EDUCATION | MONTESSORIGUIDES SCHOOLS THE ARTS washingtonFAMILY.com SEPTEMBER 2019 Teachers OF THE YEAR MEET ALL 5 Game On! Sports-Friendly THE JOURNEY SCHOOL A MONTESSORI SCHOOL SERVING GRADES Travel SEE PAGE Discover your capable, confident Montessori child. From infancy through elementary school, children learn best when they’re working with activities they love. At Guidepost, your child will enter the wonderful world of Montessori lessons and learning materials, designed to captivate and inspire. Now Enrolling! Visit us online today to RSVP for an event or schedule a tour! Aldie Fairfax 24328 Marrwood 3909 Oak Street Aldie, VA 20105 Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 542-5522 (703) 934-0920 Herndon Broadlands 13251 Woodland Park Road 42945 Waxpool Road Herndon, VA 20171 Ashburn, VA 20148 (571) 203-8686 (703) 723-3364 Reston Chantilly Infant • Toddler • Preschool 11579 Cedar Chase Road 4550 Walney Road Kindergarten • Elementary Herndon, VA 20170 Chantilly, VA 20151 (703) 404-9733 (571) 321-0364 Fall Festival and Open House at Reston Saturday, September 21, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. guidepostmontessori.com/northern-virginia Spanish and Mandarin Immersion programs available at selected campuses GP081219 GP-WASH-FAMILY (19-0812).indd 1 8/13/19 9:51 AM Discover your capable, confident Montessori child. From infancy through elementary school, children learn best when they’re working with activities they love. At Guidepost, your child will enter the wonderful world of Montessori lessons and learning materials, designed to captivate and inspire. Now Enrolling! Visit us online today to RSVP for an event or schedule a tour! Aldie Fairfax 24328 Marrwood 3909 Oak Street Aldie, VA 20105 Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 542-5522 (703) 934-0920 Herndon Broadlands 13251 Woodland Park Road 42945 Waxpool Road Herndon, VA 20171 Ashburn, VA 20148 (571) 203-8686 (703) 723-3364 Reston Chantilly Infant • Toddler • Preschool 11579 Cedar Chase Road 4550 Walney Road Kindergarten • Elementary Herndon, VA 20170 Chantilly, VA 20151 (703) 404-9733 (571) 321-0364 Fall Festival and Open House at Reston Saturday, September 21, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. guidepostmontessori.com/northern-virginia Spanish and Mandarin Immersion programs available at selected campuses GP081219 GP-WASH-FAMILY (19-0812).indd 1 8/13/19 9:51 AM CONTENTS SEPTEMBER ON THE COVER The Journey School Washington FAMILY’s 2019 Teachers of the Year Page 22 Photo by David Stuck FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 22 CLASSROOM STARS 8 FAMILY CALENDAR Meet our fi ve Teachers of the Year winners and see what makes them the area’s best. 10 DMV FUN September fall festivals GREEN BAY 32 28 SCHOOL NOTES More than just a football town, Green Bay, Getting organized for academic success Wisconsin off ers tons of family-friendly adventure. 36 HEALTHY FAMILY 38 PARENT COACHING Practicing mindfulness as a family Some local parents are turning to coaching for work-life-balance support. 40 MOMS SPEAK New school year advice for parents 42 WF BLOG GUIDES A teacher’s thoughts on back-to-school 12 EDUCATION 44 BOOKMARKED New arts-inspired books for kids 27 THE ARTS 46 LAST WORD 30 MONTESSORI SCHOOLS Helping children deal with their fears READERS’ RESPONSES We welcome your feedback — on specific articles, WE WANT overall themes and anything else related to editorial YOUR content. Enter your comments on the Feedback tab FEEDBACK of our website: [email protected]. Please note we reserve the right to edit or refrain from publishing comments we deem inappropriate. ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/VIROJT 4 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER OFFERING DISCOVER HOW the Quality, Engaging JOURNEY SCHOOL Education is Navigating Growth Serving Grades and Learning 1-8 Located in a picturesque country setting, we off er a curriculum built on the Montessori Method of Education for both middle and elementary school-aged children focusing on: A strong academic environment that exceeds local and state standards Fostering independence, confi dence, and critical and analytical thinking Respectful, welcoming, multi-age classroom and school environment Hands-on, interdisciplinary learning Daily connection to the outdoors Contact us today for a tour and more information: 240.324.6160 • [email protected] • www.thejourneyschool.net The Journey 2430 Spencerville Road, Spencerville, MD 20868 School OUR TEAM SEPTEMBER 2019 WashingtonFAMILY.com • 301-230-2222 Craig Burke, Publisher ADVERTISING Rob Leinson, Director of Sales 301-230-0819 • [email protected] Account Executives Kim Coates, Tamara Morris, Mary Ramsdale, Stacie Shapero, Julie Turco, Sylvia Witaschek BUSINESS Pattie-Ann Lamp, Accounting Coordinator • 410-902-2311 • [email protected] EDITORIAL Jessica Gregg, Lifestyle Editor • 410-902-2319 • [email protected] Britni Petersen, Managing Editor • 301-230-6696 • [email protected] Adranisha Stephens, Sta Writer • 410-902-2328 • [email protected] Contributors Michelle Blanchard Ardillo, Ann Dolin, Courtney McGee, Kathryn Streeter CREATIVE Lonna Koblick, Art Director Sherley Taliaferro, Graphic Designer Frank Wagner, Graphic Designer James Meskunas, Digital Media Manager David Stuck, Sta Photographer MIDATLANTIC MEDIA Craig Burke, CEO/Publisher • [email protected] Opening Night Liz Spikol, Editorial Director • [email protected] Jennifer Perkins-Frantz, Director of Production• [email protected] Bill Sims, Director of Circulation & Audience Development • [email protected] Tickets $15! Jeni Mann, Director of Marketing & Custom Media • [email protected] Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Excludes premium seats. Tickets at market pricing. Purchase tickets at venue box office or ticketmaster.com. EAGLEBANK ARENA Table of Single Page Calendar of Contents Design Events OCT 2 – 6 © Washington Family. Washington Family is published 12 times a year by Mid-Atlantic Media, and is distributed free of charge throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Correspondence and editorial submissions from our readers are DisneyOnIce.com welcomed. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment on all editorial and advertising material submitted. We are not responsible for the return of any unsolicited materials. The acceptance of advertising by Washington Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without expressed written permission. 11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 300 | Rockville, MD 20852 | 301-230-2222 or 703-318-1385 | washingtonfamily.com 6 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER FIRST WORD Sliding into School encils out, pool noodles put away. The dates, we are also excited to feature our third new school year is here once again! Now annual Teachers of the Year winners! P that summer is in our rearview mirrors, We all know that teachers are an integral part of it’s time to settle into a new busy schedule and an our children’s lives. And we at Washington FAM- exciting new season — fall! Are you ready? ILY believe they should continue to be recognized This issue, we’re kicking off back to school with for what they do to help our children grow and Britni Petersen a ton of enriching content that will help families learn. So, after asking our readers to nominate Managing Editor [email protected] slide seamlessly into the new school year ahead. their favorite and inspirational local teachers, five To get kids prepared and on track for A+ school amazing educators were chosen. Check them out success, one local writer and tutor, Ann Dolin, dis- on page 22. cusses the best practices for studying and staying Lastly, as we eagerly slide into fall this month, organized (page 28). She offers a list of great study we couldn’t leave out some autumn-inspired fun. techniques like using timers, color-coding tasks, Check out our list of entertaining fall festivals hap- Facebook creating designated study spaces and more. pening in the DMV this month on page 10. These facebook.com/WashingtonFamilyMagazine While, of course, it’s important to get kids back events are the perfect way to kick off the new season. Follow us on Pinterest into the routine of school obligations, it’s also We hope this new school year brings families tons @familymagazine and Instagram important for parents to get themselves back into of positive growth and success. As always, check out @washingtonfamilymag the swing of things as well. We asked local parents washingtonfamily.com for all kinds of resources from how they are getting ready for the new school year even more school-related tips and parenting advice Email us Let us know what’s on your mind. and they revealed some helpful tips from planning from local experts to a consistently-updated calendar [email protected] essentials to self-care practices (page 40). of fun things to do with the family. Story Ideas Along with our annual “Education Guide” on Happy reading! ■ Have a story idea? We want to hear it. page 12, which provides detailed information on Email us at [email protected] local private schools including school open house WashingtonFAMILY.com 7 CALENDAR annual Labor Day Art Show. Glen Washington, D.C., 1:30 or 7:30 p.m. National Museum of Natural History Echo Park, Glen Echo, Md., 1 p.m. $39- $179. culturecapital.com to the public. Smithsonian National { september} glenechopark.org Museum of History, Washington, D.C., SATURDAY