St. Andrew’s private school in Savannah is bringing nationally recognized author and speaker, Joe Bruzzese to campus. The program is set for October 9 and 10 beginning at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Island

The presentation is open to the public and reservations may be secured at www.saintschool.com .

Joe Bruzzese, author of A Parents’ Guide to the Middle School Years and parent education expert, speaks to parents across the United States offering practical and long term strategies for overcoming the struggles of the middle school years. Joe’s background in education includes a Master’s degree in addition to his former tenure as teacher in the middle school grades. Joe brings years of educational theory and practical experience to his work with families.

On Tues. Oct. 9, the program focuses on students’ needs in 5th and 6th grade; the Oct. 10 program provides more information for parents of 7th and 8th graders. However, the program is open to all adults. A $10 donation per adult is requested.

St. Andrew’s,  a private,independent school,  601 Penn Waller Road, Savannah,  31410, www.saintschool.com

Coach Val’s Tumblegym on Wilmington Is. is the spot for children’s classes and birthday parties.

Birthday Parties
Leave the ENTERTAINMENT and MESS to Coach Val’s Tumblegym, which offers Birthday Parties customized to fit your child’s interests and theme. Good for ages 2 to 8 years old. Details here.

Fall 2012 Classes Available:

Wiggle Worms: 30min classes ages walking – 2yrs This “Parent and Me class” is designed to incorporate the earliest aspects of physical fitness, enhance fine and gross motor skills, body awareness, and muscle coordination while promoting physical, mental and social development. Music, basic gymnastics movements, and games create a fun and healthy atmosphere for you and your child.

Grasshoppers: 45 min classes ages 2-3yrs This toddler class is open to children who enjoy having parents close by and are ready to learn to follow instructions from another adult. We ask parent/guardian to assist until their child is ready to participate on their own. This class continues to enhance your child’s fine and gross motor skills, social skills, strength and coordination through the activities and obstacle courses that emphasize eye-hand coordination, climbing, hanging, jumping, running, and rolling in a fun and safe environment.

Bumble Bees : 60 min classes ages 3-4yrs This class continues to enhance and challenge your child’s physical, social and cognitive development. Basic tumbling and gymnastics skills, ball handling skills and preschool concepts are taught. Group activities, teamwork, and fun theme-based curriculum keep your child engaged and excited to participate.

Fire flies: 60 min/week ages 4-6yrs This class is designed for children in Pre-K through Kindergarten. Concepts and themes are designed to introduce and reinforce age-appropriate physical, social and cognitive skills. Basic tumbling, gymnastics, and ball handling are worked through obstacle courses, group games, and teamwork.

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Dragon Flies: 60 min/week ages 6-8yrs This class is designed for children in First and Second grade. Concepts and themes are designed to challenge children using age-appropriate physical, social and cognitive skills. Basic tumbling, gymnastics, ball handling, and physical fitness skills are worked through obstacle courses, group games, and teamwork. .

See website here for schedule and rates. Registration online available by clicking here.

Inclusion class: Adult, child with special needs (ages 5 – 10), and siblings – Contact for more information.

FREE TRIAL CLASSES available. Unsure your child will participate? Want to see Coach Val in action before you commit to class time? Fill out our free trial form here and try out a class at no cost.

Mention you saw on SouthernMamas.com site, and annual registration fee of $25 will be waived.

Coach Val’s Tumblegym, 310 Johnny Mercer Blvd in the Wilmington Island Shopping Center, 912-268-6003, www.coachvals.com; On Facebook here. Coach Val’s Tumblegym is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

We asked for creative suggestions for parent involvement in the classroom & we got it, thanks to input from local teachers & parents. Check out the tips in the article here.

As parents, we all know we’re supposed to be volunteering in our kids’ classrooms as much as our schedules allow. The tricky part is coming up the time AND fun, creative things to do w/ kids during our volunteer time.

Here are some additional helpful tips from Savannah teacher Carolyn Perry on how parents can help out in your child’s classroom:

1. Be the class photographer/yearbooker, esp. in the younger grades where they may not get an annual or year book. I have had a mom who took pictures at all the field trips, assemblies, concerts, etc and some candid shots throughout the year and then she burned 25 copies of a windows movie magic movie she made. She made me a coffee cup with the pics & I still have it from that year.

2. Supplies- there is time, there is talent- and there is treasure. Gift cards to Dollar Tree? Super! Pick us up an extra box of tissues? Awesome! For lots of items, if you don’t buy it, I do.

3. Have time? Come in and read. Play a learning game with a few kids (maybe not your own, okay?). Help me with photocopying, filing, cleaning desks, dusting, etc. Yes, I do all of that too.

4. Did you see something really neat on Pinterest? Maybe I did too, maybe not, but either way- how about you make it for me? Fun poster? Make me one! I will love it. Great game you saw or Mother’s Day art and craft? Help me out by jumping right in and take on that project.

5. Phone a friend! Take on anyone of these projects with your friends. The more the merrier!

6. Join the PTA, it’s cheap and gives all the kids a voice.

FROGwarts!

Savannah Children’s Museum is hosting a fabulously MAGICAL event on September 8th from 5-7pm called FROGwarts! It’s their very own twist on a familiar book/movie series that you surely don’t want to miss. Cost is $5 for a member family ($5 covers up to 5 people!) and $7.50 per person for non-members.

To get more information and to pre-register for FROGwarts, click HERE! Pre-registration is appreciated and will make your wait for The FROGwarts Express shorter.

Once inside the museum’s Exploration Station, families will find all sorts of magical activities including: The Matching Hat, Wand Making, Potions Class, The Wizardly Wonder Maze, a game of Ribbitch, and magical snacks!

Feel free to wear your ‘school robes’ (a bathrobe or dress-up cape) and any magical attire you desire!

For more info, click here.  To register, click here.

Fall Hours of Operation @ Savannah Children’s Museum

Savannah Children’s Museum hours of operation will also change as of September 2nd and the museum will begin offering daily programming Thursday-Monday . Click HERE to see what the new hours will be!

Savannah Children’s Museum Exploration Station, $7.50 per person ages 1 and older, 655 Louisville Rd, Savannah, GA, 31401. Next to Georgia State Railroad Museum,

You’re invited to College Night at St. Andrew’s School in Savannah

The independent private school on Wilmington Island is hosting a College Information Night on Thursday, September 13 at 7 p.m. on the Savannah campus. Admission representatives from Swarthmore College, Vassar College, Williams College and Wesleyan University will be on hand. These individuals will answer questions about the selective college admission process, essay writing, interviews, financial aid and scholarships.

The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

The cost of Baby Sign & Read Classes for parents with children from the ages of 0-3 yrs old has decreased from $125 to $85.

The Baby Sign & Read Classes are now being offered in Savannah by Giving in Love, Inc. Sign & Read classes focus on parent-child interactions, communication, and reading.

Parents learn how they can nurture their child’s language, cognitive and social-emotional development through three key areas of communication: talking, reading and signing.

There are 8 classes in the first session. Class options are 10:45am on Thursdays beginning September 6 at the West Broad Street YMCA located at 1110 May Street, Savannah, GA 31415 or 11:00am on Fridays starting September 7, 2012 at Bouncing Angels, 2123 E. Victory Dr., Savannah, GA 31404.

For more information, please call (912) 388-1658 or visit www.givinginlove.org  .

”Like” Giving in Love on Facebook here.

Giving in Love, Inc is a non-profit & a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

The Savannah Ocean Exchange (SOE) – which celebrates our oceans with over 30 public events in September 2012 – announced today that American Idol Winner Ruben Studdard will headline the International Beach Party on Tybee Island’s North Beach Stage, Saturday, September 15 starting at 6pm. The event is free and open to the public. Studdard will be joined by recording artist Trevor Hall.

Kids’ events at The Savannah Ocean Exchange include:

The Children’s Ocean Film Festival :  designed for ocean lovers of all ages and especially young students and children – and their parents, of course. Films are an excellent medium for conveying a story or message and each film scheduled for viewing during the 2012 festival will have just that. Everyone comes away with a better understanding of how precious and fragile our world’s Ocean is, and what they can do to become better stewards in protecting it. The entertainment of course is priceless and this event is free and open to the public.

Forsyth Park Family Picnic: On Sunday, September 16, the SOE welcomes families from across the region for a day of celebration in Forsyth Park at The International Ocean Connection Picnic. The picnic will feature the Armed Forces marching band, an array of international cuisine and activities for kids of every age. The event is scheduled to begin at 5pm.

Baby Sign & Read Classes for parents with children from the ages of 0-3 yrs old are now being offered in Savannah by Giving in Love, Inc.

Sign & Read classes focus on parent-child interactions, communication, and reading. Parents learn how they can nurture their child’s language, cognitive and social-emotional development through three key areas of communication: talking, reading and signing.

There are 8 classes in the first session. Class options are 10:00am or 10:45am on Thursdays beginning September 6 at the West Broad Street YMCA located at 1110 May Street, Savannah, GA 31415 or 11:00am on Fridays starting September 7, 2012 at Bouncing Angels, 2123 E. Victory Dr., Savannah, GA 31404.

Registration ends on August 31, 2012. For more information, please call (912) 388-1658 or visit www.givinginlove.org  “Like” Giving in Love on Facebook here.

Giving in Love, Inc is a non-profit & a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of years in time to witness the birth of the universe – FOR FREE.

People of all ages are invited for educational and exciting planetarium show “Wonders of the Universe” at the newly renovated Georgia Southern University Digistar Full Dome Planetarium
Friday, August 24, 2012 at 6, 7, & 8 pm

During the 20-minute planetarium show , you’ll witness the formation of galaxies and explore some of the most wondrous nebulae and astronomical structures yet discovered. As your travels continue, you’ll fly deep into our own Milky Way galaxy and return home to Earth on a spectacular tour through the solar system.

Telescopic viewing following / during events weather permitting. The planetarium can seat up to 63 visitors with 2 ADA wheelchair spaces on a first come basis, so please arrive early to get a seat. No strollers please due to fire code safety.

The planetarium is located in the Math/Physics Bldg (#203) on the campus of Georgia Southern University Campus map at: http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/map/

Parking directions for planetarium public events: Turn on to Herty Drive from Fair Road (GA Hwy 67) and follow all the way to the end. Turn left through the open parking gate then right into the large faculty/staff parking lot. Walk back down toward the gates and the planetarium is across on the other side in the Math/Physics Building between the small Eidson Building – Honors (old Alumni House) and the Biology Building.

Free star shows, sky maps, telescopic observing with members of the Statesboro Astronomy Club, weather permitting. The Department of Physics in the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University will be collecting canned and non-perishable food to donate to a local food bank for those in need.

For more information, visit cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/planetarium. For more info, e-mail planetarium@georgiasouthern.edu , or call the Department of Physics at 912-478-5292, M-F 8 – 5 pm.

Just a reminder: Savannah-Chatham public school start times are a bit different for the 2012-2013 School Year. Check out the times above.

The bell schedule is separated by school levels and includes a different tier for each grouping based on elementary, K-8 Schools, Middle and High.

School starts in Savannah-Chatham County on Mon. Aug. 27, 2012.

Bell time change for May Howard and Hodge

District officials approved this new bell schedule for schools earlier this summer, but parent groups from May Howard and Hodge asked that their school bell times be changed.

Instead of starting at 9:15 a.m. and getting out of school at 4:10 p.m., those schools will start earlier in the morning and release students earlier in the afternoon. Hodge parents complained that working parents need to drop their children off at school as early as 7 a.m. but there is no supervision at that time. May Howard parents complained that the late release time conflicts with after school activities.

Healthy School Start Times

If you think middle and high schools are starting too early, check out a growing grassroots coalition working for safe, healthy school hours for all students at www.StartSchoolLater.net  and their online petition (http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to.fb1?source=s.fb&r_by=1521139 ).

Attention Savannah-area Families of Children Ages 0-7 who are interested in enhancing and enriching the musical development of your child.

Come join Kindermusik parent-and-child sessions for a cool musical treat in August, and again in the Fall with more Kindermusik and find out about some FREE Kindermusik classes.

Kindermusik is a classroom learning experience. KINDERMUSIK with 88 KEYS PIANO in Savannah teaches children music so they can become better learners. It’s not about making little Mozarts. It’s about developing skills in the whole child – ages newborn to 7 years – cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. For more than 25 years, Kindermusik has believed music is the best conductor for learning.

AUGUST 15th playdates: Join Kindermusik with your 3.5 and younger children for a morning of one-time playdates. It’ll be ONE HOUR of solid musical fun beginning at 9:30am for babies (up to 20 months) and 10:40am for toddlers (18 months to 4 years). Sessions begin with an instrument “petting zoo”, followed by structured musical activities sure to delight all. Gather together your playdate groups for one morning of musical playdates. Expect to see these one-time playdates pop up at random times throughout the school year.

“Just Mom’n’Me” one-week session the week of August 26: Did Big Brother or Big Sister go back to school recently? How about easing the transition for your little one by spending some quality time with him/her? Kindermusik will be offering “Peek A Boo, I Love You!” for 0-20 months, and their brand new curriculum, “Time for Lunch” for toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years old! Peek A Boo meets M-F at 9:30 and Time for Lunch meets T-F at 10:20.

Register online today here, as all class sizes are limited!

FREE Kindermusik classes: FREE DEMO DAYS at Kindermusik with 88 KEYS PIANO on Wed. Aug. 22 and on Fri. Aug. 24. These will be a preview of the classes that begin in September. Preregisteration required for these FREE DEMO classes, as space is limited and classes fill up quickly. Register here.

Below is the schedule for FREE DEMO CLASSES:
**FREE Village DEMO (0-20 months): 9:30am
**FREE Our Time DEMO (18 months to 3.5 years): 10:20am
**FREE Imagine That DEMO (3-5 years): 11:10am
**FREE Young Child DEMO (5-7 years): 4pm

Brand NEW school year classes with monthly subscription: All classes last 32 weeks, from the week of September 10 through May of 2013.
Here are some notable benefits of Kindermusik’s monthly subscription classes:
1. Easy automated MONTHLY payment systems. No more lump sum “semester” fees due. Now you can easily budget for Kindermusik classes all year round because the payment is the same EVERY month.
2. NO PAYMENT until September: Reserve your space TODAY with NO FEES TAKEN until Sept. 4. Secure your child’s spot in class without any financial commitment until the Fall.
3. Easy to stay enrolled; easy to withdraw if needed. Just let Kindermusik know by email before the first of each month and your credit/debit card won’t be billed the following month. Monthly billing is done on the 4th of each month.
4. Easy to transfer classes when your child gets to be the next age level. No more waiting until a new “semester” begins. When your child is old enough to move up, just let Kindermusik know and they’ll move them at the beginning of the next month. Simple and convenient.
5. New monthly mini-themes and new home materials with each change of session.
6. Twenty-two classes to choose from each week; M-F, 9am-5pm. Choose the one that’s best for YOU.
7. Unlimited make-ups! Just email or call Kindermusik to let them know so they can make sure there’s space in class.
8. Smiles and satisfaction guarantee: If you aren’t completely satisfied with your Kindermusik experience after one month, just send Kindermusik an email before the 1st of the month to let them know and they won’t debit your card the following month. If any materials were given, they are yours to keep without further obligations.
9. If you ARE completely satisfied with your Kindermusik experience, take advantage of the REFERRAL REWARDS: If you are enrolled and you bring in a NEW Kindermusik family, Kindermusik will credit your account for $10 for the next consecutive month. PLUS, Kindermusik will give your friend a FREE download card for 10 FREE songs from play.kindermusik.com.

DIGITAL HOME MATERIALS: Get out your smartphones and iPads. On Friday mornings, Kindermusik will be offering classes for 3 age groups with DIGITAL home materials.

Monday thru Thursday classes, plus Friday afternoon classes will still be using PHYSICAL home materials. These Friday morning classes will turn over NEW themes EACH month, so you will get new materials EACH month.

More info on all of the above by clicking here.

Marina Lindblom, 88 KEYS PIANO/Kindermusik, 912.988.KEYS (5397), email music@88keysga.com, www.88keysga.com . Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Reach for the Stars!! is a pledge-based reading incentive program, designed to benefit schools, individual classrooms, clubs, pre-schools, church groups, home school groups, charities, businesses and public libraries.

The goal of Reach for the Stars!! is for participants to read, or be read to, for 300 minutes over a two week period of time, thus developing a reading routine. Reach for the Stars!! has flexible options to meet your needs, whether you need books for the library, classroom, community projects, or perhaps cash for a specific purpose. A minimum of 100% of the pledges are returned to the participants and organization in the form of books, or a combination of books and cash with the fundraising option.

If you or your organization is interested in hearing more about this generous program, contact Melissa A. Mallory, Local Independent Educational Consultant, at 912.856.1450 or mmallory@myubah.com.

Now, here’s a reading incentive for Southernmamas subscribers.  Visit the online catalog and share on Melissa’s Facebook page which 3 titles your children would enjoy reading and receive $10 off your next order ($25 minimum order must be placed by August 10).

New Savannah-Chatham public school bell times for the 2012-2013 School Year have been approved. Check out the times above.

The bell schedule is separated by school levels and includes a different tier for each grouping based on elementary, K-8 Schools, Middle and High.

School starts in Savannah-Chatham County on Mon. Aug. 27, 2012; however, students of Groves High School will report to class beginning Mon. Aug. 10, 2012.

We’re wondering how parents feel about these changes? If you are upset, one option is to reach out to the Savannah-Chatham school board to express your thoughts and ask for the bell times for your school to be changed.

Contact info for Savannah-Chatham school board:
Dr. Joe Buck, School Board President, email Joe.Buck@sccpss.com
Julie Wade, District 1, email julie.wade@sccpss.com
Dr. Dionne Hoskins, District 2, email dionne.hoskins@sccpss.com
Cornelia H. Hall, District 3, email cornelia.hall@sccpss.com
Shawn A. Kachmar, District 4, email shawn.kachmar@sccpss.com
Irene G. Hines, District 5, email irene.hines@sccpss.com
Lori L. Brady, District 6, email lori.brady@sccpss.com
Julie T. Gerbsch, District 7, email julie.gerbsch@sccpss.com
Ruby D. Jones, District 8, email ruby.jones@sccpss.com

Discover the Dinosaurs – a traveling dinosaur show – is coming to Savannah Aug. 3-5 2012.

Discover the Dinosaurs is for the entire family, and especially kids, to explore the mystery of pre-historic life by creating an environment of learning, discovery, and fun.

The hands on exhibit – which will be at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center on Hutchinson Island across from River Street – includes more than 60 animatronic and
museum quality dinosaur replicas. The exhibit showcases museum quality pieces along with several moving animatronic dinosaurs, all in a fun and educational environment.

Kids and families are encouraged to get up close and touch some of the dinosaurs on display, an opportunity which isn’t usually available in museum exhibits and other dinosaur events. This is the cornerstone of Discover the Dinosaurs. In addition to the exhibit, other activities included in admission price are the Dino Dig, Dino Den play area, Dino coloring area, scavenger hunt, and Dino theater.

*Several other attractions including gem & fossil panning, face painting, dinosaur inflatables, mini golf, and Dino rides are available for additional charge.

Discover the Dinosaurs engages the imaginations of kids to learn, gives them the hands on opportunity to touch a dinosaur, actually ride on the back of a T-Rex, and experience other fun activities & attractions that make spending the day with dinosaurs fun for all ages.

Exhibit runs Friday August 3rd 12 PM to 9 PM, Saturday August 4th 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday August 5th 10 AM to 7 PM [*Admission: Adults $15, Over 65+ $10, Children 2-12 $10, Under 2 FREE]

Don’t miss the FREE summer family stargazing event @ The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens : Gazing in the Garden!

The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens in conjunction with the Oglethorpe Astronomical Association invite you to a night of stargazing in the Garden. Saturday, June 23, 2012, Dusk-10 PM. Telescopes will be set up for observation, but you are welcome to bring your own. Free.

Here’s a list of children’s books on astronomy provided by Live Oak Public Libraries & distributed by the Oglethorpe Astronomical Association at the winter gazing in the garden family event at The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens . “Night Sky Atlas” by Robin Seagell
“Astronomy” by Kristen Lippincott
“Black Holes & Other Space Oddities” by Alex Barnett
“Space” by Simon Holland
“The Solar System: An A-Z Guide” by Christina Wilsdon
“Cosmic Light Shows” by Bobbie Kalman & April Fast
“Find the Constellations” by H.A. Rey
“The Stars: A New Way to See Them” by H.A. Rey

This event is free & open to the public. Please enter the gate on US Hwy. 17.

The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, GA. 31419. Please enter the gate on US Hwy. 17. Please call 912-921-5460 for information, http://bamboo.caes.uga.edu/, On Facebook here

We are loving the online reading logs that are new to Live Oak Public Libraries Summer Reading Program.
Kids create a quick online profile – which can include their photo – and keep track of the book titles they’ve read this summer – which they will need to get their free book from Barnes & Noble. Just go to the Dream Big Zone here.

If you haven’t signed up your kids for the library’s Dream Big: Read! Summer Reading Program, be sure to do so. This year’s grand prize is a trip to Disney World for a family of four, including Amtrak gift card and hotel! Stop by any library to sign up and start reading!

If Disney isn’t incentive enough to sign up, how about the chance to win college savings?

The Path2College 529 Plan will award one Georgia student, 16 years and under, who participates in the Summer Reading Program with $5,529 toward a Path2College 529 Plan account.
Entries must be submitted online by July 31, 2012. Details about the sweepstakes, including the official rules and the online entry form can be found at http://www.path2college529.com/news/reading.shtml .

Congratulations to St. Andrew’s School – the Pre-K 3 through 12th grade independent private school on Wilmington Island – for receiving recognition as one of the most challenging U.S. high schools.

For the first time, the Washington Post’s education columnist Jay Mathews included private schools on his annual list of most challenging high schools. St. Andrew’s received the following rankings:
• 8th in Georgia
• 16th for all private schools in the nation
• 249th out of 1,926 public and private schools in America

Read the list of most challenging high schools by clicking here.

“We know that our students benefit from a challenging program that encourages them to fulfill their academic,” said Sara Rubinstein, Upper School Head. “Whereas some schools only believe in letting a small percentage of their students into IB or AP courses, we believe any student admitted to St Andrew’s should have the opportunity to pursue their ambitions in the classroom.”

St. Andrew’s is the only Savannah school to be recognized in the top ten for the state of Georgia and the highest ranked public or private school in the region.

The Challenge Index is determined by dividing the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year by the number of seniors graduating in the spring.

Mathews noted in his article that private schools are not as forthcoming with releasing this type of information. He applauds those private schools that are willing to share the data and open themselves up to comparison.

Kudos also to Savannah Arts Academy, a public school which ranked 29th in Georgia & 604^th out of 1,926 public and private schools in America.

1. Kumon Math and Reading Center of Savannah, www.kumon.com/savannah , open on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-7 PM, 10010 Abercorn Ave. in Savannah. For more information or to schedule a complimentary placement test, call owner and instructor, Janese Cooper at (912) 920-8899. Kumon of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

We love this!

Starting Monday (today), Lovin’ Spoons self-serve frozen yogurt will be offering one ounce off for every ‘A’. See the details above. Valid at all stores, offer ends June 30, 2012.

Your kids can show their report card at the register & Lovin Spoons will reward them with 1 ounce off your purchase for every ‘A’! (One visit per report card, not combined with other offers).

Lovin’ Spoons FroYo offers 12 ever changing flavors, over 40 fresh toppings, hot syrups served up with a groovy 70s vibe. Local store locations include:

Savannah
Savannah Centre by Toys R Us on Eisenhower Drive
912-355-2723

Pooler
Pooler Marketplace by Publix
912-748-1444

Richmond Hill
60 Exchange St.
912-459-1490

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm

Lovin Spoons, 912.355.2723, email info@lovinspoons.com , www.lovinspoons.com, Lovin’ Spoons is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

The most ferocious dinosaur that ever lived is coming to the Museum of Science & History (MOSH) in nearby Jacksonville, Fla. on Memorial Day Weekend. At 42-feet long, 12-feet tall and 3,500 pounds, Sue is the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered. The exhibit, A T. rex Named Sue, will open at MOSH May 26, 2012 and run through Sept. 23, 2012.

A replica cast of the actual T. rex is the keystone piece of this traveling exhibition on loan from The Field Museum in Chicago.

The exhibit will also include a dig pit, video footage & free-standing interactive exhibits. Guests will be able to touch casts of Sue’s arm, rib, tail bone and teeth; peek into the cretaceous world through the eyes of a T. rex and a triceratops, and manipulate a model of Sue’s jaws to demonstrate how her gigantic jaw muscles slammed shut on prey.

MOSH will be open Memorial Day, too. 

GRAND OPENING
Sat. MAY 26 – 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Check out the exhibit and enjoy special kid-friendly activities that will engage dinosaur fans of all ages.
FREE with museum admission!

DINOSAUR TRAIN
SATURDAYS – 10:30 A.M.
Join Buddy and the rest of his prehistoric pals from the PBS series Dinosaur Train for an adventure in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium every Saturday morning during the exhibit at 10:30.
FREE with museum admission!

MOSH AFTER DARK: SPEAKING OF SUE
JUNE 28 – 6 P.M.
Join Dr. Barry Albright, a paleontologist at UNF, for a discussion of some little known facts about Sue and her excavation.
$5 for the public | FREE for MOSH Members, students and teachers with an ID

FOSSIL DAY
JULY 21 – 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M.
Do you have a mystery object? Bring it to MOSH’s panel of experts for identification!
FREE with museum admission!

DOZING WITH DINOS
JULY 28 – 6:30 P.M. TO 7:30 A.M.
Spend the night at MOSH and get exclusive access to A T. rex Named Sue. Campers will get to explore the museum, go to the planetarium and more!
$30 per child/$20 per adult | $25 per child/$15 per adult for MOSH Members

JURASSIC PARK
AUGUST 4 at 7 P.M.
Relive the excitement of the time when dinosaurs roamed the land with a special showing of Jurassic Park on the museum’s rooftop.
$7 per adult | $5 per member and children under 12

Museum of Science and History (MOSH), 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL, 32207 , OPEN MEMORIAL DAY! www.themosh.org

In celebration of World Oceans Day, Jacques Cousteau’s birthday and the new “Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” exhibit, the UGA Marine Extension Service will host FREE hands-on education programs from 10am-4pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Marine Education Center on Skidaway Island, Savannah.

Free aquarium admission & educational activities are sponsored by NOAA’s Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

The day’s activities will focus on the issue of marine debris and how it affects Georgia’s coastal waters and the ocean. Visitors can learn more about sea jellies and participate in marine debris and sea jelly crafts, a marine debris program, a salt marsh clean-up, an aquarium treasure hunt, and ocean stories.

The new exhibit “Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” will open at 10AM with a half hour introduction to the exhibit at 11AM and highlighting the local and global importance of sea jellies and water quality.  More info here.

Activities Schedule
Marine Debris Program and Salt Marsh Clean-up: 8-10AM
Treasure Hunt (on-going): 10AM-4PM
Marine debris and sea jellies crafts (on-going): 10AM-4PM
“Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” Exhibit Opening: 11-11:30AM
Ocean Stories (15 minutes long and on the half hour): 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

Congratulations Savannah Arts Academy, named No. 1 Georgia public high school by US News & World Report in the 2012 U.S. News Best High Schools.

Top Ranked GA Schools
To be eligible for a state ranking, a school must be awarded a national gold or silver medal.
#1
Savannah Arts Academy
500 WASHINGTON AVE, SAVANNAH, GA 31405

#2
Davidson Fine Arts
615 12TH ST, AUGUSTA, GA 30901

#3
Walton High School
1590 BILL MURDOCK RD, MARIETTA, GA 30062

#4
Northview High School
10625 PARSONS RD, DULUTH, GA 30097

#5
Riverwood International Charter School
5900 HEARDS DR NW, ATLANTA, GA 30328

#6
Columbus High School
1700 CHEROKEE AVE, COLUMBUS, GA 31906

#7
Lassiter High School
2600 SHALLOWFORD RD, MARIETTA, GA 30066

#8
Chamblee Charter High School
3688 CHAMBLEE DUNWOODY RD, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341

#9
Lakeside High School
3801 BRIARCLIFF RD NE, ATLANTA, GA 30345

#10
Duluth High School
3737 BROCK RD, DULUTH, GA 30096

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 For more information, contact artist Carrie Christian at 912-323-0123 or email ScribbleArtStudio@hotmail.com . Click here for more info. Scribble Art Studio a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Massie Heritage Center, Savannah’s museum for history and architecture located on Calhoun Square, will open its doors to the public after $1 million restoration project. The Grand Re-Opening Celebration activities and FREE ADMISSION are planned over 4 days, Thursday, April 26-Sunday, April 29 2012.

Discover new interactive exhibits including a laser show of the rebuilt three-dimensional model of James E. Oglethorpe’s famous city plan in Savannah: An Intelligent Grid. You’ll also see life-size classical structures from around the world which demonstrate the impact on Savannah’s own architecture in the Classically Inspired exhibit.

Schedule of Events:
Thursday, April 26 10 am: Ribbon Cutting & Dedication Ceremony
Friday, April 27 10 am-5 pm: Open FREE to public
Saturday, April 28 10 am-4 pm:  Open FREE to public
Sunday, April 29 1-5 pm: Open FREE to public

For more information call Sandee Lipsitz at (912) 395-5070. Massie Heritage Center, 207 E. Gordon Street, Savannah, GA 31401. www.massieschool.com