230 Diamond Spring Road Denville, New Jersey 07834
February 2026 - When We BELIEVE, We Succeed. Dear CTC Families and Stakeholders,
Hope this finds you well and warm. Safe to say we are all looking forward to Spring!
Although the weather has been snowy and gloomy, it has been sunny and bright within the walls of CTC! It has been a busy February. Our documentary is wrapped and we look forward to sharing the final version with you in April
As we are officially halfway into the school year, we are very proud of all that we have accomplished thus far. We have continued to build strong curriculums and intense focus on improving Literacy and Academic Competence. In addition, we are looking forward to collaborating with the Creators of Connect Experience Write (CEW) Connect Experience Write (CEW) is a multisensory handwriting program designed by occupational therapists for children with alternative learning styles It uses music, movement, visual, tactile, and auditory cues to teach letter formation, progressing from, large, motor, whole-body, movements to, refined, pencil-to-paper, skills Please attend our upcoming parent informational session on March 5th at 2:00pm to learn more.
Looking ahead to the next four months, we are excited about many upcoming events such as the 2nd Annual Neurodiversity Walk, The Spring Concert, Graduations, Ride for Autism, Neurodiversity Awareness Concert and some other surprises along the way. We have completed our preparation for our upcoming 3rd Annual ESY Program and cannot wait to share the details as it gets closer In addition, we are in the last phases of organizing the details for our new playground installation over the summer.
As always, thank you for your generosity and support of CTC.
If you have any questions about our events, please contact Kristin Polster at kpolster@celebratethechildren.org.
Regards,
Student Spotlight StudentSpotlight
Each month, one randomly selected CTC student shares their school experience and what makes them unique!
Max: Hi, Poppy, you are so excited! What is your favorite thing at school?
Poppy: Playing with toys and Play-Doh with Ava!
Max: What is your favorite animal?
Poppy: Horse.
Max: What is your favorite color?
Poppy: Blue ... and pink!
Max: Who do you play with at home?
Poppy: Colby and mom.
Max: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Poppy: A swimmer!
Max: This has been fun. Great job, Poppy!
Poppy: Thank you!
Interview conducted by Y.A.P. student Max. Thank you to Ms. Nicole and Ms. Steph for facilitating!
r amazing staff share their CTC stories, hobbies, and professional motivations!
Q: Is there anything you would like to say to your colleagues?
A: I feel very lucky working with such compassionate and hardworking colleagues. I appreciate how willing everyone is to support one another
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: My favorite part of my job is building relationships with the students and seeing them grow. Being able to support them through challenges and celebrate their progress is so rewarding.
Q: What are your hopes for the future?
A: My hopes for the future are to become a teacher and have a classroom of my own.
Q: What inspires you most?
A: I am inspired by the students’ resilience, progress, and the realization of their own potential. When a student masters a skill they’ve been working on or has a good day after struggling, it makes everything worth it.
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.
Flowers by Candle-Lite FlowersbyCandle-Lite
This month, we are proud to recognize Flowers by Candle-Lite, a local florist located right here in Denville.
Flowers by Candle-Lite has been kind enough to donate generously to the Y.A.P. agriculture program this year, providing beautiful flowers for our students to use in projects such as wreaths and seasonal decorations. These donations have allowed our students to work hands-on with real materials, practice creative skills, and engage in meaningful project-based learning.
The owner, Todd, is well known in town for being charitable, caring, and a truly talented florist His work speaks for itself His generosity and heart for the community stand out just as much
Our Y.A.P. students have been inspired by Todd and his example. From this partnership grew an inhouse project called the “Give a Flower Initiative.” In this exercise, students choose a student or staff member to give a flower along with a handwritten note. The goal is simple: spread happiness through flowers and kindness.
What began as a donation of flowers has grown into something much bigger. It is a direct lesson in generosity, creativity, and community connection. Todd and Flowers by Candle-Lite have been making our town a brighter place through their talent and care for years. Through this partnership, our students are learning how to do the same.
We are grateful for community partners who remind us that small gestures can have a big impact and that beauty, when shared, multiplies.
- Erin Pollio, Structured Learning Experiences Coordinator at Celebrate the Children School
Education HQ EducationHQ
From internships, to specials, C.B.I.s, and more, Education HQ features topical program initiatives each month!
Look) ScienceisEverywhere(YouJustHavetoLook)
Science is Everywhere (You Just Have to
For this month’s Education HQ, we are excited to share a student reflection on science with Ms Kelly What I love about this piece is not just the science itself, but the student-led noticing, connecting, and meaning-making When students begin to see and connect with learning in the world around them, that is when education truly comes alive. That is DIR in action. Please enjoy.
- Vanessa Graves Foster, Vice Principal for High School and Y A P at Celebrate the Children School
So, for this installment of the monthly Celebrate the Children (CTC) School newsletter, I will be talking about my previous year ’ s High School teacher Kelly Reilly’s science classes about potential and kinetic energy and how she applied them to everyday life
To understand how Kelly is applying her lessons to school life we first need to be aware of the science. Heh, you ' re getting insight into the school and science in one! First let's talk about potential energy It represents how much energy a thing could express. For example a ball at the top of a slide has a lot of potential energy because it could roll down. While a ball on the ground has very little potential energy. I could lift a ball to the top of the slide but I'd be adding more energy (this is my guess). Kinetic energy on the other hand represents the energy a thing has because it is in motion. For example if the aforementioned ball were to start rolling down the slide it will have kinetic energy, or in bowling if you throw the ball down a lane, it will also have kinetic energy.
Kelly applies this to her lessons and provides experiences for her students to help them relate to the subject. For example in gym class, when a student reels back their arm for throwing a ball, it could be said the ball has high potential energy Then that potential energy is transferred into kinetic energy when the ball is thrown. Or, if they have bowling during Community-Based Instruction (CBI), the whole game can be transferred into an example of said energies, with throwing the ball being potential and the ball rolling being the kinetic Then there's the balls hitting the pins, which transfers the kinetic energy from it to the pins Kelly's class also practiced with rubber bands When you stretch the rubber band you give it a lot of potential energy when you release it, so it snaps back into place and it is turned into kinetic energy.
So as you can see science is around us, you just have to look, and Kelly is looking She uses what she sees to teach it to her class For some students, this helps them better understand the ideas
- Written by Young Adult Program Student, Menechem
Floortime Floortime
Floortime is the heartbeat of CTC.
Learn more about Floortime and the DIR® model here each month.
S
nowball Fight! SnowballFight!
Nothing brings back memories of childhood like going outsid neighborhood snowball fight! It evokes feelings of excitement, joy, tea the perfect shot. For so many of our kids, though, the idea of a snow intense sensory input. The cold, wet gloves, and extra clothing add so much to a world that can already be overwhelming.
This month, in middle school, we have taken away some of those variables with our sensory-friendly indoor ating peer interactions and practicing working as a team by acks” on other classes and using problem-solving to protect and their classrooms from incoming “snowballs” The kids are d to get out of their seats and get their bodies moving while geting gross motor skills like throwing, running, and dodging.
all fights” require students to utilize their visual-spatial skills l h h b d h h h ironment, ghts” also has been overload.
- Kelsey Lovenberg, Floortime Specialist
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.
Welcome Back, Kelly! WelcomeBack,Kelly!
We are so happy to share some wonderful news from the Alternative Communication (AC) Department Kelly Connelly has returned from maternity leave, and we are thrilled to welcome her back to our team!
Kelly is excited to reconnect with students and families and to continue supporting meaningful progress through Spelling to Communicate. Her experience, insight, and dedication have been deeply missed, and we are grateful to have her back working with our learners.
As Kelly resumes her schedule; giving us more time in our schedules, we invite families to reach out to the AC Department to schedule sessions with their child. Consistent collaboration between home and school is key, and these sessions provide valuable opportunities to strengthen skills, build confidence, and support communication growth
We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight an important reminder: Students who make the greatest progress with Spelling to Communicate are those who practice daily at home. Even 10 minutes per day of consistent practice can make a meaningful difference over time. Short, focused practice sessions help reinforce motor planning, accuracy, confidence, and independence.
If you have questions, would like guidance on home practice, or are ready to schedule sessions, please don’t hesitate to contact the AC Department. We look forward to working together to support your child’s communication journey.
- Lisa Romaine, S2C Practitioner 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.
“
All Access” Social-Emotional Learning “AllAccess”Social-EmotionalLearning
The CARES team was so happy to showcase our discipline for the All Access team on Tuesday, February 10th. Bailey Adams represented our department on this special day. She facilitated an educational group counseling session with a handful of our students to enhance their social awareness and understanding. Bailey covered the topic of perspective taking. Different scenarios were shown to the students using visual aides and they were asked how they would feel if they were in that situation. Then the students' reactions were compared and contrasted to highlight how our feelings and emotions make us unique Bailey discussed how we do not all have the same reactions to things. This was a great topic to aid in sharpening our students' social skills, helping them to foster empathy and identify how others are feeling
The students then role played potential future social situations that helped reinforce this learning This role playing exercise worked to increase their emotional capabilities, enhance their problem solving skills and assist them in navigating future social scenarios to strengthen their relationships with others
This session highlighted the unique DIR inspired counseling offered at Celebrate the Children School Bailey utilized the Nurtured Heart therapeutic approach in this group counseling session as well. Our department is so proud of the counseling work that we do with our students We believe that our overarching philosophy sets us apart from any other schools. All Access visiting our school provided us with such a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how we utilize DIR and Floortime to support our students specifically through counseling. We are happy for Bailey and enthusiastic about this wonderful opportunity.
- Kelly Parrella, School Social Worker
Physical Therapy PhysicalTherapy
Initiatives and activity recommendations from our Physical Therapists.
Get Ready to Learn GetReadytoLearn
ACelebrate the Children utilizes the Get Ready To Learn Project across classrooms to support the students' ability to learn This is an engaging program that helps students of all ages and abilities get their bodies and brains ready for learning. It uses developmentally appropriate yoga-based activities that foster regulation and engagement Proof of its effectiveness is observed in the smiles and calmness of the students when participating. The program has been introduced to classrooms with the guidance of a physical therapist Ongoing support and assistance are provided to the classroom staff, allowing them to reap the benefits of this program throughout the week. The activities, with appropriate pacing, support the various sensory needs of our students Body thinking, paired with the interoception of paying attention to different areas of the body, posturing, and breathing support the student to be present and ready for their day.
Consistent use of the program ensures the students work on important skills such as strength, flexibility, motor development, and body awareness. The shared experience of the whole class practicing the Get Ready To Learn activities creates a cohesive expectation where environment and gross motor movement work synergistically to bring engagement and regulation to the day's expectations in a gentle way. This context supports the philosophy of our DIR school The Get Ready To Learn Project provides that just-right balance for the students to be successful.
Further interest in this program to be implemented at home can be supported with the following links:
Parent Resources
Free At-Home Video Series on YouTube
- Cindy Kenworthy, Physical Therapist at Celebrate the Children
A look into our Occupational Therapists’ involvement in student development at CTC.
Office Club OfficeClub
Each week, high school students participating in Office Club step into a simulated workplace environment where they explore the tools, routines, and expectations of an office setting. Guided by Occupational Therapy, this group blends hands-on practice with functional skill-building to help students grow into confident, capable future workers. The program is rooted in the DIR (Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based) approach, emphasizing engagement, emotional regulation, and meaningful interactions.
Students learn how to use a variety of common office tools such as laminators, staplers, 3-hole punches, paper cutters, label makers, photocopiers, and shredders. Shredding has become a favorite task for many students across age groups; the immediate cause-and-effect of feeding paper into the machine and watching it break down can be highly regulating and motivating for learners. Students also take on real “jobs” for staff members, including organizing materials, creating laminated visuals, assembling packets, sorting papers, and preparing supplies. Completing authentic tasks helps students understand how their work contributes to the larger school community, building confidence and a sense of purpose
Beyond tool use, Office Club supports the development of important employment and life skills Students practice planning and sequencing multi-step tasks, staying organized, following written or visual directions, initiating work, and managing their time. They develop soft skills, such as greeting staff, asking for help appropriately, working collaboratively, taking turns, sharing materials, and demonstrating flexibility; these are intentionally embedded throughout each session
Office Club also supports the 5 C’s: Comfort, Competence, Confidence, Control, and Communication Predictable routines help students feel comfortable and regulated, skill practice builds competence, successful participation fosters confidence, opportunities for choice support a sense of control, and collaborative activities promote communication By combining real-world tools with meaningful responsibilities, Office Club offers students a structured, supportive space to practice independence, workplace readiness, and self-regulation. We are proud of the growth our students show each week and look forward to continued skill-building as the program expands.
- Lisa Rogers,
Occupational Therapist 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.
ExperientialLearningandCommunityBasedInstruction
Experiential Learning and Community Based Instruction
The speech-language department prides itself on supporting Community Based Instruction. At Celebrate the Children School, students learn about a topic in the classroom and then go out into the community to experience it firsthand Community based instruction reinforces and expands on classroom concepts For example, students may learn about money in math class and then apply those skills by paying for their goods at various stores like Five Below, Shoprite, and Target Other past examples include outings such as visiting the Randolph YMCA for swimming and land-based activities Each opportunity allows for the generalization of language use to reinforce the agency our students have in society. Community-based, experiential learning becomes a meaningful extension to the themes and concepts practiced in the classroom and allows the students to create lasting memories of success
A recent outing to Wendy’s allowed our students to apply the restaurant skills that they had practiced in-house in a less predictable and more sensory-stimulating environment The expressive diversity of our students was supported by the staff when reading the menu, and placing their order. Pragmatic skills were encouraged by the social nature of dining out, waiting one ’ s turn, and having back and forth exchanges with the Wendy’s staff. This experience also encouraged the students to try new foods
These types of tasks help strengthen the student’s executive functioning, problem solving skills, and independence Students benefit from using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and visual supports such as pictures to develop visual representation inherent to strengthening working memory. Our students grow when they are most engaged and enjoying themselves Applying what they know to community based instruction builds their competence and enhances their development of sense of self
Language is not to just be used inside a therapy session, but rather applied to real life opportunities, in order to give language power and meaning The more opportunities children have to feel included, the more confidently they will make meaning of their experiences. Families are encouraged to ask about their student’s visits into the community in order to facilitate more dialogue Families are also invited to email their own experiences to the student’s speech therapist and classroom teacher, so that these moments can be included in meaningful discussions.
- Fiana Bezpalko, 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.
Upcoming February 2026 Parent Trainings
February 25 10:00 am - Putting Play into Action- the DIR® Way! th
(Presented by Antoinette and Beth; In-Person Event)
“Putting Play into Action- The DIR® Way” “PuttingPlayintoAction-TheDIR®Way”
We invite you to join us on February 25th, 2026, at 10:00 AM for a hands-on and engaging workshop, “Putting Play into Action- The DIR® Way”, presented by Antoinette and Beth
This isn’t about playing “perfectly.”
It’s about connection, curiosity, and meeting children where they are with warmth, respect, and joy
When families learn from families, play becomes more relatable, more doable, and more powerful.
Sharing a video is optional Watch brief, real-life clips of families practicing Floortime at home. 2-4 minute videos may include:
Siblings playing and problem-solving together
Parents following their child’s lead
Everyday routines turned into playful interactions
Come watch, listen, and learn in a way that feels comfortable for you
- Celebrate the Children's Developmental, Training, and Support Department
