By Jennifer Petcher

If you’re like me, you’re worried about what Christmas gift to give to the person in your life who has everything. We debate over how to make them happy, how much we can afford to spend, and whether we will have the time to find the perfect gift. When, we wonder, did a holiday meant to produce joy and peace start producing anxiety and empty bank accounts?

While we worry and stress over the perfect sweater, electronics, and gadgets this Christmas, the majority of people around the world will be anxious over something we hardly think about – water. Lack of access to clean water causes nearly 90 percent of all diseases in the world. Contaminated water results in more than 2.2 million deaths each year; the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing every day.

Drilling fresh water wells is relatively inexpensive, yet it is a permanent solution to this epidemic. Solving this water problem worldwide once and for all will cost about $10 billion. Not bad considering Americans spent $450 billion on Christmas last year during a time of economic recession.

You may remember that for the past few years, Neighborhood Church in CY has joined a movement called Advent Conspiracy to restore meaning and significance to the celebration of Christmas while contributing to help solve the water crisis. Last year, the church partnered with the community for a project called Cooper-Young for Clean Water, with the goal of building a well in Peru, which cost $5,000.

Prior to 2010, the members of Neighborhood Church donated about $500 to clean water during Advent Conspiracy. Last year, it was amazing to see what a difference partnering with our friends and family made as the total funds raised amounted to more than $6,200!

Once again this year, Neighborhood Church will host a variety of events and accept donations toward a goal of raising at least $5,000 to build a well in a village without access to clean water. See the sidebar for information about the events, and then join us in our efforts to spend less, give more, love all, and worship fully this Christmas season.

Advent Conspiracy Events for 2011

Saturday, Dec. 3 – Babysitting for Bucks - Leave the kiddos with us from 4-8pm at a home in Evergreen and do some Christmas shopping or just grab a quiet dinner by yourselves before the holiday madness begins (address provided when you RSVP).

Saturday, Dec. 10 – Behold the Lamb of God performance – The talented among us will present this favorite arrangement by Andrew Peterson of “the true tall tale of the coming of Christ.” 6pm at a location to be announced.

Thursday, Dec. 15 - Wrappers Delight - The Purple Door (2172 Young Avenue) is graciously opening their Cooper-Young space for a gift wrapping fundraiser. We provide the supplies, you provide the gifts! 3-8pm.

Sunday, Dec. 18 – Christmas Worship Service – Join Neighborhood Church as we focus on the last precept of Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully. At 5:30pm in the chapel at Union Avenue Baptist Church (2181 Union).

For more details or to RSVP for any of the events, please visit facebook.com/ncmidtown. All events will be accepting donations toward Neighborhood Churches’ goal of raising at least $5,000 to build a well in a village without access to clean water. Make checks payable to Neighborhood Church and write “Clean Water” in the subject line.

By Suzzane Striker

Soon you will find a flyer on your door asking for donations for the annual Cooper-Young Thanksgiving Food Drive. 1^st Congregational Church’s Loaves and Fishes food pantry (located at Cooper and Walker) needs our help. Like all such pantries in these difficult times, the Loaves and Fishes food pantry is experiencing an increase in those who need their services and a decrease in donations.

What makes the Loaves and Fishes food pantry distinct from other pantries is that it provides assistance to residents who live right here in Cooper-Young, Idlewild, and surrounding areas. What would be a simple trip to MIFA for most of us can be a complicated ordeal for those who lack transportation. These individuals have to ride the bus and then carry food bags back home on a bus. For those who are struggling with health issues or who have small children in tow, the trip is even more daunting. Once a month, members of 1^st Congo Church help local residents get to the Loaves and Fishes pantry to pick up food and then take them home.

The church serves hot meals on Sunday, and on Tuesday and Thursday they serve hot lunch and snacks. Many kids stop by on their way home from school. For some a late lunch is also their dinner. People can also pick up emergency staples to carry them over until they can come to the monthly grocery shopping Sunday. These services are why having a local community food pantry is so important and why our CY food drive is so essential for the pantry, especially with the upcoming holidays.

Remember, recipients of food from Loaves and Fishes are our neighbors. Some have become victims of layoffs, some are single parents who work hard but can’t make ends meet, some live on fixed incomes, and some are dealing with unexpected, serious medical issues. Anyone in our neighborhood can use the services at the pantry in a time of need.

All donations, monetary or non-perishable foods, are welcome, but the pantry is in particular need of Vienna sausages, fruit juices, and individually wrapped snacks. The Thanksgiving Food Drive will be held Saturday, November 19, from 9 to 10am. If you would like to make a donation and/or help deliver flyers or pick up donations the day of the food drive, please contact Suzzane Striker at suzzanes@comcast.net or phone 901-276-6450.

By Kandra Kolehmainen

When I went to school as a young girl, educational options were very limited. In fact, in the small Iowa town where I lived there was only one option – traditional. My school was like most: teacher led, children in desks, textbooks, and a state approved curriculum. Many communities did offer a variety of traditional schools, but the truth is, for most of us alternative schooling did not exist. But now many education options are available, each with its own set of ideals, precepts, and vocabulary. Philosophies such as Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf, and Classical education have become accepted and very well known. But much of their terminology is not. At the Natural Learning School we embrace the Reggio philosophy as well as the ideals that govern it.

The Reggio philosophy is punctuated with terms such as learner led, project based, webbing, facilitator, and emergent curriculum. One of the most central and least understood precepts of the Reggio philosophy is emergent curriculum.

Curriculum is defined as “the courses offered by an educational institution.” Courses and lessons are designed to teach students specific information in a specific order and usually on a specific day. Curriculum is designed to teach an entire class the same information in adherence with state requirements but with no regard for an individual student’s actual skill level.

An emergent curriculum is a curriculum that is not planned in advance but rather emerges from what is happening in and around the classroom. Ideas come from many places such as classroom resources, research (books, experiences, and computer), teacher interests, family or friends of students, local or world events, classroom discussions, school events, student conversations, and the interests of the students themselves. As interests form and new ideas are discovered, the curriculum changes to fit students’ interests as well as necessary academic skills.

In fact, emergent curriculum is tailored to fit each individual student. Interests that develop out of the classroom experience and turn into projects may involve all students, a small group, or an individual child. Students follow their individual interests and participate in projects at a pace that works with their skill level, not with outside arbitrary standards that may or may not fit the child.

Emergent curriculum is a living thing that constantly changes as new discoveries are made.

Although it is free flowing, it is in no way a free for all. Reggio teachers and the classroom environment must be incredibly organized in order to respect the child’s need to explore according to his own timeline. Teachers must be very flexible and willing to let learning happen when the child is ready and in the way that works best for the child. Projects that develop out of the classroom are webbed (a spider web-like flow diagram) to show all of the possible directions in which the project may go, along with skills to be learned at each step. The Reggio teacher must reevaluate daily where the project is taking the students and what adjustments need to be made for available resources and future activities.

For example, at the elementary school a discussion over the course of a month went from storms, to lightning, to electricity, to energy, and then to atoms. A planned experiment regarding the effect of temperature on atoms turned into an exercise in the importance of eliminating variables. The atom discussion was put on hold while the experiential learning of the day took center stage. Follow up discussions cemented the children’s learning. The teachers then made resource and planning adjustments to support the change of direction. It was emergent curriculum in action, and all students gained amazing understanding from being allowed to follow their natural course of learning.

Even though the students’ interests are of utmost importance in a Reggio school, not all interests are followed. Projects and individual interests that are explored in the classroom must have both value and depth in order to stimulate children’s critical thinking skills. Children learn by making connections; by applying existing knowledge to new situations. In depth studies are full of opportunities to develop new connections. Those interests that do not have critical thinking value and depth are not forgotten. Instead, children are encouraged to research these interests at home and report back to the class (a lack of homework at the Natural Learning School gives the child time to research at home). In reporting back, interests may be piqued, new ideas may form, and a new project may emerge. Teachers will plan for it, and students will learn through it. Through emergent curriculum children learn in an exciting and interesting way that stimulates a life-long love of learning.

By Kate Lareau

Another great Peabody Elementary event is coming up, and the whole community is invited to come enjoy Central BBQ, shop for Christmas (or for yourself!), and support your neighborhood school! The Peabody Elementary Silent Auction will take place Thursday, November 17, from 5:30-7:30pm in the Peabody Cafeteria. Last year’s auction raised over $2500 that went toward software for the Accelerated Reader program, new playground and exercise equipment, and new items for the library.

Items in this year’s auction will include gift certificates to local businesses, items from local shops/artists, themed gift baskets, and much more. All proceeds will go to support learning at Peabody. Because of Central’s generous donation of barbecue, all proceeds from the sale of the dinner (only $5 per plate) will also go directly to the Peabody PTA to purchase needed supplies and materials for the teachers and students of Peabody.
So let’s summarize: dinner for $5 and great shopping – a pretty fabulous deal considering it all benefits the kids of Peabody and strengthens our neighborhood school!

Peabody Elementary Silent Auction
Thursday, November 17
5:30-7:30pm
$5 for Central BBQ dinner, no charge to shop the Silent Auction

By Demetrius Boyland

Neighbors, it’s that time of year again – time for photographs with Santa! Come one, come all to the gazebo at the corner of Cooper Street and Young Avenue between 5:30 and 6:45pm on November 15. You can have your very own photo session with Santa for $10 dollars. If you bring your own camera and take your own pictures the fee is reduced to $7. And best of all, Santa is donating all the proceeds to the McLean Mural Project in Cooper-Young. We can’t wait to see your smiling faces!

By Barb Elder

The Great Pumpkin contest recognizes the yard with the best Halloween decor, with this year’s judging taking place on Sunday, October 23. The winner’s name and pictures of their decked out yard will be printed in the November Lamplighter. As a prize, the winner will also receive The Great Pumpkin Cake created and donated by Suzzane Striker. Suzzane is a CY resident with a passion for baking. The Great Pumpkin Cake is a yummy pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese icing, about 6 inches high and 10 inches in diameter, and serves about 16.

This year Suzzane will also be offering prizes for the second and third place winners. The second place winner will receive 4 witch hats and a candy-filled cookie cauldron, and the third place winner will receive 2 witch hats and a candy-filled cookie cauldron. Thank you Suzzane for your enthusiasm and generosity!

To enter the contest you must be a CY resident, and you must contact the CYCA office (901- 272-2922 or info@cooperyoung.org) by Friday, October 14, with your name, address, and contact information. Good luck!

This month I’d like to share an actual conversation between me and Tyler, my 12-year-old stepson.

Tyler: “Why are you running so much lately? You hate running.”

Me: “I’m training for the CY Festival Friday 4 Miler next month. I’m running it dressed in a Wonder Woman costume to raise money for the LampLighter.”

Tyler: (With a look of sheer horror and disgust) “Why would anyone give money to see you run in a Wonder Woman costume!?!”

Me: “I’m guessing that some people will think it’s funny.”

Tyler: “There is nothing funny about that at all! I can’t think of anything more embarrassing!”

Me: “Dear, sweet boy. I can always think of more ways to embarrass you. Some day you can tell your therapist all about it.”

Tyler was right about one thing. I really do hate running. But I love the LampLighter more! I just hope that my willingness to drag myself around the race route in an old, 80s style, ill-fitting Wonder Woman costume inspires a few more people to donate to help our beloved, yet struggling, monthly paper. Residents can donate at the CYCA office, to me personally, or donate online. Just go to cooperyoung.org for more information.

Speaking of the race, I’m so excited that runners are signing up at an even faster pace than last year, and we are well on way to hitting our goal of 2000 runners for our 20th year. I was pleased to find out that a number of our regular race volunteers are choosing to run the race instead, but it has left us needing a good number of people to step up and fill those volunteer positions the night of the race. Please contact Kristan at the office at 901-272-2922 or info@cooperyoung.org as soon as possible to volunteer! Now let’s all have an exciting and safe Festival weekend!

June Hurt

By Kristan Huntley
The competition for the block with the most pop tabs is on again this year, and the competition is shaping up to be fierce! For those who are new, this Cooper-Young block competition is in support of Ronald McDonald House’s Pop-Tab-Palooza campaign. Each year, residents all throughout the neighborhood collect pop tabs and then bring them to the Cooper-Young Community Association booth the day of Festival to be counted in the total for their block. Once the Festival is over and all the pop tabs are counted, the many (many!) bags of pop tabs are dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House and the funds from recycling the tabs go to the charity.
So, how can you join the competition? Well, first start saving those pop tabs! Collect them from your family, co-workers, or even pick them up off the sidewalk if you like. On the day of the Cooper-Young Festival, place them all in a resealable bag and bring them to the CYCA booth (located near Sweet Grass). From there, volunteers will count the tabs and the official results will be announced in the October LampLighter. The winning block will be awarded $100 (generously provided by a wonderful CY resident) for use during the National Night Out party in October. Last year’s winning block was from Evelyn. Can another block step up and take the title of pop tab champion this year?

By Mandy Grisham

A little over 3 years ago a unique partnership developed between the Cooper-Young community and our little neighborhood school, Peabody Elementary. You may remember that spring day when everyone came together to completely makeover the playground behind the school. For those involved, it was an amazing 4 months of planning with Kaboom!, the non-profit organization that provided the grant, and one unforgettable day of building the beautiful, new playground. The school yard was swarmed with 100 neighborhood and school volunteers as well as 100 volunteers from Home Depot, the corporate donor.

During these 3 years, thousands of children from the school and neighborhood have enjoyed this play area. My oldest son, who was 2 when the makeover took place, has just completed his kindergarten year at Peabody and has had countless adventures on the playground.

On a hot June afternoon, the friendly folks from Neighborhood Church gave a few hours of their time to spruce up the 3-year-old paint jobs on the wooden benches, stage, and picnic tables as well as pull weeds and rake the mulch around the play structure. They also created a new sign over the baseball field stating the heart of the school, “Peabody Loves Cooper-Young.” The school has been so grateful for the community involvement and partnership over these last 3 years and is excited for what is to come.

Neighborhood Church has been an adopter of Peabody for one year and hopes to continue to offer support and resources as the school needs. If you are interested in becoming a Peabody adopter, contact Sharon Ammons at Sharon.Ammons@cbre.com.

By Ginger Spickler

For the record, Peabody’s dads are some of our best and most faithful volunteers, so the two “Peabody Moms Summer Retreats” that were held in June and July certainly weren’t meant to discount the contributions of dads at the school. But sometimes, girls just gotta have fun! So, with the intent of strengthening social bonds, sharing the common dreams we have for all our kids, and putting our talents to work for the school, a diverse group of almost twenty moms (and a grandmother!) participated in the retreats.

For the first session in June, a dozen moms gathered at my house on a Friday night, and over dessert and some of my famous vodka-ginger lemonade, spent more than two hours dreaming big dreams. PTA Co-President Mandy Grisham led the group in a brainstorming exercise that was designed to help us think about the things we want for our kids’ educations, and also how we, as parents, can most effectively help the school’s professionals.

Some common themes that came out of the session were a desire for a challenging curriculum that allows learners of all different levels to proceed at their own pace and for opportunities for our kids to be creative, think critically, appreciate their diverse community, and become aware and concerned about local and global issues. Underlying all of these hopes was a desire to see these things not only for our own children, but for every student at the school.

With these dreams for Peabody’s kids in mind, we talked about specific ways that we could help them come true. Hundreds of sticky notes and a few glasses of grown-up lemonade later, we called it an evening and agreed to meet again in July to get to work on all the great ideas.

In preparation for the July meeting we divided up all of the tasks into teams and sent out a message to all the moms to be thinking about which team would best suit their talents and interests. Consequently, when fifteen of us gathered for brunch on a July Saturday morning at Mandy’s house, we spent a few minutes chatting and catching up, but then broke up into teams and got straight down to the business of making plans for the coming school year. Later we reconvened in the living room to hear from each team about some things that they plan to get started on right away.

The Academic team was excited about using PTA funds and volunteers to help both struggling and advanced readers.
The Community and Parent Engagement team has plans (both high- and low-tech) to enhance communications with the greater Peabody community.

In addition to planning the traditional fundraising events like the Silent Auction and Chili Cook-Off, the Fundraising team will be having numerous restaurant nights throughout the year, in conjunction with local businesses like Central BBQ and Ching’s Wings, both of which are owned by Peabody parents, but also at Chick-fil-A and Domino’s. Peabody T-shirts and bumper stickers are also in the works.

The Staff Support team will be creating a teacher wish list book and will be recruiting room parents who will help individual teachers with things like class parties and field trips.

The Membership team is not only developing recruiting incentives, but will be working to plug new PTA members into these various committees at the start of the year so that supporting our school is truly a community-wide endeavor. And when we say community, we mean it! PTA membership is open to anyone, not just parents and teachers, who wants to see Peabody Elementary become the pride and joy of Cooper-Young. Your $10 membership fee will make you an investor in this great institution at the heart of our neighborhood. Contact Angela Bates at mycahmom@yahoo.com to join.

New Peabody mom Felisa Jackson, whose husband stood in the open enrollment line for 16 hours to get their son into the school, echoed the sentiments of many others who participated in the retreats when she emailed Mandy after the second session saying, “It was overwhelmingly awesome today. Although I already have a child in the school system and am very actively involved, I’ve never really been this informed. I’m so excited about this coming school year!”
And it even seems that the Peabody dads weren’t content to wait for an invitation to join the moms. Charlie Land and Josh Spickler are working to reenergize the school’s chapter of Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students). This group mobilizes male members of the community to keep the school safe and provide positive male role models. Anyone interested in participating can contact Josh at joshspickler@gmail.com.

You can follow the “Friends of Peabody” page on Facebook or @PeabodyFriends on Twitter to keep track of all the great things going on at Peabody Elementary School!