4 Friday, April 21, 2017brooklintowncrier.com Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown Prodigy and Presentations If you have a child in the early grades, you're probably already aware of the Prodigy game being used in schools. For those not familiar with it, the computer game is a math-based game that helps kids develop early math fundamentals in an engaging app. Children answer math problems and then are able to challenge each other for virtual prizes. The more questions you answer, the faster you go up a level. The game is highly addictive and sparks some friendly competition between classmates. My daughter loves it and plays it often at home. She plans online meet-ups with her classmates and is learning math concepts at her own pace. However, after discovering the free app only offers limited options, she recently decided she "needed" to be a member and has launched a campaign to become one. Meaning my credit card is now being challenged. Membership cost You see, to become a member costs about $60 for the year. Okay, it isn't a huge amount for a learning game, but I also know my child. The Shopkins she avidly collected last year now sit in a plastic tub, untouched. And with the weather warming up, the thought of paying for an app that she would drop as soon as the options of bike riding, road hockey and swimming became regular activities didn't make sense to me. Every morning for a month, my husband I have had to listen to her sales pitch. "But everyone in my class is a member. They all have better stuff than me. I can't get stuff for my house and I can't even collect the points I win! It's so not fair!" So one morning last week, as I was being pestered by her pleas, I challenged her. "Okay, I can see this is very important to you, but it costs money to be a member. I want you to write down all the reasons why being a member is important to you and also some suggestions on how we are going to pay for it. Then Daddy and I will consider it." Her solution So she grabbed a pencil and started writing. She must have worked on it all day at school because that evening, my husband and I had to sit on the couch and listen to 19 reasons why she had to be a member. And as he and I inwardly giggled, we were also impressed. Not only did she come up with some very good reasons, she also had a way to pay for it. But what sold us was not so much her presentation itself, but the math and problem-solving skills she demonstrated. Less allowance She had figured out the cost of the membership and divided it over the year. Then she figured the monthly cost and made a recommendation. "I will pay for half of the membership, which is $34 for the year. That comes to $2.83 a month. Which is about half of one week allowance. So If you give me less allowance on the first week each month, then that pays for it." We told her we'd take her proposal under consideration and would discuss it. There was nothing to discuss. She is a proud new member! Community Calendar If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar."Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Sat. April 22 - 9:00 - 11:00 am Pitch In Brooklin. In all Brooklin Parks. Organized by Brooklin B.A.M. Lions Club. Pull on your rubber boots and pitch in. Meet new neighbours. Feel connected to the community. And make a difference! Sat. April 22 - 1:00 - 3:00 pm At Grass Park: Colours and Cultures of Brooklin Block Party Music - Food - Activities Fri., April 28 - 7:00 - 10:00 pm St. Thomas' Anglican Church, 101 Winchester Rd. E, Brooklin To Haiti with Love: An Unforgettable Night of Haitian Culture Presented by Rotary Club of Whitby. To support the efforts of Little Footprints Big Steps. Features special guest Morgan Wienberg Tickets $50 from rotarywhitby.org Friday, April 28 - 4:00- 5:00 pm (4th Friday of each month) Teen Leadership Council at Brooklin Library The Brooklin Branch of the Whitby Public Library is looking for members for its Teen Leadership Council. Participants will have the opportunity to share their ideas, suggest materials for purchasing, assist with special events and programs, and have a say about what goes on at the library. TLC members in grades 9-12 also earn community service hours for school. Students in grades 7-12 are invited to come to this month's meeting to see what it's all about! Snacks will be provided. No registration required. For more information, please email teenservices@whitbylibrary.ca. Sat., April 29 Beef dinner: Beethoven Odd Fellows and Kinoven Rebekahs lodge hall at 42 Bagot St., Brooklin (east of Cassels St. bridge). Lots of beef & potatoes, lots of pies! Tickets: $17.50 Adults - $7.00 Children 5:00 & 6:30 sittings - Advance tickets only please. Call Harry 905-666- 0814 or email: h.agar@sympatico. ca or Ray 655-8025 Sun., April 30 - 7:00 pm Brooklin Pub Quiz Night. $15.00 per person gets you a platter of wings and fries and a mug of beer for your team of 6. Teams of 4-8 are welcome but 6 is best. If you would like to be added to a team, just show up. Any other info, please call Carolyn @ 905-449-1162. All proceeds to Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada. This month's hints: 1. Nicola Adams 2. Robert Franklin Stroud Sunday, April 30 - 7:00 pm "Gala of Music" at Brooklin United Church, 19 Cassels Rd. E. A musical evening featuring favourite show tunes and popular music, provided by the church choir, guest soloists and organ/piano duets as well. Followed by decadent desserts and fellowship. A portion of the proceeds will support "Bridge to a new home" Refugee Sponsorship program. Tickets $20.00 - available by calling the church 905-655-4141 Sunday, April 30 - 1:00 p.m Spring Fashion Show at St. Leo the Great Parish Hall. 130 Watford St. (off Winchester). Featuring clothing by "Alia". Tickets: $15 each or 5 for $70 Sweets and beverages served + Door prizes. Call 905-620-0724 for info or to reserve tickets Mon., May 1 - 7:00 pm Healing Strong's introductory lesson at Copper Branch, 66 Baldwin Street. Get to know each other and share. Meet the first Monday of every month at 7:00 pm. People can come as they wish. No commitment. It's free. HealingStrong is a group of volunteers who have used natural therapies to support ourselves or others while healing from cancer or any other disease. Our purpose is to share non-toxic strategies to heal strong and stay strong. RSVP Loretta Wilkins at healingstrongtoronto@ gmail.com or (905) 550-4545. We also have a Facebook group page: HealingStrong_Toronto Sat., May 6 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Doors Open Whitby & Brooklin (free admission) St. Thomas Church, 101 Winchester St. Brian Winter, author & former Whitby archivist. Tours, archival display, slideshow art display of St. Thomas Church. Slideshow of environmental award-winning construction of new church featuring new Ferguson stained glass window by Sue Obata. Refreshments and lunch (cash only) Sat., May 13 - 1:30 - 3:30 pm Group 74 announces tickets are now available to purchase for our 17th Annual Victorian Tea. We have exciting & fun new things planned to celebrate! A bake sale, special visit by a princess, children's prize table & more! Wear your favorite hat so you can be apart of our Hat Parade! Here are online links to order tickets: whitby.snapd.com/#/events/ view/1038936 group74.org/events/brooklin-victo- rian-tea facebook.com/Group74/ Sat., May 13 - 7:30 pm Organ Recital: Dr. Giles Bryant will play an organ recital at St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Brooklin. The recital will include a variety of organ compositions. Dr. Bryant is the former organist and choir master at St. James' Cathedral in Toronto. Tickets are $20.00 and $15.00 for seniors and students. Mondays: 6:30-7 pm: French Family Storytime: Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to join Madame Sue for our weekly French Family Storytime! Enjoy a half hour of stories and songs in French, with a dash of English too! Registration is not required. Just drop in! LOCATION: Central Library - Children's Program Room CLASSIFIEDS Custom Closets & More www.dream-space.ca 905.409.8681. Authorized HomeAdvisor Guitar Drum Lessons Repairs Rentals patricksguitarstudio.com Sarah's Sewing Alterations, Mending, Crafts, Costumes - Call or text: 905 242-4251 blue.dragonfly@rocketmail.com Searching for an Insurance Account Executive Superstar! Experiencing long days in traffic just to get to the office? End your commute, get back weeks of your life every year, and partner with a Top 10 Canadian Brokerage. Are you client-centric and dedicated to your profession with a burning desire to excel? Let us show you how we can help accelerate your passion. Contact rshaw@brysoninsurance.ca today WORSHIP DIRECTORY WORSHIP DIRECTORY Burns Presbyterian Church 765 Myrtle Rd West (just 4 minutes north of Brooklin) 10am Worship, Kids Zone Fun & Nursery Care "Discovering God, Sharing God's Love" 905.655.8509 www.Burnschurch.org St. Thomas' Anglican Church 101 Winchester Road East Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Program (10:30am) Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Communion and Healing Service 905-655-3883 www.stthomasbrooklin.ca Brooklin United Church 19 Cassels Rd. E. Sunday Services at 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Care www.brooklinunited.ca 905-655-4141 Come catch the Spirit! Renaissance Baptist Church of Brooklin 40 Vipond Road (Just West Of Library) Sunday Worship & Kids Program 10:30 a.m. 905-655-4554 www.brooklinrbc.ca We're here for Brooklin!