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Jack Hanna visits Tyler

October 12th, 2010
Jack Hanna Tyler Texas

Jack Hanna Tyler Texas

I was very excited when I first heard that the celebrity animal trainer Jack Hanna was going to be visiting Tyler‘s Caldwell Zoo. On arriving to the zoo, I was overwhelmed by large crowd that showed up. I came with two small children that were extremely excited to see all the animals that we heard Jack Hanna was going to show.

My hopes were very high going to this event, but was quickly shot down. He only showed three birds and a few snakes. Jack told some very interesting stories of the adventures that he has had. He gave his opinion on P.E.D.A. and their attempts to close down many zoos and Sea World. Although he told many interesting stories, there was nothing to keep the attention of young children including my own. My kids just wanted to see animals do tricks, and honestly, so did I.

I was in agreement with the explorer when he expressed his feelings about the animal rights organization P.E.D.A. He had expressed that he was extremely disturbed by the idea of closing down zoos and Sea World. Zoos are in place to educate young children about wild life. Many people, such as the famous “crocodile hunter” Steve Irwin, have died trying to educate children of the animals around the world. Jack Hanna said that he loves animals but he thinks that children’s education is more important. Animals in preservations such as our own Caldwell Zoo here in Tyler is not abusing animal rights or abusive towards animals, but are a safe place that people can observe animals from across the world.

Jack Hanna talked about his adventures and encounters with people and animals from all different countries. His stories were very interesting and I would like to hear him again but I wish that the zoo would of described his presentation as him telling stories, instead of being some what misleading and saying that he was going to show animals and entertain children of all ages.

Mary Poppins Comes To Town At Kings Academy

May 7th, 2010

My school’s (King’s Academy Christian School) drama department has decided to put on a performance of Mary Poppins, one of my favorite Disney classics. When I heard that our drama director, DeAnna Hargrove (Tyler Civic Theatre Center’s Education Director), had selected the Mary Poppins screenplay for our spring performance, I immediately signed up. Even though we have a small drama group, we still had auditions. We were asked to sing and act out a scene as our desired character; all of us were given a role and we jumped right into rehearsals. Tackling this production hasn’t been easy and we’ve had our up and down days, but thankfully our cast is very committed. The downside to having such a small group is that when one person is missing it really shows, but the upside is that everyone is given a part. We’ve really tried to use our imaginations while creating a Mary Poppins set that will work with the space and budget that we have. One scene that has been especially hard to create is the scene where Jane and Michael Bank’s nursery comes to life. Drawers flying open magically, jack-in-the-boxes springing out of nowhere and singing mirrors aren’t very easy to find, but with some hard thinking Mrs. Hargrove has put together a lovely set. Acting comes naturally to our cast members, but singing and dancing have been a hard stretch. Thankfully, Mrs. Hargrove is very patient and helps us progress in all areas. Our lower campus students are also a huge part of our production; they help tie the scenes together by playing all of the extra roles like talking animals, living toys, and dancing chimney sweeps that make Mary Poppins so magical. The Roger’s Children’s Civic Theatre has been a huge help in making our production come to life by allowing us to borrow costumes and props. As each practice goes by, everything begins to run more and more smoothly. Though it seems impossible for such a small group with such little time and space to pull off a famous screenplay like Mary Poppins, our production has really come together.

For more information on show times and ticket prices contact King’s Academy at (903)534-9992. For more information on The Roger’s Children’s Civic Theatre or Tyler Civic Theatre Center visit their website: www.tylercivictheatre.com. Readers can also find more information on The Roger’s Children’s Theatre and Tyler Civic Theatre Center by looking for the title “The Tyler Civic Theatre Center” also located on this site.

Adventures in Learning

April 1st, 2010

Adventures in Learning

4538 S Broadway
Tyler Texas 75703
Phone: 903-509-9205

If you are a home-schooler or wanting to give your child a head start or leg up with their education, then oh my goodness, this store is for you!

Located in the French Quarter, across from Tyler Mall, you will find Adventures in Learning. The store front suggests nothing unusual, I have passed it several occasions and just assumed it sold a few educational games and some nice Melissa and Doug puzzles, but when you enter, you will see that it is a treasure trove of educational products. The store goes back and back and it is stocked with fabulous books, games, puzzles, and teaching materials of every kind. There are puppets, musical instruments, science kits, manipulatives for hands on learning, classroom décor, sports equipment and a host of teacher aids and classroom supplies. They have a seasonal section and even have a Christian education department, which could be helpful for Sunday school or VBS supplies.

Now I know why I mustn’t home school my kids – I would be so tempted by all the stuff in this shop that my weekly shopping budget would be gone in a whisker! Seriously, though, this shop stocks everything you would need to teach – except for the kids themselves. Everything is well laid out and clearly marked and the staff are very helpful. If you are a bit overwhelmed when you walk in, like I was, they will provide you with a catalog containing all the learning materials they stock or can get hold of for you. They also have a website www.adventuresinlearning-tx.com

One other thing – they can supply large items like furniture, overhead projectors, lockers and so on.

I was very impressed with this store and it’s contents.  I have to say that it is quite pricey, but if you had to order these products online you would have to pay additional shipping charges, so perhaps it works out. If you are intending to invest in your child’s education then Adventures in Learning is a great place to visit with your credit card.

Something Different In Education

January 8th, 2010

Well, the summer of 09 remains young, but August will be here before we know it, and if you’re considering a change in your child’s education its best not to procrastinate.

In 2004 King’s Academy Christian School opened its doors to approximately 30 students. In a town where numerous private schools have operated for decades, it seemed like contributing to an already flooded market, except that King’s offers a very unique learning experience. K.A.C.S. is a “University Model School,” meaning that, like a college, students sign up for the classes they require in order to graduate, and attend those classes three days out of the week. On the other days they work at home on assigned reading and research projects. Part of the purpose of the approach is to prepare the students for the independence of college life and studies. It also allows the parents to take a more proactive approach to their child’s education.

But King’s Academy is more than just a school with a funny schedule. It offers a full, rich student life. In fact, the three day schedule actually increases the opportunities for learning by allowing more field trips & out of town travel, both as school groups or individual families.

There are also electives including photography, yearbook, home economics and others. Athletics, always central to the student’s experience, includes football, volleyball, basketball and junior high soccer. In 2007- 2008 King’s won the state championship in six-man football.

In philosophy King’s is an unapologetically Christian School. In fact, involved families are required to attend the church of their choice. That being said, the school has students of all denominational backgrounds. Faith is central in each classroom, but particular theology is not.

The staff of King’s Academy is as unique as the school itself. It’s made up of retired Tyler Texas public and parochial school teachers, career private school educators and home school parents anxious to try something new. The result is a wonderful staff with a variety of educational experiences, whose first concern is the spiritual and academic well being of the student.

After five years, the spring semester ended at King’s with around 107 students and all signs point to continued growth and success. While the university approach may not be for every family, it could be for your family.