Charlotte Smarty Pants

Guest Blogger

September 19, 2017

From the Smarty Education Corner and CCDS: Academic Excellence, Moral Courage, and Kindness

Mark Reed, Head of School at Charlotte Country Day School sent an inspiring message to parents, faculty, and staff to start the new school year. Learn how academic excellence, moral courage, and kindness are central to a Country Day education. This blog was originally published on CCDS’s blog, BucsBlog, and we thank them for letting us share it with you!

August 22, 2017

Tomorrow, the campus comes alive again with over 1,660 students. Whether they are just beginning their educational journey or actively engaged in the Upper School as seniors, I know that they will benefit from the routine that comes with each school day. Our students are known, loved, and cared for by exceptional teachers who are truly committed to their success. While changes are taking place around them, both on Cannon campus with construction and in the world, this is a place where they will find comfort, consistency, and support.

Beyond our campus, as I consider all that is changing in our world, I would be remiss not to acknowledge that we, and our children, are witnessing challenging times of divisiveness and conflict. Please rest assured that more than ever Country Day is rooted in the Mission, Key Values, and Affirmation of Community that have guided our work for over 75 years. And, along with you, we are committed to providing a foundation that will prepare our students to thrive and lead in the world beyond our haven.

As I explained to the faculty and staff at our opening meeting last week, you can take comfort in the fact that our school’s mission and our work with students remains grounded in foundational key values that are simply a non-negotiable aspect of a Country Day education. They remain solidly intact as we experience “change” taking place around us. Three of those mission-centered, non-negotiable aspects of a Country Day education are academic excellence, moral courage, and kindness. Read More →

CSP Team

Smarty Save the Date: HKB’s 7th Annual Beauty Bash

Our Smarty friends at Hunstad/Kortesis/Bharti Cosmetic Surgery (HKB) are hosting their HUGE 7th Annual Beauty Bash October 13th and 14th.

Mark your calendars and plan to go. This one time, event-only includes specials like:
– 25% OFF Botox ($9.75 per unit) & Dysport ($3.00 per unit)
– $150 OFF any injectable (Juvéderm, Radiesse, Sculptra, Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Belotero)
– 10% OFF a new surgery procedure with doctor consultation
– $200 CREDIT towards a surgical consult
– And MORE!

And due to the overwhelming response to last year’s nonprofit donation by attendees HKB is doing it again this year! All Beauty Bash attendees will have the chance to vote for 1 of 3 local non-profits with the winning non-profit receiving a $10,000 donation from the Bash. Voting will take place at the Friday and Saturday events and the winner will be announced the following week. HKB is partnering with the awesome people over at SHARE Charlotte to donate funds to one very special organization. The lucky nonprofits are:

1. Redeeming Joy – A transformational program that offers sustainable freedoms to women over the age of 18 that have survived human trafficking. They provide holistic and trauma informed services in a safe environment to help bring healing to the complex hurts of those sexually exploited. Read More →

CSP Team

September 18, 2017

From the Smarty Education Corner: Charlotte School Open House 2017-18

Charlotte School Open House Season? WHAT? School just started! It’s hard to believe and hard to handle when we are just sliding into the new school year. In typical Smarty style, we took some of the pain out of the process as we unveil the 2017-18 Smarty School Open House Guide below!

We are very proud to announce our partners for the 2017-18 Smarty Education Corner: Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Jewish Day School, Charlotte Latin School, Charlotte Preparatory School, The Fletcher School, Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools, Providence Day School, and Palisades Episcopal School. Over the coming months, we’ll keep you informed on key dates for open house schedules, trending education topics and highlights on educators and students doing amazing things in our community.

Mark your calendars, Smarties, you’re going to want to hit all of the amazing schools that Charlotte has to offer! Read More →

Cheryl Perry

Make a statement against cancer and support the Isabella Santos Foundation (and don’t forget to register for the ISF 5k or 10k)

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and you’ve probably seen those super-cute “Cancer Messed With” shirts popping up all over town. Those are the brainchild of the amazing people at the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF), one of our favorite nonprofits. Erin Santos, Isabella’s mom, and her team launched the “Cancer Messed With…” apparel line to allow people to show support for someone they know fighting cancer. The best part about this online shopping purchase? It supports pediatric cancer research AND shows your support for every single child, mom, dad, sibling, and family going through a cancer diagnosis.

For every shirt purchased, “Cancer Messed With” will donate a portion of the proceeds to pediatric cancer research through ISF. ISF supports leading childhood cancer hospital and organizations across the US, and their recently-announced 1 million dollar investment with Levine Children’s Hospital to build a new innovate MIBG treatment room for kids with Neuroblastoma makes us so, so proud. The project will help fund this room for local Charlotte children and is scheduled to be complete in 2018. Read More →

CSP Team

September 17, 2017

From the Smarty Health Corner and Levine Children’s Hospital: Former Patient Becomes Nurse to Help Others with Childhood Cancer

CSP Team Note: This interview and its follow-up was originally published on Carolinas HealthCare System’s blog. We thank them for letting us share this incredible story with you in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Sarah Sadler (Fruendt), once a patient at Levine Children’s Hospital, is now a nurse in the same unit where she was treated, and even works alongside some of the same nurses who provided her care.

Update

In September 2016, we shared the story of former patient, Sarah Fruendt, who was working at Levine Cancer Institute – more than a decade after being treated for cancer herself at Levine Children’s Hospital. Fast forward a year later, Sarah, who recently got married and now goes by Sarah Sadler, is now working at Levine Children’s Hospital, alongside the nurse who once cared for her. Sarah says this is her dream job and something she was wanted to do since she was a patient at LCH.

“It is amazing to back now working in the same atmosphere I grew up in as a child battling cancer,” Sadler said. “A lot has changed since I was undergoing treatment – everything used to be on the 7th Foor of the main hospital back then so it’s so encouraging to see how things have grown with the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Transplant Clinic – and how Levine Children’s Hospital has a more kid-friendly environment. It brings me so much joy and is truly a pleasure being able to take care of these children and their families because I was taken care of so well when I was in their shoes over 15 years ago. Some of the providers and nurses who helped with my treatment are still working here today and their dedication to this field is inspiring. I am so privileged to work alongside them. Every day I love coming to work aspiring to provide as excellent and extraordinary service to my patients and those surrounding me as I received in the past.” Read More →

Cheryl Perry

September 16, 2017

Meet the Chick fil A Kids Marathon Coaches

The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon has partnered with Chick-fil-A to create a 7 week running program for kids 11 and under. Participating kids will train for 7 weeks, then they will join Charlotte Marathon festivities on November 11, 2017 to run their final program mile on race day and finish out with 26.2 total miles. Today we’re talking to the awesome coaches from the program to give you a few more details. Registration ends September 21, so sign up today!

Now let’s meet Alyssa and Jacqueline! Read More →

Cheryl Perry

September 15, 2017

2U Laundry’s offers three loads free for new and expectant mothers

Our buddies at 2U Laundry are running an AWESOME Smarty special this month for all of you new and expectant Smarty moms. They’re giving you $15 off your first pick up (that’s three loads free!). This will totally help free up time if you have a new baby in the house or are going through some serious nesting. Click here to get more details.

Smartyland is hooked on our 2U Laundry fairies (even those of us with older kids!). We shove so much into that one blue bag, we get our strength workout for the day dragging it outside for pick up. There’s so much we love about the service, but here are the highlights: Read More →

CSP Team

Fitness Friday: Pure Barre Empower – the QC’s newest cardio class

Have you tried the latest cardio class to hit the QC? Pure Barre Empower is HERE, Smarties, and it’s AH-MAZ-ING. The Smarty team has been in love with Pure Barre since Day 1 (literally – we were some of the first peeps in the Charlotte studios!), and have loved the way it lifted and toned…especially as we’ve, ummmm, matured. Pure Barre’s newest class is several notches up and will please any cardio fan in the crowd. It’s a 45-minute, fast paced, barre-party that has awesome music and, get this, ankle/wrist weights. If you haven’t tried those little gems since high school, you’re in for a treat (and you just might get that high seat you had in high school after a few rounds with ankle weights!).

Pure Barre Empower is a perfect complement to barre or even yoga and is a great way to mix up the cardio routine. You’ll do multi-directional, dynamic movements while using ankle weights and a plyometric platform to target different muscle groups simultaneously – at a fast pace. It’s still low-impact (one of the the things we love most about Pure Barre!) and is the perfect way to shock your muscles into something different – the best way to ignite change in the body.

All three Charlotte studios have Empower classes, and don’t forget, if you’re new to Pure Barre you get a week free. That includes classic Pure Barre and Empower. Have fun and tell them CSP sent ya! Read More →

Guest Blogger

September 14, 2017

From the Smarty Health Corner and CEENTA: Eating? Allergies? What’s causing the older generation to have runny noses?

By our Smarty friends at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.

While our children may find themselves with runny noses during allergy season, it’s important to remember our older parents might have runny noses, too. In fact, they might even be developing allergies.

What is causing those runny noses?

Typically, allergies tend to decrease in people as they get older because their immune systems naturally get weaker and no longer react to allergens.

If they have a runny nose, what they likely have is a symptom of a condition called nonallergic rhinitis. This can be caused by things like weather changes, air quality, and strong smells. Runny noses can also be stimulated by eating. In fact, 90 percent of the men who see CEENTA ENT doctor Hunter Hoover, MD, complain about runny noses when eating.

“Runny noses in elderly patients are very common and usually not due to allergies,” Dr. Hoover said. “Fortunately, there are prescription nasal sprays available to help with that runny nose that do not have the side effects associated with many over-the-counter medicines.” Read More →

Guest Blogger

From the Smarty Education Corner and Charlotte Latin School: Reflections from a Lower School Head

By Smarty Guest Blogger, Mark Tayloe, Head of Lower School, Charlotte Latin School

In the field of education, when we hear a teacher or parent say, “You can’t teach a dog new tricks,” most administrators like me roll their eyes and assert that they have once again heard another excuse by someone who is change averse. However, as I ponder that trite saying, I have compassion for those who struggle with trying something new. Whereas certainly an old dog can learn new tricks, it surely isn’t as easy as it used to be. Those of us who have the opportunity to be in an elementary school, where I have had the good fortune to be for the last 19 years, find this truth manifests itself every day. The children we see are prime for every new idea and concept they encounter and go about learning it with great gusto.

The early childhood brain is so malleable that it’s often referred to as “plastic,” meaning easily shaped or molded. Teachers frequently refer to students’ brains as sponges that want to soak up everything you pour into them. Children are so hungry to learn and to try new things that we must take full advantage of this optimal time of child development to put them on a path for long-term success as students. Read More →