Our Gift for Our Friends (All 200+ of you - Woo hoo!!)

We did it! North Penn Under Ten now has 200 Facebook Fans!

We can't thank you enough for your support and kind words over these last eight months. Hearing all of your wonderful stories about the awesome local events and programs you've all attended that you otherwise would have missed make it all worthwhile! Isn't it great to wake up on a Tuesday, take a peek at our calendar and find a whole bunch of events right around the corner that are usually free?!

As promised, we have a special announcement... So, without further ado...

By any chance do you...

• Need to find a babysitter?
• Need a cool birthday cake, personalized gift, or one-of-a-kind toy for someone special?
• Plan to have a yard sale this spring?
• Have some outgrown things you'd like to pass along to another family?
• Have a crib/bike/swing set that you'd like to sell...without dragging it all over town?
• Have a home-based business? (Discovery Toys, Tastefully Simple, etc...I'm talking to you!)
• Have homemade goods to sell? (crafters, personalizers...you, too!)
• Offer a service that local families can appreciate? (chefs, nannies, errand-runners...your turn!)

Well, guess what! Effective today, MarketPlace ads will now be...FREE to all individuals and home-based businesses!!

Why? Because, at North Penn Under Ten, we know how hard it is to get a small business off the ground. (We're right there with you!) We also know how hard it can be to find quality products and services and we understand your desire to want to shop locally as much as you can. Last, but certainly not least, our number one goal is always to help local families and this seems like a great way to help both the hard-working, local entrepreneurs and the families who are looking for their businesses. We'd like to be the spot you check first when you need something for your kids and this seems like another great way to do that.

For further information, visit the North Penn Under Ten MarketPlace today and check it out. You can also email us with any questions. If you're not a fan of North Penn Under Ten on Facebook, take a second right now to remedy that!

Thank you again for your support! And, as always, if you have any other suggestions for how to support and unite North Penn families, we'd love to hear them!

Family-Friendly Fundraising? Fantastic!

As much as we all like to help others in our community, sometimes when you are the parent of young children, other things can easily derail your best efforts. When there are nap schedules to consider, babysitters to hire, and our own financial limitations affecting us, participating in any sort of fundraiser can become pretty tricky! Luckily, there are some fantastic fundraising events coming up in our area in the next few weeks that are of great benefit to local children and wonderfully family-friendly!

Tonight, Texas Roadhouse in Montgomeryville will be donating a portion of all dinner sales to the Killian and Margaret Scull Ongoing Education Fund in honor of the children's father, the late Todd Scull, who was a beloved member of the Royersford Texas Roadhouse team. To take part, present this flyer to your server this evening.

Another upcoming event that deserves special mention is the BounceU - Adelaide's Angels fundraiser coming up this Friday, February 25th. Proceeds from this event will help to fund the Sibling Care Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) which offers sibling support for families with a child in the Intensive Care Unit.

Hatfield's Applebee's Restaurant has also been a great, consistent supporter of local children's organizations. This Sunday morning, February 27th, Towamencin Youth Association (TYA) will be holding a Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee's to raise money for youth Softball programs. Then, on Saturday, March 5th, a second Flapjack Fundraiser will take place to support Inglewood Elementary School. Funds raised on that day will help offset the costs of the children's field trips for the year.

Further details on each of these events can be found on the North Penn Under Ten Calendar. If you know of any others, please let us know!

Kidz Rule Closing Its Doors

It is with great disappointment that we report that the local favorite, family-owned Kidz Rule of Hatfield will be permanently closing its doors this coming Sunday, February 27th after three bouncing good years.

If you have any passes for Kidz Rule, you will want to hop on over and use them ASAP. Final open play hours are: Friday 6:15pm to 8:15pm, Saturday 10:00am to 7:00pm and Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Kidz Rule will also be holding a Store Closing Sale on Sunday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. A list of inventory for sale is available on their site.

Special Needs Presentation for K-3

A presentation regarding special needs children in grades K through 3rd will be taking place tomorrow evening at the NPSD Educational Services Center from 7:00 - 9:00pm. The 90-minute presentation and 30-minute networking session that will follow are free and open to all family members, Special Education and General Education teachers, support personnel, and any other professionals working with special needs children.

The presentation is entitled "Bridging the Gap with RtII" and will be led by Amber Molloy, NPSD RtII Coach
and Amy Walter, NPSD Special Education Teacher. What is RtII? Come learn more about this comprehensive, multi-tiered educational framework for grades K-3. Learn how teachers are identifying students’ needs and providing targeted instruction during STAR time to support all students to achieve at their highest level.

  

After completing the program, participants will develop an understanding of the state’s RtII instructional framework, the NP School District’s plan for implementation, the benefits of RtII for their students in grade K-3.

Additional information can be found on the North Penn Under Ten calendar.

Delicious Meal with Free Babysitting?!

Moms and Dads, it's Valentine's Weekend! So, how would you like to enjoy a candlelit dinner for two while your kids play and eat their own delicious meal under competent, caring supervision? No cooking, no clean-up, and no interruptions from spilled milk? All at a bargain price which will benefit our local youth? Does it sound too good to be true? I thought so, too, until my husband and I attended this awesome fundraiser last year and loved it!

This Saturday night, Christ United Methodist Church in Lansdale will hold its annual Spaghetti Supper. Guests will enjoy homemade spaghetti and meatballs, salad, rolls, drinks, then choose from an array of delicious desserts.

Kids will be served their nutritious and filling dinners, then entertained by the enthusiastic youth, under the supervision of Director of Children's Ministries, Debra Reed. (Proceeds from the Spaghetti Supper will benefit the youth group, so you can feel good about helping local teens, too!)

Seatings are available from 4:30pm to 7:00pm in the family section, the nicely-decorated Sweetheart Room, or (bring some friends and sit in) the group seating area, or you can even purchase your meal for take-out.

Tickets may be purchased either in advance (from the church office) or at the door. Prices are are great deal at $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and ages 8-12, $7 for ages 4-7, and FREE for age 3 and younger! Questions? Contact Debra Reed at children@cumclansdale.org or 215.513.1070.

Further details are also available on the North Penn Under Ten calendar.

Peter Becker Kids Coloring Contest

In honor of their 28th Annual Flower Show on March 17th through 19th, Peter Becker Community in Harleysville will be holding a kid's coloring contest.

The show theme this year is Gulliver's Travels and artwork should reflect that theme. Kids can create their own artwork or chose to color these templates if they prefer.

Submissions should be delivered to Paul Nye, Mission Support Department, Peter Becker Community, 800 Maple Drive, Harleysville by March 7th. Artwork will be displayed in their gallery and awards will be distributed on March 19th. The contest is sponsored by QNB.

Further details can be found here. 

Exciting New Library Programs!

There are a few new offerings at our wonderful local libraries that you won't want to miss!

The Lansdale Public Library will hold its first Little Builders' Club tomorrow, Thursday, at 4:30PM. Kids will build bridges using K'nex and test them for strength and stability. A variety of sizes of Legos and K'nex will be available for free building, as well.  Recommended for age five and up, although all ages are welcome to free build. The library points out "This program will promote sharing and teamwork and introduce structural engineering concepts." And it's free!! Call 215.855.3228 to register.


The second meeting of Infant Story Time at the Lansdale Public Library will be held on Friday, February 18th at 10:30AM. The first session was well-attended and a few of the moms shared with me their positive experiences. This looks like a great new addition to their programming and something not to be missed!

The North Wales Area Library has added an additional story time for three to six-year-olds on Friday afternoons from 2:00 to 3:00PM.

All of these events and more are listed on the North Penn Under Ten calendar. What a fantastic resource our local libraries are and we are so fortunate, in the North Penn area, to have so many within close reach!

Why Em See Eh? Because It's So Fun!

Sing it with me..."It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!"

This month's First Friday event at the Lansdale branch of the North Penn YMCA was a blast, as expected! With a magician, a friendly, balloon-crafting clown, kid's music and cooking classes, a large moon bounce, live music, free (healthy!) ice cream, and so much more, who wouldn't have fun?

You have one more chance to check it out on March 4th, before First Friday returns to Main Street in April.

You also have another chance to have some warm indoor fun at the Y this Friday night, as well! Family Bingo will be taking place from 6 to 8pm at a cost of a mere $3 per person. Prizes will be awarded and lots of great family fun will be had! (That's way cheaper than a movie and much more effective for family bonding!)

Prefer a night out without the kids this Friday instead? Both the Lansdale and the Indian Valley branches of the Y are offering kids-only events and you need not be members to participate.

Further details on each of these events is available on the North Penn Under Ten calendar.

So..."Take a walk up the street" because "I'm sure you will find many ways to have a good time!" (I just couldn't resist!)

Happy First Friday, Lansdale!

Hey, Moms and Dads! Its the first Friday of February! What does that mean? Well, we're one month closer to Spring now (YES!!), but it also means...It's time for LCPA First Friday!!

Join your friends and neighbors, meet new friends and neighbors and have a splashin' good time tonight at the North Penn YMCA! If this month's celebration is half as fun as last month's First Friday, we're all in for a real treat!

Full details are posted on our calendar. Happy Friday!

Local Essay Contest...With Sprinkles on Top!

Yum! Looking for a way to inspire your little writer with a delicious treat as a reward? Well, here you go!

Chick-fil-A of Plymouth Meeting is holding a "Why I Love Chik-fil-A!" essay contest this month and, get this, all participants will receive a free small Icedream cup or cone!

The contest runs from February 1st through the 14th. Essays should be 100 words or less in length. All children between the ages of 3 and 14 years may enter. Essays will be judged by Chick-fil-A staff on content and creativity. Entrants should bring their essays directly to the store to enter.

All kids entering will receive a free small Icedream cup or cone. One Grand Prize Winner will receive 10 free kids meals! One Runner-Up will receive 5 free kids meals! Please list your full name, age and phone number on your essay when you bring it in to the store.

Let's show those kids in Plymouth Meeting what great writers our North Penn kids are! Good Luck!

North Penn Area School Closing Links

Will the snow & ice ever stop?!

Here are some links you may need.

For the latest Philly metro area closings info from KYW.

And several local schools:

• North Penn School District
• Corpus Christi school
• St. Stanislaus
• Christopher Dock
• Lansdale Catholic
• Penn View
• North Penn YMCA

We would type more, but...our fingers are frozen.