Turning Dog Days to School Days

We've definitely arrived at the dog days of summer.  The kids may be getting a little antsy by now--too hot to play out of doors and not much new to do indoors. This is a great time to start building anticipation for the first day of school. 

This is also the perfect time to start sharpening the disciplines your child needs to perform well once school begins. Here's a few tips you can use during the dog days of summer to turn your child's attention toward the coming changes. 

• Use the last few weeks of summer break to ease into earlier bedtime schedules, rather than waiting until school begins. This will help your child be fully adjusted to handle the changes that come with moving from the freedom of summer back to school activities.  
• Remind them that they will soon have a new teacher, a new classroom and classmates to learn with. Taking the kids shopping for new school supplies, shoes and school clothes helps build the excitement for returning to familiar school year routines.
• Arrange a few play dates with friends from school that your child may not have seen over the summer. 
• Start engaging in educational fun activities. Take trips to the library or science museum. Play educational games and give your child fun challenges to encourage learning activities, especially as it relates to math and reading. 

Children living at Cumberland on Granbury are invited to participate in the reading challenge at Oakmont Elementary. Here's the details: 

Summer Reading Incentive!
All students, even newly enrolled students for the 2012-2013 school year, can participate.  Simply print out this form, and read, read read!  Click here for a list of suggested books for each grade level.  Please remember, these are only suggestions.  

Read books that you are interested in and that are on your reading level or a little harder.  All students that return their completed reading log at the beginning of school in August get to attend a jump house party!

   The last few weeks of summer can be just as fun and exciting for your child as the first few were as you build excitement around of the start of new school year.

A Peachy Weekend Ahead

Parker County Peach Festival

If you are native to this area then you know that the Parker County Peach Festival is everything we love about summer in Texas. Although Weatherford, Texas has grown considerably, it still has that small town ambiance making it a great venue for this daylong fun-fest that celebrates the homegrown goodness of Parker County peaches. If you can imagine anything peach flavored, you’ll find it this weekend in downtown Weatherford. From homemade peach jam, preserves and ice cream to peaches by the bushel and the peck.

This year’s one day festival kicks off Saturday, July 14^th with the Peach Pedal Bike Ride at 7:30 a.m.  with proceeds benefiting the Weatherford College Fund. Festival gates are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the stages heating up for Diaper Derbies followed by plenty of free entertainment, festival food, vendors and artisan exhibits. It’s a day trip worth making if you’re looking for some “best of summer” entertainment but other folks make the trip to get the first pick of this season’s Parker County peach crop before they hit the local produce markets.  Last year’s crowd was estimated at 30,000 festival goers, so it’s a nice size event especially when you throw in Weatherford’s quaint shopping district and 19th century courthouse built in 1886.

How to Get There:

Take I-20 West to exits 403, 406, 409 A or B, 410 or 413.
Due to construction on Hwy 51/ 171 we recommend avoiding exit 4

Take advantage of one of the convenient FREE shuttle parking lots at:

• Hall Middle School – 902 Charles Street
• 9th Grade Center (The Old Weatherford High School) – 1007 South Main Street
• Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive
• First Monday Trade Days Grounds (PARKING ONLY, NO SHUTTLE)
  Santa Fe Drive/Hwy 180
• *Sheriff's Posse Grounds – 2251 Mineral Wells Hwy (Hwy 180)
• Handicap parking/shuttle is available at the Ninth Grade Center, or at City Hall, right outside the Palo Pinto Street Festival entrance.
  *Get directions to this new parking location HERE!

Fort Worth's 4th of July

Address for parking: 1098 West Peach Street, FW Texas 76102

Fort Worth will be celebrating big along the banks of the Trinity River this 4th of July.  You'll have a full blown festival beginning at 4:30 p.m., where kid's areas, tubing in the river (or paddle boards), music, food and other attractions will keep the fun moving. Did I mention free ice cold water melon? Nothing says 4th of July in Texas like ice cold watermelon! 

Take advantage of shuttle parking and by all means bring your cooler--just leave the alcohol at home. No alcoholic beverages can be taken into the festival, but you will find plenty of beer and soda stands and a hydration station providing free water. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for the super fantastic fireworks show at 9:30 p.m., but the Panther Island Pavilion will start rocking at 6:00 p.m. with Fire in the Sky and Back in Black at 8:00 p.m. Additional information is available here. 


If Honkey-tonkin' is more your style, our dear friend Willie brings his 4th of July Picnic to the Stockyards.

July 4: Fort Worth - Willie Nelson's Picnic

What: Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic is coming back to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Willie takes the Main Stage at 11 p.m. Randy Rogers Band at 10:30 p.m. on the Honky Tonk Stage. Stoney LaRue takes the Outdoor Stage at 9:30 p.m. Jamey Johnson takes the Main Stage at 8:30 p.m.

When: July 4, 2012.

Where: Fort Worth Stockyards.

Tickets: Advance tickets are $35 at Billy Bob's. This is an indoor / outdoor event located on Rodeo Plaza in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No chairs - No umbrellas - No pets - No Coolers.

Whatever your plans are, Happy Independence Day!