Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Planet Janet.

As some of you well know, I volunteer a lot of my time with Birthday Blessings.  Well, I am at it again, and I have another great way for Charlotte families to pitch in and help our struggling homeless community.  Did you know that as of May 2009, there are 2,989 children enrolled in CMS who have no place to call home?

  Well, Birthday Blessings coordinates with A Child’s Place (who compiled those stats, by the way!) to help make birthday dreams come true.  For more information about our partner, A Child’s Place, click here.

For details about how you can help starting today from 12-4 p.m., click here.  

Thanks, Charlotte MomsLikeMe, for the free press!  And, while you’re checking out the cold, hard facts (get it?  “Cold” Stone Creamery) , check out the site while you’re there!

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Birthday Blessings, CHARLOTTE, N.C., N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | 1 Comment »

Thursday, July 30, 2009 by Planet Janet.

You’re a mom with another baby on the way.  Your friends and family want to throw you a baby shower.   As far as you’re concerned, you have all you need and don’t want any more.

Have a baby shower anyway, and donate the proceeds to Birthday Blessings, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that is taking flight, with opportunities for affiliate chapters to start up across the U.S.!

To celebrate the expansion of their Blessing Baskets program, which benefits homeless babies, I propose a challenge.

Bring gift cards and baby-care essentials to any Charlotte Monkey Joe’s this Friday, July 31, where your kids can “jump for a cause.” Discounted admission and food, with 20% of the proceeds going to Birthday Blessings.

I can’t tell you how impressed I personally am by Monkey Joe’s.  My PTO did a fundraiser there last year and made a ton of money!  I’ll be at the Pineville location at 10 a.m., so come say hi!  Read full details here.

Let’s show the world how Charlotte can rally for the homeless.

Posted in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Birthday Blessings, Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Kiddie Chaos | Print | No Comments »

Wednesday, February 4, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Schools are closed today, but Monkey Joe’s isn’t.  Grab the keys to the minivan and bounce them into an early bedtime.  Prices are half off today.  For more details, click here.

Posted in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Saturday, January 31, 2009 by Planet Janet.

I don’t know if you’ve ever spent much time on the CMS Web site.  It’s no secret it was difficult to navigate.   On January 24, they launched their new site, still located at http://www.cms.k12.nc.us.  It’s definitely an improvement.  Transportation, however, is still buried within the site, much to my dismay…

Posted in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, CHARLOTTE, N.C., N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 by Planet Janet.

It’s inevitable.  Traffic backs up.  Cars break down.  You may get distracted and lose track of time.  The bus may, miraculously, be early.  Whatever the reason, you’re not there when your child gets off the bus.

According to Ms. Massey of Central Transportation, it is CMS policy that bus drivers will drop off your child at their bus stop (Kindergarten and older), even if no adult is present.

For their safety and welfare, initiate a discussion with your child about your family’s Plan B.   The following are some tips to get you started:

•    All bus riders should know contact numbers or have them written down inside their backpacks.
•    Encourage your child to find a “bus buddy.”   For parents of younger bus riders, be proactive and find a trustworthy older student who is willing to be your child’s “bus buddy.”
•    Siblings must always check in with each other and ensure everyone is in the same place.
•    Give your child a key or hide a key outside your home so they can let themselves in.
•    Get to know your neighbors and ask them to be available as your backup.  Establishing ties close to home, in so many     ways, can make a world of difference.
•    If they don’t have a key, instruct your child to stay in the back yard.
•    Tell your child to remain at the bus stop until you arrive and to not talk to strangers.

For those utilizing consolidated bus stops, the solution is simple:
•    Get to know each other
•    Exchange cell phone numbers.
•    Carpool to and from the bus stop.
•    Ensure all children are supervised when they get off the bus.

Whatever your plan, just MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ONE.  For more information about CMS bus riding, contact Central Transportation at 980.343.6970.

Posted in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »