230 Diamond Spring Road Denville, New Jersey 07834
Dear CTC Community,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! This year, CTC celebrates 22 years of special education We could not be more proud of our continued journey to support neurodiversity and to empower our students to reach their potential through the DIR Model and our developmental programming
Last year, we subscribed through word and action to the tenet of Connect, Inspire and Grow. A professional standard through which we engage, plan and interface with our community. This tenet continues to remain strong this year and mirrors our philosophy and approach that we value so much.
As we continue to celebrate individual differences, we think about the term neurodiversity and what that means to All What does this mean? How does it change the way we educate- does it? Does it change the outcomes? From our perspective, it reaffirms what we have always thought. Our students are intelligent, capable and want to learn, communicate, and grow They are full of amazing ideas and have the potential to thrive when supported in a nurturing environment. It also affirms that there is not only one way to learn. We must continue to create an environment that supports diverse learners and underscores the importance of being flexible and allowing experiences and meaning to guide intervention. We must focus on the strength of the individual and utilize those strengths to work on areas that are challenging. When we truly believe in the individual, it shows. It shows in the way we speak to our students, our lessons and the opportunities we provide, our body language, our tone and our expectations. When we believe in our students, we are channeling positive energy and a healthy mindset.
This year, we have chosen the theme: When We Believe, We Succeed!
We are off to a fantastic and positive start. Our Friday trainings have begun for our staff and we are rolling out new initiatives. Expansion of our Partnering with Parents initiative is underway. We will be sending out a survey for parents and families in regards to specific trainings that would be helpful across all age ranges each and every month. These training sessions will also span all disciplines to support the different areas in your child’s plan. In addition, we continue to provide on-site DIR support for parents, siblings and relatives If you are interested, please contact Antoinette Price x124.
We look forward to seeing you this Thursday at our Back to School Night. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to an incredible and successful year ahead As always, please reach out as needed
Regards, Lauren Blaszak
Student Spotlight StudentSpotlight
Each month, one randomly-selected CTC student shares their school experience and what makes them unique!
Max: What are some things you are passionate about at home?
Edz: I am very happy to answer you. I am very into science and love space.
Max: Who is your inspiration?
Edz: I want to say big boys like you inspire me.
Max: That's kind.
Max: What do you dream of doing one day?
Edz: I want to help other kids like us find hope.
Edz: I am not quiet like you.
Max: Quiet is hard. I am proud of you, Edz. This is a great place to end.
Interview conducted by Y.A.P. student Max.
Thank you to Ms. Lisa and Ms. Nicole for facilitating!
Members of our amazing staff share their CTC stories, personal hobbies, and professional motivations!
Q: Where were you born and what was your background before coming to Celebrate the Children?
A: I was born in Newark and grew up in Hopatcong, New Jersey After high school, I attended a one-year program at Berkeley Business School I worked at Exxon Corporation before having children
Q: When did you start working at Celebrate the Children?
A: I started working at CTC in 2012
Q: What were the circumstances around your decision to work at Celebrate the Children?
A: It was time for me to return to work My very good friend, Nurse Mary, suggested I apply at CTC
Q: What was it like to apply to work at Celebrate the Children?
A: It was a pleasant experience I met with Lisa Robson, and she later offered me a job as a paraprofessional
Q: What was the first position you held at Celebrate the Children?
A: I was a para to a child who was about 8 years old His name was Phoenix, and I’m sure everyone who has worked at CTC for several years remembers him He left CTC for another school but later returned to attend the Y A P
Q: What position do you currently hold at Celebrate the Children?
A: I am still a para in elementary I have also worked in middle school and high school, but my passion is with elementary-aged children
Q: What is your favorite part about every job you ’ ve worked at Celebrate the Children both currently and before?
A: The students and my co-workers
Q: What inspires you?
A: I find it most inspiring to see how much a student progresses during the school year I was out for three months recuperating from knee surgery, and when I returned, I was amazed at the progress of each student
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I enjoy working out and try to exercise five days a week at my local gym I’ve been doing that for over 30 years! I also love to shop No matter where I travel, I will always check out the local stores and shopping centers
Q: What do you hope to do in the future, both in and out of work?
A: I will eventually retire and hope to travel with my husband
Q: Is there anything that has been challenging for you inside and outside of work?
A: We can all agree that the COVID pandemic was the most recent challenge
CTC CommunityCTCCommunity
Celebrate the Children is deeply grateful for all of the wonderful community partners we and our students are fortunate to work with. Every month, we shine a light on just one of the many amazing establishments in our community.
Coast of Maine & Anchor Ace Hardware
CoastofMaine&AnchorAceHardware
Do you know where your food comes from?
At Celebrate the Children, our students are learning the answer firsthand. Through our school garden, greenhouse, and community plot, they are intimately involved in planting, nurturing, and harvesting These experiences teach not only where food comes from, but also transferable skills that will carry them well beyond graduation: responsibility, teamwork, and care for the environment- But it all starts with the soil.
This year, we took the step of applying for the Coast of Maine Growing Good Program, which provides schools and non-profits with donations of organic soil and compost. We were honored to be accepted, and the impact was immediate. By starting with healthy soil, our students can cultivate healthy plants, and even more importantly, healthy learning.
Part of the program ’ s steps to success is building strong local connections. That is where Anchor ACE Hardware in Denville came in, agreeing to source the materials and partner with us in this mission. Four of our students proudly represented our school by visiting the store, learning more about Anchor ACE’s mission and operations while engaging directly with our community partner Anchor ACE also helped us stretch another grant further by offering additional gardening tools at a discount, ensuring our students have everything they need to succeed in their agricultural internships and garden projects. Students may even be able to pursue an internship here in the future, further connecting classroom learning with real-world opportunities.
These opportunities would not be possible without the generosity of Coast of Maine and the support of Anchor ACE Hardware. Together, they make sure our students are not just learning about food systems, they are living them.
We are proud to grow good, proud to grow together, and proud to watch our students thrive. Go fast, go alone. Go far, go together.
- Vanessa Graves Foster, High School and Y A P Vice-Principal at Celebrate the Children
Education HQ EducationHQ
From internships, to specials, C.B.I.s, and more, Education HQ features topical program initiatives each month!
More than Specials: Building Skills, Confidence, and Community
Students at Celebrate the Children have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects through our specials classes, including: culinary arts, physical education, life skills, S T E A M and outdoor education, art, music, music therapy, and more. The curriculum is flexible and directly shaped by student needs and interests, allowing every learner to shine in their own way.
Y A P student Kevin says, “I like S T E A M because I like to build things, especially things that deal with transportation. But I need structure and rules so that I can learn and focus.” His experience reflects the way specials integrate both creativity and clear structure to help students succeed. High school teacher Kelly adds, “We find that many of the activities in specials are cross-curricular with our academic lessons. For example, S T E A M classes have been coding the movement of remote control cars in the same manner as plotting points on the coordinate plane. Also, students can code for cars to move at angle measurements of 45 and 90 degrees. In art class, students study the same color wheel that we study in chemistry.”
For some, having this time in specials offers an important outlet for regulation and expression Elementary teacher Holly says " my kids really love music therapy and music class! It creates a calming routine that always helps ground them before or after a challenging task. It helps my students feel empowered when they see their ideas come to life in our music classes " Her student Sabiq adds " my favorite thing is playing the guitar!"
Our focus on C.B.I. (community-based instruction) makes these experiences even more engaging and purposeful. For example, many classes went apple picking this fall and then brought their apples into culinary arts to create delicious dishes Elementary student Paxton shared, “I like cooking,” while Delyla said, “I liked this C B I because I got to bring apples home to my family.” Moments like these show how specials, C.B.I., and our philosophy at large work together to give students authentic, meaningful ways to practice skills and connect learning to their daily lives.
Our specials are not just enrichment; they are joyful, purposeful experiences that highlight the multifaceted parts of a well-rounded education. They are relevant to who our students are, and they respect their interests and identities while giving them space to grow in creativity, confidence, and independence.
- Vanessa Graves Foster, High School and Y.A.P. Vice-Principal at Celebrate the Children
Floortime Floortime
Floortime is the bread and butter of CTC.
Learn more about Floortime and the DIR® model here each month.
Beyond the Play BeyondthePlay
Floortime is more than play; it supports fostering emotional connections and promotes development It’s about understanding your child's individual differences and implementing that understanding during academics, play, or everyday situations. For example, the student in this example struggled to grasp the concept of takeaways in her math assignment. The Floortime specialist recognized her passion and used it to help her understand the concept better
She was given $100.00 in Monopoly money and asked to go shopping on Amazon. Each time she added something to her cart, she needed to deduct that amount from her total. This hands-on approach made learning fun and provided a practical context for grasping mathematical concepts By connecting academic content with her interests, she could engage with the material more meaningfully, illustrating the effectiveness of the Floortime method.
This type of Floortime not only teaches the concept of takeaways but also helps children learn how to make change and identify different types of money along with their values. By engaging students in practical scenarios, they gain a better understanding of financial literacy while reinforcing their math skills.
Through play, we create growth opportunities, allowing the child to develop at their own pace. This approach nurtures not only academic skills, but also emotional and social understanding through turning play into a vital life lesson. By meeting children where they are and guiding them through engaging interactions, we can support their journey toward reaching new heights.
Process is more important than the product!
- Lissette Gray, Floortime Specialist at Celebrate the Children
Spelling to Communicate SpellingtoCommunicate
Spelling to Communicate (S2C) is a powerful practice that allows non-speaking individuals to communicate their thoughts through typing or utilizing a letterboard. Celebrate the Children is proud to empower and amplify their voices
Celebrating Communication CelebratingCommunication
At Celebrate The Children, we are witnessing an exciting and important growth in the number of students who use Spelling to Communicate (S2C). This method allows non-speaking students to express themselves by pointing to letters on a letterboard or keyboard, giving them access to rich, meaningful communication and participation in school life
To start the school year, staff engaged in an inspiring in-service training that highlighted the voices of our adult student community Two accomplished communicators, Max and Sagarika, joined the session to share their lived experiences as non-speakers navigating education. Using their letterboards and typing, they responded directly to staff questions about their school journeys, the challenges they faced, and the supports that made the greatest difference in their success.
Max and Sagarika’s reflections gave staff a powerful reminder that non-speaking does not mean non-thinking. They offered insight into the patience, respect, and creativity needed from teachers to unlock the potential of every student Their willingness to speak candidly about what helped and what sometimes hurt created a meaningful dialogue that will guide our team in supporting other students who communicate in this way.
As the population of spellers grows at CTC, we remain committed to ensuring that every voice is heard, valued, and empowered. The staff left the training inspired and energized to continue building classrooms where communication differences are celebrated and students can thrive.
We are excited to invite parents of current typers/spellers and anyone who may be interested in typing/spelling for their child to participate in our monthly parent group which will be held on the second Friday of each month at 10am Our first meeting this year will be on 10/10/25 We will meet in the staff lounge at CTC Please contact Lisa Romaine @lromaine@celebratethechildren org if you have any questions or need further information.
- Lisa Romaine, S2C Practitioner at Celebrate the Children
Behavior Team BehaviorTeam
The Behavior Team provides insights and tools to support student success, at school and at home
Community Safety CommunitySafety
Experienced-based learning is key to providing our students the opportunity to acquire new skills that can be generalized and applied to real-life situations. To promote safe behavior within the community, we find it best to role play these skills in as close to the natural setting as possible. To grasp these concepts, we sometimes reverse our roles and have our students act as the teachers to enhance their experience. This, in turn, will help the students retain more information.
In this example, we were looking to teach community safety skills. To do so, you will see a student posing as a crossing guard in the front of our school. When parents and/or staff arrived on campus, they were stopped by this student’s teacher to help coordinate this hands-on lesson. The goal was for the student to direct staff to use the crosswalk appropriately while the student works to keep staff and visitors safe with a STOP/GO sign
Because this student had a successful experience in a natural setting, we are confident that when he encounters a crosswalk and/or crossing guard in the future, these skills will generalize and he will know how to be safe within the community Meaningful experiences within a naturalistic environment help students form powerful memories to aid in the generalization of new skills.
-Anthony Hellman, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at Celebrate the Children
C.A.R.E.S. Corner C.A.R.E.S.Corner
C.A.R.E.S. stands for Counseling, Advocacy and Resources for Educational SupportOur School Social Workers and Counselors are here to support you and your child.
The Nurtured Heart Approach TheNurturedHeartApproach
Fridays afternoons are reserved for educating and training our CTC staff. This designated time provides the staff with ongoing opportunities to continue to learn and grow in order to provide the best interactions with our students daily. The CARES department is grateful to have the dedication of our administration to providing and supporting these weekly trainings. The commitment to educating and training our staff is what sets Celebrate the Children School apart.
In our September 12th training, Frank Piccone came and taught a training class to all of the CTC staff on The Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA). Frank came last year and worked with our staff, as well The Nurtured Heart Approach is a traumainformed, relationship-based behavior modification method. The approach encourages two main thought processes. The first involves adults refusing to give energy to negative behavior. In Frank’s words, we "don't feed the weeds". The second guiding principle is to enthusiastically recognize and celebrate positive behavior and strengths of the student; also known as "feeding the flowers"
The benefits of this model are that it helps build positive relationships, encourages self-regulation, fosters positive behaviors, and reduces problematic behaviors Celebrate the Children School utilizes the Nurtured Heart Approach as our overarching therapeutic philosophy. Our CARES team has had extensive training on this model and is utilized within all of our therapeutic environments It was wonderful for our full CTC staff to get training for a second year on this amazing method. The CARES team is planning a parent training on this topic soon, stay tuned!
-Kelly Parrella, School Social Worker at Celebrate the Children
P
hysical Therapy PhysicalTherapy Department initiatives and activity recommendations from our Physical Therapists.
NSM Adaptive Equipment
One of the roles of the physical therapists at Celebrate The Children, especially when a new school year begins, is to look at the physical challenges of each student and determine how that given challenge may impact the student’s learning and social well-being. Assessing the needs of the child may lend itself to consider adaptive equipment options.
National Seating and Mobility (NSM), based in Whippany, New Jersey, is a company that provides knowledgeable representatives that come to our school when a student is in need of any adaptive equipment. This equipment can be anything from specific classroom chairs to adaptive strollers and standers. When the physical therapist evaluates a student and finds that the use of adaptive equipment may better support the student’s participation in the school day, an appointment is made with an NSM representative for further evaluation.
Over the years, Celebrate the Children’s physical therapists have worked with NSM to provide our students with classroom chairs, strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles and standers. NSM has become an integral partnership to ensure each student can be as independent and successful as possible. Additionally, having a strong working relationship with this provider allows the physical therapist to ensure best supports for the student so that each student’s physical development and engagement are well-thought-out and enhance overall gains.
-Joelle Callahan, Physical Therapist at Celebrate the Children
Occupational Therapy OccupationalTherapy
A look into our Occupational Therapists' involvement in student development at CTC.
Brain Busters BrainBusters
“Brain Busters” is a Therapist and School Social Worker-led program that focuses on teaching students about how different parts of our brains, such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus, affect our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors By learning how the brain responds to stress and emotional triggers, students begin to recognize signs of dysregulation and understand that these reactions are both natural and manageable.
The program emphasizes self-awareness and emotional literacy through interactive activities, culminating in an experienced-based approach. It offers practical coping strategies like: deep breathing, grounding techniques, and positive self-talk/thought, in which the students practice to help navigate the difficult situations presented. Through this knowledge, students gain a sense of control and confidence, empowering them to regulate their emotions more effectively in a daily setting. This will help them build resilience when faced with everyday challenges.
“Brain Busters” is implemented once a week in well-matched classrooms to support regulation from a top-down approach. The Related Services Team supports case management by building on relationships with the students, in conjunction with assessing their individual profile to increase awareness of self. The interactive approach to this group lends itself to the internal motivation of the students to contribute to the discussion and recognize their control over the activity.
Providing opportunities for the students to gain agency over a group supports their competence and gives them power over their own regulatory state Generalizing these skills to real time stressors within their week will build on the child’s capacity to develop higher level problem solving skills and co-regulation abilities to maintain optimal engagement for academic and social demands.
- Jennifer Ovalle, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant-Licensed at Celebrate the Children
Speech- Language Pathology Speech-LanguagePathology
Speech-Language Pathologists detail their work at CTC and provide options for furthering communication at home
It Takes a Team to Communicate ItTakesaTeamtoCommunicate
The assessment process for students at Celebrate The Children allows for a whole-team approach to establish the “I” in The DIR model Understanding the individual differences of each student allows for a clear picture of the child’s strengths and weaknesses. The Speech-Language Pathologist uses this process to have an understanding of the language profile of the student. This profile will be used to support the child’s ability to be an active participant in the school environment for academic and social conversations. The first step in all of this is developing a trusting relationship with the child The Speech-Language Therapist does not work in isolation, but rather works to gain insight from the Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapist on the team and to use those insights to determine how these areas affect the developmental levels of DIR.
Related Services as a department has a team of 28 clinicians who work closely in teams and in comradery. The relationship among the disciplines has afforded the ongoing growth of the department. The Related Service Department meets every Tuesday to discuss the vision of the school and to provide relevant training that will grow the skill sets of its therapists This year ’ s vision is to “clinic” new students by getting a holistic insight into the child’s profile across disciplinary expertise. The team working with the student shares baseline video and the whole department “think tanks” collaboratively on all that is gleaned from the footage.
The Speech-Language Pathologist looks at verbal production, articulatory precision, oral posturing, Augmentative Alternative Communication, comprehension, memory, play skills, and concept knowledge. The foundation to these skills comes directly from the insight of the Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists who look at body thinking, hand thinking, and the sensory processing of the child. The feedback that is offered in this collaborative model allows for the support needed to maximize engagement and two-way communication to occur which will aid the development of language. The more language can develop, the better thinking and problem solving improves, which will then in turn keep the student appropriately acting on their world and growing the confidence and competence to reach their maximum potential. Language does not develop in a therapeutic bubble, but rather in conjunction with the entire team of professionals that are working together to support the whole of each child.
-Michelle
Attardi, Speech-Language Pathologist at Celebrate the Children
Parent Trainings ParentTrainings
Upcoming workshops and events designed to strengthen the home–school connection. Highlighting opportunities for parents to learn, share, and partner with the school in supporting every child’s growth and success.
October 2025 Parent Trainings:
Parent Healing with Glenn - Wednesday, October 15th (1:30pm - 3:30pm)
Turning 18: What Every Parent of a Child with a Disability Needs to Know with Hinkle, Prior, Fischer, & Oberweis, P C - Wednesday, October 15th (Virtual, 6:30pm)
Parent Partnering: What is D.I.R.? with Beth and Antoinette - Monday, October 27th (10am) [RSVP Here]
Parent Healing with Glenn - Wednesday, October 29th (1:30pm - 3:30pm)
November 2025 Parent Trainings:
Parent Healing with Glenn - Wednesday, November 5th (1:30pm - 3:30pm)
Navigating DDD (in English - Thursday, November 13th (Virtual, 12:00pm)
Navigating DDD (en Español) - Thursday, November 13th (Virtual, 1:00pm)
Alternative Communication: S2C - Friday, November 14th (10:00am - 12:00pm)
Parent Healing with Glenn - Wednesday, November 19th (1:30pm - 3:30pm)
Effective Estate Planning with Hinkle, Prior, Fischer, & Oberweis, P.C. - Wednesday, October 15th (Virtual, 6:30pm)
At Celebrate the Children School, we believe that strong relationships between parents and children form the foundation for growth, learning, and emotional development. That’s why we are excited to offer Parent Partnering sessions through DIR® Floortime, designed to support families in building deeper, more meaningful connections.
By participating, parents gain confidence, skills, and strategies to nurture their child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development.
Together, we can strengthen family bonds and empower children to reach their full potential. Whether you are looking for tools to support your child at home, strategies for everyday challenges, or a community of parents walking the same journey, our Parent Partnering sessions are here to help.
For more information on upcoming sessions and trainings, contact Antoinette Price at aprice@celebratethechildren.org or 973-989-4033 ext. 124.
- Celebrate the Children's Developmental, Training, and Support Department
