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Dear Archway Friends and Family,

Several weeks ago, Archway Programs held its annual Employee Recognition Breakfast at the Upper School. I always enjoy the event as it allows me to show my appreciation for the continued effort of all Archway employees, especially those that have given so many years to Archway. As I announced each name and time of service, I felt a deep sense of admiration and pride to be in the company of so many employees that have dedicated five, ten, thirty, or even forty years to caring for our students and clients. Their commitment and service reminded me of how thankful I am to be among such a devoted, compassionate, and caring group.  

Although we typically announce a single Employee of the Year during the event, this year, we chose three. I want to say thank you to Kate Rapp-Parise, Upper School Nurse; Lois Cunningham, Lower School Nurse; and Rebecca Reynolds, Lower School Nurse. We honored our school nurses and their tireless efforts to guide us through such a challenging time. They have been on the front line of the pandemic and in the thick of battle, tasked with testing, treating, and providing information to our staff and students while also facing the virus head-on. We appreciate them and all they do every day.  

While on the topic of health, I want to share a personal story with you. Last month, during a routine visit to my dermatologist, the doctor noticed some unusual moles on my back and suggested additional testing. As a result of further testing, I learned I had Stage 1 Melanoma. A few weeks ago, I had the moles removed, and a biopsy was taken. Thankfully, the test results and prognosis were all positive, but it was a stark reminder of the importance of taking an active role in your health. Many of us allow our busy schedules to prevent us from getting routine checkups. As an Archway employee, you too can access regular screenings and well visits, and I urge you to take advantage of Archway's benefits and take the time to take care of yourself. It is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family.

Thank you again for your continued support and dedication. You are all valued members of the Archway Family, and I appreciate your commitment to your job and those in our care. Stay safe and stay healthy. 

Sincerely,

George Richards

CEO/CFO

Lower School Nurse Lois Cunningham, Employee of the Year (left); George Richards, CEO/CFO (middle); and Lower School Nurse Rebecca Reynolds, Employee of the Year (right);

Archway Programs held its Annual Employee Awards Breakfast at the Upper School in the Career Center on May 24th. George Richards, CEO/CFO, presented employees with awards honoring their years of dedication to Archway Programs. He also presented all three school nurses with the Employee of the Year Award for their exceptional work during the COVID crisis. Tom Grant, Board Member; Tim Titus, Board Member; Jeffrey Dey, Board Chair; and Shawn Gibson, COO, also attended the celebration. 

Visit our website to view a gallery of images from the event. (View Gallery) 

2022 Award Recipients

Employees of the Year

Kate Rapp-Parise; Upper School Nurse 

Lois Cunningham, Lower School Nurse

Rebecca Reynolds, Lower School Nurse

Awards

Jack Berson, Upper School, 5 years, Teacher 

Amy Sica, Lower School, 5 years, Occupational Therapy Assistant 

Michael Graff, Coopers Poynt, 5 years, Principal-Cooper 

Daniel Maak, Lower School, 5 years, Paraprofessional 

Jocelyn Price, Lower School, 5 years, Paraprofessional 

Typhanie Bates, Act, 5 years, Human Svc Counselor 

Cynthia Trinkle, Upper School, 5 years, Teacher 

Stacey Edwards, Step By Step, 5 years, Director, Therapeutic IH Serv. 

Brenda Hill, Just Kids, 5 years, Childcare Supervisor 

Lori Gregor, Lower School, 5 years, Speech Therapist 

Kelly Lambert, Upper School, 5 years, Teacher 

Jennifer Haskell, Lower School, 5 years, Speech Therapist 

Jamie Duminiak, Lower School, 5 years, Occupational Therapist 

Patrick Veterano, Lower School, 5 years, Registered Behavior Technician 

Kim Zweier, General Admin, 5 years, Accounting Manager 

Christina Sanflippo, Transportation, 5 years, Van Driver 

Michelina Patetta, Human Service, 5 years, Dir. Of DDD Programs 

Mary Kostiuk, Lower School, 5 years, Speech Therapist 

Deidre Lyons, Lower School, 5 years, Teacher 

Shirley Martinis, Transportation, 10 years, Transportation Assistant 

Russell Polk, Transportation, 10 years, Bus Driver 

Narcissa Alwan, Just Kids, 10 years, Childcare Supervisor 

Jaimie Kelly, Lower School, 10 years, Teacher 

Dustin Roach, Upper School, 15 years, Universal Paraprofessional 

Cynthia Christy, Just Kids, 15 years, Administrative Assistant, Billing 

Deponica Sloan, Lafayette Group Home, 15 years, Community Home Manager 

Diane Sleigus, Just Kids, 15 years, Childcare Supervisor 

Jamie-Sue Conaghy, Lower School, 15 years, BC Assistant Behavior Analyst 

Lucia Segrest, Just Kids, 15 years, Childcare Supervisor 

Mary Szczur, Upper School, 15 years, Teacher 

Craig Vines, Upper School, 15 years, Universal Paraprofessional 

Nicole Amoriello, Upper School, 15 years, Paraprofessional 

Harry Turtz, Upper School, 15 years, Teacher 

Luz Ramos, Just Kids, 15 years, District Manager 

Lisa Falkenstein, Upper School, 15 years, Paraprofessional 

Robin Holmes, Upper School, 20 years, Paraprofessional 

Dawn Warrington, Lower School, 20 years, Paraprofessional 

Dawn Gares, Discover, 20 years, Lead Mental Health Worker, pcs 

Terri Peiffer, Lower School, 20 years, Paraprofessional 

Sherry Griffith, General Admin, 25 years, Accts Rec Coord 

Tanya Lewison, Piney Hollow Group Home, 25 years, Community Home Manager 

Tonette Mccombs, Upper School, 30 years, Teacher 

Jay Baturin, Upper School, 35 years, Social Worker 

Robert Murrell, Act, 40 years, Human Svc Counselor 

Susan Hoban, Upper School, 40 years, Paraprofessional 

Upper School Potluck Luncheon 

Upper School staff joined together today for their annual Potluck Lunch. Everyone brought in their favorite dish to share with their coworkers. The result was a fabulous selection of delicious food and desserts. 

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Teacher Appreciation Week 

Two parents of Upper School students recognized staff for Teachers Appreciation Week today. Ms. Olive donated to a staff luncheon, and Ms. Warowitz brought in coffee, pastries, cookies, cakes, and fresh Panara Bread bagels complete with all the fixings. Everyone enjoyed the delicious treats, and the staff appreciated their thoughtfulness and kindness. 

Upper School Mother’s Day Brunch 

Mr. Ron from the Upper School treated all the moms to a Mother’s Day Brunch on May 9th. The menu included Ron’s own delicious homemade food, including macaroni and cheese, pasta with a Bolognese sauce, garlic bread, and tacos with all the fixings. Dessert featured Mr. Ron’s legendary homemade ice cream, delicious chocolate brownies, and plenty of toppings to create brownie sundaes! Thank you, Mr. Ron, we are lucky to have you, and your thoughtfulness and kindness are appreciated! 

Lower School Students Donate to the Animal Shelter 

During April, Room 13 was working on giving back to our community and learning about recycling for Earth Day. They decided to take recycled T-shirts and make them into dog toys! They contacted Voorhees Animal Shelter and asked to bring their toys and three boxes of goodies donated by Archway School to the dogs!

At the shelter, Ms. Linda invited them on a special tour, and she gave them a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations. They cuddled with kittens and the two sweetest dogs in the memorial garden, all available for adoption. The students practiced social interactions and saw first-hand the benefits of giving back to the community. They even practiced their money skills when they ordered and paid for their own lunch at McDonalds using hard-earned work-study money! It was such a rewarding day for the students and the staff! 

Lower School Students Charmed the Audience with Their Archway Meets Broadway Spring Show

Lower School students gave outstanding performances during the Archway Meets Broadway Spring Show. The students did a spectacular job entertaining fellow students, staff, parents, and family. Their renditions of favorite Broadway tunes received applause and admiration from the audience, and we are bursting with pride for every participant! Thank you to all the beautiful performers, staff, and maintenance crew that made the show possible. Thank you to everyone that joined us for the show. We appreciate your show of support and encouragement for our talented young performers. 

Lower School ST and OT of 280B Share Their Creative Bulletin Board 

The Lower School Speech and OT decorated their bulletin board with pics of each in an Archway shirt. They included information about themselves, including how long they've worked at Archway, a fun fact about themselves, and their favorite Archway core value. We know not everyone can see the awesome bulletin board, so we are going to share a photo of it and the fun facts they each shared.  

Miss Amy is an Occupational Therapist, and she has been with Archway for six years. She is also a hairstylist, and her favorite core value is Individuality. 

Miss Jamie is an Occupational Therapist, and she has been with Archway for six years. She went to a space camp, and her favorite core value is Compassion. 

Miss Brooke is a Speech and Language Therapist, and she has been with Archway for four years. She is an aspiring ventriloquist, and her favorite core value is Individuality. 

Miss Allison is an Occupational Therapist, and she has been with Archway for eight years. She is a national field hockey champion, and her favorite core value is Safety. 

Miss Lori is a Speech and Language Therapist, and she has been with Archway for six years. She can juggle, and her favorite core value is Safety. 

Miss Amy is a Speech and Language Therapist, and she has been with Archway for six years. She was a backup dancer for Weird Al, and her favorite core value is Safety. 

Miss Megan is an Occupational Therapist, and she has been with Archway for seven years. Her favorite Skittle color is yellow, and her favorite core value is Compassion. 

Miss Jen is a Speech and Language Therapist, and she has been with Archway for six years. She is a twin, and her favorite core value is Individuality. 

Miss Mary is a Speech and Language Therapist, and she has been with Archway for seven years. She designed the awesome bulletin board, and her favorite core value is Compassion. 

Memorial Day Barbecue at Medford Group Home 

The ladies in our Medford group home enjoyed a festive and tasty barbecue with staff and family on Memorial Day. They even spent time with a furry friend. It looks like he enjoyed the attention as much as the ladies enjoyed having him there. 

Ice Cream Outing Memorial Day Weekend

The ladies from our Medford location took a quick trip to the local ice cream parlor for a frosty treat over the Memorial Day weekend. They all enjoyed the outing, and of course, the ice cream cones and milkshakes were delicious! 

ACT Program Learns How to Cook Orange Chicken 

ACT Human Services Counselor Typhanie Bates gave consumers from our Adult Counseling and Therapy Program (ACT) a cooking lesson. She shared her orange chicken with rice recipe with the group showing them each step in the preparation. They had a new recipe and a delicious homemade meal when the class was complete! Yum! 

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!

Allies Celebrates Nurses Week and Names 2022 Nurse of the Year

Allies, Inc. proudly celebrated their nurses during National Nurses Week in May for their hard work, dedication, and compassionate care. As part of the celebration, they named Anne Gonzalez, LPN, as their 2022 “Nurse of the Year.” To learn more about what makes Anne special, and the unique bond she shares with the individuals she serves, visit: https://alliesnj.org/2022/04/21/2022nurseofyear/.

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.