Are You Still Looking For A Preschool? Check Out The Learning Experience!

Owner Jhana Pardue (left) and director Amy Rath take pride in the curriculum, energy and security offered at The Learning Experience of New Tampa on County Line Rd.

Jhana Pardue knew her son Noah wasn’t getting everything he could out of the daycare/learning center he was attending. He was unhappy, and so was she.

So, Jhana started looking around, visiting every childcare facility she could, and then walked into The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education near her home in Lakewood Ranch. “I remember it was a Friday,’’ she says. “I loved it.”

Jhana (the “J” is silent) was on her way to the airport for a trip to Texas, and she filled out the registration forms on the airplane ride. By the time Monday rolled around, she was dropping little Noah off for his first day.

“Fast forward two years, and here I am,’’ Jhana says, from her office at her own The Learning Experience (TLE) of New Tampa, located across County Line Rd. from the SuperTarget, behind L.A. Fitness.

That’s right – Jhana, who volunteered when she wasn’t working at her accounting job, and Noah, her precocious almost-2-year-old at the time, loved TLE so much, that the Pardues decided to buy their own franchise.

“I love children,” Jhana says. “I always wanted to do something and I knew accounting wasn’t fulfilling everything with me anymore. I was looking forward to volunteering more than going to work. So one day, I told my husband, ‘Why not do this?’”

New Kids On The Block

Jhana opened the New Tampa location on July 17. As a former Cory Lake Isles and Heritage Isles resident from 2011-13, she knew the area well, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to build her TLE there.

Opening day capped a whirlwind year. The Pardues signed their franchise papers in Feb. of 2016, and immediately afterwards, Jhana enrolled at State College of Florida in Bradenton to earn her Early Childhood Education Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree, to go with her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Accounting & Business Administration from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

The New Tampa location isn’t much different from the TLE that Jhana fell in love with. She says she was initially struck by the colors of the Lakewood Ranch facility, the brightness, the atmosphere, the soft children’s music and even the smell – which was always fresh and clean.

It was the curriculum, however, that nudged her to pursue her own franchise.

For Noah, and many other children, it is a perfect fit.

“He is discovery-based, he is really hands on, and The Learning Experience is designed that way to let our children explore the different learning styles,’’ Jhana says. “Noah adapted well, because he was able to be himself. The other school he went to wanted him to learn one way.”

The Learning Experience was founded by Michael and Linda  Weissman in 1980 with a single location in Boca Raton, and was built on teaching through cognitive, physical and social principles; or as Jhana says, “Learn, Play and Grow.”

When it comes to learning, TLE uses the proprietary Learning Experience Academic Program (L.E.A.P.) that Jhana says was written by educators with more than 25 years of experience. It guarantees that children will graduate with “exceptional core academic skills.”

Children who attend The Learning Experience of New Tampa get to enjoy this cool mini-village.

The curriculum was written around what TLE feels are the six stages of development – Infant (6 weeks to 1 year old), Toddler (1-2 years old), Tawdler (2-2-½ years old), Prepper (2-½ to 3 years old), Preschooler (3-5 years old), and Kindergartner (5 years old, but not offered at all locations, including Jhana’s).

L.E.A.P. includes sign language for infants and toddlers, a phonics program and even foreign language programs. Mandarin is taught for one year, as well as Spanish.

“It’s definitely one of the things that sets us apart,’’ Jhana says.

L.E.A.P. workbooks include a journal, an interactive book and Fun With Phonics, which is specifically designed to teach reading to 3- and 4-year-olds.

According to Jhana, nine out of 10 children who leave  TLE’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program head off to kindergarten able to read. “And, we’re trying to get to 100 percent,’’ she says.

Children take part in activities that promote a healthy and active lifestyle.  TLE offers eight enrichment programs for children, like Yippee 4 Yoga, Suddenly Science, Dancing Feet, Talent Sprouts and Super Soccer.

A 65-inch interactive, computerized SMART Board is currently being installed in one of the classrooms as well.

Jhana takes great pride in ensuring TLE’s curriculum is used and applied. She says that is not always the case at other learning centers, where the curriculum sometimes serves as more of a rough outline.

And, mascots like Flexi Flamingo (P.E.), Lionstein (Science) and Bubbles the Elephant — the leader of the mascots — help lead the children through their day.

“We learn through play,” Jhana says. “The children think they are playing, but they are actually learning. We do this through small group activities, more 1-on-1 interaction and more individualized teaching.”

Happy Employees, Happy Kids

All lead teachers are required to have their Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate, which is equivalent to an early childhood education A.A degree, Jhana says. Assistant teachers have to complete 45 hours of Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) Child Care Training.

In less than two months, TLE already has enrolled 90 children, and has a staff of 15. TLE’s 1-to-6 child-to-teacher ratio exceeds state requirements.

“Most classes are overstaffed,’’ Jhana says. “We exceed state ratios, but I’d rather have the extra help.”

Meadow Pointe resident Amy Rath was working for another childcare/learning center when she drove by TLE’s construction site for the first time. She looked online to see what TLE had to offer, and was impressed with the curriculum.

“I said in the back of my mind, I’m going to be director of that school one day,” Amy says. After a few interviews, she was hired.

“I hadn’t even posted the position when Miss Go-Getter over here started emailing,’’ Jhana says, laughing.

Peace Of Mind

Melissa De Oleo was another passerby on County Line Rd. who was eagerly awaiting the opening of TLE. She had been looking for a place for her 1-½ -yr.-old son London when construction began, “and I started stalking the place,’’ she jokes.

She drove to TLE locations in Palm Harbor and Brandon for a tour, and says that she was hooked.

“I love that they have a curriculum and are teaching instead of just taking care of them,’’ Melissa says.

Although she says that London cried the first few days he was away from his mother, he now gleefully run towards the mural of Bubbles that greets visitors, to say hi, and then to his teacher Rebecca.

“He loves it here,’’ she says.

And, Melissa says she also loves the secure nature of the facility. Parents cannot enter without their assigned key fob, and have to sign in at two different places to get their child. Getting back to the classrooms also requires a key fob, and the playground out back is protected by 8-foot-high privacy fences.

There are cameras in every room, and in the office used by Amy and Jhana, there is a 32-inch television to monitor 16 security cameras (above, left).

The first few days after dropping London off, Melissa would hang back and watch her son on the monitor. When he began interacting with other kids, she jokes that it was a “miracle.”

She also receives pictures and updates on everything from what London ate to the last time he went to the bathroom to what he learned during the day, all in real time via TLE’s smartphone app.

“Basically, I know everything that he is doing,’’ she says.

Which, at the moment, happened to be sleeping. Melissa was there to pick London up at 12:30 p.m., but instead of waking him up to bring him to his mother, she was allowed to wait until he woke up on his own.

“That’s really nice,’’ she says.

To learn more about The Learning Experience of New Tampa, located at 20780 Trout Creek Dr., visit TheLearningExperience.com/our-centers/fl/tampa/new-tampa or call (813) 534-6364.

SPOTLIGHT ON…Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam!

Pam Edmonson is passionate about eyebrows. She’s been offering Creative Permanent Makeup By Pam since 2011, but moved last year into her new location at Serenity Salon & Spa Suites, located off S.R. 54 in Suite 101 of the Brookfield Professional Park, west of the Walmart at the corner of Eiland Blvd.

There, Pam offers permanent makeup and other aesthetic services, but she says that eyebrows are still her favorite.

“Eyebrows completely frame the face,” Pam says. “They are so important.”

Pam has been a licensed cosmetologist in Florida since 2009. She then studied at the Boca Ta-2 School for Permanent Makeup in Williston, FL. She treats clients of all ages, and eyebrows of all sorts, from those that need to be reconstructed to those that have faded with age and exposure to the sun.

Pam has been doing the popular “microblading” technique since she was trained in it in 2014. She uses a small blade and ink to create each individual hair. Pam’s penchant for detail serves her well, as her steady hands help draw on an eyebrow which she then microblades, with each stroke adding a more natural look to the eyebrow.

“Microblading is a big thing right now,’’ says Pam, who is licensed through the Florida Department of Health for permanent makeup (the same license as tattooing). She encourages anyone who wants permanent makeup to schedule a free consultation with her. 

“Do your homework,” she says. “Make sure the person who does your eyebrows does a consultation. They should sit down with you, show you their work before and after, and also after the skin has healed from the process.”

Having your eyebrows done by Pam takes about an hour and the cost includes a touch-up after the first four weeks, to help deepen the color and make them more permanent.

Pam also offers permanent eyeliner, and is now offering permanent lip color, too.

“I used to not like to do lips, but I learned a new technique,” she says. “It’s not as painful and the color stays beautifully. I had mine done, and it looks so natural and full.”

Pam is currently charging $350 for eyeliner or eyebrows, and $450 for lips. She says she will be raising prices later this year, so anyone who wants to take advantage of her lower prices should do so before September 1.

Some of Pam’s other services include scalp therapy (for women with thinning hair) and microneedling, which improves the skin by producing a slight injury to the face, causing new collagen to grow at the “injury” site.

For a free consultation or more info, visit CreativePermanentMakeupByPam.com, or call (813) 997-6302.

Mystic Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Offers Quality, Gentle Dental Care

The Mystic Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry family (l.-r.): Dr. Somasekhara Reddy Kaipu, MD, Dr. Prematee Sarwan, DDS, office mgr. Sasha Cruz & Cecilia Carrasco, EFDA.

If you’ve been avoiding a needed trip to the dentist, there’s a new practice offering a gentle approach to dental care for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents to consider when they need treatment for their teeth.

Mystic Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in The Shops at Mystic Oak neighborhood retail center at the intersection of Redfern Way and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. here in Wesley Chapel, is operated by Prematee Sarwan, DDS, who says she is committed to improving people’s smiles by first easing their concerns.

According to Dr. Sarwan, her patients’ worries aren’t always related to physical pain and discomfort.

“The big issue we deal with is fear; fear of what I’m going to say, fear of cost, fear of judgment,’’ she says. “People don’t want to be judged and we’re just not about that.”

At Mystic Oaks, people who come in for treatment are referred to as guests, not patients. Dr. Sarwan says a little hospitality in a clinical setting can go a long way to improving the quality of care and health.

“We want them to feel so comfortable at the end of their visit that they want to come back,” she says.

For Dr. Sarwan, an informed guest is empowered to take ownership of his or her own dental health and appearance.

“First of all, we’re here to educate and try to alleviate fear,” says Dr. Sarwan, who earned her DDS degree from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in Loma Linda, CA.

Recognizing that the way some dentists work can turn a mouth into an oral construction zone, Dr. Sarwan and her team are committed to a different approach — putting your comfort at the forefront of everything they do.

“People may have had experiences in the past that make them apprehensive, but our motto is ‘Gentle Dentistry,’ that’s just what we’re trying to do,” says Dr. Sarwan, who has 10 years of experience as a dentist in group practice but can now treat her patients the way she would like to be treated.

Dr. Sarwan reviews a digital X-ray with a patient.

Dr. Sarwan adds that she and her team do everything possible in using their skills to ensure that procedures will be as painless as possible, which means going beyond just administering local anesthesia or nitrous oxide and relying on technology.

“My technique is very gentle, and it’s something I’ve developed over a period of time,” Dr. Sarwan says. “It’s definitely not something they teach you in dental school.”

Patient Mercy Diggs-Terc says Dr. Sarwan’s technique is indeed gentle, and found that getting some dental fillings at Mystic Oaks Dentistry was a welcome contrast to what she experienced at other practices.

“(Dr. Sarwan and her staff) were very caring and friendly and patient,” Diggs-Terc says. “If you were nervous about any of the procedures being done, you could take little breaks. They did everything possible on their end to make me feel as comfortable as possible.”

Diggs-Terc adds that Mystic Oaks Dentistry is ideal for people who have been avoiding a necessary dental treatment.

“For especially the patients that have any anxiety over dentists, this would be the number one place that I would recommend,” she says. “I’ve tried a lot of dentists and (Dr. Sarwan is) the best one so far in making me feel comfortable.”

Dr. Sarwan’s new practice also is garnering Five-Star Google reviews from patients, with a 5.0 overall rating from five reviews as of our press time.

A full range of dental services is available at Mystic Oaks Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, including cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, veneers, teeth straightening and even complete smile makeovers, which also can incorporate the use of dermal fillers to reduce wrinkles around the mouth that can occur through loss of teeth or the vital bone structure.

This occurs when the supporting bone tissue of the upper and lower jaws dissolves and the muscles of the face can lose support, which allows wrinkles to deepen.

Botox injections also can be administered by Dr. Sarwan, who lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband, Dr. Somasekhara Reddy Kaipu, MD, and their two young children.

“We are a full-service dental practice catering to both kids and adults,” she says.

Top-Notch Tech, Too!

Dr. Sarwan’s skillful and gentle techniques are supported the dental industry’s latest technology, such as digital X-rays (digital dental radiography) and digital impressions, in place of physical molds.

Digital radiography is more sensitive than traditional film techniques. which means greater safety, since lower levels of radiation are needed to produce the images. There also is a quicker turnaround time to viewing the images, which can be reviewed on a monitor in front of the guest’s chair.

Mystic Oaks Dentistry also has eliminated one of the more distasteful procedures — the taking of dental impressions with putty-like materials made of alginate or silicone. Instead, Dr. Sarwan offers a state-of-the-art digital alternative, using the iTero Element Scanner.

A wand-like scanner is used to take images of the teeth and gums, which can be used to create 3D models for producing crowns, bridges and implants.

To help pass the time while receiving dental treatments, Dr. Sarwan’s guests can watch some of their favorite programs on the same chairside monitors used to view the digital X-rays and impressions.

Dr. Sarwan’s perspective on dentistry encompasses how good dental health affects the whole body.

“My vision is health before anything,” she says. “Don’t underestimate the value of a healthy mouth. Your mouth is the gateway to your body.”

Published research available online at the American Dental Association’s website (ada.org) examines the relationships between oral health and illnesses such as heart disease.

The holistic approach to the dental experience at Mystic Oaks Dentistry extends to the treatment rooms themselves, which are identified by the names of trees — Palm, Oak, Pine and Maple — instead of numbers.

“We’ve created a space that’s less clinical, to increase comfort,” Dr. Sarwan says.

That comfort begins with the initial contact, which could very well be with office manager Sasha Cruz.

“The important thing is to take care of people and not to judge them,” says Cruz, who also coordinates PPO network and other insurance coverage as well as an in-house dental savings plan that offers discounts on services. Mystic Oaks Dentistry also accepts payments through CareCredit financing.

Cecilia Carrasco is an Extended Function Dental Assistant (EFDA), which is a dental assistant who has received additional training and certification to perform services such as applying sealants to teeth and taking the digital dental impressions.

She also is skilled at getting to the root of someone’s dental concerns, according to Dr. Sarwan.

“Cecilia gets more insight into what their main complaint is,’’ Dr. Sarwan says, “so that by the time I come into the room, I already understand the situation.”

While the practice has only been open since June, Dr. Sarwan says her team has really come together. “We’re just about a family now,” she says.

Mystic Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is offering a Welcome Exam and X-ray for $39, and a Healthy Mouth Cleaning for $59 for new patients.

For more info about Mystic Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (3751 Bruce B Downs Blvd.) visit online at MysticOaksDental.com, or call (813) 291-0059.

Kehoe & DeWeerd, CPA — For Professional Tax & Accounting Help Throughout The Year

David DeWeerd, CPA (right), and Wesley Chapel office manager Liyen Coffey of Kehoe & DeWeerd, CPA, in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56.

The clock is running out on the 2017 tax return season’s “second half,” when individuals and businesses taking advantage of a six-month extension find themselves facing the inevitability of now having to file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

For those needing help preparing their returns, the accounting professionals at Kehoe & DeWeerd, CPA PA,  located in the Cypress Glen Professional Park, just north of SR 56 in Wesley Chapel, are ready to assist.

“We’re here to help anyone who has requested an extension to file,” says David DeWeerd, CPA. “Sometimes, you need additional time to get things together or circumstances in your life prevent you from getting documents in order.”

According to the IRS website (irs.gov), about 15 million individual returns were filed with extensions last year.

The extended filing deadline for individuals is Monday, October 16. That is also the deadline for “C” corporations to file a form 1120 return.

But, the extended deadline is even earlier — Friday, September 15 — for businesses whose normal filing date was March 15 of this year. These include partnerships (form 1065 or 1065-B) and “S” corporations (form 1120S).

DeWeerd says that while people and businesses are only dealing with their tax returns between January and October, Kehoe & DeWeerd is available throughout the year to assist with decisions and situations that may affect tax liabilities, such as whether to buy or lease a car, how a change in income or revenue should be handled or whether something is deductible on a tax return. DeWeerd says clients can inquire about those types of issues with Kehoe & DeWeerd without being nickled and dimed.

“We don’t send out bills for phone calls,” he says, adding that initial consultations, whether for business or personal finance clients, are free.

According to DeWeerd, who has been with Kehoe & DeWeerd for 18 of its 32 years, the firm’s  purpose is clear: “We want to make sure we do the very best we can to give you the best outcome possible on your taxes,” he says. “We prepare your tax returns so that you never hear from the IRS.”

He adds that if a client does end up getting audited, Kehoe & DeWeerd will be there when needed. “We definitely stand behind everything that we do,” he says.

Everyone’s tax situation is different and, in a service profession like accounting, meeting the needs of a variety of clients calls for an individualized approach.

“We’re a smaller firm, so we’re able to do that and look at their return on a more customized basis and be more thorough,” says DeWeerd,  who has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree from the University of South Florida (USF) College of Business in Tampa.

Some of the related services Kehoe & DeWeerd offers include developing tax management strategies with clients to minimize liabilities and maximize cash flow, as well as estate and trust planning, once again to minimize tax liabilities.

A Little Feedback…

Meadow Pointe resident Paul Davies, who is a professional stage technician for musical performing artists, says he finds Kehoe & DeWeerd’s personalized practices to be a good fit for his needs because his employment status varies and he incurs tax obligations in many states and foreign countries through his work.

“I’m a sole proprietor, so it means sometimes I’m on W-2 income and sometimes it means I’m on 1099 income,” says Davies. “A lot of it is out-of-state work, and international as well, and when you go into various states you get charged withholding against a local state liability.”

He adds, “Sometimes, I’ve had to file 10 state returns for my normal tax year, so it was important for me to get someone who has an understanding of not just taxes as they pertain to Florida, but taxes as they pertain to traveling all over the world.”

Accessibility is another thing Davies says he likes about Kehoe & DeWeerd.

“I know I can reach David anytime I need to talk to him, or send him an email from anywhere I’m at and ask him a question about something,” he says. “He does a fantastic job and he doesn’t send me an invoice every time I ask him a question.”

Meadow Pointe resident Heather Stamp sells real estate through Exit Prime Realty and is the founder and chief executive officer of the Wesley Chapel Network, which promotes and connects 17,000 online business professionals and service providers.

As a busy entrepreneur, she says DeWeerd has been her “go-to guy for anything financial for the last three years and will be for many more to come.”

That kind of peace of mind is invaluable. “Taxes can be very stressful and he puts me at ease,” says Stamp.

When it comes to their small business clients, the firm does more than just prepare tax returns. As any business owner knows, the compliance and reporting requirements levied upon them by government agencies and entities (such as sales and payroll taxes), are numerous and must be met. DeWeerd says his firm takes care of those requirements, and more, such as payroll processing and managing employee benefits. Kehoe & DeWeerd also is certified by Intuit, Inc., to install and manage QuickBooks accounting software for clients.

“We’re always on top of all those deadlines,’’ he says. “It’s important to have somebody you trust to look out for your business and do what’s best for you.”

That’s what Dr. Prematee Sarwan, D.D.S., owner of Mystic Oaks Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Wesley Chapel (see story on pg. 24), says she was looking for when she hired Kehoe & DeWeerd to take care of her practice’s tax and payroll needs.

She says delegating those responsibilities allows her to concentrate on her patients.

“It means that I can take care of the other things in the office because I know David has me covered when it comes to the taxes and payroll,” Dr. Sarwan says. “And he’s so accessible. I can call him at any time with any question.”

Dr. Sarwan also expresses appreciation for the customer service she receives from the Kehoe & DeWeerd staff.

“We’ve been on the phone with Liyen (Coffey) so much, and she’s wonderful,” Dr. Sarwan says.

Coffey manages the firm’s Wesley Chapel office, and she says the client’s needs come first. When clients visit the office for the first time, especially for tax consultations, they should bring in all of the relevant documents, such as tax returns from the previous years. “We try to make them feel at ease when they come in,” Coffey says.

Kehoe & DeWeerd has successfully served the west Pasco community for more than three decades, initially in Port Richey and now in Trinity. Thomas Kehoe, who has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Accounting from the USF College of Business Administration, founded the firm in 1985.

DeWeerd, who serves on the Board of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, says that he and Kehoe opened the Wesley Chapel office together in November of 2015 to meet the financial management needs of the growing east Pasco community.

“We have a strong client base in west Pasco and would like to build those same relationships here,” DeWeerd says.

Kehoe & DeWeerd’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 26829 Tanic Dr., Suite 102. For more info, visit KDCPA.net or call (813) 279-2977.

SPOTLIGHT ON…Samantha Taylor Fitness!

Fitness professional Samantha Taylor (photo) offers fitness training and nutritional counseling for women only, helping them to “age backwards,” as Samantha says, at her Wesley Chapel location, across the street from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

Her Pure Health Personal Training and Fit Body Boot Camp programs start with a completely free, no-obligation consultation called a “Body Transformation Analysis” to determine goals and plan a fitness program.

The most customized, personal and private option available is Pure Health Personal Training. This can be done in one-on-one, semi-private, or in small group sessions. In addition to the personal training, each client also meets with an assigned results coach monthly, to make sure they’re progressing.

Clients who choose Samantha’s Fit Body Boot Camp attend regular or beginner Boot Camp sessions, which vary in cardiovascular intensity levels. Several classes are offered every day, and many women choose three or more times each week to attend.

“We are getting women in amazing shape,” says Samantha. She is a Certified Personal Trainer who began her career 24 years ago and launched her own business 17 years ago. During that time, she estimates that she has trained 5,000 local women. Samantha uses her experience as a personal trainer – seeing what works and what doesn’t with her many clients – and her years of intensely studying the human body to coach women in fitness and healthy eating.

“Most of the people who come to us have done all the diets,” says Samantha. “The shakes, pills, protein diets and calorie deprivation diets. They’re shocked they can eat the way I show them. They love the food and they lose weight.”

She says many of her clients see more than just weight loss – they’re getting healthier as well.

“They are preventing diseases such as heart disease and diabetes,” she says. “Some clients no longer have to take cholesterol or blood pressure medication, and no longer suffer from muscle pains and aches.”

Samantha’s original location also is nearby in Land O’Lakes, off S.R. 54 on Knight Rd., and she has recently opened her third and fourth locations in Carrollwood and Westchase, respectively.

She’ll host another free seminar Saturday, August 26, 12:30 p.m., at her Land O’Lakes location (2206 Knight Rd.) featuring Shannon Barker, the Samantha Taylor Fitness Nutrition Educator, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science & Nutrition. Taylor and Barker will help attendees achieve their fullest potential in health and fitness by learning to tweak their diets and track their calories for maximum results.

Light snacks and gourmet coffee will be  provided at the seminar, which is free for members and guests. Reserve your space at SamanthaTaylorSeminars.com.

For more info, call (813) 377-3739, visit SamanthaTaylorFitness.com.