The Bridge is Archway Programs' bi-monthly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! To subscribe, see the latest and previous editions of this publication, please visit our website at www.ArchwayPrograms.org/newsletter .
Dear Archway Friends and Family,

I hope you've been enjoying the summer months this year, with plenty of sun around to get us all up and active and enjoying the great outdoors! I love that our staff and clients are able to utilize Archway's beautiful main campus this time of year, whether it be taking a walk on the trail or fishing in the lake.

We have been celebrating many milestones these last couple months. Students from the Archway Schools graduated in May, students and business partners were honored at the annual Career Technical and Education Luncheon, our Residential Community Homes' Program is celebrating its 35 year milestone, and we recently opened another community home in Freehold. Just Kids' Summer Camp added a third location this year, located in Waterford Township. The camp is officially in full swing and has been in session two weeks now.

I am thrilled with the overwhelming response of our colleagues contributing to the Archway Employee Crisis Program (AECP) . Every day I think how fortunate I am to work for an amazing organization but more importantly, I am so proud to be associated with so many incredible people. When our leadership team shared this suggestion from colleagues, I thought, what an incredible way for all of us to extend our compassion we show every day to not only our clients, but towards each other as well. We spend so much time with one another during the work day, why not help each other?  As of July 17th, a total of 83 colleagues (approximately 20% of active colleagues) have donated to the AECP fund. We will collect approximately $10,865 to add to the $10,000 start-up fund approved by Archway Programs’ Board of Trustees. 

Lastly, I want to personally thank you for your commitment to Archway Programs. We are a community of people, defined by our actions, connected through a common mission of exceptional caring. That caring starts with each other, and translates to the people we serve. That mission is alive at Archway Programs.

Sincerely,
George Richards
CEO/CFO
The photo above was taken on the iconic bridge at Archway Programs' main campus headquarters in Atco, New Jersey.



Compassion is one of the core values Archway Programs was build on and after 54 years, that stands true today and is at the heart of everything Archway does. This year, Archway introduced new benefits for employees and their families, some of which include:

  • Health and Wellness Benefits
  • Life Management Resources & Support
  • Telemedicine
  • 40% Tuition Discount & Reimbursement Program
  • Archway Employee Crisis Program (AECP)

We are currently looking for people who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. Archway offers flexible schedules, an excellent work culture that values a healthy work/life balance, a large affiliate network, with unlimited opportunities for growth throughout southern and central NJ.

Click here to view current openings and apply online today!
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." Phil Jackson
 To thank employees for donating to the AECP fund, each contributing staff member was given a pin to proudly wear on their ID badges. This serves as a reminder not only for the difference they are making but for the value they bring to the their team and the dedication shown to keep Archway's mission alive and thriving in the community.
Program Spotlight On: Residential Community Homes
Celebrating 35 Years of Excellence
Archway's Human Services Department offers a variety of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One of the adult services Archway offers, is the Residential Community Homes' Program, which serves adults with I/DD throughout southern and central New Jersey. This year marks the 35 year anniversary of Archway's Residential Community Homes’ Program . Please join us in congratulating our passionate, dedicated and caring staff for making this possible!
In May, Archway opened its second home in the Freehold area. Archway’s CEO/CFO George Richards joined colleagues and welcomed residents to their new home. Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner to celebrate this milestone. All of our residents have been adjusting extremely well to their new surrounding and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome each of them to our growing Archway family!
Employee Spotlight On: Michelina Patetta 
Michelina (‘Mickie’) Patetta, Director of Developmental Disabilities Services, has been a part of the Archway family since May 2016. Mickie currently holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education/Psychology from Kean University. She has been working in the Human Services field since 1987, and has experience working with both children and adults.

Mickie is most passionate working with adults in their homes and communities. During her time at Archway, the Human Services Department has continued to grow. Archway has opened two new Residential Community Homes, expanded its Community Living Supports services, increased respite services, and has added a new employment training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Archway Inspirations

Congratulations Class of 2019!
We celebrated the accomplishments of 12 Upper School students and 3 Lower School students at our graduation ceremonies! It was a joyful and bittersweet event for our graduates, their families, friends, teachers and staff. Decked out in traditional caps and gowns, students were honored with awards for achievement in art, life skills, and music, among others. Special guest speakers spoke on behalf of their classmates in tributes to the Archway staff before the graduates accepted their diplomas from their principals.

The entire Archway Programs community would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Archway School graduates, Class of 2019!
13th Annual Career and Technical Education Luncheon
Before the end of the school-year, Archway staff, students and local partnering businesses attended the annual Career and Technical Education Luncheon, hosted by the Archway Schools' Career Education Program. Archway Programs partners with local businesses to make the Career Center and the Career Education Program a place where students can become workplace ready. Working at places such as Virtua Hospital, students gain “hands-on” experience and confidence in the workplace interacting with customers, developing a strong work ethic and learning new responsibilities. 

Thank you to all of our supporting corporate business sponsors for believing in our students!

Archway's ACT Clients Pay It Forward
Archway employees were touched to receive personally addressed, hand-written thank you cards from our clients in the Adult, Counseling and Therapy Program. ACT clients wrote cards to each staff member who volunteered to help renovate their building. Thank you to our ACT clients for inspiring us each and every day!
Congrats to Archway's Special Olympics Champion!
The 2019 Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) Summer Games were held at the College of New Jersey on June 7-9th. One of our clients, Natalyn, attended opening ceremonies on June 7th and was able to walk into the stadium with her team. On June 8th, she participated in the freestyle 25m swim and won 1st place! Natalyn's team also won 1st place in the free style team relay. This is the first year she has competed in swimming and she rocked it.

From all of us at Archway, CONGRATULATIONS Natalyn!!
The Archway Difference
The Archway difference is our people; individuals who not only emulate our mission, but who give unselfishly of their time and talents to those we serve, day-to-day, year-to-year. We can never say "thank you" enough, however each year we recognize and celebrate employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years or more of service to Archway Programs throughout the annual Employee Recognition Breakfast. This year's event was held in the Upper School Career Center. Following a delicious breakfast, Archway staff and Board of Trustees recognized the many dedicated employees celebrating career service milestones. Congratulations to all of our employees who have reached these special milestones. You are the Archway difference.

George Richards, CEO/CFO, also announced the 2018 Employees and Leaders of the Year. Please join us in congratulating Robin Holmes, Jim DiLullo, Samantha DeGerlia and Susan Lafferty on a job well done! Archway Programs appreciates all of your hard work and dedication and wouldn't be successful without employees like you.
Employee of the Year 2018
Robin Holmes, Paraprofessional
Archway Upper School
Employee of the Year 2018
Jim DiLullio, Mental Health Counselor
Adult Counseling & Therapy Program
Leader of the Year 2018
Samantha DeGerlia, Program Coordinator
Human Services Department
Leader of the Year 2018
Susan Lafferty, Executive Director Education
The Archway Schools
Around Archway...
ACT Program Celebrates the 4th of July
Clients from our ACT Program were treated to a 4th of July BBQ! There were outdoor games like water balloon tossing, water gun fun and relays. Indoor activities included shuffleboard, ring toss and bucket-pong.

Partial Care Youth Programs: HOPE and DISCOVER

Youth from our Hope and Discover programs learned about kitchen safety during an activities of daily living group. They made some delicious pretzel pizzas and couldn't wait to share with their peers! 

Blue Violet Fulfills Special Order for Chick-fil-A
Pictured on the right is Dylan, one of our students from the Archway Lower School who works at Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts as part of the off-campus work study Career Education Program . He is proudly holding some of the bouquets he put together for this particular order for none other but the famous Chick-fil-A. Amy Ashe, Marketing Director of two South Jersey Chick-fil-A restaurants, stopped in Blue Violet and Gifts to place special orders for two South Jersey Chick-fil-A restaurants for Mother's Day and Father's Day events.

Being included and able to contribute to the work that went into this order, is something that Dylan feels really good about. And he was ecstatic when he found out it was for his favorite restaurant, Chick-fil-A . Awesome job, Dylan! We are so incredibly proud of you!
A BIG thank you to Amy Ashe and Chick-fil-A for choosing Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts to complete your Mother's Day and Father's Day orders. You are giving Dylan and his fellow classmates the opportunity to be included and contribute to meaningful work.

When you shop at Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts , you are making a huge impact in the lives of others, supporting individuals with disabilities, promoting community inclusion and helping Archway Programs further its mission .
Girl Scouts Offers Enrichment Series to Just Kids
Just Kids and the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ teamed up again this year and gave girls at several of the schools it serves a new twist on the program's before and after school care. Girls learned about their self-esteem and explored what it means to be a friend, set goals, and celebrate each other through STEM activities, games and more. This program was made possible thanks to generous funding from both the United Way of Gloucester County and the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ .

Administrative Staff Celebrates the Start of Summer
It was the perfect summer day for Archway’s Administrative BBQ complete with delicious food, music, games, and fun! Employees each brought in their favorite dishes and Archway executives cooked burgers and hot dogs for everyone to enjoy.

Senior Accountant Michael Kernan, won pin the tail on the donkey and was excited to win a very festive 4 th of July gift basket, courtesy of Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts!
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! 

 Administrative
Renee Ash, Quality Assurance Manager
Kerry Harper-Wentzell, Recruiter
 
Just Kids, Before & After School Care
Denean Chiumento, Supervisor
Sydnie Dougherty, Assistant Trainee
Erica Kelly, Assistant
 
Residential Community Homes
Gifty Ocquaye, Direct Support Professional

Transportation
Rushie Taylor, Transportation

The Archway Schools (Upper)
Justin Cole, Teacher
Keesia George, Paraprofessional
Jenny Onacilla, Paraprofessional
 
The Archway Schools (Lower)
Alaina Kaplan, Teacher
Hannah Koerner, Paraprofessional
Amber Timms, Paraprofessional
Chanel Wall, Paraprofessional
Ethan Wojtkowski, Paraprofessional
Jake Wojtkowski, Paraprofessional
We Want to Hear From You!
If you have an idea for content you would like to see in The Bridge, and/or have any questions about our e-newsletter, please email our Communications Department at communications@archwayprograms.org .

We always have a lot of fun and exciting things happening at Archway Programs! Make sure to stay connected and follow @ArchwayPrograms on social media for all of the latest news and events!