P.G. Chambers School Media Brochure

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excellence

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innovation

P.G. CHAMBERS SCHOOL

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P.G. Chambers School

P.G. Chambers School At P.G. Chambers School, “discovering potential� is at the heart of our mission, inspiring us to provide the best, most comprehensive special education and therapy programs for children with disabilities and developmental delays and inclusive early education for children with and without disabilities. P.G. Chambers School changes the lives of children by instilling a love of learning, encouraging independence, and most importantly, developing unshakable self-confidence.

Each child who participates in P.G. Chambers School programs benefits from an organization that makes a significant investment in his or her future with individualized instruction, the latest technology, a state-of-the-art facility, community partnerships, and highly qualified educators, therapists, nurses, teaching assistants, social workers, and administrators.

Our History In 1954, the wish of a small group of parents convinced an entire community to support the development of a school and therapy center for their children with disabilities. Within a year, the organization was officially incorporated as the Morris County Easter Seals Center. In that year, the organization served 69 children and had three employees. By 1976, the organization had developed comprehensive therapy and educational programs, providing services for 225 children from Morris County. At that time, the Board of Trustees voted to become an independent organization, incorporated as The Children’s Center for Therapy and Learning, disaffiliating from Easter Seals.

In 1993, the Center outgrew its Morris Plains facility and moved to the current Cedar Knolls location, a 22,000 square foot building, becoming a regional facility serving 500 children from nine counties each year. As a result of rapid organizational growth and long waiting lists for services, the organization completed an addition to the Cedar Knolls facility, nearly doubling its size. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, and to honor longtime board member and benefactor, Patti Chambers, the center was named P.G. Chambers School.

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P.G. Chambers School

Our Vision At P.G. Chambers School, we believe in our mission with a passion beyond all others; we see limitless possibilities for the children and families we serve, for ourselves, and for our organization; and we promise to keep the needs of the children and their families foremost, as we help them achieve all that is important to them.

Our Mission The P.G. Chambers School mission is to help children lead full, productive lives, develop confidence in their own abilities, and engage fully and frequently in the community.

Core Values By working cooperatively, diligently, and thoughtfully, we will maintain an organizational culture that values: • Providing our community with the very best services for children with disabilities by seeking quality in everything we do; • Showing respect for the children and families we serve, and for our colleagues with whom we work and grow; • Supporting creativity in our thinking, and innovation in our solutions; • Pursuing professional and personal growth every day, rewarding excellence and celebrating accomplishments; • Taking pride in our organization, its uniqueness, flexibility and capacity for change; • Showing ambition first and foremost for the cause, the organization, and the work; • Being accountable for delivering results, disciplined in our thinking and actions; and responsible to the community that supports us.

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P.G. Chambers School

Early Childhood At P.G. Chambers School the high expectations set for all students begin in the early childhood programs. As in other programs, children exhibit a diversity of knowledge based on differences in development, cultural background, and previous learning experiences.

The early childhood programs teach developmental skills through active play. Play allows children to explore their surroundings; learn important social concepts, such as turn-taking; expressing themselves effectively; and developing confidence for trying new things and solving problems in a safe, supportive environment. The PGCS team of early childhood educators and therapists use child-initiated play to promote appropriate social skills and language modeling when interacting with young children.

Early Intervention Early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays, birth through three years of age, has a dual purpose of assisting families in helping their child to improve developmental skills and providing parents with support, information, and education. The state-funded services are delivered through weekly home visits by early childhood specialists and therapists. P.G. Chambers School also hosts group experiences and an assistive technology program for these families.

Child Care Kids Count Child Care is a high quality, inclusive program that provides learning, social, and creative early childhood experiences for typically developing children and children with disabilities and developmental delays. The program for infants and young children, six weeks to five years of age, operates five days per week from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on-site at P.G. Chambers School.

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P.G. Chambers School

Private School P.G. Chambers School is a New Jersey Approved Private School for Students with Disabilities, and is as an educational option for students with disabilities, 3 through 14 years of age. PGCS offers comprehensive education, related services, therapy, and state-of-the-art technology. The academic curriculum meets the Common Core State Standards.

Private School Programs

PRESCHOOL

ELEMENTARY MIDDLE

Enrollment P.G. Chambers School welcomes prospective families to visit at any time during the school day and provides parents with general information about the programs, enrollment criteria, and services offered at PGCS. PGCS works with parents and child study teams to help identify appropriate educational settings for their children.

PGCS has open, rolling admissions throughout the year for eligible students.

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P.G. Chambers School

Preschool Program At P.G. Chambers School, the high expectations set for all of our students, extend to the early childhood programs.

As in the other programs, children exhibit a diversity of knowledge based on differences in development, cultural backgrounds, and previous learning experiences.

For the PGCS preschool program we have chosen High Scope, a curriculum that reflects best practice in special education, particularly with very young students. In High Scope the teacher designs a classroom program that matches the expressed needs and interests of the children in the class. This is reflective of the PGCS philosophy, where we begin with learning about a student’s strengths and skills, then design learning activities to match those skills. High Scope’s “plan-do-review” sequence involves children in decision-making and problem-solving situations throughout the day. The educational team’s role is to support the children’s decisions and encourage them to extend learning beyond the original plan. The classroom team also relies on a basic room arrangement and daily routine designed to stimulate and support active learning. For young students with multiple disabilities, this establishes a strong foundation for future academic learning and the development of appropriate social skills.

As a school, we are about possibilities not limitations.

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Elementary School Program At P.G. Chambers School, students participate in a full academic program, where learning is supported by access to technology, research-based curricula, and collaborative professional expertise. High quality instructional programs address each student’s individual learning style. Teachers, speech, physical, and occupational therapists, and nurses work as a team to ensure successful participation in instruction. Teaching strategies employ a wide range of high and low assistive technology and multi-sensory approaches.

Middle School Program At P.G. Chambers School, the middle school years mark the start of applying foundation skills to higher level thinking in the full academic program. Here the students use their foundation skills in reading, mathematics, self-expression, science and social studies for creative writing, understanding instructions, problem-solving and critical thinking, collaborating on projects, and exploring their world. The teams deliver instruction within a meaningful context to foster motivation, mastery, and application to everyday life.

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Contract Services P.G. Chambers School is uniquely qualified to help community public and private schools include students with disabilities into their classes and programs by providing on-site related services and educational consultation.

P.G. Chambers School develops contracts with schools to provide: evaluations and direct services in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy; learning and educational consultations to teachers and child study teams; and in-service training for staff and parent groups.

Contracts may be short-term or long-term, and imply continuing services over a period of time. Each contract is specifically designed and customized to meet the needs of students with disabilities attending the contract schools.

Contracts may often be a solution for schools to cover family leave, staffing shortages, or when particular expertise is required for a child to participate and benefit from his or her Individual Education Plan (IEP). There are a wide range of services that are offered from direct, individual therapy, to assistive and augmentative technology evaluations, to feeding consultations and trainings.

ambition purpose growth

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Therapy at P.G. Chambers School Therapy at P.G. Chambers School is integrated into the student’s day using a variety of approaches. Each classroom operates with a team that includes a physical, occupational, and speech therapist as well as an educator and teaching assistants. As often as appropriate, therapeutic strategies, intervention, adaptation, and techniques are used with students within the classroom and integrated into lesson plans during the school day. Students also participate in individual therapy and in small groups, and therapists provide consultative services to classroom teams and families.

Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy at P.G. Chambers School facilitates the student’s access to the curriculum and the physical environment. Occupational therapists work with students to increase their functional independence, to learn and apply new skills in real situations, and to manage the physical and sensory environment. Therapists also adapt and modify classroom tools to improve accessibility.

Speech and Language Therapy Through speech and language therapy in the classrooms and individual sessions, students learn to use a wide variety of communication approaches, typically combining verbal and non-verbal language strategies. The priority of the speech therapist is to ensure that each child has an effective means of communication.

Physical Therapy At P.G. Chambers School, students not only learn to move but move to learn. Students move throughout the day with the supports necessary to be successful, achieving independence in accessing the curriculum and navigating the school environment. As movement enhances learning, physical therapists design an individual movement plan for each student, keeping bodies limber, bones and joints aligned, and minds alert.

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About Us Throughout its history, PGCS has responded to the needs of children and families with professional, high quality, caring services. Today, PGCS is a leader in the field of special education and therapy services for children with developmental disabilities. PGCS is credentialed as both an Approved Private School for Students with Disabilities and an Approved Clinic and Agency by the New Jersey State Department of Education and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Office of Children and Families. The school is one of the region’s most comprehensive educational and therapeutic service providers, serving 10 counties in northern New Jersey.

P.G. Chambers School is a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, tax identification #22-1551480.

If you would like more information about P.G. Chambers School, including scheduling a visit, please contact us.

P.G. Chambers School 15 Halko Drive Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927

Email: info@chambersschool.org Phone: 973.829.8484 Fax: 973.829.8485 www.chambersschool.org

Connect with us: www.Facebook.com/PGChambersSchool www.Twitter.com/PGChambersSchl

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Discovering the unique potential within every child.

P.G. CHAMBERS SCHOOL 15 Halko Drive • Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927-1380 • 973.829.8484 • www.chambersschool.org “Cover art, self portrait by Michael, Class 1 and mentoring artist Khari Johnson-Ricks”