All the Ingredients for a Great Meal

To view this page ensure that Adobe Flash Player version 9.0.124 or greater is installed.

Please login or register to make a comment!

50 HELEN aug"sept 2008 All the Ingredients for a Great Meal (765) 449-4100 " 210 Meijer Dr Ste B " Lafayette, IN www.dreamdinners.com " 26crossingin@dreamdinners.com 765-447-3153 3652 Rome Dr. Lafayette (next to Dr. Firestone) You can see the difference...

Enjoy the Beauty of Sight Lastest Technology in Eyewear and Eye Exams Quality of Product and Design, Excellence in Service Lafayette 9s 32 Year Tradition Certified Opticians Michael D. Hopkins, ABOC " Sandra Hopkins, ABOC Custom Interiors for Home and Office 901-903 Main Street " Lafayette, IN 47901 Ph. (765) 420-7007 " Fax (765) 420-7017 Let us help your child today!

447-5996 & Spa kjnutt509@comcast.net est. 1977 aug"sept 2008 HELEN 51 Home & [FAMILY] GermanFest combines culture, faith and friendship When Father Tim Alkire of St. Boniface Catholic Church told his parish council to think outside the box, council member Sheila Cochran took the suggestion to heart.

The church 9s boiler was on the fritz and needed repaired. The church needed money. Without it, the boiler couldn 9t be fixed and the church would be without heat.

With the parish 9s heritage in mind, Cochran proposed a GermanFest as a fundraiser. Not everyone thought the event could be pulled off. Cochran thought otherwise.

So she called ... more. less.

three of her closest friends. In July 2006, Ann Bondi, Gail Gettings and Annette Wilson listened to Cochran 9s idea. When she asked, cCan we do this? d they readily answered, cYes, we can! d With October just three months away, the four got to work. While their pastor was on sabbatical in Poland, the team planned the event from the food to the entertainment to the main fundraiser. After countless hours of prepa- ration, the event was coming together with authentic German food, activities for children and a $10,000 raffle. But it was a little divine inter- vention that helped secure the entertainment. With less than two weeks before the event, Cochran learned of the cPolka Boys, d a 12-piece polka band from Indianapolis. The well-loved group was known for pumping up a party with its own brand of polka music. cThey can play an 980s tune with a polka flair, d laughs Wilson. cI knew of the band and thought they 9d be great, but also knew they were in no way traditional. d But the four women thought the band would be perfect, so they placed a call. The usually booked band had the date open and agreed to play. cNow that I think about it, it is amazing that they were available, d says Cochran. With everything in place, the team donned their traditional German dirndls and launched the first St. Boniface GermanFest under skies that cleared to produce a cool, fall evening. Volunteers came together 3 even from other parishes 3 to work booths, staff tables and dish out food. And then they danced. The Polka Boys were the hit of the festival with people dancing in the streets until 11:30 p.m. cAll ages were dancing, d adds Bondi. cIt was great to see that. d And although Alkire was in Poland, he called at 10 p.m. to join in the excitement as the raffle win- ner was drawn. GermanFest was a success from both a fun and finan- cial perspective. The event raised enough money to repair the boiler. As they headed into the second year, the group held an intervention of sorts with their leader. cI 9m a type-A personality, d admits Cochran with a smile. But so are Wilson and Gettings, and they convinced Cochran they could be 3 and wanted to be 3 of more help. So they divided the responsibilities based on their tal- ents. Today Cochran ensures the event sticks to its mission, Wilson handles the finances, Gettings The four women who organize GermanFest take a break. They are (l-r) Gail Gettings, Annette Wilson, Sheila Cochrun and Ann Bondi. Pictured below, Fr. Tim Alkire and Sr. Jane Anthrop show their polka- dancing talents. [Please turn to Page 52] 52 HELEN aug"sept 2008 St. Boniface GermanFest Saturday, Sept. 13 from 4:30 to 11 p.m. St. Boniface Church, Lafayette www.stbonifacegermanfest.org Free admission Purchase tickets for raffle, food, games and activities Entertainment includes cDie Manner Der Musik d and The Polka Boys, Lip Synch competition, Midway games, children 9s area, beer stein relay and nail hammering contests [CONTINUED] became the go-to person for problem-solving and Bondi helps keep it all in perspective. cI 9m probably a C-minus when it comes to personality types! d says Bondi. cYou have to have fun when you do an event like this. d So after a second successful year with more than 2,500 in attendance, the group paused to think about the future of GermanFest. cWhen we started this, we decided to assume a certain amount of financial risk the first two years, d explains Wilson. cWe believed in it. But now it was time to see if we were ready to grow the event. d With parish support, the team of four has turned into a volunteer effort of 300-plus, 20 subcommittees and a larger grassroots effort to invite the community to enjoy a taste of local culture and fun. This year 9s event will include carnival rides, Bingo, pony rides, a second stage, a lip-synch contest, gaming tables, a cake walk, authentic German food, dancing and of course, the raffle. The site includes closing down North St. from 9th to 8th streets, and using four parking lots. As the day gets closer, the women are excited about the event 9s growth and potential. cOur vision is always finan- cial, d says Wilson. cWe want to make enough net revenue to make major improvements to our campus. d And although raising money is their primary goal, having fun together is never far behind. cWhat has made this work is our dynamics, d says Wilson. cIt 9s fun, d adds Bondi. cIt 9s a pleasure to get together because we like each other. d 3 by Sharon L. Martin aug"sept 2008 HELEN 53 Sometimes a single word or phrase perfectly summarizes a lifestyle. Enter Uppercase Living. The home-based party plan- ning company offers a unique means of decorating a home, using the simplistic beauty of words. Lafayette 9s Leanna Giltmier first became acquainted with Uppercase Living through a friend, who became an independent demonstrator for the business last fall. cShe planned to start a business and I really didn 9t, d says Giltmier. cI was going to be her customer. d But after one glance through the catalog, Giltmier was hooked. She spotted a number of designs that she just had to have. cI 9m a quote person anyway, so I was just drawn to it, d she adds. For Giltmier, the products offered a new method of bringing the values she holds dear into her home. She also found the decorative lettering and embellishments quick and easy to apply. They essentially work as a giant rub-on sticker, adhering to walls and surfaces. cThey will apply to any relatively smooth surface, d explains Giltmier. She loved the finished look of the Uppercase Living designs and decided to become a demonstrator herself. cI knew I would have a lot of people I knew fall in love with it, too, d says Giltmier. She says business has grown from word of mouth and referrals. [Please turn to Page 54] Express yourself: Home decor made easy with words 54 HELEN aug"sept 2008 224 East State Street West Lafayette, IN 47906-3223 www.rubianic.com tele (765)743-FLWR (3597) fax (765) 743-5766 Meet Rubia 9s feature flower that has a blossoming sense of adventure. Little Red Gerbera loves to travel and is on a constant quest for fun and excitement! Help Little Red Gerbera continue its voyage by taking a picture of you and Little Red Gerbera exploring the world around you. Bring your picture to Rubia and receive 10% off your purchase for spreading Little Red Gerbera 9s flower power! The Adventures of Little Red Gerbera [CONTINUED] cAbout once a week I get a call from some- one I don 9t know, d she says. cIt 9s still growing and it 9s still a relatively new thing in Lafayette. d By her estimates, only eight to 10 people in greater Lafayette are Uppercase Living representatives. The company catalog features more than 120 premade designs, from Bible verses to witty statements, sports fig- ures and nursery rhymes. There is also a customizing option, enabling buyers to select a name or favorite phrase to add personal touches to their homes. Giltmier 9s customers are generally women, since they traditionally decorate the home, but she also has single men as clients. Kitchens and bedrooms tend to be the most popular rooms for the embellishments, she adds. The designs are removable, but not reusable. For beginners, ceramic tiles are a quick, easy option, Giltmier says. She 9s also placed the quotations on photo frames, glassware, platters and canisters. cThere 9s really a wide range of places to put them, d says Giltmier. cI get a lot of ideas from my clients. d Small designs can be applied in just five to 10 minutes, whereas larger transfers take up to 30 minutes. With a price range of $2-$70, Uppercase Living offers decorating options nearly everyone can afford. Being a representative is a great way to bring in a little extra money for the stay-at-home mother of two. cIt fits very well into our lifestyle, d she says, noting she generally is out of the home four-to-six nights a month for Uppercase Living parties. 3by Martha O 9Brien For more information on Uppercase Living, contact Giltmier by phone at (765) 477-7075, or e-mail her at designwithwords@verizon.net. Spring 2008 Winner : cEnjoy Weather d by Amornrat Aroonnual GOT A GREAT PHOTO? Then enter it today! Summer : July 1, 3 Sept. 30, 2008 Autumn : Oct. 1, 3 Dec. 31, 2008 www.OneGreatPhotoContest.com 800-872-6648 765-447-9999 Honorable Mention Photographers 1) Jianming Li, 2) Dan Hester, 3) Gayatri Adi, 4) Mark Felix, 5) Jianming Li, 6) Guy Martin HONORABLE MENTIONS sponsored by the Lafayette 3 West Lafayette Convention & Visitors Bureau The contest is open to all levels of photographers of all ages. We are looking for unique and creative tourism images with striking, dynamic color photographed within Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Get clicking, then click www. OneGreatPhotoContest.com for your chance to win $500! Get clicking! 1 2 3 6 5 4 56 HELEN aug"sept 2008 100 S. Creasy Lane, Suite 1250 Lafayette, IN 47905 765-447-7022 In the Lafayette Pavilions Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. " Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. E-mail: info@uniquelyyourspotteryandglass.com On the Web: www.yourpotteryandglass.com Before those cother d classes start, sign up for our Glass Class Summer might wind down soon, but our glass fusing classes are still going strong No experience necessary Our staff can help you create a unique gift. Picture Frames " Thank-you Gifts for Teachers, Coaches and Counselors Platters, Clocks and Jewelry " Back-to-school Keepsakes Reunion and Retirement Mementos or paint your own pottery! aug"sept 2008 HELEN 57 [EASY, TASTY] Recipes Head to your tailgate with tasty mojitos Recipes are courtesy of Pampered Chef and longtime Pampered Chef consultant Rhonda Feuer. Looking for a great burger recipe to accompany your tailgate? Head to www.helenmagazine.com for the Ultimate Peppercorn Burger. Happy cooking 3 and eating! -editor Be the hit of your fall tailgate party with this Triple-Citrus mojitos recipe courtesy of Pampered Chef and Rhonda Feuer, consultant with Pampered Chef. Looking for something sweet and love the flavor of lemons? Then don 9t miss the Lemon Bars recipe on the next page! Triple-Citrus Mojitos Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 1 pkg (.75 oz) fresh mint leaves (about 1 1/4 cups leaves), divided 1 orange 2 lemons, divided 2 limes, divided 1/2 cup white rum (optional) 5 cups chilled lemon-lime soda Directions: 1. Combine sugar and water in Small Batter Bowl. Tear six mint leaves in half and place into Quick-Stir® Pitcher; set aside. Finely chop remaining leaves with Chef 9s Knife and place into batter bowl. Zest orange, one of the lemons and one of the limes using Zester/Scorer; add zest to mint mixture. Microwave on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. 2. Slice orange, both of the lemons and both of the limes in half crosswise. Reserve half of one lemon and half of one lime for garnish. Juice remaining lemon and lime halves using Citrus Press; add juices to pitcher. Juice orange with Juicer; add juice to pitcher. 3. Pour mint mixture through Strainer into pitcher; discard chopped mint. Add rum, if desired. Carefully add soda to avoid overflow. Slice reserved lemon and lime halves with Ultimate Mandoline fitted with v-shaped blade; place into pitcher. Place lid onto pitcher and plunge gently. Serve over ice. Cook 9s Tip: To garnish rims of glasses, zest an additional orange using Microplane® Adjustable Grater. Combine zest and 1/2 cup sugar in Prep Bowl. Place a small amount of sugar mixture onto Simple Additions® Appetizer Plate. Rub rim of glass with orange wedge to moisten. Dip rim of glass into sugar mixture. Yield: 8 servings. Nutrients per serving: Nutrients per serving (about 1 cup, excluding optional ingredient): Calories 130, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 33 g, Protein 0 g, Sodium 20 mg, Fiber less than 1 g. © The Pampered Chef, Ltd., 2001 Mini Glazed Lemon Cakes Ingredients: Cakes 2 tbsp butter, softened, divided 2 tbsp sugar 2 small lemons, divided 1 pkg (9 oz) yellow cake mix 1 egg 1 container (8 oz) sour cream Glaze and Garnish 2 tbsp lemon juice (from lemon used for cakes) 2 tbsp butter 1/4 cup sugar Lemon knots (optional, see Cook 9s Tip) Directions: 1. For cakes, brush six Prep Bowls with 1 tbsp of butter; sprinkle evenly with sugar. Thinly slice one of the lemons using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with thin slicing blade. Remove any seeds from lemon slices and place one slice into bottom of each bowl; set bowls aside. 2. Zest remaining lemon using Microplane® Adjustable Grater to measure 1 tbsp zest; set lemon aside for glaze. Place remaining 1 tbsp butter into Classic Batter Bowl; microwave on HIGH 15-20 seconds or until melted. Add lemon zest, cake mix, egg and sour cream; whisk 1 minute or until smooth. Scoop batter evenly into prepared bowls. Place bowls in a circle on microwave turntable. Microwave on HIGH 4-5 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove cakes from microwave; cool in bowls 5 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, for glaze, juice reserved lemon to measure 2 tbsp juice. Melt butter in (2-cup) Easy Read Measuring Cup. Stir in lemon juice and sugar; microwave on HIGH 30-60 seconds or until boiling. 4. To serve, gently tap sides of bowls to release cakes; invert cakes onto Cutting Board. Transfer cakes to serving plates using Mini-Serving Spatula. Drizzle glaze over cakes. Garnish with lemon knots, if desired. Cook 9s Tip: These cakes can be baked in a conventional oven. Place Prep Bowls onto Medium Sheet Pan and bake at 350°F for 24-26 minutes. Proceed as recipe directs. Yield: 6 servings. Nutrients per serving: Calories 390, Total Fat 20 g, Saturated Fat 11 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Carbohydrate 48 g, Protein 4 g, Sodium 370 mg, Fiber 0 g. © The Pampered Chef, Ltd., 2001 58 HELEN aug"sept 2008 aug"sept 2008 HELEN 59 Home Care Services 2 To 24 Hours a Day 356 Days a Year Unique Agency. Service with Integrity. Owner,Traci Goudy,RN " Caregivers " Skilled Nursing " Senior Advisor Program " Pharmacy/Nutrition Consultation " In-Home Fitness Coach " Massage Therapy Licensed Home Health Agency Affordable Private Pay/ Insurance Accepted (765) 446-8080 " (877) 760-8080 www.homecarebydesign.net Handmade clothes for your little girl 9s favorite doll! " all clothes are custom-made by hand with special attention to detail and craftsmanship " clothing fits 18 d dolls including American Girl ® and Gotz ® " choose from dresses, nightgowns, skirts, shirts, jumpsuits, pants, capris and more granny 9s thimble found at Blue Monday Craft Lounge 652 Main St. downtown Lafayette or call (765) 743-0125 june " july 2008 Is she a feminist? Valentine Moghadam knows the answer Fresh finds at your local Farmers 9 Market SPECIAL REPORT: Women & Weight Is your 401(k) working for you? 10 ways to save cash at the pump the only magazine for the women ofLafayette"West Lafayette and the surrounding areas H e L e N Yes! I want to subscribe to HELEN and never miss an issue again! Name Address City State Zip Daytime Phone E-mail address $18 for one-year subscription. Please make checks payable to: HELEN magazine. To pay by credit card, call us at (765) 429-5297 or pay online at www.helenmagazine.com. Mail to: HELEN Magazine, 658 Main St., Ste. 215, Lafayette, IN 47901. Questions? Call us at (765) 429-5297. Subscriptions may take 6-8 weeks to begin delivery. Never miss an issue again. We know. The copies go fast. Make sure you get every info-packed issue by subscribing today! Just $18 for 6 issues. Call (765) 429-5297 or visit www.helenmagazine.com to subscribe online today! When you 9re too tired to cook and fast food just won 9t cut it, think out- side restaurant row. Think the dining courts at Purdue. Not just for the dorm dwellers, Purdue 9s dining courts are open to the community and make fantastic family nights out. With options varying from authentic international cuisine to familiar favorites like burgers and mac-and-cheese, you 9re sure to find something to put on everybody 9s plate. If you 9re recalling the days of your own college cafeteria, think again. Purdue has consolidated 11 dining courts into five award-win- ning dining destinations. The push for change began with the serendipi- tous success of Hillenbrand Dining Court, which opened in 1993. c(Hillenbrand) was the first residence hall we built in 20 years, d recalls Sarah Johnson, director of dining services for university resi- dences. cIn terms of dining, students just flocked there! d Some would be satisfied with such obvious prosperity. Not Johnson. She 9s been at the forefront of transforming Purdue 9s housing and dining system into what 9s now the largest system in the nation that doesn 9t have a live-in requirement. Instead, she thought, cWe have to do something to make our 11 other facilities equally attrac- tive. d Johnson delved into researching companies that could help Purdue develop a master plan for consolidation and renovation, as well as what students wanted. The result was a plan that incorporated beautifully designed facilities filled with mouth-watering aromas from healthy and hearty foods. cI am so proud of our staff. They have taken pride in having great facilities and food, d says Johnson. Her pride is evident when she describes chefs such as Grace Brutsman at Hillenbrand, who has a knack for whipping together tasty desserts, or Ha Tran at Ford Dining Court, who is from Vietnam and has created a South Asian menu that draws international students like bees to honey. Special stations have created a buffet-load of choices stu- dents once lacked, and staple items mean each dining court has something for everybody. Diners will have even more choices in August with the unveiling of Wiley Dining Court, which marks the comple- tion of the master plan. Wiley 9s vaulted wood ceiling and natural lighting create an atmosphere Johnson describes as cwarm and clubby. It 9s beautiful! d Another special feature is a Brazilian-inspired churrasco, which consists of three horizontal tiers of skewers on which roasts of meat such as beef, pork and chicken are rotated. 60 HELEN aug"sept 2008 Enjoy local food with international flair on Purdue 9s campus aug"sept 2008 HELEN 61 Prices: Breakfast: $5.33 + tax; ages 2-10, $2.69 + tax; under 2, free Lunch and dinner: $8.44 + tax; ages 2-10, $4.24 + tax; under 2, free Discovery, MasterCard, Visa and cash are accepted. High chairs are available at all din- ing courts. Visit www.housing.purdue.edu/Menus/ to find out what 9s for dinner. Earhart Dining Court Located one block north of State Road 26 on 1st Street Dr., between Martin Jischke and MacArthur drives. Specialties include a Mongolian grill, where you can choose your own stir-fry ingredi- ents and sauces, make-your-own pizza and pastas. Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ford Dining Court Located across from Cary Quadrangle at the corner of Stadium Ave. and Russell St. Specialties include stonehearth pizza and South Asian foods. Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hillenbrand Dining Court (closed spring semester) Located in Hillenbrand Residence Hall, two blocks north of State Road 26 at the cor- ner of MacArthur Dr. and 3rd St. Specialties include make-your-own quesedillas at Creation Station, noodle bowls with noodles and vegetable choices with hot broth, desserts and Thursday night steak option for double price Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 8 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wiley Dining Court Located on Martin Jischke Dr., just north of 3rd St. Specialties include Brazilian barbeque on a churrasco, fresh pastas and make-your- own pizza Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 8 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Windsor Dining Court Located in Windsor Residence Halls, at the southeast corner of 3rd St. and Martin Jischke Dr. Specialties include a daily specialty salad at Chelsea Garden, vegetarian foods, and African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian specialties Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; 5 - 7 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. What you 9ll find when you dine at the Purdue University Dining Courts beef, pork and chicken are rotated. The master plan won 9t be the only thing coming full circle this year. After 37 years with Purdue 9s dining services, Johnson will retire in December. Her career as the third director of residence dining has been as satisfying as a meal at one of the dining courts she helped create. cStudents are more satisfied and they eat more meals (in the dining courts), d says Johnson. cWe have a lot more guests, including community residents, than we did before." If you go, each dining court has metered parking on adjacent streets. Johnson recommends eating before or after peak dinner hours of 5:45 to 7 p.m., getting lunch after church on Sunday, or trying a dining court further from the sta- dium (like Windsor or Earhart) on a foot- ball Saturday. And even if you do have to jockey through a crowd, you 9ll know it 9s evidence of a great plan and a determined woman who helped it all happen. 3by Sara Young Lafayette Locations Market Square 765-447-1108 350 South 765-807-0400 Columbian Park 765-447-9436 Pay Less Tippecanoe Mall 765-446-2200 Shadeland 765-477-6888 Pay Less West Lafayette 765-464-0011 Catering menu coming soon! (765) 447-1137 777 Who knew your family could be so cool! Whether it 9s a new air conditioning system you need or simply service for your current one - call Korschot 9s & Lennox. cYour comfort is our business d Join us for the Phases of Our Lives Indiana Women 9s Event Market Square 2200 Elmwood Ave (Old Stein Mart) Lafayette Saturday, Sept. 20 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. """ Sunday, Sept. 21 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You 9ll find: " Special areas including bridal, home, prenatal, men 9s, children 9s and more " carnival games " silent auction & raffles "Blood Mobile Admission is $1 or a can of food; Kids 12 and under FREE Home with Hope receives proceeds from the Silent Auction while St. James Lutheran Food Pantry benefits from carnival games and food donations at door. Presented by: Media Sponsors: H e L e N per child. If children can 9t pinpoint what 9s scaring them about their new situation, Rathert advises, cSit down and write down some things they might be worried about, d although she warns not to create worries where there are none. Some students fear summer cbrain drain, dor losing all their knowledge in the lazy days of summer. Children need to know that learning is not limited to the walls of a school building or the months of the academic calendar. Rathert spends her sum- mers catching up on books to recommend to stu- dents. Likewise, if your child 9s math skills need work, Rathert recommends going over a math sheet with your child in the evening. Some summer chomework, dwith positive encouragement, will help your child feel ready to tackle assignments in the fall. Jane Helton, head of the English department at West Lafayette High School, recently helped her son make a double transition from middle school at St. James Lutheran, a private school, to the pub- lic West Lafayette High School. He went to a sum- mer robotics camp before school started, where he met teachers and students. cFind an area of interest, d Helton advises. cThey can make new connections through being involved in school activities. d Helping your child find activities he or she wants to be involved in during the school year will build anticipation and excitement about returning to school. Keep a positive attitude about the back-to- school transition and encourage your child to be open about her fears. If you address scary possibili- ties early enough and highlight the fun things about school, nothing will stop your student from bounding into the classroom come August. 3by Sara Young aug"sept 2008 HELEN 63 Time for school: Tips for easier transitions Parenting [101] Pencils are sharp, new notepads have been purchased, and your child 9s name appears on a classroom roster. However, for most students, it will take more than a Spiderman lunchbox or a Hannah Montana pencil set to make the mental leap back to school. To help make going back to school fun and easy, we talked with a few Golden Apple Award-winning teachers to share their favorite tips. Changes begin long before the frantic break- fast rush of the first day. Mary Kay Cahill is a first-grade teacher at Edgelea Elementary who has taught five different grades in the 30 years she 9s been teaching. She says, cIt 9s hard to get used to being in a classroom. Kids thrive on routine. d Parents should start a bedtime routine two- to-three weeks before school starts. For younger children, that wind-down time can include one of many books Cahill recommends, such as Natasha Wing 9s The Night Before Kindergarten or First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg. Starting the school conversation early is one of the best things you can do to help your child prepare mentally. cMany children are worried about whether their teacher will like them, d says Cahill. cTalk to them about some of your favorite teachers. Tell them how much fun their new teacher will have getting to know them. d Another common fear is getting lost in a new building. Visit a new building before school starts to give your student an extra boost of confidence and help dispel first day butterflies. Sometimes, kids don 9t tell us what 9s bothering them. Dianna Rathert, a fifth-grade teacher at Happy Hollow Elementary, knows the importance of having conversations with your children as they adjust to the school routine. cIt does take time, d Rathert admits. But she says just half an hour a night can make a child feel special, even if you have multiple kids and choose one weeknight

less