Dear Archway Friends and Family,
Things continue to bloom for Archway employees and the clients we serve. In April, we held our 10th Annual Hands Around the Lake, which proved to be a success. Thank you to our staff, clients, friends and families, the local community, local emergency responders, Assemblyman Ryan Peters,
6abc Action News
, our Board of Trustees, and our affiliates, who came out to support Archway Programs! We would also like to thank those who generously donated raffles for this event –
Honda of Turnersville
,
SodaStream USA
,
Miss Peg, From the Ground Up, and
Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts
.
Earlier this month, Archway launched its first organization-wide Volunteer Day on Saturday, May 18
th.
Employees took time out of their schedules and participated in clean-up work at Archway’s partial care location in Washington Township. This is the first of many planned events. Great job, everyone!
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Archway Programs received a proclamation from Assemblyman Ryan Peters and the state of New Jersey for creating an innovative job pipeline in the South Jersey community by opening Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts. Pictured is Archway staff with Store Manager Kristine Henle-Blank holding the proclamation next to Assemblyman Peters. To see a short video from the day, please click
here
.
I want to thank everyone who has supported Archway Programs, including our clients and employees. Your support allows our organization to further our mission to help individuals in need and make an impact in our community.
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Archway Employee Spotlight
–
Special Feature
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For this edition of Archway's Employee Spotlight, we will be featuring Archway employees who were recently honored for reaching career milestones.
Archway Programs’ Board of Trustees hosted its twelfth annual Employee Recognition Breakfast on April 18
th
, 2019. Each year Archway takes time to recognize its employees with longevity and salute outstanding staff members who have supported the organization as they reach career service milestones. Archway executives and staff members gathered together in the Career Center and celebrated their fellow employees' hard work and dedication to serving Archway Programs. Staff members being recognized were introduced by their program supervisors.
Please join us in congratulating our dedicated, talented staff! Without employees like you, Archway Programs would not be as successful. Pictured below are the 2018 Employees of the Year as well as the 2018 Leaders of the Year.
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Employee of the Year
Robin Holmes, Paraprofessional
Archway Upper School
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Employee of the Year
Jim DiLullo, Human Services Counselor
ACT Program
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Leader of the Year
Samantha DeGerlia, Program Coordinator
Human Services Department
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Leader of the Year
Susan Lafferty, Executive Director
Education, Archway Schools
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Archway employees who reached career milestones, celebrating 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years of service were also recognized at the event. Congratulations to all!
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Recognized for 35 years:
- Donna Deluca, Archway Upper School, Teacher
- Lee Collette, Archway Lower School, Teacher
- Patrick Creedon, Archway Lower School, Teacher
Recognized for 30 years:
- Virginia Williams, Just Kids Program, Supervisor
- Pamela Clark, Archway Upper School, Secretary
- Mark Brogan, Archway Upper School, PE Teacher
- Brenda Saunders, Just Kids Program, Coordinator of Staffing & Licensing
Recognized for 25 years:
- Sandra Goc, Archway Lower School, Secretary
- Ann Goodman, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Mary Goodman, Residential Community Homes Program, Residential Aide/Direct Support Professional
- Tawana Byrd, Just Kids Program, District Manager
- Donna Drouin, Archway Upper School, Paraprofessional
- Joy McCurry, Residential Community Homes Program, Residential Aide/Direct Support Professional
- Richard Lamazares, Archway Lower School, Physical Therapist Assistant
Recognized for 20 years:
- Alan Leonardi, Archway Upper School, Teacher
- Richard Mui, ACT Program, Driver/Aide
- Pamela Talley, Just Kids Program, Supervisor
- Dawn Harrison, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Kimberly DePalma, General Administration, Executive Administrative Assistant
- Karen Tiver, General Administration, Education Supervisor
- Bobbie Cross, Just Kids Program, Supervisor
- Cheryl Finn, Archway Lower School, Physical Therapist
Recognized for 15 years:
- Joan McConnell, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Gina Mosetter, Just Kids Program, Administrative Assistant
- Madree Johnson, Just Kids Program, Assistant
- Kimberly Labbree, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Amy Sherman, Archway Lower School, Teacher
Recognized for 10 years:
- Ann Drennon, Residential Community Homes Program, Residential Aide/Direct Support Professional
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Recognized for 10 years
(continued)
:
- Jaymie Swanson, Archway Upper School, Education Supervisor
- Debra Roach, Archway School at Cooper’s Poynt, Paraprofessional
- Leeanne Seger, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Lynne Toone, Just Kids Program, Assistant
- Diane Spera, Step By Step, Coordinator of Eval. & Billing
- Sherri Bishop, Transportation, Manager
- Odessa Timpanaro, General Administration, Accounts Payable Clerk
- Dawan Hightower, Residential Community Homes Program, Residential Aide/Direct Support Professional
- Cindy Patton, Archway Upper School, Paraprofessional
- Susan David, Step By Step, Billing
Recognized for 5 years:
- Hector Harris, Archway Upper School, Paraprofessional
- Jennifer Mitchell, Archway Upper School, Secretary
- Jaimee Brown, Archway Upper School, Social Worker
- Lori McBeth, Archway Lower School, Teacher
- Michael Ricciardi, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Tierra Blair, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Allison Jenkins, Archway Lower School, Occupational Therapist
- LaShonda Wheeler, Archway Upper School, Paraprofessional
- Christina Walker, ACT Program, Secretary
- Fannisha Dreher, Archway Upper School, Teacher
- Brooke Chmura, Archway Upper School, SLE Coordinator
- Joyce Forchion, Just Kids Program, Assistant
- Christine Schafer, ACT Program, Human Services Counselor
- David Martinez, Archway Lower School, Paraprofessional
- Patricia Buchter, Just Kids Program, Supervisor
- Kathleen Bruno, Step By Step, Speech Therapist
- Chiquita Poole, Residential Community Homes Program, Residential Aide/Direct Support Coordinator
- Elizabeth Smith, Step By Step, Occupational Therapist
- Tawana Battle, Residential Community Homes Program, Residential Aide/Direct Support Coordinator
- Shaniece Randall, Residential Community Homes Program, Assistant Manager/Direct Support Coordinator
- Debra White, Just Kids Program, Supervisor
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#ArchwayProud #ArchwayFamily
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This year marks a new initiative for the
Waterford Township Police Department.
Throughout the month of April, the Waterford Township Police Department displayed new Autism Awareness Police Badges in support of autism research. The badges were purchased through a donation from the Waterford Township Women’s Club. With New Jersey having one of the highest rates of autism in the United States, it was imperative that their officers be trained to interact with this population. The Waterford Township Police Officers have participated in trainings that will help when responding to situations involving people with autism.
The Waterford Township Municipal Building was lit up blue throughout the month to show their support and raise autism awareness. In addition, officers wore autism awareness bracelets and sported autism awareness magnets on their vehicles. Waterford Township Police Department joined Archway Programs and the local community last month at the 10th Annual Hands Around the Lake event
(pictured above).
Thank you Waterford Township Police Department for your continued support and dedication to serving all of our residents to the highest standards.
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Archway Lower School Students Shine at Annual Spring Show!
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Archway Programs’ welcomed parents, friends, family, Archway staff, board members, and special guests to the Archway Lower School’s Annual Spring Show. This year's theme, "Rhapsody in School: Archway's Tribute to Queen", did not disappoint! Students did an incredible job with their performances and the staff support was phenomenal, as always! Students performed songs and displayed artwork in the Lower School Gymnasium. A special shout out to our friends from the Archway School at Cooper's Poynt for attending this year's show
(pictured to the right).
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To see more photos from the Archway Lower School Spring Show, please visit our Facebook page
(or click
here
).
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Archway Upper Student: Jabril Martin
Pictured below is one of our Archway students, Jabril Martin, along with
Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts
, Store Manager Kristine Henle-Blank, working on a prom flower order. Jabril participates in Archway's Career Education Program and works at Blue Violet as part of the off-campus work-study program.
"Jabril is a fine young man - kind, always willing to learn, and lend a helping hand," said Kristine Henle-Blank, Store Manager.
Archway’s main focus is to help students with disabilities learn skills that can translate to a position in the community. Through this new initiative, the South Jersey community has an opportunity to support programs to help individuals with disabilities in their communities.
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On May 13th, Just Kids staff joined together for an end of the school year celebration at the annual Just Kids Gala at Adelphia's in Deptford. The focus of the dinner each year is appreciation for the childcare professionals’ hard work and dedication. Individuals and site teams were recognized for outstanding work as well as excellence in parent satisfaction.
Just Kids staff were also recognized for years of service to Archway Programs. We had two employees, Brenda Saunders and Virginia Williams, who are both celebrating their 30
th year with Just Kids! Raffle tickets were handed out for a variety of reasons, so that each staff had chances at winning raffle baskets. These baskets were donated and put together by Peggy Haldeman as a true act of service to Just Kids employees!
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To see more photos from the Just Kids' Gala, please visit our Facebook page
(or click
here
).
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10th Annual Hands Around the Lake
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Our 10th Annual Hands Around the Lake event was a success! We would like to give a special shout out to our friends at 6abc Action News for joining us and covering the event. Our staff, clients, friends and families, the local community, local emergency responders - Waterford Township Police Department (NJ), Township of Waterford & Evesham Fire-Rescue; Assemblyman Ryan Peters, our Board Members, and our affiliates, who came out to show their support. We would also like to thank those who generously donated raffles at the event –
Honda of Turnersville
,
SodaStream USA
, Miss Peg, From the Ground Up, and
Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts
.
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Click
here to visit Archway's Facebook page for more footage from Hands Around the Lake.
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Assemblyman Ryan Peters Visits Archway Programs
We had a special visitor last month! Last month, Assemblyman Peters toured Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts, Archway Lower School and Archway Upper School. During his visit, Assemblymen Peters presented Archway Programs with a proclamation honoring our organization for opening Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts and the innovative job pipeline it created for the South Jersey community.
"It was a pleasure visiting Archway Programs in Atco and honoring them for opening up a new flower shop, Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts. The flower shop provides an important pathway to job training and careers for people with developmental disabilities," said Assemblyman Ryan Peters.
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To see a video from Assemblyman Ryan Peters' visit, please click
here or on the image below.
We would also like to thank
South Jersey Biz
for featuring Archway Programs and Blue Violet in this month's edition
(see below).
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Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts: News & Happenings
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EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts in the
Hammonton Gazette.
Here's our feature in case you missed it on social media.
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Congratulations to the winner of the Blue Violet's Mother's Day contest!
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Congratulations to Eileen Wheeler, the winner of Blue Violet Flowers & Gifts' Mother's Day Contest! Below is the nomination we received from Eileen's daughter. Also pictured below, is Eileen with her beautiful arrangement and two of her adorable daughters!
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Easter Fun throughout Archway Programs
Our staff really went above and beyond this year to make sure our clients had a lot of fun this Easter. Activities included everything from special visits from the Easter bunny, egg hunts, special games and events, and more.
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Adult Counseling and Therapy (ACT) Program
ACT staff and clients had a wonderful time participating in their annual and traditional Easter Egg Hunt. They spent the afternoon hunting, socializing, playing and having a smile-worthy time.
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HOPE/DISCOVER Programs
Everyone enjoyed a beautiful spring day at our Partial Care campus last month! Staff from both HOPE and DISCOVER youth programs, organized a fun Easter egg hunt for the kids. The eggs were filled with either candy or specific rewards to be earned at a later date
(i.e., calling buses, helping staff, dinner with Ms. Ashlee and prizes). Staff was very strategic in hiding the eggs outside around trees, in the playground, in the grooves of the fences, in the field near the volleyball net, and near the picnic tables. After listening to the directions, youth raced to find the eggs! When they were seeing what rewards they won, five youth were very excited to discover that they found special eggs, to have dinner with Ms. Ashlee! Other prizes won ranged from board games to puzzles. The looks on the kids’ faces were priceless. They each burst with excitement and glee over the Easter egg hunt and the prizes they won.
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The Archway Schools
Students from Archway's Upper School elementary classrooms enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt organized by staff. Ms. Kelly laid out the ground rules and then they were off and running. Students from Archway's Lower School celebrated Easter early this year with an Egg-xtra special egg hunt and a special visit from the Easter Bunny.
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Just Kids Program
Children from our Just Kids Program at Tatem Elementary made Easter bunnies. Look at how fluffy their tails are!
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Archway Upper School Students Celebrate National Space Day
Takeoff in 3...2...1! Archway Upper students launched into outer space with these fun, hands on activities creating planets, rocket ships and adorable masterpieces.
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Archway Lower School Students Celebrate Dr. Seuss
Archway Lower School always has a blast celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday! Pictured below are some shots of our administrative staff reading to various classrooms. This is something Archway's administrative staff looks forward to each year!
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Adult Counseling and Therapy (ACT) clients sing their hearts out!
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Clients from our Adult Counseling & Therapy (ACT) Program love karaoke Friday! Everyone always has so much fun singing their hearts out.
Did you know that singing is good for your mental and physical health? In fact, it’s been scientifically proven to lower stress, relieve anxiety, and elevate endorphins.
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Archway Receives $6K Grant from Camden Home for Children & SPCC
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Archway Programs was honored to attend the annual meeting of the Camden Home for Children & S.P.C.C. on May 8th, 2019 and accept a grant for $6,000 to renovate both partial care buildings in Washington Township.
Work will include purchasing new items to be used during therapeutic sessions and groups. As part of Archway’s holistic approach of an active healthy lifestyle, Archway encourages clients to spend time outside, increasing their physical activity and promoting group interaction. These updates and renovations will provide a more inviting atmosphere for the current clients and potential new clients of Archway Programs.
Pictured to the left is Archway's Partial Care Services Director Ashlee Battle and Gladys Zambrano from Camden Home
for Children
& S.P.C.C.
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Just Kids Celebrates Play All May
Did you know that until now, there has never been a month dedicated to celebrating play? Thank you
Genius of Play
for changing that! All twenty-one of our Just Kids locations have been participating in this fun celebration to promote play. Through play, kids learn valuable skills they’ll use throughout their lives including how to interact with others and develop critical lifelong skills. These 6 key benefits all play a vital role in raising well-rounded children: physical, emotional, social, cognitive, creative and cognitive. Pictured below, children from Just Kids Oaklyn enjoyed being creative and playing outside on a beautiful spring day!
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Our
Just Kids Program has partnered with
New Jersey Audubon to expand its curriculum this school year! NJ Audubon Environmental Educator, Emily Wilmoth, has visited each of our twenty-one Just Kids’ locations to work with staff, to provide exciting, engaging hands-on curriculum. Students learned about the diversity in nature through exploration and discovering nature's superpowers. To read the full story, please click
here.
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To see more photos, visit
Archway's Facebook page.
To learn more about the Just Kids Program please click
here. For more about New Jersey Audubon, please click
here.
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Human Services: Residential Community Homes
Clients from our Residential Community Homes program have been keeping themselves busy this past month. Two of our clients participated in a Special Olympics swimming events, one client took 1
St
place in the 25m freestyle and 3
rd
in a free relay, and our other client placed 3
rd
in the 25m! Four of our clients from this home will be participating in the Special Olympics, track and field walking events.
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Some of our residents got a chance to kick back and relax, as they enjoyed a spa day complete with manicures and pedicures. They even got their hair cut and colored. As you can see by the smiles on their faces
(pictured below)
, they were very happy. Don't they look beautiful?
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Human Services: Respite Services
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Clients and staff from our Saturday Respite Program have enjoyed the beautiful weather this past month! Our clients enjoyed playing basketball outside, taking walks around the lake, and going on the playground. Of course, we had the indoor pool open for all those who enjoy swimming and plenty of activities to participate in.
For Easter, clients made funny (Easter) bunny butt cookies. Our clients really seemed to enjoy making them and eating them. Extra cookies were made so everyone could take one home with them as well and share with their families. Aren't they adorable?
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Archway Programs Launches a New Employee Benefit!
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Pursuing your advanced degree just got easier, thanks to a new 40% tuition discount on select
ONLINE
Capella University programs through Woods
and its affiliates! Education can be a foundational part of your career path at
Archway Programs
. It expands your opportunities and your ability to advance. We want to eliminate many of the financial barriers standing between you and your professional goals, which is why we’ve partnered with Capella University to offer you and your immediate family members a
40% tuition discount
on the following online degree programs in the GuidedPath learning format. Please visit
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All Hands In: Giving Back
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Archway Students Cleanup for Earth Day
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How did you celebrate Earth Day? Archway Upper School students and staff from Room 18 celebrated Earth Day by cleaning up around Archway's main campus. Thank you Ms. Webber, Ms. Nikki and our students for making our school campus a more beautiful place!
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Archway Volunteer Day 2019
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On Saturday, May 18th Archway employees gathered together for the first organization-wide Volunteer Day! Archway staff and board members volunteered their time to renovate buildings at Archway's partial care location in Washington Township.
Cleanup work included everything from painting to landscaping. Employees enjoyed coming together to support Archway Programs and give back.
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Welcome to the Archway Family!
We are proud to welcome new employees to our Archway Family as our organization expands, allowing us to help more families throughout the community.
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Blue Violet Flowers & Gifts
Kristina Githens, Floral Designer
The Archway Schools
Deborah Brown, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Kevin Brown, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Elizabeth Gallen, Registered Nurse (Lower)
Joseph Laffey, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Priscilla Monek, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Kacie Ramirez, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Zachary Taylor, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Melanie Trombetta, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Troy Williams, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Dejanira Young, Paraprofessional (Lower)
Partial Care Youth Programs (HOPE/DISCOVER)
Anthony Valori, Human Services Aide
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Partial Care Adult Program (ACT)
Kimberly Misla-Pagan, Human Services Counselor
Just Kids, Before/After School Care
Tiffany Jackson, Supervisor
Step by Step, Early Intervention
Larissa Fedak, Speech Therapist
Residential Community Homes
Monique Bailey, Direct Support Professional
Stephen DeCaro, Direct Support Professional
Michele Koback, Direct Support Professional
Osayekewen Omoruyi, Direct Support Professional
Mariah Townsend, Direct Support Professional
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Affiliate News & Happenings
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5th Annual Run For Woods Event
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Archway Programs' CEO/CFO George Richards, COO Shawn Gibson and Archway Lower School Teacher Lori Gregor had a blast at the Annual Run4Woods event earlier this month! Team Archway Programs raised a total of $850.00! Way to go team!
#ArchwayProud
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Are you looking for a rewarding career?
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Archway Programs currently has part-time and full-time opportunities available throughout Southern and Central New Jersey.
See Archway in action! Click on the video below to learn more about Archway Programs.
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Questions?
We a
re happy to help, please call (856.767.5757) or email us
[email protected]
.
Click
here
for program specific contact information.
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We Value Your Feedback!
If you have an idea for content that you would like to see in The Bridge, please email us at
[email protected]
.
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See all editions of
The Bridge
on our website!
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Where can I find editions of The Bridge?
How do I subscribe?
Our "Newsletter" page is also where you can subscribe. Just enter your name, email address, click subscribe now, and viola! Archway's bi-monthly e-newsletter will be delivered straight to your inbox!
Click
here
to visit this page.
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Stay Connected With Archway
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Archway Programs
on social media to stay up-to-date with our latest news & events!
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