What's News

tpac’s family field trips on sale this month

Get ready for the fifth season of TPAC’s Family Field Trip series. Sponsored by Nashville Parent, individual tickets go on sale Monday, Sept. 13 (season tickets are on sale now). All shows take place on selected Saturdays. This year’s lineup includes the following shows: POST Comedy Theatre by Robert Post (Nov. 13), The Frog Bride by David Gonzalez (Dec. 11), Before the People Came by Amun Ra Theatre (April 2, 2011) and Performance in Which Hopefully Nothing Happens by Theatergroep Max (May 7, 2011).

The shows, designed with children in mind, take place at 2 p.m. in TPAC’s Polk Theater (505 Deaderick St., Nashville) with pre-show activities in the lobby at 1 p.m. Tickets for individual shows are $14 adults, $11 ages 2 - 12. With the exception of the final performance, children 23 months and younger are free if they sit on a parent’s lap. For a discount, purchase a four-show package for $44 or a three-show package for $33. Groups of 10 or more get tickets for $7 each. For tickets, call 782-4040 or visit www.tpac.org/familyfieldtrip. To reserve group tickets, call 782-4060.

nominate the 2010 children first honoree

The editors of Nashville Parent, Rutherford Parent, Sumner Parent and Williamson Parent invite you to nominate one outstanding individual for our 2010 Children First Award. The award aims to honor and recognize a person in the Middle Tennessee Community whose work benefits the very youngest among us. From teachers to non-profit leaders, we want to know who you think stands out in the community when it comes to the betterment of our children. To nominate an individual, go here.

Entry deadline is Friday, Oct. 29, and the recipient will be announced in our December issue. Past recipients of the Children First Award include Bonnie Spear, director of Blakemore Children’s Center in Nashville (2008), and Billie Little, director of The Discovery Center at Murfree Springs (2009).

Private School Fair

Middle Tennessee boasts many independent schools, and prospective students and their parents can meet with the area’s finest during Nashville Parent’s Private School Fair on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Adventure Science Center (ASC, 800 Fort Negley Blvd., Nashville) from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sponsored by Opry Mills, representatives from more than 50 private schools in the Middle Tennessee region will be available to speak one-on-one with you about everything their schools have to offer. Admission is free to the fair (regular admission applies to ASC exhibits). For more information, call 256-2158.

nct adds classes for autistic kids

Nashville Children’s Theatre (NCT) is adding theater classes specifically for children ages 8 - 14 with autism spectrum disorders beginning with its fall 2010 session beginning Thursday, Sept. 16. In order to take the Theatre Voyages class, students must be able to communicate in either verbal or non-verbal means and be toilet trained. The class will consist of two teachers, six children and two peer models (typically developing children of the same age), and together they will work together to adapt an original play to be presented to family and friends. To learn more about the new class or to register, call 254-9103 or visit www.nashvillechildrenstheatre.org.

it figures

By Cynthia Washam

school stats

Percent of U.S. school children who consider physical education their favorite subject: 26

Percent who feel the same way about a foreign language: 3

Percent higher that students who’ve had four or more years of a foreign language score on the reading, writing and math sections of the SAT, compared to students with half a year: 19

Percent of American high-school students who study any foreign language: 44

Percent of American children, ages 6 - 11, who take after-school lessons in such disciplines as dance, art, computers and religion: 33

Number of state legislators nationwide who visit classrooms each year to discuss the legislative process with students: more than 1,200

Sources: Scholastic, www.early-advantage.com, www.districtadministration.com, www.infoplease.com, National Conference of State Legislatures.