Bacon Park Christian Day School is dedicated to providing children K-6th grade a traditional education combining challenging academics and character development in a Christian family atmosphere.

The school’s small classes will afford children more individual instruction time.

As part of character development, children are taught about honesty, integrity, good manners, and respect for God, family, friends, and community.

If you are looking for a nuturing environment where your child is valued as an individual and family involvement is encouraged, Bacon Park Christian Day School welcomes you to visit the school. More info here.

Bacon Park Chrisian Day School, 5411 Skidaway Road, Savannah, 31406, (912) 484-9880, email bpcds@att.net , www.baconparkchristiandayschool.com Bacon Park Christian Day School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

This summer’s theme at First Presbyterian Church of Savannah’s Vacation Bible School is Pandamania, a wild celebration of God’s unconditional love!
9am-Noon June 20-24
3yrs.-rising 5th
Open to everyone
Sign up by June 10th to ensure your child gets a T-shirt.
Call the church office, 354-7615 or Jenell Griffith, 656-7181 for more information. Come by the church office to register your child.

“THE SEARCH IS ON!!!

Classic Kids and Michelle L Morris Photography are looking for BABY & CHILD MODELS to be published in print and online!

They have partnered with Just for Baby & More and Petite Feet of Savannah to bring all the winners an outstanding package of freebies and discounts!!

If you think your baby or child(ren) have what it takes, click here to find out how to enter!

Classic Kids and Michelle L Morris Photography are SouthernMamas.com advertisers.

Our neighborhood pool kicked off summer right with Dive-In Movie Night — complete with this inflatable movie screen (pictured here) that flickered “Finding Nemo” across the underwater-lit pool to kids bobbing upon floats and noodles.

Savannah Inflatables has the giant 12 x 9 screens available for rent for $200.

Have everyone over for movie night with this giant back yard movie screen or have a dive-in movie night, too.

It comes with a projector and sound system.

Call (912) 856-4091 or email savannahinflatables@yahoo.com. Details here.

Please tell them SouthernMamas.com sent you!

(UPDATE: The .5 millage rate increase and no modification days proposal passed 5-4 at the Tues. June 7 board meeting.)

A big thank you to local public education advocate and mom Michelle Solomon for the following guest post:

The Savannah-Chatham Board of Education is meeting on Tues. June 7 to consider the school budget and there are a lot of cuts on the table: furloughing teachers, closing schools, or eliminating band and athletic programs. They are also considering a proposal to avoid the cuts by raising property taxes a small amount – about $70/family depending on your property value, which is less than what most people are getting back because of the devaluations. It’s a small amount to pay for so much.

It would help tons if everyone who cares about the schools would send an email ASAP to the members of the Savannah-Chatham Public School Board saying:
– you support the .5 mil property tax increase that Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Lockamy asked for:
– where you live
– your profession
– where your kids go to school
– your own thoughts on the proposed cuts (optional)

Even if your kids are in private school, or you don’t have any kids in school, it would help to send something – actually, it would probably help even more.

Here are the Board emails, plus an email set up to get copies of the letters that someone will hopefully bring to the Board meeting – you can just cut and paste this list: joe.buck@sccpss.com ; julie.wade@sccpss.com ; floyd.adams@sccpss.com ; alexander.luten@sccpss.com ; irene.hines@sccpss.com ; gregory.sapp@sccpss.com ; lori.brady@sccpss.com ; julie.gerbsch@sccpss.com ; ruby.jones@sccpss.com ; forsavannahschools@gmail.com

And even better than all that, if you can go to the Board meeting and speak in support of the schools, that would make a big difference. The meeting is 6pm Tuesday at Whitney Administrative Complex, 2 Laura St.

For background info on this issue:

Savannah Morning News on the tax proposal
Savannah Morning News on the proposed cuts
Savannah Morning News on property tax devaluations

UPDATE: Winner is Jordan Holmes! Congratulations Jordan!

In June, a SouthernMamas reader will win her choice of childrens sandals or flip flops that’s in stock at Petite Feet , Savannah’s shoe boutique for children.

To enter to win, just visit the Petite Feet Facebook page by clicking here. “Like” the page. Then write your answer to this question on the Petite Feet Facebook wall: what free or discounted local summer activity are you looking forward to taking part in? (Get some ideas here. )Not into Facebook? You can enter to win by answering below this post! (Click on Comments)

Deadline to enter to win is Midnight June 30. We’ll announce the winner here in July.

Petite Feet’s knowledgeable personal service ensures that each child is fitted correctly. The boutique has hard-to-find sizes. And you don’ t have to fight for parking spot. Petite Feet at 5521 Abercorn next to Fresh Market and across from Publix is in a super convenient location with easy in-and-out parking. The kid-friendly store even has puzzles, TV, children’s book and toys keep the tots busy while you shop.

Visit their website at www.petitefeetsavannah.com for more brands and information.

Petite Feet , 5521 Abercorn St., Savannah, 31405, 912.349.4292, email michael@petitefeetsavannah.com;  Petite Feet is a sponsor of SouthernMamas.com

2 free games of bowling all summer long! For ages 15 and younger.
Program runs May 30-Aug. 21. To register for the program, click here.
912.330-5577
No cash value. Shoe Rental: Standard shoe rental rates apply.

For kids, summer means no school and lazy days at the pool. For a lot of parents, summer means searching for ways to keep the kids busy while you’re at work.

From now until June 30, Southernmamas.com readers can apply for just $59 and welcome an au pair into your home as early as next month. Your live-in au pair can help make your summer less chaotic by:

View some of AuPairCare’s more popular au pairs now, such as German au pairs and Brazilian au pairs, or search all available au pairs by language.

Getting started is easy! Apply online and use the promo code SUMMER$59 to apply for only $59 (over $290 in savings!) You can also speak with a Program Advisor at 1-800-428-7247 and receive a free, no obligation childcare consultation.

Want to shop early?

Michelle L Morris Photography will be having a once annual weekend of petite photography sessions, our version of mini sessions, called CAPTURED on June 24, 25, and 26. Simply click here for all the pertinent info, and to see sample images from the CAPTURED location. There are only 12 available spots!

Details on the CAPTURED SESSIONS:

THERE ARE 12 SPOTS | JUNE 24, 25, 26

$490 | Half to book. Balance upon delivery. [plus applicable sales tax]

::Thirty to forty minutes concentrated shooting time with me.

::Fine art online gallery showcasing twenty five finished image options.

::Ten high resolution images presented on disc, for printing and web sharing/posting.

po::Three of your ten image selections professionally enlarged to 8×10.

::Options to purchase all images, as well as items from our Boutique Product Line.

Michelle L Morris Photography, michellelmorrisphotography.com, facebook.com/michellelmorrisphoto, 912.349.0871, email michelle@michellelmorrisphotography.com  Michelle L Morris Photography is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Friday and Saturday June 17-18 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Family Admission: $26
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Sue Patrick, Creator of the Workbox System!
The Workbox system is an effective teaching system to reduce your organizational time and increase your child’s self-control, independence and learning. Specialized for: Autism, ADD/ ADHD, and Large Home School Families. This system will complement your existing curriculum!
Sue ‘s system is an easy approach to optimize and organize your homeschool from preschool to high school, and will allow you to teach your child more effectively and at the same time help you to better organize your school day! Sue will also share her tips for problem-solving your curriculum , behavioral, comprehension, and answer general homeschooling questions. MORE INFO HERE: http://www.ceheconference.com/index.html
Also Offering Workshops By:
Cara Ellison
Homeschool to High School, College, Military and BeyondCara Ellison homeschooled three sons from Kindergarten through High School. She’ll share her experiences and insight on College and Military Admission and the homeschooled child, the benefits of homeschoolers receiving Hope and other financial aid for college, and State Laws and how they affect homeschoolers. Cara will also share her philosophy of homeschooling and the methods she used and discuss what really counts in homeschooling.
The Matthew Reardon Center for Autism
Educating a Special Needs ChildThe Matthew Reardon Center will address such topics as modifying curriculum to accommodate learning styles, behavior techniques, setting goals, and much more
Homeschool 101
Getting Started
Discuss Homeschool Approaches from Classical Education to Unschooling
Hear how local parents implement home education
Legal Requirements of Homeschooling
Q&A

College Options
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Find out what AASU higher education options are available for your children.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
How to Prepare a Dynamic Artistic Portfolio
Learn helpful tips on preparing a dynamic artistic portfolio! This session presents the fundamentals of successful portfolios and what our review committee looks for in portfolio submissions.
Georgia Southern University
Discover what Georgia Southern University has to offer your children.
Georgia Tech Savannah
Discover the differences between careers in science, technology, and engineering as well as summer camps offered by Ga Tech Savannah.

Come celebrate Father’s Day at Sara Jane Children’s Boutique on Saturday June 18th! Sara Jane Children’s Boutique wants to show their appreciation for all the dads with a cookout, tent sale, and fun activities! Enjoy great prices on the cutest clothes, face-painting, and great food.

http://sarajane.myshopify.com/

Sara Jane Children’s Boutique invites you to Story Time at 11 AM Wed June 8 and 22. The group will read a story together, have snack, and create a themed craft! There will be special promotions in the store for all shoppers. Bring your imaginations and your listening ears!
http://sarajane.myshopify.com/

For more free or discounted Savannah area summer kids’ activities, visit the SouthernMamas.com Summer 2011 Deals and Freebies page here.

Sara Jane Children’s Boutique invites you to Story Time at 11 AM Wed June 8 and 22. The group will read a story together, have snack, and create a themed craft! There will be special promotions in the store for all shoppers. Bring your imaginations and your listening ears!
http://sarajane.myshopify.com/

For more free or discounted Savannah area summer kids’ activities, visit the SouthernMamas.com Summer 2011 Deals and Freebies page here.

Something Special Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for all created by a special needs parent.

This magazine brings hope, inspiration and resources for the special needs parent, while taking care of the “parent” in the special needs parent. For families that don’t directly have a special needs child in their life, chances are- they know someone that does.

By educating yourself on life with a special needs child, you are more able to teach your children about differences and disabilities.

Something Special is free both online and in print. The magazine’s advertisers keep the information coming to you.

Find one of Something Special’s 5,500 copies at over 125 locations in Georgia, or simply log on to www.somethingspecialmagazine.com .

This publication started out locally by a real “southern mama” of five children, one of whom has autism. Log on today and please enter your favorite special needs dad for Something Special’s Fabulous Father’s Day giveaway. Enter as many times as you wish! Grand prize is a family four pack of Atlanta Braves tickets for a game in July against the Pirates and VIP batting practice seats. Winners will be announced on Something Special Magazine on Facebook June 18 at 8pm.

Make sure you visit and “Like” Something Special Magazine on Facebook by clicking here for updates, places to visit, and some words of wisdom.

Tale Tale Art is the home of personalized illustrations and books for children. These charming customizable creations go beyond the standard insert-name-here.

Does your child have a favorite fairy tale*? You can order a book with original illustrations that incorporates your child into the story. You also have the option of customizing an original story for your child, describing a family experience or a fantasy story.

With both options, you will be in direct contact with the artist and writer throughout the entire process, to make sure you are satisfied with the story and all the illustrations within the book. Your child will be able to read the books for years to come!

The books are playfully readable (over and over again) with imagery that will charm you. So will this: mention SouthernMamas.com to receive a 15 percent discount at Tale Tale Art.

At Tale Tale Art, no request is too extraordinary. You can also obtain original illustrations (posters) from popular stories* for children to use in a nursery or child’s room. And if you don’t see the illustration for the story you are looking for, you can always contact the artist directly to request it.

What a creative way to tell a child “Happy birthday” or “I love you”.

*All the stories illustrated by the artist must be part of the public domain.

Tale Tale Art, www.taletaleart.com, contact via email at taletaleart@hotmail.com  Tale Tale Art is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.  

Too often breastfeeding turns out to be the surprise challenge for new moms.

Nursing is easier with support and supplies from Savannah-area lactation consultant Pamela Holland of Babies, Breastfeeding and Beyond LLC.

Call for an initial in-home consult to help with any problems you may be experiencing with your baby or for a pre-natal visit for breastfeeding concerns before your baby is born.  

Breastfeeding, even including the price of consultation is a more affordable and healthier alternative to formula. Formula costs at least $1,650 per year, more than ten times the cost of one consultation.

As a board-certified Lactation Consultant who has worked with moms and babies of Southeast Georgia in the public  health sector for the past 20 years, Pamela Holland can help you feel confident in your ability to learn how to nurture and feed your baby. 

Pamela Holland started her private practice because she felt that women were being too hard on themselves when they did not achieve the kind of breastfeeding success that “the books” recommended.  Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it may not always be easy.  Rather than take a cookie cutter approach, Pamela Holland believes each mom and baby are unique and must have a personal plan of care that is customized to meet their specific needs. After all, Caesarean delivery, multiple births, and proximity of extended family are just a few of the challenges that are typical in today’s newborn delivery.

If you are having any issues with breastfeeding or have had a previous experience that was less than you had hoped for,  call Babies, Breastfeeding and Beyond at 912-306-4619.

Lactation Consultant Pamela Holland, Babies, Breastfeeding and Beyond LLC, 912-306-4619. Babies, Breastfeeding and Beyond is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Get ready for a tail-waggin’, lip-lickin’, ball-chasin’, good time for you AND your four-legged best friend at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa to help raise money toward the building of a community low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Help take a bite out of our local pet overpopulation.

Together with Savannah’s own Oliver Bentleys Barking Bakery, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa are hosting the inaugural Savannah Bark-B-Que, the first-ever event of its kind. It will be a day filled with fun: Tournament Golf, a Bow-Wow Buffet (Bark-B-Que for the humans), and a “Hush Puppy Silent Auction-Gift Baskets, Dog Goodies and More” with proceeds going to The Humane Society of Greater Savannah’s community low-cost spay/neuter clinic Fund.

This fun filled day for you and your pup will take place June 18, 2011 and includes:
1:00 pm “Bark-Gun” (shotgun) Golf Tournament (scramble format)
5:00 pm Hush Puppy Silent Auction (gift baskets, dog goodies and more) opens
5:00 pm Tour de Woof – Visit vendor tables and enjoy all the doggie activities
6:00 pm Savannah’s first ever Bark-B-Que – dinner for you AND your canine buds
All activities held at The Club at Savannah Harbor.

P.S. All dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend, but owners must be leashed at all times! More info here.

Free Sand Gnats Tickets
St. Joseph’s/Candler Community Nights at the Sand Gnats: Baseball for the community good
For the third year, St. Joseph’s/Candler will join the Sand Gnats to collect supplies for community outreach.
What that means for you: free tickets! What that means for Savannah: items for those in need.
August 13, 6:05 p.m.: Savannah Community Night
Bring school supplies and receive a free ticket.
The supplies will benefit the SJ/C Angels of Mercy Volunteer Corps and their annual Danny’s Brown Box drive to give school children the supplies they need.

Free Sand Gnats Tickets
St. Joseph’s/Candler Community Nights at the Sand Gnats: Baseball for the community good
For the third year, St. Joseph’s/Candler will join the Sand Gnats to collect supplies for community outreach.
What that means for you: free tickets! What that means for Savannah: items for those in need.
June 11, 6:05 p.m.: Effingham Community Night
Bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the St. Mary’s Community Center and receive a free ticket
June 24, 6:05 p.m.: Co-worker Night
Bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the St. Mary’s Community Center and receive a free ticket.
August 13, 6:05 p.m.: Savannah Community Night
Bring school supplies and receive a free ticket.
The supplies will benefit the SJ/C Angels of Mercy Volunteer Corps and their annual Danny’s Brown Box drive to give school children the supplies they need.

For more free or discounted Summer 2011 kids’ activities in Savannah/Hilton Head Is., click here.