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Dear Archway Friends and Family, 

I hope you are all enjoying the changing of the season. As the Archway Campus changes colors for fall, I'm excited to share a few September updates from Archway Programs. 

We kicked off the new school year with an energetic First Day of School on all our Archway campuses. It was wonderful to see our students reconnect with their teachers and classmates after the summer break. As always, our teaching staff was prepared with an educational curriculum balanced with fun activities and support. We have always been able to count on our teaching staff to find just the right balance, and this year is no different.  

One of the many September highlights was attending the Adult Counseling and Therapy (ACT) Program Talent Show, where I was honored to serve as one of the three judges in the competition. I am a pushover when it comes to this type of thing, so it was challenging to choose from the many talented people performing. It was truly inspiring to see how the counselors in the program empowered these individuals to express themselves creatively.   

I'm also happy to share that, thanks to Ms. Kim and Ms. Rousek of the Lower School, we received a large donation of school supplies from our friends at the Berlin Walmart. Their generosity will ensure our students can access the supplies they need to learn and grow throughout the year—a big thank you to the Berlin Walmart team led by Store Manager Stephany for their ongoing support. 

Our AADP (Advanced Abilities Day Program) grew significantly in September by welcoming multiple new consumers to the Archway Family. This growth allows us to provide resources to individuals with special needs as they transition from school into adulthood or provide welcome support for adult family members with special needs. I am excited to see our AADP family grow and positively influence more lives in our community.  

Finally, I want to remind everyone about the upcoming Bridge of Hope Cancer Walk on October 16th at 10:30 on the Archway Campus. This event promotes awareness and raises funds to support and offer encouragement to those in our community battling cancer. Whether you can join us in person or share the event online, your support makes a real difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.  

Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission to serve those in our care. By working together and providing a much-needed continuum of care, we create a brighter future for many individuals with special needs and their families. We couldn't do any of this without all of you. 

Sincerely, 

George Richards 

CEO/CFO 

Archway Programs Welcomes Students and Staff Back to the Classroom

On Thursday, September 5th, Archway school staff welcomed students for their first day of the 2024-2025 school year. Thank you to our outstanding teachers, administrators, support staff, and principals from the Upper School, Lower School, Creative Achievements Academy, and Cooper’s Poynt School for all your dedication and hard work that made the first day memorable for our students! Here’s to a great new school year! 

Musical Jeopardy Comes to the Upper School

Friday, September 20th, students from the Upper School competed in a game of Musical Jeopardy hosted by Ms. Julie, the Music Teacher. Divided into two groups, a single representative from each classroom competed in the game. Ms. Julie supplied students with musical instruments as buzzers, and the musical categories included Christmas in September, Movies & TV, Pop Hits, Incredible Instruments, and Random. 

Everyone played a great game, but two students, one from each group, took the lead. Congratulations to both of our Musical Jeopardy Champions, Ava and Luke! You both did a phenomenal job, and we are Archway Proud of you both! 

Taco Tasting for Upper School Students and Staff Thanks to Mr. Ron

Thanks to Mr. Ron, Upper School students and staff enjoyed a delicious Taco Tasting on Friday, September 27th! Everyone was offered various choices: beef or chicken, soft or hard shell tacos, fresh chopped tomatoes, lettuce, and all the fixings. It was a tasty end to the school week! Happy Friday! 

Upper School Blue Card Holders Rewarded with Pizza and Music Event

Monday, September 30th, Blue Card holders at the Upper School were rewarded for their excellent behavior with a special event featuring delicious, hot pizza and music! Great job, Blue Card Holders! Keep up the excellent work!  

Fall Beautification at Archway Campus Thanks to Horticulture Class

Miss Terri and Miss Lisa have been busy working with their Upper School Horticulture classes throughout the week. With their help and direction, the students beautified the Archway Campus with fall flowers and decorations. You are all doing such a great job! Thank you for your hard work and creativity! You keep our campus looking beautiful! 

Aye! It Was Talk Like a Pirate Day Across the Archway Campus

Ahoy, Matey! Archway Upper and Lower School students and staff had a lot of fun speaking in Pirate during National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Student pirates also enjoyed a treasure trove of pirate games, treasure hunts, making ships in art class, and peering through their spy glasses, to name a few special activities enjoyed throughout the day. We used our special pirate-approved spyglass, a camera to all ye landlubbers, to capture a few pirates we spied swaggering in the halls, perched on chairs, peering through spyglasses. 

Lower School Staff Effort Leads to Generous Donation of School Supplies From Local Walmart

Thank you to Ms. Kim and Ms. Rousek of the Lower School for coordinating with Stephany, the manager of the West Berlin Walmart, to obtain a generous donation of school supplies from the store. Despite what the box has on the outside, they are all jam-packed with every imaginable school supply, from pens and paper to markers and crayons. We are grateful for their generosity and happy to have Walmart as part of our community.  

Thank you to Mr. Charles for picking up all the supplies from Walmart and delivering them to the school.  

We appreciate everyone's efforts to support the well-being of our students. What a fantastic team effort! 

Lower School's Fun-Filled Fall Spirit Week Recap

Starting Monday, September 23rd, Lower School students and staff celebrated Fall Spirit Week. The week started with Pajama Day, followed by Apple Versus Pumpkin Day, where everyone wore colors corresponding to their choice—the week continued with Socktember Day, featuring colorful, silly socks, and Football Fanatics Day, where students and staff sported their favorite team gear. The week wrapped up with Mad About Plaid/Flannel Friday, where students and staff wore their favorite flannel or plaid shirts, bringing the Fall Spirit Week to a cozy close. 

Lower School's Annual Fall Fest: A Celebration of Fall

Lower School held its Annual Fall Fest on Friday, September 27th, celebrating all things Fall. Everyone enjoyed apple cider donuts, apple juice, fall-themed arts and crafts, games, and music. Students and staff from each class combined their creative efforts and worked in teams to build scarecrows. Everyone did a fabulous job, and the resulting creativity and teamwork are on display in front of the admin building.  

Thank you to Tractor Supply Co. for generously donating the straw for our scarecrows! We appreciate your generosity and are thankful to have you in our community. 

Class Celebrates National Chocolate Milkshake Day with a Fun Brain Break

Students and staff in Mr. G’s class from Cooper’s Poynt celebrated National Chocolate Milkshake Day on September 12th. The class also enjoyed a fun “brain break” with Ms. Pam and Mr. Dennis before getting down to business in math class.  

Teaching Accountability Through Illustrated Stories

Mr. Jeff, the school social worker at Cooper's Poynt, incorporates lessons on accountability into his sessions with younger students. He uses illustrated stories with scenarios that younger students can relate to, helping them understand the concept of being accountable and taking responsibility for their behavior. 

Exciting and Creative Activities at Just Kids Before and After-School Care

Every school day, our creative staff members from Just Kids strive to provide children with exciting activities to keep them engaged during before and after-school care. A typical day/week includes a variety of art projects, games, fun activities, and, of course, homework help. 

One such week in our program follows: During the week at Thomas Richards, students got crafty in the afternoon with an adorable pumpkin craft. Over at Logan Elementary Just Kids, the children had a great time building and decorating birdhouses. Fun Friday at Beeler Elementary was a blast wrapping up the week as they made RainbowLoom creations! What a fun and creative week at Archway Just Kids!  

Freehold Group Home Resident Takes an Exciting Disney Vacation 

One of our Freehold group home residents took a much-anticipated Disney vacation in mid-September. He was excited to have five days of adventure and headed off with his Stitch suitcase in tow. Of course, he was brimming with stories and happy moments to share with his housemates when he returned! 

Group Home Resident Hosts Dinner for Family & Friend

Kim, an Archway Voorhees group home resident, hosted two special guests for dinner. Joan, Kim's mother, and Brian, her Support Coordinator, visited her and enjoyed spaghetti and meatballs. The three had a lovely visit, highlighted by a tasty meal! Great job with dinner, Kim! You made a wonderful hostess! 



Archway Advanced Abilities Day Program Participants Grow Beautiful Sunflowers 

Participants from the Archway Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) were thrilled with the sunflowers they grew from seeds to beautiful blooms! The group picked the lovely flowers and took them home so they and others in their home could enjoy them. They all did a great job growing and caring for the flowers; they are beautiful! 

AADP Welcomes Three New Friends 

The Archway Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) is growing by leaps and bounds! AADP welcomed three new friends to the family this month. Welcome, Mariyah, Joey, and Capri! We are excited to have you and look forward to sharing many great times with all of you! 

Welcome, Mariyah!

Welcome, Joey!

Welcome, Capri!

ACT Talent Show Stars Shine Bright!

On Wednesday, September 11th, the Adult Counseling and Therapy (ACT) program pulled out all the stops to put on a fantastic talent show! Anderson Marchack, Program Supervisor, hosted the show but also joined in the fun of opening the show with an oration of a scene from Rocky. He returned to the stage for the show's second half with a musical performance.     

The program empowered three judges to rate performances and choose winners. George Richards, Archway CEO/CFO; Steven Shapley, Archway Training; and Eddie Tate, Archway Business Development Manager, watched as each performer gave their all with original poetry recitals, singing, a guitar solo, dancing, and freestyle rapping.     

The performers were top-notch, and the judges had the difficult task of whittling their selections to the top three contestants. Winners received gift cards to a place of their choosing, and all participants who did not place received a $5 gift card to Wawa.    



Congratulations to William D., who won the first-place prize (a $25 gift card), Daniel B., who won the second-place prize (a $15 gift card), and Cameron V., who won the third-place prize (a $10 gift card).   

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our judges for their dedication and the difficult choices they made. We truly appreciated their commitment to the event.   

Thank you to Theresa Dimitri, ACT Counselor, for organizing the show and planning such a spectacular event. Your actions brought joy to many. 

Big Prize Bingo Winners and a Birthday Celebration

The Adult Counseling and Therapy (ACT) program participants had a great time playing Bingo. Three lucky winners went home with fantastic prizes. One man won a special Eagles jersey that he had been wishing for. It was even more special because the Bingo game occurred on his birthday. What a wonderful birthday surprise!

Jesse Celebrates the Big 3-0 With His Program Friends!

The staff and participants of the Saturday Respite Program celebrated Jesse's 30th birthday! The group had a great time painting, one of Jesse's favorite activities. Happy Birthday, Jesse! We hope you had a wonderful day and have a fantastic year ahead! 

Michael's Talent Blooms During Flower Shop Work Study

Michael sure is proving himself quite the florist. We are so excited to share in his success. He is doing a fantastic job during his Work Study at Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts. Great job, Michael! Keep up the excellent work! 

Join Archway Programs for the 14th Annual Bridge of Hope Cancer Walk around the lake on our Archway Campus. We welcome you to walk with the Archway Family and show your support for friends, family, and neighbors facing a cancer diagnosis.

Always at the core of our efforts, our primary goal is to help provide comfort and support to those in need. We will once again hold a bake sale to raise funds to facilitate our cause. So, remember to treat yourself to a delicious snack while on the walk! It's for a good cause!

WHERE Archway Main Campus

280 Jackson Road

Atco, NJ 08004

WHEN October 16, 2024

(Rain Date October 17th).

Walk Begins at 10:30 a.m.

MORE INFORMATION For more information, please contact:

Susan Lafferty: 856.767.5757 ext. 220

Kelly Jones: 856.767.5757 ext. 242

Bridge of Hope Printable Flyer | View PDF

Welcome to the Archway Family!

We are proud to welcome new employees to the Archway Family as our organization expands, allowing us to help more families throughout the community. Please help us give a warm welcome to the newest members of the Archway Family!

Abilities of Northwest Jersey Honors Staff and Celebrates 50th Anniversary with 70's Themed Party

As part of DSP appreciation week, Abilities of Northwest Jersey celebrated staff by hosting a 70's themed party, reflecting their 50^th anniversary! The gathering offered delicious BBQ catering, entertainment by DJ Darren, tie-dye station for staff t-shirts, and recognized their exceptional 2024 staff:

• 40-Year Milestone – Regina C.
• Van Driver of the Year – Tony L.
• Employment Specialist of the Year – Carly T.
• DSP of the Year – Beatriz B.
• PossAbilities Thrift Associate of the Year – Maria B.

Full photo album can be found: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2ootEHPpW9Wn2Mzc8

If you have news or information you would like to see in the next issue of The Bridge, please contact Kelly by phone: 856.767.5757 ext. 242 or by email: kelly.jones@archwayprograms.org.