Family-Friendly Holiday Events Around Orlando

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In a tropical climate like ours, it can be tough to get into the holiday spirit when it’s 85 degrees in the middle of December. Although winter doesn’t bring snow to Central Florida, there are still plenty of opportunities for you and your family to get in to the spirit of things this Advent and Christmas season. St. Charles, an Orlando Catholic school, provides their guide to the best holiday celebrations around Central Florida that your whole family will enjoy.

Holiday Parades
Watching a parade is a great way to ring in the Christmas season with your whole family. Lots of local governments in the Central Florida area host holiday parades in their cities in the weekends leading up to Christmas. This year, you can check out parades in Avalon Park, Longwood, Mount Dora, Oviedo, Winter Garden, Winter Park, and Winter Springs. Your family can spend some quality time enjoying the mild winter weather and watching festive floats pass by. The voices of St. Charles and our cheerleaders even host a float in the Winter Park parade!

Ornament Workshops
In this event at Orlando’s Downtown Recreation Complex, you and your family can decorate ornaments together to place on your Christmas tree. You can choose from a wide range of readymade bisque ornaments and paint your own unique and festive keepsake. Ornament workshops are held throughout the first two weeks of December, and the organizers advise calling ahead to reserve your spot at the studio.

Lake Eola Tree Lighting
On December 6, you and your family can attend Mayor Buddy Dyer’s annual first lighting of Lake Eola Park’s Christmas Tree. After you witness the lighting of the awe-inspiring 72-foot Christmas tree, enjoy live music and performances, vendor booths, and a variety of delicious foods from the Food Truck Bazaar.

Light Up UCF
The annual month-long holiday celebration returns to the Addition Arena at the University of Central Florida. Light Up UCF offers plenty of attractions for you and your family to enjoy, such as ice skating, carnival rides, live music performances, and a dazzling holiday light show. New this year, a Holiday Film Festival on select nights invites families to enjoy classic festive films in the arena lobby.

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

November is PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month

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November is the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Healthy Lifestyles Month! This year’s theme is “Get Off Your Apps.” These days, it’s hard to get your child off their digital devices and outside playing. Orlando private schools have ways you can encourage your child to put the device down and connect with their loved ones. Bonding time includes physical education programs, not just at school but at home too, as well as constructive play and family exercise. Here’s how you can observe this month’s theme.


Host an Event
You can host your own “Get Off Your Apps” event! Find ways that will encourage your child to play. Sign your family up for yoga, coordinate arts and crafts time, or set up a scavenger hunt. Make it a fun family time!

Host a Cooking Demonstration
Teach children how to eat healthy by demonstrating a recipe. Allow the “students” to suggest recipes and modify their favorite junk foods by making them cleaner. Your child can assist you, giving them a sense of responsibility. Her peers can help set up the event and taste the food.

Include Local Businesses
Local businesses love getting involved in community events — especially when they involve children! Contact mom-and-pop businesses in your area and request in-kind donations or financial contributions. Let them know that the money goes towards the PTA for the schools, teachers, and children.

PTA forms strong bonds with schools, students, and communities. St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Orlando private schools, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

St. Charles Day

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As you know, Charles Borromeo was a Roman Catholic archbishop and cardinal from Milan in the 1500s. He was a member of a noble family and was Pope Pius IV’s nephew. He died on November 4th, a day that is now recognized as St. Charles Day. St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando private school, honors its namesake by celebrating with a feast. Here’s how your family can participate in activities that memorialize him.

Eat an Italian Meal
In his memory, cook an Italian meal or visit a local Italian restaurant. POPSUGAR has Italian dinner options that will empower your child in the kitchen. Allow your little chef to assist you with recipes, such as sun-dried tomato pesto pasta, shrimp caprese, and spinach manicotti marinara.

Attend Mass
Attending mass allows you and your child to unite, to receive God, and ask for forgiveness. You and your child can recite the St. Charles prayer:

“Almighty God, you have generously made known to human beings the mysteries of your life through Jesus Christ your Son in the Holy Spirit. Enlighten my mind to know these mysteries which your Church treasures and teaches. Move my heart to love them and my will to live in accord with them. Give me the ability to teach this Faith to others without pride, without ostentation, and without personal gain. Let me realize that I am simply your instrument for bringing others to the knowledge of the wonderful things you have done for all your creatures. Help me to be faithful to this task that you have entrusted to me. Amen.”

Tell His Story
Your child should know the parish saint in which their school is named after. Tell his story and allow his legacy to live on through your child. Catholic Online sells a coloring book that tells the stories of the Saints. It comes in a downloadable digital PDF, a perfect resource that will definitely allow your child to understand his legacy!

Be Inspired
St. Charles spent much of his life dealing with disasters like the plague and famine. In one day, he fed more than 3,000 people. Coordinate a food drive and donate the items to a local food bank. Additionally, St. Charles constantly kept his nose in many books, specifically the Holy Scripture. Read the Bible with your child before they go to sleep or take them to the library to choose new children’s books.

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando private school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Preparing for the Father-Daughter Dance

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A father-daughter dance may just be a few hours for one night, but the memory can be cherished forever. It’s a great opportunity for fathers to demonstrate to their daughters the respect they should receive from a man and how they should be treated. St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando private school, is having their father-daughter dance on October 12th. Here are tips on how fathers can make the most of this experience with their daughters. We suggest treating it like a special date.


Plan Your Outfits in Advance
To avoid splurging on an outfit at the last minute, have your daughter choose an outfit and shoes a few weeks in advance. Dad should also pick out his outfit in advance. If he usually dresses casual, he should plan to be a little more dressed up for the dance.

Have Fun Getting Ready
Add some excitement to the evening and set the mood by playing fun music while your daughter is getting ready. Pamper her a little by asking her if she’d like to do something special with her hair or give her a manicure.

Add a Special Touch
Dad can add a special touch to the occasion by ordering a corsage for their daughter and a boutonniere for himself. He can have a toast with his daughter or share a special treat before the event like strawberries and chocolate.

Make Time For Photos
Make sure everyone finishes getting ready early so that there’s time for photos. Children grow up so fast and this is an evening you won’t want to forget. One day, you’ll be happy you have these photos to look back on to remember those sweet memories you’ll soon create.

Use the father-daughter dance as an opportunity for father-daughter bonding. It’s a special experience that can help strengthen the relationship. If Dad can’t make it, extend the invite to other male family members like uncles, brothers, or close family friends. 

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando private school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Finding God Through Fitness

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Remember that God is everywhere. He is in the walk you take, the scripture you read, and within you. Faith is not just about nurturing your child’s spiritual health, but their physical health as well. Through fitness, your child will deepen their faith and take care of their temple (body). Private schools in Orlando explain the connection between God and fitness.

Your Body Belongs to God
1 Corinthians 6:19 states, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” Honor your temple’s creator by taking care of it through healthy actions, such as working out and eating nutritious foods. By keeping your child’s body strong, he is able to keep going and serve others.

Serve Others
Jesus sacrificed and redeemed us from sin so that we can continue servicing others when He couldn’t. With a strong and healthy body, taking on this moral duty will come more easily. We use our legs to travel to places where God is and to share the joys of Him. We use our arms to carry the children we care for. Our strength is spiritual, mental, and physical.


Stay Alert
Keep your brain awake alert so you can delight in God. To better focus and understand the truth in God’s words, have your child start his day by doing some sort of exercise. As the difficulties of life kick in, continuing to exercise will help him embrace the heart of the Scripture. Even just two miles of walking per day gets the body and brain pumping. Encourage your child to join a sports team at school. Show him how to make it a habit to maintain his joy. Not only will he be in shape, but he’ll be paving the pathway to a deeper love for our heavenly Father.

St. Charles Borromeo, one of the best private schools in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

International Day of Peace

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Peace is more than a feeling or a state of being; it’s a fruit of the Spirit. God-given peace is the kind of peace that transcends understanding and allows us to find peace in any situation regardless of the circumstances. St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic School, reflects on the meaning of peace and how to find it in difficult situations.

As we celebrate International Day of Peace, remember why we are even able to experience true peace in the first place. It is best illustrated in the following verse: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” — John 16:33

This verse references one of our core beliefs as Catholics, that Jesus has overcome the world by dying on the cross and saving us from our sins. Because of this selfless act, we can experience eternal life and can set our eyes on heaven. This verse isn’t denying that we won’t encounter trouble or hardship, but it reminds us of a greater hope.

How to Have Peace in Difficult Situations
Of course, it is easier to have peace when everything in your life is going well. But what about when life is just plain hard and it doesn’t seem like you can catch a break?

Let Go and Let God
Tough situations that you don’t have control over present the perfect opportunity to strengthen your faith. Remember that God is bigger than any struggle or hardship you face. Surrender to God, and recall all the times He’s come through for you in the past.

Prayer
Our God is a personal God and he sends the Holy Spirit so that we can spend time with him through prayer. We can pray about the tough situations we are in, and pray for the peace the Holy Spirit gives. Philippians 4:6-7 states to not to worry about anything, but instead to pray about everything. God may not always answer our prayers how we’d like, but we can trust Him and His timing.

Worship
Singing is like praying twice. Responding to hardships with worship is unexpected, but it can help call peace over your situation. Under difficult circumstances, let your faith draw you closer to God, and be an inspiration to others. Not only will it deepen your faith, but the faith of the people around you. 

When you have peace within yourself, it’s something that people around you can experience. Start with yourself and then let the peace overflow into your communities. St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Orlando Catholic School, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Gardening With Genesis 1:29

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The very first foods mentioned in the Bible came from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve ate the ideal diet of plant foods given to them by God. Genesis 1:29 says “ God also said: See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food “ Catholic schools in Orlando explain the importance of plant foods, its connection to the Scripture, and how you can start your very own garden.

Garden of Eden
The very first diet given to us consisted of plants. A plant-based meal includes fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and more. These foods are very often known to be very nutritious and help your child live a longer life. But skip purchasing them at the grocery store — instead, create your own garden at home!


Starting Your Own Garden
Starting your own little Garden of Eden with your little one is a great way to bond and save money on groceries. Getting their little hands dirty is rewarding. But knowing where to begin is difficult. Start small and then let it grow. 

Choose a Spot
First, pick a spot in the yard. All vegetables need up to eight hours of sunlight per day. The space must be flat because it’s both not easy and more time-consuming to work with a sloping garden. 

Clear the Sod and Work the Soil
Once you find your spot, clear the ground by getting rid of the sod covering the area. The more fertile the soil is, the better your food will grow. Residential soil usually needs a boost, so add organic matter, such as compost, dry grass clippings, or decayed leaves. Work the soil by tilling and digging. 

Choose Your Veggies
Head to your local garden store and start shopping! Choose plants that can adapt to your soil, sunlight, and climate. Here are a few great plants for beginners:

  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Lettuce
  • Cucumbers


Research which fruits and vegetables tolerate what temperatures. For instance, tomatoes prefer warmer temperatures, whereas kale tolerates the cold. Once they grow, there’s no greater feeling. Imagine the smile on your child’s face when he accomplishes this great goal! Now it’s time to eat!

St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Catholic schools in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Having Dinner as a Family Can Help Your Child Develop

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We know life can get busy. Work is calling your name. You stayed at your job late and couldn’t make it home for dinner. But St. Charles Borromeo, one of the best private schools in Orlando, highly encourages setting aside time to have dinner with your family. Family dinners are an important part of your child’s development. Shared family time at the dinner table is an important aspect of family life.

Boosts Development
Sharing dinner at the table boosts your child development. For one, it assists in promoting language skills when you talk to them about her day. Secondly, it allows them to develop patience and dexterity by using utensils. Additionally, social skills can develop through manners and taking turns. 

More Nutritious
Researchers have found that sharing meals together on a regular basis is more nutritious and leads you to make better food choices. Families who eat together are more likely to eat their servings of fruits and vegetables than families who don’t eat together. Your child is less likely to graze on junk food and would actually prefer the healthy stuff. Not to mention, it helps make weight control easier! Because home-cooked meals are healthier than restaurant meals, your young child will likely be in better physical shape.

Creates Bonds
Being all together in one place, like at the dinner table, allows your family to feel a strong bond with one another. You don’t want your family to lead disconnected lives at work and school, so here’s a way to reconnect. Ask your child how their day went, and it’ll teach them to ask you the same. 

Improved Mental Health and Grades
Studies have found that children who enjoy family meals are less likely to be depressed and more likely to do well academically. It’s been reported that the more often you eat as a family, the more likely it is that your child will receive As and Bs.

St. Charles Borromeo, one of the best private schools in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

The Benefits of Band and Choir

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At St. Charles Borromeo, one of the best Catholic schools in Orlando, we highly encourage students to participate in band and choir. These classes have many benefits for your child, including making a connecting between spirituality and music. Here’s why your child should join the school’s band or choir!

Making Connections
Sometimes making friends at school is hard. By joining classes like band and choir, your child is able to interact with her peers and build friendships. In doing so, it also encourages teamwork. Band and choir teach teamwork skills, according to the National Association of Music Parents. When she’s performing, your child and her new friends come together and collaborate their individual talents. Being able to work with others is a skill that your child will take beyond school, making it useful in future careers and relationships.

Happy Brain, Happy Child
Playing music helps children and teenagers make new neurological connections. When your child listens to the music he plays, dopamine is released in his brain. Music releases powerful emotions. There is a pleasure that comes from listening to music you enjoy, identify with, or find familiar, such as when a certain song is linked to a memory. When your child is among her new friends — singing or playing music — it will induce a shared emotional experience. This experience should help your child be more excited about going to school and feel happier overall. These feelings have been known to lead to better grades!

Music and Religion
Music is a part of religion. Music, in its purest sense, is religion — and vice versa! Let us remember: After escaping from the Egyptians, the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord (Exod. 15). The tune, “Song of the Sea,” is linked to Israel’s passing through the sea. Music is the universal language of the soul and a code of life. So as far back as we can read in the Bible, music was there. What better way to bring your child closer to God?

St. Charles Borromeo, one of the Catholic schools in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Back-to-School Organization

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Back-to-school season can be chaotic and stressful. Taking the time to implement organizational tactics in advance can help calm the storm. These tips from St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, will help the transition back to school smoother.

Build a Workstation
To keep your children motivated, designate a work area where they feel comfortable and focused. Allowing them to do their homework anywhere can lead to bad habits and lack of commitment. Don’t allow games, television, phones, or snacks at their desk.

Create a Calendar
Create a calendar or command station that lists schedules, class assignments, lunch menus, after-school activities, meetings, and more. All you need is a dry erase board and some creativity. Color code each family member’s activity, and use large enough boxes to list all tasks. Place it in a central location in your home, such as the kitchen where families spend a lot of their time. 

Regain Routine
Say goodbye to the lazy days of summer before school actually starts. Ease your children back into a routine before school actually starts by having them go to bed early and set alarms in the morning. Gradually phasing into the school schedule will make the start of the new year easier. Talk to them about it prior to school starting so they can know what to expect and maybe even get excited. Do a run-through of the schedule a week before school starts and smooth out any trouble areas.

Positive Preparation
Create good habits that avoid the morning madness. Teach your children to lay out their clothing the night before, and pack lunches and fill their water bottles. Go the extra mile by tagging the clothes and food for each day of the week. Create a send-off station by the front door where keys, backpacks, music instruments, and other items are ready to go the next day. 

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.