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Theatre Horizon
401 Dekalb Street
Suite 101
Norristown, PA 19401
Tuesday January 8th – 1:15 p.m.
Wednesday January 9th – 1:15 p.m.
Wednesday January 9th – 6:00 p.m.
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Student & Staff Spotlight
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Ms. Holmes started her work at Pathway in August of 2013 in a temporary Instructional Coordinator position within the Emotional Support Program. In January of 2014 she was offered a permanent position and is currently working as an Instructional Coordinator/Floater, where she is provided the opportunity to work with a variety of students across campus. Her background as case manager at Melmark and as a therapeutic support staff for children with Autism made her a perfect fit for Pathway.
Ms. Holmes is described as flexible, kind-hearted and always positive and caring in her relationships with students. It is truly a gift to be able to understand and develop a working relationship with students she may not see on a consistent basis. Ms. Holmes is known as a team player, who will go out of her way to assist wherever she is needed. The students enjoy working with her and appreciate her calm and welcoming demeanor.
Thank you, Ms. Holmes for being an inspiration. We all appreciate the good work you do enriching the lives of the students we serve.
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Marcellus began his education at Pathway in April, 2015 and has been described as a perfect example of the power of persistence. He gives his all in the classroom, asking questions when he needs assistance, participating fully, while adding information and strategies to a discussion. Marcellus is very kind hearted, always greeting peers and teachers when he enters the room. His sense of humor is infectious and you can usually find him laughing or wearing his million dollar smile. Marcellus also participates in the Pathway plays and this year he will be a young Simba in the January performances of
The
Lion King Experience, Jr
.
Marcellus’ resilience and determination helped him rise through the ranks of The Pathway Players to become one of the primary characters in this upcoming production. Marcellus may have been nervous at the start of rehearsal for
Lion King
but if his stellar performance as Young Simba at the November Legacy Gala is any precursor, he will be a star on the rise with upcoming and future productions.
Congratulations, Marcellus on all that you have accomplished. Your determination, hard work and positive attitude have certainly paid off!
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PJM Volunteer Event
Since 2012 Pathway’s friendly neighbor, PJM Interconnection, has volunteered a day of service each year. Some years, they came more than one day and so there was ample opportunity for the friendship to deepen and the mutual respect for work done on both campuses to grow. Since the group, typically 40 in number, has been so faithful in wanting to roll up their sleeves and work until it hurts, we know that there is not one building that has not felt the strong hands of these engineers and technicians. And now they may be improving our buildings for the 2
nd
time around, as they did this year on October 12 by re-painting the gymnasium!
Many hands, balls, hockey pucks and more mean that those walls need fresh paint each year and PJM folks took care of this. Others painted the Creative Arts area and Butera Hall, while others took care of the labor intensive task of removing Pathway’s logo from the aging fleet of vans. (New vans had just been delivered!) A very ambitious group, with sledge hammers and protective masks demolished the first interior layer in a building that will need total renovation in the future…do I sense a future project that will help to finish this building with the capable PJM Team once again volunteering? One can only hope!
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Halloween Fun
The unsettled weather pattern in October and days of rain stopped on October 31
st
, just in time for the annual Halloween parade across campus. Many of Pathway’s administrators, teachers, clinicians and support staff were dressed in costume, walking in the parade or lined up throughout the route offering candy to all participants.
It was a perfect day to dress up and celebrate fall!!!
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Legacy Gala 2018
The quaint Farmhouse at People’s Light was the perfect backdrop for the positive energy filling the room as guests gathered to celebrate Pathway’s 58
th
anniversary. The event was kicked off with cocktails and tasty hors d’ oeuvres, while guests participated in a silent auction to raise funds for the School. A few friendly bidding wars resulted in satisfied winners who knew they supported a great cause and also took home a unique item or experience.
Each year the Gala honors the “
People, Partners and Programs
” that have made significant contributions to the success of Pathway and the students we serve. This year the honorees included alumni parents, Bob and Linda Brockway, RiverCrest Golf Club and Pathway’s Creative Arts and Reading Programs. The program began with a four member cast bringing a preview of song and performance from the School’s future production of
The Lion King Experience Jr.
This was a delightful way to highlight the importance of Pathway’s mission to help students become more independent, as guests witnessed their confidence, determination and expectation for success!
Alumni parent, Linda Brockway, provided a moving testimony of life success experienced by their son, Christopher. Gratitude for Pathway’s support was emphasized through her words and those delivered by Brandon Lejeune, manager of RiverCrest Golf Club. RiverCrest’s generosity through their Charity Golf Classic and through their participation in Pathway’s student work program has enabled Brandon’s team to help prepare students for a productive future.
Countless students have received the benefit of Pathway’s Creative Arts and Reading Programs. Judy Smith, Chantell Boer and Shari Donath have given a total of 77 years to the students who will never forget their dedication and unrelenting belief in the power of excellent teaching.
Special guest speaker, Alden Trotman (Class of 1995) inspired all with his current work in a New Jersey operating room. While at Pathway he achieved his certification for nurse assistant and now is an indispensable member of a surgical team. He is thankful for Pathway’s staff who helped him to realize that asking for help does not mean that a person is defeated…smart!
Pathway President, David Schultheis, described the School’s future that was highlighted by a short video featuring student coding (thanks to faithful partner, BSD Education) and the importance of technology in tomorrow’s world. The revitalization of campus buildings, adds more than space for more students; the space is designed to encourage new ideas, solve problems and collaborate to reach a goal. A STEM + the Arts Innovation Center will begin to take form this winter and when completed will serve as a hub for student project-based learning. This space will continue to unlock curiosity, imagination and creativity through hands-on experiences and experiments.
The evening ended with the confirmation of Pathway’s legacy of success and a future that will bring even more students to the realization of a rewarding adulthood.
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Creative Arts and Reading Program
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Pathway Alumni Alden Trotman and President
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Musical Instrument Lessons Offered Through Musicopia
Musicopia, a non-profit organization that offers educational music enrichment programs in schools and communities all over the Philadelphia region has provided a variety of programs at Pathway throughout the years. This school year, the partnership has offered the opportunity for students to learn guitar, violin and percussion instruments. There are 37 students participating in one of the three classes. Each instrument is taught by a different instructor and offered once weekly. The program is set to continue through the end of May.
Music education provides an avenue for children to socialize and experience cooperative play through singing, dancing and playing instruments with teachers and peers. Music based activities allows for students to practice and further develop gross motor skills and self-expression, increasing self-awareness, self-confidence and self-esteem.
Stay tuned for information about an end of year recital. It should prove to be spectacular!
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Macy’s Continuing Partnership
Macy’s has been supporting Pathway in a variety of ways including, participation as a volunteer group, offering space within the King of Prussia store to showcase student art and in November committed as a “Legacy Sponsor” for the school’s gala held on November 2
nd
. Eight enthusiastic Macy’s guests attended the event, having the opportunity to learn more about the school and the remarkable students we serve. During the evening program they were able to see how their contribution and all funds raised will be used to further enhance programs and promote student success and independence into adulthood.
The check for $3,000 was presented to the school during a Saturday morning employee rally in the store. It was an opportunity to share information about Pathway to a large group of employees and to acknowledge the Macy’s, King of Prussia community for their commitment to “give back”. This relationship is continuing to expand and we are so excited about future possibilities. Thank you, Macy’s for making a difference!
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Mrs. Flannery’s Students Welcomes Chewy & Vadar into the Classroom
Last school year, for the school’s annual
Celebration of Learning
, Mrs. Flannery’s students made pillows for the cats at the Skippack animal shelter, Pawsabilities*. The students work was rewarded with grateful purring when the pillows were delivered to the shelter.
During the visit employees shared that at times people will surrender their small pets to the shelter, where they do their best to rehome them. The students immediately began researching what might be a good classroom pet and wrote letters to the school principal for approval. Over the summer Pawsabilities connected Mrs. Flannery with a family in Wayne who wanted to rehome two female guinea pigs. The family purchased a brand new cage and donated supplies for the first two weeks of care. The students were thrilled to have Chewy and Vadar join their classroom! These furry characters, straight from the cast of
Star Wars,
have added fun and responsibility to the daily routine.
The students have weekly jobs related to caring for the animals that rotate, such as cleaning the cage two times weekly (Tuesday and Friday), feeding and making sure they have water. In addition to caring for their basic needs, the students will at times read to Chewy and Vadar and most are getting used to petting and holding the girls. One young man, who was initially fearful, developed a mantra, “I am brave, I am strong, I am fearless” to encourage himself to feel calm when he wants to pick up the fast moving guinea pigs.
Students are more excited to come to school each day to be with their furry friends and help to care for them. The guinea pigs have found a new home and the benefit to everyone in the class is immeasurable! Welcome to Pathway, Chewy and Vadar!
* This shelter collaborates as a Pathway Career Education partner with many secondary students who love animals gaining experience in this work environment.
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The Pathway School | 610-277-0660| www.pathwayschool.org
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