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Dear Archway Friends and Family, 

As we wrap up another season, I want to highlight some exciting events and initiatives that have taken place recently.  

We kicked off the summer with the Archway Early Learning Ribbon Cutting, marking the continued growth of Archway Programs. This development will significantly enhance our capabilities to better serve our youngest students, and we couldn’t be more excited to offer the additional services!

The Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) celebrated its 2nd Anniversary with its Annual Friends and Family Summer Bash. It was a fantastic celebration, bringing together participants, friends, family, and supporters of the program. It was an excellent opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and to look forward to what’s ahead.   

I want to express my gratitude to former Archway Board Member, Jeffrey Dey. His support has been instrumental in enriching the experiences of our Group Home Residents, who enjoyed the thrill of being part of an Eagles Game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 7th. The ladies and staff who attended were thrilled to be there!  

Additionally, the annual Archway Summer Olympics proved to be an exciting event for students from both the Upper and Lower Schools, as well as for students from Cooper’s Poynt. The day was filled with fun, friendly competition, and a sense of the Archway spirit.   

Thank you to everyone for all you do to improve the lives of those we serve. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to these memorable events. Your enthusiasm and dedication continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.  

If you haven’t already, please register for the Archway Programs 60th Anniversary Celebration on September 27, 2025, at Liberty Lake Day Camp in Bordentown, NJ. The event is a celebration and a thank you to all of you for your hard work and dedication over the years. We couldn’t do this without all of you! I hope to see everyone there! 

I’m looking forward to many more incredible moments in the future! 

Sincerely,   

George Richards   

President/CFO

Archway Programs Celebrates New Facility with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony  

On July 7, 2025, Archway Programs celebrated the grand opening of Archway Early Learning (AEL) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony mere moments before students arrived for their first day of the Extended School Year (ESY). 

After nearly three years of development, the doors are open, and the new AEL program is now running. Designed for students ages 3 to 8 with diverse abilities, the program features a 2:1 student-to-staff ratio and a multi-sensory approach to learning. It emphasizes socially appropriate methods, responses, and play daily. All related services are provided on-site, and students have access to a new playground and exploration areas as part of the full-day program. 

The new location boasts large, bright, and airy classrooms equipped with colorful artwork and a variety of work and play stations.   

You can read More on the Archway Programs Website. 

Welcome to Our New Advanced Abilities Day Program Friends!

July brought three new, wonderful friends to The Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) family. Welcome, Naadir, Darrell, and Juliana! We are delighted to have you all as part of the AADP family and look forward to spending time together! 

Welcome, Naadir!

Welcome, Darrell!

Welcome, Juliana!

AADP Participants Volunteer at the Local Animal Shelter  

Early in July, a group of Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) participants spent the morning volunteering at the Gloucester County Animal Shelter. Not only did the group of friends visit with the shelter animals, but they lent a helping hand to the shelter workers and inhabitants by cleaning dishes and washing & folding blankets. The shelter is one of the group's favorite activities, and they look forward to their volunteer work. Great job, everyone!  

AADP Participants Visit the Funny Farm in Mays Landing 

Advanced Abilities Day Program participants visited the Funny Farm in Mays Landing last week during one of their many community outings. The group enjoyed meeting friendly animals such as Tico the mini donkey, Red Rhone Star the retired show horse, Lexi, Eeyore, and many others who have found refuge and second chances at the Funny Farm Rescue Animal Sanctuary. Everyone had a wonderful time with their new friends and spending the day on the farm! 

AADP 2nd Annual Friends and Family Summer Bash 

The Archway Programs Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) has been providing a safe and nurturing environment for participants for two years now! They recently celebrated the milestone and 2nd Anniversary with their Annual Friends and Family Summer Bash!  

The event welcomed participants, friends, family, and visitors. The grill was fired up, offering hot dogs and hamburgers, while a spread of homemade mac and cheese, pasta salad, fruit salad, and more ensured everyone had plenty to enjoy. 

A special thank you to Zallie ShopRite of Glassboro for the delicious sheet cake and fresh fruit platters. Your support is greatly appreciated, and everyone in attendance enjoyed your tasty contributions. 

We also extend our gratitude to the Brotherly Love Ice Cream Truck for bringing delightful treats to the party! 

Santa Visits AADP for a Quick Christmas in July Stop

Participants at the Advanced Abilities Day Program were thrilled by a visit from a special guest during their afternoon routine. A jolly old elf sporting shorts and a Hawaiian shirt stopped by for a Christmas in July visit! Santa Claus reminded everyone to stay on their toes if they want to do well for his annual visit in December! Everyone enjoyed talking with Santa, and they are already thinking about their Christmas wish lists! On a side note, it’s great to see Santa is an Eagles fan!  

Upper School Celebrates Summer with Refreshing Water Ice! 

Upper School students and staff enjoyed delicious water ice (also known as Italian Ice) as a special summer treat. Everyone had the option to choose between mango, blue raspberry, or cherry. Some students chose multiple flavors at once! All the flavors were delicious and refreshing! 

Upper School Students Ava and Luke Win Second Annual Musical Jeopardy!

Congratulations to Ava and Luke, the reigning champions of the Musical Jeopardy competition! The Upper School hosted its Second Annual Musical Jeopardy Game, and all the contestants played exceptionally well. However, Ava and Luke emerged victorious for the second year in a row! Along with the honor of being champions, they also earned an ice cream party for their classrooms.  

Ms. Julie, the Upper School music therapist, hosted the competition, while Ms. Lashonda and Ms. Jessica acted as judges.  

Upper School Spelling Bee Celebrates Academic Excellence and Team Spirit!  

The Upper School celebrated academic excellence at its Annual Spelling Bee. Participating students demonstrated fair play and integrity as they cheered on their peers throughout the competition. Mr. Dustin, Mr. Eli, and Miss Lashonda judged the competition, with Mr. Dustin calling out the words and using them in a sentence.  

We are Archway Proud of the students who participated, as well as the supportive students in the audience! The winners and their classmates enjoyed a pizza party after the competition! 

Upper School Hosts Festive Hawaiian Luau Celebration!  

Upper School staff and students celebrated in style with a Hawaiian-themed Luau during the Extended School Year (ESY).  

The staff transformed the all-purpose room with colorful Luau-themed decorations, including artwork, vibrant table coverings, and floral centerpieces. As part of the celebration, everyone received a beautiful floral lei. The staff grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, which were served alongside fresh salads and corn on the cob. For refreshments, delicious watermelon, fruit juice, and chilled water were also provided. 

Students also enjoyed face painting and outdoor games such as football, tug of war, and bocce ball. It was a beautiful day, and everyone had a great time! 

Archway Summer Olympics Offer Fun and Competition!

The Archway Summer Olympics brought out the spirit of competition in the Upper School and Cooper’s Poynt students during the games. Everyone participated in a variety of sports events, including Bocce Ball, Ladder Ball, and Pickle Ball. Student athletes showcased their agility and quick reflexes as they challenged their classmates in sporting events. The Shot Put competition tested the athlete's throwing distance, while Line Drive offered a thrilling experience, challenging participants to measure distance and test their skills. A bouncy house obstacle course demonstrating students' agility. At the same time, a refreshing water slide provided a cool respite from the hot summer weather.  

Students enjoyed music, face painting, snacks, and a refreshing visit from Mister Softee! Everyone enjoyed the two days of friendly competition and camaraderie as they cheered each other on!   

Upper School Celebrates Summer Achievements at Award Ceremony  

Before heading out for the remainder of their summer break, Upper School staff took time out to honor students for their excellent behavior during their ESY 2025 Summer Award Ceremony. Staff recognized students by presenting them with ribbons, trophies, and gift cards. Coach Brogan presented ribbons and trophies to the winning students for Swim Meet, Kickball, and Hockey; Ms. Jen presented the Perfect Attendance Award; Ms. Leshonda presented the awards for Best Career Students; Mr. Dustin presented Gift Cards to the Spelling Bee winners; and Mr. Mark, Upper School Principal, presented gift cards to the Student of the Summer honoring one student from each age group. 

Celebrating Under the Sea/At the Beach Week 

The creative talents of Miss Shayla, the Lower School Art Teacher, and Miss Katie, the Lower School Music Therapist, were showcased during Under the Sea Week. As you entered either classroom, the lights were dimmed, and you were greeted by the calming sounds of a bubbling fish tank alongside images of brightly colored fish swimming in tranquil waters. The walls and ceilings were adorned with decorations, creating a soothing, sensory-friendly underwater world filled with coral, shells, sea grass, and friendly sea creatures. Once you stepped inside, you didn't want to leave the tranquil environment created for their students. 

Lower School Students Enjoy Fun-Filled Camping Day with Music and Activities   

It was a beautiful day for camping as Lower School students and staff celebrated Camping Week in July with a day of outdoor fun! Everyone enjoyed the talents of Miss Katie, the Lower School Music Therapist, who took musical requests from students and entertained everyone with her guitar and lovely voice. Students created leaf relief art, made beaded necklaces, played cornhole, and enjoyed delicious, sticky s'mores and juice. It was a fantastic day! 

Lower School Launches into Creativity with Outer Space Week!  

As July transitioned into August, Lower School celebrated Outer Space Week. As always, Ms. Shayla, the Lower School Art Teacher, and Ms. Katie, the Lower School Music Therapist, embraced the creative challenge by transforming their classrooms into an out-of-this-world experience for students! Calming starry skies, celestial bodies, planets, and floating astronauts (we see you, Ms. Lee) surrounded the students as they enjoyed music with Ms. Katie and developed their artistic expression with Ms. Shayla. Great job! You both make learning quite an adventure! 

Lower School Students Dazzled by Spectacular Bubble Show!

On August 4th, students and staff at the Lower School enjoyed an exciting Bubble Show! The “Bubble Guy” entertained everyone with amazing bubble tricks and created massive bubble structures. He even placed some students inside bubbles! It was a fun and thrilling performance, and the students loved every bubblicious moment of the show! 

Lower School Celebrates Carnival Week with Games and Festivities 

The overcast skies kept the heat at bay in early August as Lower School students and staff celebrated “Carnival Week’ with outdoor carnival games and treats. The Archway Grove was transformed into a circus midway with music, games, balloon animals, face painting, popcorn, sweet cotton candy, and more! Students pushed a big red button to play the Human Slot Machines, or they could try their hand at Chuck-a-Duck. The bean bag toss into the stack of Tin Cans Game was a favorite, along with Skeet Ball. We even had a visiting upside-down clown! It was a wonderful time, and everyone enjoyed the festive atmosphere, games, and goodies. 

Lower School Celebrates the Summer Olympic Games

The Archway Summer Olympics at Lower School was an exciting event that brought together students for two days filled with fun and friendly competition. Students competed in the Pepperoni Pizza Toss, and the Hobby Horse Obstacle Course challenged students to navigate turns around trees and bushes while riding their stuffed steeds in a race for the finish. Staff also hopped on the horses for a quick ride, too!  

Students quickly learned that a gentle toss hit the bullseye almost every time in The Foam Axe Throwing competition, and The Water Blaster competition offered a fun way to cool off in the summer heat. Of course, Ms. Shayla helped students cool off with containers of cool water, mostly when they weren't expecting it! The Granny Pants event invited participants to fill Ms. Sam's huge pants with sopping soaker balls! Scooter Races added to the excitement, as students worked together in relay races. Of course, there were many more competitions for students to enjoy, and they all encouraged teamwork, sportsmanship, and, of course, lots of fun! 

Archway Early Learning Celebrates Under the Sea Week with Fun Activities! 

Archway Early Learning staff combined their classes to participate in activities for the Lower School’s Under the Sea week! Students made tissue paper rainbow fish by using spray bottles to make the tissue paper stick and produce color on their fish. They also played in a fun, Under the Sea-themed sensory bin. The students used water to help remove the sea animals from ice cubes! Everyone had a great time with the special themed activities.  

Students Celebrate Outer Space Week with Creative Planet-Making Activity

Archway Early Learning participated in Outer Space Week with a hands-on activity that used balloons, paints, and creativity to create planets from the solar system. It was a fantastic learning-through-play experience, which the children enjoyed. 

Making Learning Fun with Fizzy Moon Rocks Experiment!

Archway Early Learning students experimented with Fizzy Moon Rocks. With a bit of help from baking soda and vinegar moon rocks, students listened to the fizz of the rocks, and they felt how cold they were when they landed on Earth. It was a fun and exciting hands-on learning science activity that kept the students interested.  

AEL Students Participate in Archway Summer Olympics Week!

The students in Miss Jessica and Miss Alexa’s Archway Early Learning classes were busy during Archway Summer Olympics week. Our youngest athletes held their own Olympic Games, competing in Bean Bag Toss and various games to highlight their strengths and talents. They enjoyed making a selection of crafts, including an Olympic Torch, Shaving Cream Olympic Rings, and many others! They also enjoyed plenty of Olympic-themed sensory activities, including digging for trophies, which was definitely a favorite activity. 

Just Kids Summer Camp Provided Students with an Exciting and Engaging Summer Experience

The Just Kids Summer Camp kicked off its Summer 2025 session with the children enjoying fun-filled days on the playground. Throughout the week, the campers engaged in creative pursuits, making fuse bead creations, and participating in entertaining water games such as Drip Drip Drop. They decorated red, white, and blue cabinets and crafted ice cream cones, embracing the festive spirit of the season. The following week began with the celebration of USA week, where camp activities included creating a custom American flag and enjoying hot dog day on June 30. On July 2, the campers enjoyed science lessons during a show presented by Mad Science, and on July 3, they made USA hangers in preparation for the holiday. The children had an enjoyable field trip experience visiting the Academy of Natural Science of Drexel University in Philadelphia. They enjoyed exploring the many exhibits the museum offers. Of course, they especially loved the dinosaurs! As always, the students enjoyed swimming, crafts, and outdoor fun during the summer with Just Kids as well! 

Students Spark Excitement in Mentos and Coke Challenge! 

Creative Achievement Academy's Ms. Kat and Ms. Christine's classes participated in the Mentos and Coke challenge. Each student chose a different number of Mentos to put in their Coke bottle. The more Mentos they used, the bigger the reaction. To conclude the experiment, the data showed that the more Mentos added, the more Coke overflowed from the bottle. The experiment was an exciting experience, and the students enjoyed participating. 

Bouncing Bubbles: Students Explore Science Through Fun Activity!

Ms. Kat and Ms. Christine's Creative Achievements Academy elementary classes did a bubble bouncing activity. Students were able to observe and test the bubble bouncing theory. The bubbles could be bounced up and down on the clothing of staff and students!  

Creative Achievement Academy Hosts Fun-Filled Slime Making Day! 

Creative Achievement Academy hosted an exciting event called Slime Making Day, an engaging and interactive experience designed for both students and staff. During this fun-filled day, everyone was encouraged to unleash their creativity as they crafted their very own slime jars, each with its own unique design and color.  

At the end of the day, each participant proudly took home their personalized slime jar as a reminder of the fun they had with their classmates and staff. 

Medford Ladies Visit Popcorn Park Animal Refuge 

The ladies from the Medford group home had an exciting afternoon at the Popcorn Park Animal Refuge located in the Pine Barrens of Ocean County. They enjoyed visiting adorable farm animals, including goats, sheep, horses, cows, and pigs. They also visited sun-bathing turtles, a llama soaking up the sun, and even a beautiful tiger, from afar, of course! It was a fantastic way to spend the day! 

Atco Group Home Residents Visit Batsto Village 

Our Atco group home residents enjoyed a community outing to Batsto Village in the Pinelands of New Jersey on Saturday, July 19, 2025. The group enjoyed strolling through the village and touring the historic buildings. They also enjoyed an exciting reenactment performed by The Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line. They demonstrated the appearance of 18th-century soldiers, complete with muskets and cannon fire! How exciting!

Auburn and Medford Group Home Eagles Game 

Thanks to the generosity of former Archway Board Member, Jeffrey Dey, the ladies from our Medford and Auburn Group homes enjoyed an exciting Eagles Game on August 7th! For Christina, it was her first Eagles Game! She and the other ladies had a fantastic time and cheered on the Eagles. It looks like they are good luck charms, as the Eagles won! 

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!

A new health center providing primary care and behavioral health services for individuals with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and emotional or behavioral challenges opens THIS September in Hamilton!



Woods System of Care and RWJBarnabas Health are teaming up to open the facility at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. Learn more: https://smpl.is/aa6y4

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.