Moms

The Autism Gap: The fight for insurance

Submitted by Jaye Watson, 11Alive Reporter

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013, 2:39pm

ATLANTA -- Eight year old Ava Bullard is playing with her sisters, riding their bikes on their long country driveway. It is a simple act that defies those who said she would never talk, those who said she wouldn't function in the real world.

Ava was not a typical baby, or toddler.

Her mother Anna says, "You couldn't interact with her."

MORE | Complete coverage of The Autism Gap

Ava did not play with toys. Did not speak. Could not dress herself. Did not interact with her parents or sisters. Slept two hours a night. She was in her own world.

Anna says, "It's like she looked straight through me. She would just...it's like you weren't there, if you were in the room with her."

Anna Bullard took Ava from doctor to doctor for months. One doctor told the family Ava was 'just weird.'

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Big interest draws lottery for GSMST admission

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Thursday, February 7th, 2013, 1:26pm

Big interest draws lottery for GSMST admission

GWINNETT COUNTY -- The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology will hold a lottery to decide which students are admitted into the next freshman class in fall of 2013.

A spokesman for GSMST said the school had a great number of students interested in attending, as almost 850 eighth graders had turned in registration for admission as of the February 1 deadline. Only 350 students can be admitted.

The lottery is set for Monday, February 11, and will begin at 7:30 a.m. The drawing will be held in the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee.

Those students who will be a part of the lottery were assigned a number, and notified of that number by email. They will also find out if their name was selected shortly after the drawing, wither by email or mail. The lottery is open to the public, but parents and students are not required to be there.

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Christmas parade to feature parachuting elf

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, November 26th, 2012, 2:21pm

Christmas parade to feature parachuting elf

LILBURN, Ga. -- Lilburn's annual Christmas parade will feature plenty of family fun -- and a few surprises to boot.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade starts at First Baptist Church and travels down Main Street to City Park.

More than 100 floats, tractors and classic cars will take part in the parade. One of Santa's elves will parachute into City Park at around 11 a.m.

The fun continues at the park with music, activities, food and pictures with Santa.

First Baptist Church is located at 285 Main Street NW.

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Tips for Kindergarten Parents

Submitted by Heather Clark, Act Together Ministries, Children's Charity Director

Thursday, August 9th, 2012, 10:13am

Where did the time go? Wasn't it yesterday that you brought the baby home from the hospital? It's back to school time again and for those sending a child to kindergarten, it can be quite emotional... for parents anyway. Kindergarten is a special time and you'll begin seeing pay off on your hard work over the past 5 years. For most this will be the first full school day, the first year to ride the school bus, the first year to have homework, and the first year when peer influences begin to play a role.

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As Students End School Year, Boys & Girls Clubs Offers Way to Fight “Summer Brain Drain"

Submitted by msleff on Monday, May 28th, 5:47 am

ATLANTA -- This month, millions of kids begin their summer breaks, looking forward to vacations, pool time and carefree days. But studies and experience show a lack of mental stimulation causes them to unlearn much of what they were taught over the school year. Boys & Girls Clubs across the country offer young people a safe, exciting place to spend their summer months, with staff and resources to fight the effects of this “Summer Brain Drain.”

The reality for today’s kids is that many will find themselves with few structured activities, caregivers who are working all day, and too much unsupervised television, video game and computer time.

President Touts Concerns Over Summer Learning

Also known as “summer learning loss” or the “summer slide,” this issue is a growing problem for American children. In 2010, President Obama noted, “Students are losing a lot of what they learn during the school year during the summer.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of America fight Summer Brain Drain by providing kids with fun, engaging learning activities all summer long.

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When does the school year end?

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, May 14th, 2012, 1:35pm

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- The last day of school is right around the corner for Gwinnett County students.

Public schools will dismiss for the summer on Wednesday, May 23.

Buford City Schools, meanwhile, will end the school year two days later -- Friday, May 25.

The last days of school in other metro Atlanta districts are staggered throughout the second half of May. They include:

Wednesday, May 16
Clarke County

Thursday, May 17
Hall County

Friday, May 18
Bartow County
Clayton County
Fulton County

Tuesday, May 22
Atlanta Public Schools
Barrow County

Wednesday, May 23
Carroll County
Newton County

Thursday, May 24
Cobb County
Decatur City Schools
DeKalb County
Rockdale County

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Remembering Many on Mother's Day

Submitted by Heather Clark, Act Together Ministries, Children's Charity Director

Sunday, May 13th, 2012, 2:31pm

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. Thank you for the sacrifices you make. For staying up all night with a sick child, for helping with homework, running the family taxi to endless ball games, and for all the things you do to keep the household running smoothly. May your day be blessed with flowers, breakfast in bed, extra chores from the kids, handmade crafts, and time to yourself.

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