SEPTEMBER 2015 Katy Edition The Before & After Issue OUR 2015 HOME IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSIDE! WANDERLUST Autumn in Asheville The Studio offers Music Classes, Dance Classes, Cheerleading, and more! Versatile wardrobe additions as summer becomes fall
THE BEFORE & AFTER ISSUE 38 Our 2015 Home Improvement Guide Local pros you need to know, plus: the top 5 home renovations that will increase your real estate value. page 21 The Local Bites Guide Get the scoop on where to eat in the neighborhood! page 39 Scene Local happenings. page 10 Editor s Letter A note from our Editor-in-Chief. page 8 14 Fruit of the Vine Regardless of what September may or may not bring, it is imperative our eternal focus stay constant. SEPTEMBER 2015 On the Cover 16 The Studio at Children s Learning Adventure Profiled 23 Westside Grill & Fireplace 30 Cancer Treatments: Yesterday And Today Get the lowdown on how cancer survival rates are going way up. 32 From Day To Night Double-duty pieces stretch your wardrobe into fall. 20 Wanderlust Head to Asheville, North Carolina to drink in the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains ablaze with fall color. 34 Beauty Life after plastic surgery. 38 Recipes An early taste of autumn. LIVING MAGAZINE 7
Children s Learning Adventure now offers enrichment for all The area s leader in preschool education now offers children hourly extracurricular classes BY PAMELA HAMMONDS You know the drill. Get your children to and from school and then start the shuttling of your son or daughter to cheerleading or martial arts, finally trying to help with homework sometime in between or afterward, when both are tired and hungry. There has to be an easier way to fit in enrichment activities, but how do you manage to be two places at once? Easy. You start at The Studio, only at Children s Learning Adventure. INTRODUCING THE STUDIO The Studio in Katy boasts more square footage than any other childcare campus in the United States. The seven-acre, 55,000-square-foot campus features a culinary school, two bowling alleys, a science lab, indoor mini-golf, an art studio, a live TV studio, indoor gyms, and much more. Outdoors, the campus sports two acres of playgrounds and sports fields. The Studio allows parents to present multiple opportunities to their children in one convenient location, Monday through Saturday, in 45-minute classes. It s the ultimate extracurricular adventure for kids of all ages. STUDY LOUNGE The Studio recognizes that confidence in academics is an important part of every child s social and emotional development and that each child acquires these skills at his or her own rate. The Study Lounge offers a variety of tutoring programs designed to help children at various skill levels. Language-based Mommy and Me classes provide a fun way for parents to learn a new language with their child, and Kindergarten Readiness classes prepare your preschoolers for Kindergarten. STUDENT TUTORING: The Study Lounge offers math, reading, writing, homework, and test preparation tutoring for all students who need guidance to master each of their school tasks. Whether your child struggles to grasp basic-to-advanced mathematics concepts, finds reading to be a challenge, or needs assistance staying on task, tutors are on hand to help. No matter your child s age, grade, or the class subjects, they will receive individualized instruction and guidance to master their homework, making evenings at home much more family-focused. MOMMY & ME CLASSES: Mommy and Me Spanish and Sign Language classes are a fun way for parents to enjoy bonding time with their children while learning a new language through story times, puppets, singing, and fun activities. Kindergarten Readiness classes offer children the opportunity to advance their skills in letter recog- 16 SEPTEMBER 2015
nition, pre-reading, and emergent writing skills to be ahead of the class when they make the transition from Preschool to Kindergarten. MODERN DANCE CLASSES An introduction to a variety of different genres of music and dance styles allows children to express themselves while building self-confidence and making friends. Preschool and Beginner students can get their groove on while learning jazz, hip hop, or even Zumba. All classes start with basic instructions and allow children to build on skills after they ve grasped beginning steps, terminology, and simple routines. Individual instruction as well as group performances ensure your tiny dancer masters some fancy footwork and burns off tons of energy while having a blast! Toddler Move and Groove classes are designed to keep little tykes dancing to the beat while they further develop large muscle control and coordination, and, most importantly, have fun. Toddler classes are for ages 13 months through 2 years; Preschool classes are for 3 through 5 years; all other classes are for 5 through 13 years. CLASSICAL DANCE CLASSES The Classical Dance Studio provides an environment that allows children to achieve their inner Zen, improve their focus and memory skills, and practice their poise and posture. Students can learn ballet or tap, or take a combination ballet/tap class. For those who prefer a slower, steady pace, yoga provides the perfect outlet while fostering fitness. Studies show that little yogis develop concentration skills that can help them be more successful in school, and The Studio is all about encouraging those results. Whatever dance class your child chooses, you ll appreciate not only the exercise they receive but also the talents they develop along the way. Counting, listening, music appreciation, and peer interaction are all helpful skills nurtured in the Classical Dance Studio. MUSIC CLASSES Music Studio offers the opportunity for children of all ages and skill levels to experience and develop a love of music! From the youngest children participating in Mommy and Me classes to Toddler and Preschool children enjoying group music classes, the Music Studio offers a variety of experiences for all. Older students have the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument of their choice, hone their vocal skills, and even form garage-style bands. MOMMY AND ME: Toddler Mommy and Me classes are designed for children ages 12 months and older. The children will join their parents and enjoy the opportunity to play age-appropriate instruments, learn rhythm and beats, sing along with an instructor, and experience music and movement activities for quality bonding time. Preschool Mommy and Me classes, for children aged 2½ years and older, introduce children to a CLASSICAL DANCE STUDIO variety of different instruments while they practice beats and rhythms and enjoy silly sing-alongs featuring puppets and fun activities. TODDLER & PRE- SCHOOL MUSIC: Toddler music classes provide an opportunity for your child to enjoy singing and learning simple instrument instruction through small group interactions that will help wire their brain and boost their IQ. Preschool music classes offers 3- to 5-year-olds the opportunity to learn basic rhythms and beats and increase their vocabulary while learning through hands-on experiences with a variety of instruments, puppets, and props. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP LESSONS: Individual and Group Lessons not only present your children with the opportunity to improve their musical skills in vocals, gui- LIVING MAGAZINE 17
tar, drums, and keyboard, but here they get to record in a recording studio. After recording, children can mix their songs with different beats and background music to showcase their talents. Your children will have a blast singing, receiving instrument instruction, and experiencing what it s like to be part of a band in the Battle of the Bands classes. Every week, they ll play their favorite instrument or belt out popular tunes for some friendly competition between fellow bands. What they won t realize during these lessons is their brains are busy firing, rewiring, and boosting their IQ! TUMBLING AND CHEERLEADING In all of the Cheerleading and Tumbling classes, the focus is on the character traits of a true cheerleader generosity, positivity, and kindness, both on and off the field! From beginner classes to competitive squads, your child will love being a part of a peppy, enthusiastic group of athletes. Tumbling classes provide the fundamental skills for cheerleaders to advance in technique and strength endurance, a great complement to the cheerleading programs. In the Beginner class, children work on the fundamentals of tumbling. Through the development of each skill, they build endurance and techniques that help them progress to more advanced classes. Show Cheerleading classes are for children who want to be on a cheerleading squad without having to participate in competitions or practice as much as a competitive level squad. Children are taught cheers, groupings, stances, dances, and visually aesthetic group performances, while improving their strength and stamina and developing character and leadership skills as they learn to work as a team. Competitive Cheerleading classes are for cheerleaders who want to compete as a team against other squads. Cheerleaders will work both as a group and individually to increase their technique and skills to perform at higher levels and learn advanced techniques for the competition season, and will devote extensive time to practice with their squad. SPORTS & FITNESS CLASSES Whether your goal is to provide an outlet for physical fitness or fine-tune your child s athletic skills, the Sports and Fitness Studio, with an extensive state-ofthe-art gym, is the perfect environment for your child to train for basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, or even martial arts! If your child hasn t chosen a favorite sport, Sports Skills classes introduce him or her to a variety of different sports. Coaches ensure children are taught at their own skill level from beginners to more advanced competitive players. Your child will learn basic ball-handling techniques, improve his or her coordination, grasp rules and concepts of the game, and appreciate the importance of teamwork. Each player receives instruction from athletes who excel at their sports and enjoy passing along the love for the game. MARTIAL ARTS Martial Arts classes offer children the opportunity to learn self-discipline, concentration, listening skills, and focus skills. Children work on kicks, punches, and board-breaking skills with opportunities for belt testing and performances for family viewing. The Preschool Martial Arts classes, for children ages 3 to 5, help younger children benefit from the focus and listening skills taught through Martial Arts programs. GYMNASTICS Gymnastics classes feature top-notch gymnastics coaches who provide a positive learning environment where every child s skills will flourish. Classes for toddlers and school-age children will contribute to your child s large muscle development, coordination, self-confidence, and expression. Mommy and Me Gymnastics classes offer Toddler and Preschool-aged children stretches, basic rolls and tumbling, games, and activities to help grow a child s balance, coordination, and positive self-image with their parents assistance. Toddler Gymnastics classes, for children 18 months through two years of age, offer an introduction to physical fitness and activities designed to improve their balance and coordination independent of their parents support. In Preschool and Elementary Gymnastics classes, children participate in games, drills, and activ- 18 SEPTEMBER 2015
ities designed to practice their balance and coordination skills. Some of these activities include walking on a balance beam, jumping on a mini trampoline, and engaging in numerous floor exercises. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced gymnastics classes for all skill levels will further develop strength and flexibility through an introduction to flips, handsprings, and advanced cartwheels and round-offs. As skills improve, instructors will recommend them for more advanced classes. COMPETITIVE GAMING E-sports and electronic gaming have become a popular and recognized sport by the U.S. Government. In The Gaming Studio, children will learn teamwork, cooperation, and focus as well as strategy skills while working together to advance their virtual teams. From beginning to intermediate and advanced, gamers employ strategy and skills through friendly competition while increasing their virtual knowledge and gaming techniques. They play popular games that reinforce both individual and teamwork skills including Minecraft and sports games such as NHL 2015, FIFA 2015, NBA 2015, and Madden 2015. Children will be taught cheats and secrets within the game and engage in friendly competitions. More advanced gamers hop on the fast track for fun as they develop strategy and techniques while playing games such as Project CARS, Need For Speed Rivals, and Forza Motorsport 5. SIGN UP FOR CLASSES TODAY No matter your child s interests or curiosities, The Studio offers them the opportunity to experience it all like no place ever before. Sign up for classes now! 24210 Cinco Terrace Drive Katy, Texas 77494 281-506-2199 TheStudioCLA.com LIVING MAGAZINE 19