LANSDALE – The North Penn School District isn’t the only one celebrating a birthday this year. The 2015-2016 school year also marks the 50^th anniversary of the opening of Gwyn-Nor Elementary School and they’re getting the party started next week with tons of exciting events.

The celebration kicks off Monday, September 28^th with a spirit day and assembly. Students and staff will be decked out in their favorite Gwyn-Nor gear and school colors, blue and green. At 9:30 a.m., Mrs. Patricia Skibbs, who taught at Gwyn-Nor in 1965, will share a historical perspective of what it was like to be a teacher 50 years ago at Gwyn-Nor. Mrs. Skibbs will be joined by V.I.P. guest, NPSD Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich, as well as principals of Gwyn-Nor from the past 25 years including Dr. Marianne Kaemmer, Dr. Leta Thompson, Dr. Betty Santoro and Mrs. Lori Hoch. At the conclusion of the assembly, a time capsule compiled by the Home and School Association from 25 years ago will be unsealed.

On Tuesday, September 29^th students, teachers and parents will have the opportunity to change the history of Gwyn-Nor by deciding whether to keep the Gator mascot or vote for a new one. For a suggested donation of 50 cents a vote, the fate of the Gwyn-Nor Gator lies in the hands of the student body, staff and parents! The proceeds will benefit the Home and School Association.

The fun will continue through the rest of the week. Students and teachers will be filling out worksheets with suggestions for items to be placed in a new time capsule, completing 50 jumping jacks in honor of Gwyn-Nor’s 50^th and on Friday, they’ll celebrate the school’s golden birthday with cupcakes.

The grand finale to this week-long celebration will take place Saturday, October 3^rd from 12:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m. as the Gwyn-Nor Gator is hosting a 50^th birthday bash! Students, families, alumni, staff and friends are welcome for an afternoon of fun featuring inflatables, games, spin art, Dog Town Rescue and more. All activities are free! Food from local vendors including Kona Ice, Chic-Fil-A, Montgomery Pizza and Gwyn-Nor’s Bake Sale will be available for cash purchase.

On behalf of the North Penn School District, we’d like to wish Gwyn-Nor Elementary School a happy 50^th birthday! We hope you’ll help them celebrate next week.

For more information, please contact Kaitlyn Andrey at 215-853-1032 or [email protected].