6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • Special Issue 2025
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PUBLISHER & EDITOR Leigh Anne Van Doren
leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net
Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom
MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
megan@fredericksburgparent.net
Megan Walsh: Mia, Noelle & Adelaide's mom
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Cheryl Carter:
Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Jacky Martin: Richie, Chris & Adam's mom
WEBMASTER
caroline@fredericksburgparent.net
Caroline Murray:
Nate & Brendan's mom
CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER
amanda@fredericksburgparent.net
Amanda Danaher:
Emma, Wyatt,
Grant, Jack and Thea's mom
EDUCATION & INFANT ELETTERS
Debra Caffrey:
Aidan's mom
SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
jessica@fredericksburgparent.net
Jessica Trask:
Cye, Asher & Ragan's mom
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Laura Carter: Alison and Michael's daughter
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with out permission. Listing and advertising rates are avail-
able upon request. Every effort has been made to assure
the accuracy of the information contained herein, however,
the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Listings and
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sions and/or change without notice. For terms and conditions
please visit our website at www.fredericksburgparent.net
© Copyright 2024 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved.
WRITTEN BY LEIGH ANNE VAN DOREN
letter to reader
Leigh Anne Van Doren,
Frederickburg Parent and
Family publisher
Welcome to
the 2025 Annual
Special Issue
Leig
An
It's an honor to introduce this year's special edition of
Fredericksburg Parent and Family. This milestone marks
25 years since our very first issue—then known as Nurture—rolled off the presses.
And yes, I mean literal presses! In 1999, the internet was still in its infancy, and
digital editions were unheard of.
For the past six years, our January issue has been a "special issue," designed to
address the evolving needs of our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
for instance, we published "Stories of Strength," which highlighted how local fami-
lies and businesses rose to meet the challenges of a global crisis. Copies of that
issue are archived at the library, with the hope that future Fredericksburgers might
one day find inspiration in how we navigated the pandemic of 2020.
This year, I'm thrilled to share something truly groundbreaking. For the first time,
our nonprofit newsroom, FXBG Advance, is in print—on paper! I couldn't be
prouder of the work Advance has done over the past year, delivering in-depth,
fact-checked reporting and analysis on local government and education. Flip this
magazine over to find their section, featuring a masthead and artwork by local art-
ist Pete M from Print Jazz. You'll also find an in-depth report on the state of public
education in our area, written by award-winning journalist Martin Davis, editor-in-
chief of FXBG Advance.
On the Fredericksburg Parent and Family side, we're focusing on two key parent-
ing stages. For new parents, our "Early Childhood To-Do List" outlines practical
steps to nurture your child's brain development from birth to age 3. Remember,
you are your child's first teacher, and RACSB provides expert guidance to help you
excel in that role.
For further resources for young children, we have updated our preschool list-
ings online at fredericksburgparent.net. We will be hosting a preschool panel this
month led by Adele Uphaus-Conner, the best education reporter in Virginia and
managing editor of the Advance. Be sure to join us online to hear from preschool
directors.
For parents of teens, beloved financial columnist Nikki Ducas tackles the ever-
relevant question of which expenses you should (and shouldn't) be covering for
your teenager. Meanwhile, Fredericksburg Christian Schools offers insights on
how relationships and faith shape the FCS experience.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Here's to another year of parent-
ing, learning, and growing together.
