iFLY’s STEM Education Program is tangible and exciting for students of all ages. Photo: iFLY Indoor Skydiving, used with permission.
STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) forms the cornerstone of modern learning. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, essential for navigating the complexities of the contemporary world. Through hands-on activities and interdisciplinary approaches, STEM education encourages students to explore, experiment, and collaborate. By engaging students in real-world applications and challenges, STEM education prepares them for future careers in fields ranging from robotics to renewable energy while nurturing curiosity, resilience, and adaptability.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving has developed a STEM field trip program for students to learn the science behind flight. While learning about physics may seem like a daunting task, the educators at iFLY make it accessible for students of all ages. (iFLY Indoor Skydiving, 2024)
iFLY Indoor Skydiving STEM field trips give students an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the wind tunnel technology used at iFLY. Students learn about math and physics in an immersive lesson that is aligned with state standards. STEM educators at iFLY guide students through a hands-on lesson that consists of an interactive presentation on real-world STEM applications, physics demonstrations in the wind tunnel, lab activity and immersive experiments based on grade level, measuring data and interpreting results and one-on-one flying with a certified world-class flight instructor.
The iFLY STEM Education Program was developed to serve homeschooled students, scouts, STEM clubs, traditional school groups and more. Each learner will feel the effects of physical forces on their bodies while experiencing the thrill of flight. Even the youngest learners are able to grasp the concept of terminal velocity from this one-of-a-kind educational field trip.
Families enjoy a FREE day at the DoSeum during SACM’s School Discovery Day to kick off National School Choice Week. Photo: SACM, used with permission.
To kick off National School Choice Week, San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) will be hosting its most popular event of the School Discovery Day series at the DoSeum on Saturday, January 20, from 11a.m. – 2p.m. The first 1,000 guests who register online for this free event will have the chance to meet with representatives from 37 of San Antonio’s top schools while also gaining complimentary access to The DoSeum’s 68,000 square feet of galleries. SACM representatives will provide hands-on guidance in navigating the nonprofit’s online school search tools, application materials and extensive, unbiased education resources while team members from MindshiftED provide additional guidance and interpretation for Spanish speakers. The event is free and open to the public. (San Antonio Charter Moms, 2024)
SACM’s School Discovery Day Series is the largest school fair series of its kind and is held annually during the height of San Antonio’s enrollment season for charter and choice schools, currently underway for the 2024-2025 academic year. National School Choice Week, January 21–27, 2024, is a national celebration of opportunities for all families to choose the K–12 educational options that best fit their children.
With more than 175 schools of choice, a booming population of new families, and a major “rightsizing” plan slated to close 15 schools in San Antonio ISD next year, San Antonio’s educational offerings have never been more diverse or important. Time is of the essence for families looking to explore their options. To prepare, SACM’s family-friendly School Discovery Days are an excellent place for families to make the most of their search window. San Antonio Charter Moms is designed to make the often overwhelming process of finding the right school less complicated for families. These events offer the perfect opportunity for parents and caregivers to ask questions, fill out applications, and learn about the enrollment process while enjoying some quality family time in the process.
“School Discovery Days are very valuable because you get to talk with school representatives in a relaxed environment and get a feel for their education philosophy and school community. Instead of just reading about a school or doing a quick tour, you have more time to get to know school staff and parents to further evaluate whether it would be a good fit for your child. For example, when you talk to a school leader, you can hear their passion or lack thereof. You can see if their philosophy is more traditional and formal or modern and relaxed. It’s all about gathering as much information as possible and trying to determine what it would be like to interact with the school’s administration and community on a frequent basis.” – Kat Gomez, local charter school parent and frequent contributor within SACM’s Facebook Discussion Group.
SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY AT THE DOSEUM (Flagship Event | National School Choice Week)
Saturday, January 20, 2024, 11a.m. – 2p.m.
The DoSeum (Theatre Entrance) 2800 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209
Guests will enter the theater, just to the left of the DoSeum’s main entrance, where they will be greeted by the beats of the young DJs from The AM Project. Once inside the theater, SACM team members will usher visitors to connect with and explore the participating schools. This year, the event will extend beyond the theatre and into the first and second floor galleries allowing families to come for the information and stay for the fun. Guests who complete the scavenger hunt can enter a raffle for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Families can see the list of participating schools, learn more about the fun activities planned for the day and find free onsite parking information by visiting SACM onlineto learn more.
A snapshot of future events in the School Discovery Day series is listed below.
SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
Saturday, February 3, 2024, 11a.m. – 2p.m.
Second Baptist Church Community Center 3310 E. Commerce St. San Antonio, TX 78220
School Discovery Day at Second Baptist Church guests can head to the Community Center to dance to the beats of The AM Project, catch Once in a Wild mobile zoo’s animal program, and get creative with face painting. Nearly 25 schools will be available for families to meet during this free event. Click here for online registration.
SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY AT HEMISFAIR
Saturday, March 2, 2024, 11a.m. – 2p.m.
Central Games Plaza in Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair 434 S. Alamo St. San Antonio, TX 78205
Families visiting School Discovery Day at Hemisfair can meet with more than 30 top schools as they enjoy the fantastic amenities of Yanaguana Garden, including a splash pad, sand play area, table games, swings, climbing structures, picnic area, restaurants, and more. Guests are encouraged to register online. Considered the leading local school search authority on all learning models, SACM provides easy access to extensive, unbiased school resources such as online discussion groups with over 11K members, articles, live videos, enrollment guides, podcasts, a school finder app and perhaps the most anticipated and impactful of all, their in-person School Discovery Day Series held annually during enrollment season.
San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) began as a blog in 2012 when Founder Inga Cotton was inspired to help San Antonio families more easily learn about high-quality school options. The blog has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares fair information about all types of schools, be they charter, private, or public.
‘Ben Signs: A New School Adventure’ teaches children essential sign language words and phrases, allowing them to communicate with deaf peers in school. Photo: ProCare Therapy.
Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy, has worked in the Education Staffing industry for more than 15 years. She has partnered with school districts and dedicated school professionals across the country, supporting special education, speech therapy, school psychology, and much more. She is a member of the Chairman’s Club of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing from the University of Georgia, and loves spending time with her husband and two children. (ProCare Therapy, 2023)
Almost 400,000 children have a hearing disability in the US and they outnumber school interpreters by 41 children to 1 interpreter. Studies show children have a critical period of learning between ages 1 and 5 years when they are ready to acquire a new language. This period is riskier for hard of hearing children, because if they don’t communicate regularly, they can develop language deprivation. To prevent language deprivation, more than 20 states across the country have passed laws to monitor deaf children’s language development, but sign language still isn’t taught in schools.
The need for accessible and engaging resources to help children better understand their deaf peers has caused ProCare Therapy, one of the country’s top sources of school-based therapy, to launch a freedigitaland downloadable storybook. This new digital storybook helps children learn to sign in six easy steps.
“We are passionate about providing resources that not only educate but also inspire empathy and understanding in children.” – Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy
Introducing Ben and Mia, who are making sign language easy and fun for children to learn. Children to learn how to sign essential American Sign Language (ASL) words and phrases, such as “Hello,” “Thank you,” and “My name is.”
‘Ben Signs: A New School Adventure’ will help educate children, parents, and teachers in ASL along with the challenges that deaf children can face, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity in classrooms and beyond.
Children can learn the following signs:
Hello
My name is
Alphabet (to spell your name)
Please
Thank you
Goodbye
‘Ben signs: A New School Adventure’ is designed to be shared and can be downloaded for free.
“We believe this book will help children not only connect with their deaf peers but also educate children, parents and educators on the challenges that deaf children can face, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity in classrooms and beyond.”
Photo: ProCare Therapy, used with permission.
A true partner in education, ProCare Therapy is one of the country’s top sources of school-based therapy. We are solely dedicated to making a difference in the life of each child, every day, with every school session. Whether you’re a school in need of therapists or a clinician looking for a company that values your gifts, ProCare Therapy is your source.
Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy. Photo: ProCare Therapy, used with permission.
‘The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug’ makes the perfect holiday for dog lovers. Photo: Allen Y Kimble, Jr, used with permission.
Don’t look now, but there are only 14 days until Christmas and if you still need some gift ideas, may I suggest a book? For the dog lover on your list, especially if he or she likes pugs, consider “The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug” by Allen Y Kimble, Jr. When Vinny’s family had to move from Florida to Arizona after the September 11 attacks, Vinny The Pug had to adjust from living in lush and green surroundings to an arid desert. He adapted, of course, and learned to pose atop boulders. Follow Vinny’s journey in this gorgeous picture book that is perfect for dog lovers everywhere. Aside from pictures, it includes coloring projects and is suitable for all ages. It is available on Amazon. Learn more about the Kickstarter campaign.
Allen Yhorst Kimble, Jr is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in the mid-1950s. Upon turning a young man, he entered the United States Air Force and served one year in Vietnam, eight years in Asia, and a total of 11 years total service time. While in South East Asia, he picked up photography as a hobby, which he still enjoy today. In 2001, he acquired a little pug in Orlando, Florida and named him Vinny. As a result of the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks, he took the family out west to Phoenix where Vinny learned to climb and pose atop boulders. His new book “The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug” is a picture story book of his best friend Vinny. (Allen Y Kimble, Jr, 2023)
“The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug” – This is a true-life picture book of the life and times of Vinny the Pug. It began on September 12, 2001 following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Florida’s economy was left in shambles after the attacks. Overnight Orlando’s tourism industry ground to a halt, forcing Vinny’s human to move the family. They went out west to Arizona to find better employment opportunities.
Vinny The Pug atop a boulder. Photo: Allen Y Kimble, Jr., used with permission.
When they arrived, Vinny was still just a puppy, not yet one year old. However, he was mature enough to be surprised by what he saw. Arizona was very different from what he remembered back home in Florida. Orlando was lush with greenery; there were trees, vegetation, and lakes everywhere. All at once it hit the little pug; his new home in Phoenix, Arizona was in the desert. This book of photographs shows how the little pug adapted to the harsh realities of living in Arizona. It shows how Vinny the Pug came to appreciate his new home in the the desert. Before a year had passed, he had even launched a challenge to set a new Guinness World Record.
Vinny the Pug’s picture book is an enjoyable experience that will work well in classrooms. It is suitable for all ages from 5 through adults.
‘The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug’ is the new picture book by Allen Y Kimble, Jr. Photo: Allen Y Kimble, Jr., used with permission.
It is no doubt that canine companions play a big part in our lives. They become family and family stays together no matter what life throws at us. This includes having to relocate to another city, even another state, in search of better opportunities. Such is the case of Vinny The Pug. When the family had to move from Florida to Arizona after the September 11 attacks, Vinny had to adjust from living in lush and green surroundings to an arid desert. He adapted to his new home, of course, and even learned to pose atop boulders. Follow Vinny’s journey in the new picture book “The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug” by Allen Yhorst Kimble Jr. Perfect for dog lovers everywhere, it includes pictures and coloring projects and is suitable for all ages and is available on Amazon. Learn more about the Kickstarter campaign.
Allen Y Kimble Jr is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in the mid-1950s. Upon turning a young man, he entered the United States Air Force and served one year in Vietnam, eight years in Asia, and a total of 11 years total service time. While in South East Asia, he picked up photography as a hobby, which he still enjoys today. In 2001, he acquired a little pug in Orlando, Florida and named him Vinny. As a result of the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks, he took the family out west to Phoenix where Vinny learned to climb and pose atop boulders. His new book “The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug” is a picture story book of his best friend Vinny. (Allen Yhorst Kimble Jr, 2023)
“The Life And Times of Vinny The Pug” – This is a true-life picture book of the life and times of Vinny The Pug. It began on September 12, 2001 following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Florida’s economy was left in shambles after the attacks. Overnight Orlando’s tourism industry ground to a halt, forcing Vinny’s human to move the family. They went out west to Arizona to find better employment opportunities.
When they arrived, Vinny was still just a puppy, not yet one year old. However, he was mature enough to be surprised by what he saw. Arizona was very different from what he remembered back home in Florida. Orlando was lush with greenery; there were trees, vegetation, and lakes everywhere. All at once it hit the little pug; his new home in Phoenix, Arizona was in the desert. This book of photographs shows how the little pug adapted to the harsh realities of living in Arizona. It shows how Vinny The Pug came to appreciate his new home in the the desert. Before a year had passed, he had even launched a challenge to set a new Guinness World Record.
Vinny The Pug’s picture book is an enjoyable experience that will work well in classrooms. It is suitable for all ages from 5 through adults.
It includes: • 50 – Color Pictures • 87 – Black & White Graphic Arts • 8.5″ x 11″ pages for best viewing • Includes coloring projects
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Vinny The Pug. Photo: Allen Y Kimble, Jr., used with permission.
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