By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting Nov. 17 for iKidz Learn Through Play, a new learning facility combining the programs of iSpeak and Bricks4Kidz.

Kelley da Paz and Joy Wade, who both specialize in one of the learning programs, run the location. iSpeak, managed by da Paz, is a foreign language company that focuses on teaching Spanish and English as a second language for children and adults.

Wade manages the Bricks4Kidz side of the business, focusing on Lego model building, robotics and moviemaking while teaching science and engineering through fun activities.

“Like the sign says ‘Learn through play,’” Wade said. “We’ve got activities for learning and we’ve got activities that are fun, and what we try to do is combine both.”

Both Wade and da Paz have afterschool programs in schools in Shelby County, Hoover, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Homewood and more. In fact, that’s how the two ladies met and decided to team up.

They were both showcasing their afterschool programs when Wade offered her space to da Paz. One year later, they decided to move to the Pelham location, 2154 Pelham Parkway, together.

“It’s great. It’s right on U.S. 31 and our signage faces the road,” da Paz said. “I think it’s going to make a big difference.”

In addition to afterschool and summer programs for students, iKidz also hosts birthday parties at the location. Children will sign a T-shirt for the host and then build their own Lego car.

There are Legos and a spin art project also available. Once all the kids have created cars, there is a racetrack they can use to test out the cars they made.

Children will also have the opportunity to play games on the iPlay interactive projector. Wade said the kids always have a great time at the parties.

She said she is already booking parties for as far out as February and five of the eight summer weeks are also booked.

“We are going to be busy, we’ve got a lot going on in November, December, we’ve got parties booked for January and February,” Wade said. “My biggest problem has been, since 2012, keeping up with everything.”

iKidz will host its grand opening Dec. 6 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. and will showcase the games, Legos, Spanish activities and more offered through the program.

For more information, visit iSpeakwell.com or Bricks4kidz.com/Hoover.