By the time you read this, school will be in full swing across our region, but as I write this, my baby boy just headed out the door for his first day of his senior year of high school. I typed up and printed the final “First Day of xx Grade!” sign, along with a “Last First Day!” sign for good measure, and he held them up as we took the ceremonial pictures in the same spot as we’ve taken so many pictures in years past. It’s hard to believe we’re already here, and before we know it, it will be graduation day, and our time in the school system will be behind us. Time really does fly.
Speaking of time flying, this issue marks RFM’s 16th anniversary – yay, us! We’ve loved every second of this wild ride, and we’re looking forward to continuing to be the Greater Richmond area’s trusted family lifestyle magazine for many more years to come. Thank you for bringing us into your homes and lives for all these years – we’re so grateful!
In this issue, we’re taking a very cool look at education, and we’re excited to share some of the innovative ways families in our area are learning. In our cover story (page 20), Catherine Brown takes us inside the world of STEAM (the acronym that was originally coined by a Virginia Tech grad student, as I learned in the article!), where she’ll introduce you to twins Avani and Bhoomika, a steam-tastic duo! You’ll also read about how area schools and enrichment groups are incorporating STEAM into their curriculum and how it’s enriching kids’ lives in big and meaningful ways.
On page 40, Alaina Wong-Canissario tells us how, where, and why so many area families are choosing to introduce their kids to a second language earlier than ever. I had no idea we had so many options in our community! This French minor was très heureuse (very happy!) to read about the benefits of learning a second language, and I wholeheartedly agree that the earlier you can introduce your kids to a new language, the better.
Disney magic takes on a whole new meaning beginning on page 56, where Joan Tupponce introduces us to the Reasor family, who proudly has three Disney College Program graduates, including the most recent grad, Mom Erin! I had no idea this was a thing, and I was fascinated to read about Erin, Abby, and Hannah’s adventures in this program at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. If this story inspires anyone in your family to apply, let us know how it goes!
In more back-to-school news you can use, Brittany Mullins with Eating Bird Food has some easy lunchbox recipes on page 34, our friends at Chesterfield Public Library have back-to-school book recommendations for all ages, and we’re introducing you to Partnership for the Future, a local non-profit that’s making a big difference in area students’ lives.
There’s much more in this issue, too, including our jam-packed community calendar, beginning on page 60. We can’t wait for all of our favorite fall events, including Maymont’s Garden Glow, Rassawek’s annual Autumn Festival, and the legendary Richmond Folk Festival.
