Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Focus on Family
WC Preschool group meets
West Chester Area School District Preschool Parents Group will hold events. All free and open to the public – not just district residents. April 9— Super Duper Sports, 5-5:30p.m. (18 months – 2years), 5:456:15 p.m. (3-4years), 6:30-7 p.m. (5+ years), Mary C. Howse Elementary School, 641West Boot Road, West Chester. Get ready for a program full of energy, fun, and movement. Super Michelle and her staff will create and use innovative ideas to keep your kids moving! Original and beloved games will be adapted and used with traditional and nontraditional sports equipment. April 16— Relax! Raising Healthy Eaters isn’t that Hard! (babysitting available), 6:30– 7:30p.m., Penn Wood Elementary School, 1470 Johnny’s Way, West Chester. Amy Deahl-Greenlaw, associate director of Nutrition Education at The Food Trust, will present this Parents Session on how to find easy, simple ways to get your kids to eat healthfully. In addition to discussing snacks and meal planning, Amy will make recommendations for physical activity, screen time, and beverages. Babysitting will also be available, but you must RSVP by Friday, April 10to reserve a spot ($5per child). All events require an RSVP: home.wcasd.net/pages/West_Chester_Area_SD/ForParents/Preschool_Par-ents__Club or email beth.trapani@verizon.net.
Downingtown West presents ‘Cinderella’
Downingtown West Music Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical Cinderella. Performances of Cinderella will take place in the Downingtown West Campus auditorium, 445 Manor Ave., Dowingtown, April 9-11 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance on Sunday, April 12 at 2p.m. tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors and are available online at westmusical.org or by calling the box office at 610-930-3982.
Avon Grove Post Prom fundraiser
The After Prom Committee for Avon Grove High School is presenting a Spring Craft Fair on Saturday, April 11, from 9a.m. to 3p.m. at Avon Grove High School. There will be vendors from both national companies as well as local businesses, selling items from jewelry to homemade soaps, and hair accessories to crystal and glass creations. There will also be several raffle baskets with excellent prizes to be won. Come find gifts for graduations and mothers’ day and help benefit the Avon Grove After Prom fund! For information, email aghsafterprom@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/pages/Avon-GroveSpring-Craft-Fair-andSale/1545056575773670
St. Agnes school offerings
Story Time with the Stags – Tuesdays at 10a.m. in the St. Agnes Catholic School Library. Children listen to stories read by 7th grade students, play games, and do crafts. Parents must register in advance by contacting the school office at 610-6961260. Open to the public. Tuesday Tours – Tours of St. Agnes Catholic School in West Chester for prospective families, every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Prospective families should contact the school to schedule a Tuesday Tour 610-696-1260.
Girl Talk
Chester County Fund for Women and Girls is offering Girl Talk, a chance to learn how to manage stress and anxiety, build healthy relationships, identify symptoms of depression, challenge perfectionism and help friends. Guest speakers from Minding Your Mind. Sunday, April 19, 1 - 3p.m. Lunch provided. The event will be held at Westtown School, 960 Shady Grove Way. West Chester For girls ages 11 - 16 years old. Parents welcome. RSVP to katherine@ccfwg.org or call 484-356-0940.
Bird nests
Come visit Upper Schuylkill Valley Park on Saturday, April 25, at 10 a.m. and meet the resident birds who reside at the park. Visitors will learn about the nests the birds build and the different eggs that some of the birds lay. Along the way, participants will see if they can find any wild bird nests. A craft to make and take home will be included. This program is for children ages 3-7. There is a $4.00 per child suggested donation. Pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is April 9. Call 610-948-5170 to register or for more information. This event will be held weatherpermitting, as all of the activities will be held outdoors. Upper Schuylkill Valley Park is located on Route 113 in Royersford,. The park is open year-round, except major holidays. For more information about the park, visit www.montcopa.org/upperschuylkillvalleypark.
Single Mothers
The 3rd annual Single Mothers’ Conference will take place on Saturday, April 11, at B. Reed Henderson High School, 400Montgomery Avenue, West Chester. Local organizations, in partnership with the Chester County Women’s Commission, are hosting the event, and invite any and every single mother to attend free of charge. The day will run from 8 a.m. to 3p.m. and will include breakfast and lunch, free childcare for the day, resources, workshops on home, family, finances, and career, and a chance to learn from other single mothers and their experiences. Two workshops will be presented in Spanish this year. This year’s conference theme is “Celebrate: We Can Do This!” and features special door prizes, including a chance to be pampered. See the conference Facebook page for details and a registration link at facebook.com/SingleMoth-ersCC. Single mothers may also register for free online at www.eventbrite.com/e/single-mothersconference-2015-registration-15277687976, or call 484-876-1582for more information.
Young artists
Brandywine River Museum’s Imagine Brandywine will be held through April 12. A multidisciplinary approach to magazine cover illustration will be featured in this exhibition by pre-K through ninth-grade students from Upland Country Day School in Kennett Square. The Brandywine River Museum of Art serves more than 6,000 students, from kindergarten through grade 12, through its field trip program. Imagine Brandywine is sponsored by Rotary Club of Thorndale-Downingtown. For information, visit www. brandywinemuseum.org.
Art & Garden Celebration
Pocopson Elementary School will be holding its annual Art & Garden Celebration on Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. – 3p.m. The event will be held rain or shine. Bring the whole family for a day of fun, there’s something for everyone! Kick off the day with a one-mile FunRun then stay to enjoy the day with carnival games, inflatable obstacle and slide, and interactive performances. Join them for lunch or a homemade baked good, shop the Craft Fair, pick up a plant and bid on one of more than 100silent auction items. For more information, visit www.pesartandgarden.org. Pocopson Elementary School, 1105Pocopson Road, West Chester.
Mom’s Day Out
Little Falcons Preschool at West Fallowfield Christian School will hold a Mom’s Day Out program for children ages 3-5from noon-3 p.m. The upcoming dates and themes are: “Horsing Around” on Wednesday, April 15 and “Spring Fun” on Wednesday, April 29. The goal of the program is to provide structured theme-based activities for the children in a caring and nurturing environment. The afternoon also includes learning centers, story time, circle time, craft and outdoor play. The cost for the program is $15 per session. A snack is provided. Call the school at 610-593-5011 or visit the school’s website at www.wfcs.org to download a registration form. The school is located at 795Fallowfield Road in Atglen.
College Admissions Program
David Clark, Ed. M. presents his Take The Mystery Out Of College Admissions Decisions workshop on April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Patton Middle School (U-CF School District) in Kennett Square. The free workshop — for college bound high school students and parents — will include help in demystifying how all colleges make admissions decisions, suggestions for becoming a savvy college consumer and information on finding financial aid. Clark is an independent college admissions consultant with the Center for Psychological Services-College Search Now in Paoli. For more information or to register contact Clark at david@collegesearchnow.net or 610-304-7119.
Family addiction program
When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the disease affects the entire family. Each month, PROACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization.— Achieving Community Together) hosts a Family Addiction Education Program to help individuals and families recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one. Facilitated by trained volunteers who have been in the same situation, this information and support program begins the first Wednesday of the month and runs for three consecutive Wednesday evenings, from 7 to 9p.m. at the Government Services Building in West Chester. Sessions are free and confidential — first names only. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 800-221-6333, weekdays 9a.m. through 5p.m., or visit councilsepa.org/programs/pro-act/familyeducation-program/.