
It’s been celebrated on The Oprah Winfrey Show, spotlighted in Entertainment Weekly and now the criticially acclaimed and controversial documentary Waiting For “Superman” is making its debut in St. Louis.
As we all know, many public school systems across the country are in upheaval, threatening the success of today’s children. To put a face – or five faces, in this instance – to this troubling situation, Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim introduces viewers to a group of students whose opportunities for achievement are at a crossroads.
Through Waiting For “Superman,” moviegoers join five schoolchildren of various ages as they and their families struggle to find the best options for their education. We get an inside peek at their goals and dreams, the challenges they face and the sacrifices their caregivers are making to help them thrive. Is winning the charter school lottery the only shot at success for these children or is there another “Superman” waiting in the wings to save them?
This is your chance to see the movie that is stirring debate among public school and charter school proponents – catch Waiting For “Superman” when it opens this Friday, Oct. 8, at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema. In an interesting scholarly tie-in, you can also pick up a copy of the participant guide, a book called Waiting for "Superman": How We Can Save America's Failing Public Schools.
By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting
Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL
Activities include strawberry picking, festival foods, the children’s playground, a petting zoo, carnival rides, wagon rides and more.
Take your family to watch birds of prey fly right over your head, macaws speak the English language and much more at the WOW! Amazing Animal Show at the World Bird Sanctuary. Every program showcases different animals so each day is a new experience.
With the help of ten truckloads of sand, The Magic House's backyard has been transformed once again into a beachfront park for the popular Sandcastle Beach exhibit.
Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.