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Dear Archway Friends and Family, 

As we transition from the long hot summer days to shorter cooler days, we are reminded that a new school year is but days away. To our new and current teaching staff in the Upper School, Lower School, and Cooper’s Poynt, thank you for everything you do to improve the lives of our students and their families. Your work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. I wish you all the best for the upcoming school year, and I look forward to seeing all of you in the coming weeks.  

I also want to extend my sincere thanks to all the employees across all Archway Programs that have gone over and above to maintain and grow our programs amid staff shortages. Please be assured that we are ramping up our efforts to recruit new employees, and I ask for your continued understanding as we implement new procedures to ensure the success of our efforts.  

Speaking of hiring efforts, you may have noticed the two new “Now Hiring” banners displayed on Jackson Road. The banners are a part of our new employee recruitment campaign. We could not have completed the banners without the help of current Archway employees who took on the additional role of advertising models. I want to thank them all for contributing their time and their likenesses to the recruitment effort, James Ruble, IT; Brandon King, Lower School Paraprofessional; Kelly Willis; Universal Careers Paraprofessional; Montana Elwell, DD Services Secretary; and Frinee Hemence, Step by Step Billing/Interpreter.  

Stay safe and enjoy the last days and moments of summer. 

Sincerely, 

George Richards 

CEO/CFO 

On Monday, August 15th, Archway Schools held the opening ceremony for their Annual Archway Summer Olympics. The classrooms marched out in teams and paraded before the Lower School, showing off their team colors and names. The days that followed were packed with various games and competitions. 

Student-athletes competed in Diving Competitions, Relay Races, Scooter Memory Match, Scooter Trash Can, Water Balloon Hot Potato, and Water Gun Freeze Dancer, to name just a few of the exciting competitions. 

Everyone had a fabulous time sharing the events with their classmates! On Thursday, the final day of games, everyone gathered to celebrate with delicious treats from Mister Softee.  

On Friday, students surrounded Archway Grove to celebrate the Closing Ceremony. Students were recognized by the judges, made up of staff, for their accomplishments and commitment to the games. Each student received a hard-earned medal commemorating their achievement and hard work. Congratulations to all our student-athletes! We are Archway proud of you!  

Lower School July Ice Cream Social

Students and staff delighted in a Friday afternoon Ice Cream Social. Staff scooped out students’ choice of ice cream flavors and topped it with plenty of delicious toppings, including chocolate syrup, whipped cream, M&Ms, marshmallows, gummy bears, and more! It was a delicious head start into the weekend!  

Mcdonald's Visited the Lower School

And they brought breakfast!

On Friday, July 22^nd, the staff from the Archway Lower School gave a shout-out to McDonald's on the White Horse Pike in Berlin for donating breakfast to the staff. The manager said that he wanted to give back to those in the community who have worked hard, especially throughout the pandemic. Thank you for your thoughtfulness! The food was delicious and appreciated. 

Lower School Celebrates Holidaze Craze Spirit Week   

The last week of July, Lower School celebrated Holidaze Craze Spirit Week. They started off the week with Christmas in July. Everyone wore their favorite red and green festive gear while they enjoyed a day filled with holiday-themed crafts and activities. Tuesday was Valentine's Day with staff and students dressed in lots of pinks, reds, and a few hearts! Students and staff showed off their pink and red clothing, plushies, and holiday gear. Wednesday was St. Patrick’s Day, with Easter on Thursday. Friday marked the final day of Holidaze Spirit Week with a creative nod to Halloween! Halloween décor was in hallways and classrooms, everyone wore their favorite costumes, and they even did a little trick or treating between classrooms. What a fun and exciting week for students and staff alike. 

Lower School Camp Out Day   

Friday, August 12th, the weather was perfect for the Lower School Camp Out Day. Students enjoyed the picture-perfect day playing cornhole, ladder ball, and beachball-volleyball. They colored, listened to music, and contributed to the melody with musical instruments. To make Camp Out Day a bona fide campout, everyone enjoyed a favorite campout staple, delicious gooey chocolatey s’mores! Yum! 

Upper School Room 26 Enjoys a Horticulture Day  

Students from Upper School Room 26 enjoyed horticulture days outside while attending the ESY (Extended School Year). During this particular excursion, students gathered tree bark, branches, and acorns from around the campus and creatively fashioned their finds into adorable owls. I think we can all agree they did an excellent job, and their nature owls look wonderful! 

Lower School vs Upper School Softball Game

Congratulations to the Upper School staff; the reigning Softball Champions took home the trophy again for the second year in a row! It was hot, it was fierce, and the crowd went wild as the staff from the Upper School held on to their championship trophy. Both teams played a great game and demonstrated honor and integrity on the field, and everyone enjoyed themselves! Congratulations to both teams on playing a great game!

August Upper School Swim Meet 

During the first week of August, students from the Upper School enjoyed the three days of swimming competitions. The students raced against their classmates, with the winners from each group competing against one another. In between races, the students enjoyed cooling off in the pool and spending time with their friends.  

All the Buzz From the Upper School Spelling Bee

Thursday, August 11^th, students from the Upper School participated in their Summer Spelling Bee. The contestants worked hard studying and preparing for the competition, which showed in their stellar performances. They all did an outstanding job, and we are proud of every student. As with any contest, the competition intensified, and eliminations left only two students on the stage, Jayden and Joshua. Congratulations to both winners and all the hard-working participants.

Ladies from Voorhees location go on a Great Adventure!

Consumers from our Voorhees location enjoyed a weekend day at Six Flags. The ladies enjoyed visiting the exciting exhibits but loved the drive-through safari and the beautiful animals! After a "great adventure" at the park, the group enjoyed a wonderful late lunch at Applebee's. It was an exhilarating outing for the ladies and the staff, and everyone enjoyed themselves. 

The Ladies Enjoy Waterford’s Night Out on August 2nd

The ladies from our Atco location spent the evening enjoying the Waterford Night Out. They had a wonderful time listening to music, viewing the craft displays, and visiting all the various vendors. Julia was especially impressed with the local emergency vehicles and displays. It was a great way to spend a summer evening! 

Ladies from our Voorhees Location Enjoy a Night on the Town!

The lovely ladies from our Voorhees location participated in the Voorhees Township National Night Out on Wednesday, August 3rd. The ladies enjoyed exciting attractions, delicious goodies, and a demonstration by the Voorhees K-9 Unit! The police mascot and a few officers took time to pose for a few photos with Angie, a consumer at the Voorhees group home. All the ladies had a great night returning home happy and exhausted. 

The ACT Summer Garden

It was harvest time again, and consumers from the Archway Adult Counseling & Therapy (ACT) Program were busy in the garden! The tomatoes were ready for the first time, and the cucumber vines were bursting with cucumbers just waiting to be picked! The consumers have been tending the garden all season, and they are very pleased with the fruits of their labor.

Iced Tea Party Time at ACT!

On August 12th, consumers from our ACT Program (Adult Counseling & Therapy) enjoyed an Iced Tea Party. They tried four different delicious teas: Oolong, Japanese Matcha, Peach Tranquility, and Hong Kong-style black tea. The group also enjoyed cookies with their tea and socializing with their program friends. 

Blue Violet Flowers & Gifts Welcomes NEW Management!

Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts is excited to welcome Bonnie as our store manager. You may have seen Bonnie in the store; she has been with us for some time and has years of floral design experience. We are excited to see her move into a managerial position, and we look forward to her exciting ideas for the shop. 

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!

Tee Up for Two October Golf Classics!

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.