Last week Archway School students held their Annual Extended School Year Summer Flower Show for an employee-wide event to showcase their skills and talents from the horticultural on-campus program. The event took place on Wednesday, August 8th and ran all day in the Career Center at Archway’s Upper School. Kristine Henle-Blank, Horticulture Instructor, and participating Archway students transformed the space to mirror the theme which was inspired by their favorite exhibit at this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show. As Archway employees arrived, they stepped into Archway’s very own “Lantern Festival” complete with lights, Asian inspired music, handmade lanterns and of course several floral masterpieces, each made by various students who participate in the horticultural program.

Before summer came to a close, Archway staff and students from The Archway Schools celebrated the 10th Annual Archway Games, inspired by the Special Olympics. The Archway Games is a fun annual event that gives students an opportunity to compete in activities, work on skills including fine and gross motor, team building and sportsmanship. All of the students at the Archway Schools have an opportunity to interact with each other on different levels while cheering each other on.

This morning the Archway Schools kicked off the 10th Annual Archway Games, inspired by the Special Olympics, to gear up for next week’s festivities. Today’s Opening Ceremony consisted of a parade, introduction and processional of teams, the National Anthem was beautifully sung by former Archway student, the (cardboard) torch was ‘lit’, there was even a special guest speaker. Before closing remarks, an oath was sworn by athletes and judges in the name of sportsmanship, fairness and fun. This year’s games will take place Monday, August 13th through Thursday, August 16th with a Closing Ceremony on Friday, August 17th.

The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) has named The Archway Schools as a 2018-2019 School of Excellence. This is the fifth consecutive year The Archway Schools has received this award. Being selected as a NASET School for Excellence is the highest level of recognition a private education school can achieve through their professional association. This year, the honor was bestowed upon 102 private special education schools throughout the United States that met rigorous professional criteria and demonstrated truly exceptional dedication, commitment and achievement in the field of special education. The Archway Schools are one of nineteen schools in the state of New Jersey and one of five schools in South Jersey who received this year’s NASET award.

Students from The Archway Schools were recently acknowledged as one of the Top Fundraising Schools in New Jersey by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients, the Student Series fundraising program.  This year, Archway’s Upper and Lower Schools joined forces to raise money and support the cause raising a total of $1,158.00. This is the seventh year that Archway’s Upper School has participated and the first year that the Lower School has joined in supporting the fight against blood cancer. In addition, the Archway Schools successfully completed the Pasta for Pennies Program, which awards the top fundraising classroom with a celebration party donated by the Olive Garden. Rather than having the Olive Garden celebratory lunch for their hard work, students generously decided to forgo the lunch and donate it to someone who needed it more than they did. The fundraiser took place throughout the month of May and the school received special recognition from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this past week for their participation and continued support in the Student Series fundraiser.

Ten special needs students from The Archway Schools celebrated their graduation during two ceremonies held earlier this month. The Upper School graduation ceremony took place on Friday, June 1st, 2018 in the Upper School Gymnasium located in Evesham, New Jersey and the Lower School graduation ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 5th, 2018 in the Lower School Gymnasium located in Atco, New Jersey. Young men and women are now Archway’s youngest alumni – the Class of 2018. The rooms were filled with pride, many proud tears of joy and laughter as staff and students reminisced their favorite memories throughout the years and the many accomplishments as parents, staff members, family and friends gathered to celebrate the Archway graduates. Each student was called to the stage for the walk of triumph, as they received their diplomas.

The Archway Schools hosted the 12th Annual Career and Technical Education Luncheon to celebrate the collaboration between the special needs schools’ working students and local business partners for on and off-campus jobs. The annual event was held at the special needs schools’ upper school gymnasium to celebrate the collaboration between Archways’ working students and the local businesses that offer on-and-off campus jobs to help students prepare for their post-graduation lives.

Students from Archway’s Just Kids Program at Tatem Elementary in Collingswood, created and won the NJSACC’s (New Jersey’s School Age Care Coalition) first ever annual Celebrate Afterschool Poster Contest! NJSACC, the Statewide Network for New Jersey’s Afterschool Communities, received over 100 posters from 14 different afterschool care programs throughout the great state of New Jersey. Poster submissions were due in March and created  by youth attending afterschool programs. Students in the Just Kids Program worked together and made a colorful puzzle piece poster listing out what they love to do in their afterschool program. They had a very special reason for choosing the artwork that they created.

Archway Schools hosted its 12th annual Career and Technical Education Luncheon Wednesday, May 30th.

The event is put on each year to celebrate the relationship between the working students and local business partners for on and off-campus jobs. This year’s guest speaker was former Archway student Sam Toney who shared his story in hopes of inspiring current students and letting them know they aren’t alone. The Archway Schools’ Career Education Program enables students who have special needs with associated behavioral challenges to learn in the classroom and, on-the-job, the skills necessary to transition from school-to-work.

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“We are fortunate to have so many long-standing relationships with local business partners and are grateful that our students get to benefit from real-work experience. Since the program was established, we have experienced tremendous growth. Archway alumni attend this event and being able to see how they benefited from the program and hear how well they are doing is incredibly rewarding. Each of our students have individualized needs, and staff helps prepare each of them, providing supports for life post-graduation,” said Brooke Chmura, Careers Teacher at Archway Programs.