Sewickley Academy: Resource Blog for Parents

In a perfect world, children are always at school when their parents need to be at work. But as every parent knows, the schedule almost never works out perfectly. On top of the long weekends and numerous national holiday breaks, there are also the days home with your kids that can't be predicted, sick days.

Thanksgiving is nearly here, which means it's time to break out the old recipe book. You will need to make a turkey, of course, but what if you were to add a bit of zing to the rest of the meal by changing up the side dishes? That's not to say you shouldn't serve  traditional dishes like mashed potatoes and stuffing, but you could add a twist or two that would make this particular holiday spread unforgettable. 

For many people, Thanksgiving is all about celebrating with family. You may have family celebrations that you're obligated to attend whether you want to be there or not. Unfortunately, that means you don't have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with some of your closest friends. By celebrating early with a Friendsgiving celebration, you can enjoy a more relaxed, laid-back celebration that's a lot of fun for all of you. If nothing else, it's an excuse to get together with your favorite people!

The Cavalier Room in Hansen Library was updated over the summer to better reflect how our students use the library to study, learn, and collaborate. Rather than tell you about the updates we thought it would be better to show you! Watch the video below as Director of Libraries Ruth Neely gives you a tour of the changes to the physical space and explains the features and benefits that guided our decisions during the redesign process. 

Visit the "adult" section of any Halloween costume shop and you're likely to cringe at the skimpy skirts, gruesome gore, and raunchy humor. But isn't Halloween supposed to be a family holiday? If you want to celebrate in style but you're not into the sexy, sleazy, or scary, try some of these hilarious costumes on for size.

Are your kids looking to dress up this Halloween? Bring some creativity to their Halloween costumes without breaking the bank! Here are some fun and simple DIY ideas that you can make or put together on your own to help get you and your children in the Halloween spirit.

 As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While we should always show our support for those with breast cancer, or any type of cancer, this month is a wonderful reminder to actively try to make a difference. One of the best ways to make that difference is to educate our children about the topic of breast cancer and get them involved in support efforts. This can be done in a variety of ways, and we have included a few of our favorites below. 

Summer isn't all breakfast and barbecues. Whether you're a working adult or a stay-at-home mom, you want to make delicious light summer lunches that will energize and motivate you while still staying within the bounds of your diet. Picking up a quick burger or microwaving a frozen dinner is no way to treat your stomach in the middle of the day. Whether you're packing your lunch cooler for work or packing the car for a family picnic in the park, we've got some great summer lunch options that will feel light and delicious in your mouth and keep you going strong until dinner time.

Eating well is one of those things. We all know it's the right thing to do, but sugar sneaks into every meal. This summer, make the decision to eat right and light. With these ideas and recipes, it shouldn't be difficult at all!

Dinners in the winter and fall tend to be more formal affairs with families gathered around the dining room table passing steaming dishes of vegetables and starch. But in the summer, you're far more likely to take your supper outdoors, enjoying the warm air, the late sunset, and the company of friends and family around a fire pit. Whether you're enjoying a casual weekday dinner or letting a barbecue get-together run long, dinner classics can be turned into delicious hors d'oeuvres hearty enough to be filling but also convenient in small, snackable portions.