What do you think about that?

A. I teach people to start investing 15% of their household income for retirement after they’ve completed Baby Step 3, which is saving three to six months of expenses for an emergency fund. Baby Step 4 would be both of you putting 15% of your income into retirement, and you’re not quite doing that yet. Saving for college comes next in Baby Step 5. I don’t teach people to put less than 15% of their income into retirement in order to pay off the house a little earlier. It’s tempt-

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2020

ing when you’ve got the debt-free bug, but it’s not the shortest distance between where you are right now and wealth. The average person who follows my plan—the Baby Steps—can pay off their home in about seven years. You’ve got offense and defense to think about. Defense is getting rid of debt, and the offense is building wealth. You don’t want to let your guard down on offense in order to just play defense and get the house paid off. What you’re talking about is a normal reaction for lots of folks in your position, but it’s not what I would recommend right now. I love your fire, but follow the Baby Steps as they’re laid out. My goal isn’t just helping people get out of debt. It’s to teach people how to become wealthy as a result of being out of debt and encouraging them be outrageously generous along the way!

How Can I Help My Mom-in-Law?

Q. My mother-in-law is 60. She works hard and has no debt, but she also has no savings or retirement accounts. However, she

owns a couple of paid-for rental properties that are worth about $350,000 each, and her home is worth $700,000. What can I do to help her plan for the future?

A. The best plan would be to first see if she’s already got a plan. I understand you’re worried about her not having any savings or retirement. That makes you a good son-inlaw. But it sounds to me like she’s got the makings of a pretty good retirement situation lined up, even if she didn’t go the traditional route to get there. You just told me she’s sitting on nearly $1.5 million in paid-for real estate. Dude, she’s a millionaire! If the time comes where she decides she doesn’t like landlording anymore or just wants to retire, she can always sell the rental properties, invest that big pile of cash in mutual funds, and live off the income. If you’re concerned about things, just sit down with her and let her know. Ask her if she needs any help with her money situation and plans for retirement. If she doesn’t want to talk about it right now, that’s fine, but making the offer shows you care.

www.auburnopelikaparents.com

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Help Alabama

Shine!

The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a joint research project between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Its purpose is to determine why some babies are born healthy and others are not in order to aid in the development and assessment of programs designed to identify high-risk pregnancies and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. New mothers are randomly chosen from the state birth registry to participate in PRAMS. Surveys may be returned by mail or completed over the phone. Let your voice be heard!

“Happy to be part of this survey.”

“Thank you for checking on us!”

Actual comments from survey responses.

Moms who complete the PRAMS survey receive their choice of a cooler bag, diapers, or manicure set! Responses are kept confidential to the extent of the law. For more information, please call us at 334-206-2923 or go to alabamapublichealth.gov/PRAMS ADPH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, religion, disability, state, or agency regulations and policies. Inquiries regarding 1 genetic information, and other federal, www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Civil Rights Coordinator: ADPH CRC, RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1010, Montgomery, AL 36104, Tel. 334-206-5226, or email crcomplaints@adph.state.al.us.