A Free Event for Families and Friends of Young People
With Learning Challenges and/or Special Needs 

Join us for a day of familiy-friendly fun!
Sensory-friendly games
Activities and workshops for children with learning challenges of all ages and their families!
Interactive Theatre Games
Petting Zoo
Sensory Tent
Photos With Your Favorite Star Wars Characters
Snacks
Basket Raffle
…And much more!

Optional tours of the VFES Campus and
opportunity to learn about our programs.
Meet our expert professional staff. 
The Luma Center for Development and Learning
Summer Matters
The Vanguard School
Vanguard Transition Center

Local organizations are invited to sponsor an activity !
Want to get involved? 
Have a question?
Contact Raquel Braemer  rabraemer@vfes.net or 610.296.6726 x302

Vanguard School Students Send Their Love to Children at CHOP This Valentine’s Day

Vanguard Lower School students Wade Gittleson and Caitlin Calderon hold up Valentines they are creating for the children at CHOP. Behind them, Erica Falvey, a student teacher from Cabrini College who resides in Wallingford, shows off completed valentines.

…Paoli, PA…Lower School students at The Vanguard School hope to make this Valentine’s Day more full of love for children hospitalized at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The Vanguard students traced, cut, decorated and embellished 1,000 heart-shaped Valentine cards which will be distributed to children at the hospital. 

“Children helping children is a wonderful way of giving, sharing and believing in one another, said their teacher, Peggy Thomas.  “Helping one another can spread joy and happiness and love. My students have enjoyed making these Valentines every morning, creating special sayings in colorful drawings.  Group projects build self confidence and pride.  I am so proud of my students.”

Erica Falvey a student-teacher at The Vanguard School, organized the project in order to share with students the joy of doing good for others. Falvey wrote on the box of Valentines her belief that “If you can find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded!” Thomas added, “Erica has done a great job with this project.” 

About The Vanguard School:
Founded in 1959, The Vanguard School is a Pennsylvania Approved Private School for Special Education licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that serves students ages 4 through 21 with array of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, neurological impairments and social-emotional difficulties. To learn more about programs offered visit www.vanguardschool-pa.org. The Vanguard School is a division of Valley Forge Educational Services.

About Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES)
VFES offers educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence.  Programs include: The Vanguard School, Vanguard Transition Center, The Luma Center™ for Development and Learning and Summer Matters™. Dedicated to improving specialized education, VFES offers innovative research and advanced practices through its own programs and outreach programs for professional development and parent education. www.vfes.net

Valley Forge Educational Services Announces Upcoming Programs For Parents and Educators Of Special Special Needs Sudents

 …Paoli, PA….Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) (www.vfes.net) today announced its 2012 Upcoming Programming for parents and educators of special needs students in the Greater Philadelphia region.

“Part of VFES’s mission is to guide children to independence. We offer workshops to parents and educators as we believe sharing knowledge with them is integral to helping children,” said James Kirkpatrick, Acting CEO, Valley Forge Educational Services.

The 2012 Program includes:

• Learning and Self-Esteem Workshop: This parent workshop led by Maria Kreiter, certified All Kinds of Minds presenter and Director of VFES Professional Development and Outreach, will explore how learning strengths and weaknesses contribute to a child’s self-esteem. Strategies and communication techniques to support learning and self-esteem and strategies and techniques to help children whose learning differences are contributing to poor school performance and low self-esteem will be taught. Teachers are welcome to attend. Date: February 15, 2012.
• Speech and Language-The Key To Child Development: Dr. James Coplan, noted author, speaker and neurodevelopmental pediatrician from Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics of the Main Line, PC, will discuss normal speech and language development in young children and the importance of distinguishing between “delayed speech” and delayed language. Date: February 28, 2012.
• Building Home-School Alliances Workshop: This workshop will address the value of building an alliance between parents, caregivers, educators and children. Participants will leave with strategies for effective conversations that support learning. The workshop will be facilitated by Maria Kreiter, certified All Kinds of Minds presenter and Director of VFES Professional Development and Outreach. Date: March 21, 2012.
• Delayed Auditory Processing and Implications for Language Development: Children with ASD often exhibit difficulties processing sound and speech. MEG technology can be used evaluate and tailor treatment. Timothy Roberts, Ph.D., Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Radiology of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will help parents understand the implications of a scan, treatments available and recommendations for future treatment tailoring and pharmaceutical evaluation. Date: March 28, 2012

For more information on each event and to register for these events, please visit www.vfes.net.

About Valley Forge Educational Services
Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence. VFES provides educational programs and offers clinical services through its programs at The Vanguard School, Vanguard Transition Center, The Luma Center™ for Development and Learning and Summer Matters™. Dedicated to improving specialized education, VFES offers innovative research and advanced practices through its own programs and outreach programs for professional development and parent education. For more information on Valley Forge Educational Services, please visit www.vfes.net.

Valley Forge Educational Services Presented with $47,000 Donation from SKF USA to Support Summer Learning Programs

Raquel Braemer, Advancement Coordinator, Holly Zipperer, Director of Summer Programs, and James Kirkpatrick, Acting CEO, all of Valley Forge Educational Services thank Poul Jeppesen, President and CEO, and Jeffrey DeLisi, Corporate Tax Director, of SKF USA.

Emily and Alex Peetros of Gladwyn have fun playing with child development specific toys with Nancy Allard, Director of The Luma Center™, Malvern, at the VFES “Special Kids” Camp Expo.

…Paoli, PA…Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) (www.vfes.net) was presented with a $47,000 donation from SKF USA through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program at the “Special Kids” Camp Expo on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Almost 200 parents and students from around the region attended this year’s Expo event.

The donation will benefit the Summer Voyagers program along with VFES’ other Summer Matters programs, including Summer L.I.F.E. for students ages 8-21 with high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and Extended School Year (ESY) programs.

“Summer Voyagers’ strengths-based program helps struggling students realize their potential and develop tools for school success,” said Jim Kirkpatrick, VFES Acting CEO.  “The financial support of SKF USA levels the playing field for many of our families – offering much-needed scholarships so that children can participate in supported academic and recreational opportunities each summer.”

“Giving back to the community is very much a part of SKF’s culture and the services that Valley Forge Educational Services provide exemplifies helping others less able,” said Poul Jeppesen, President and CEO, SKF USA. “We’re delighted that we could support VFES’ summer programs.”

About Valley Forge Educational Services
Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence. For more information on Valley Forge Educational Services, please visit www.vfes.net.

About SKF USA Inc.
SKF USA Inc., headquartered in Lansdale, PA, is part of the SKF Group, a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services that include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2010 were $9.1 billion and the number of employees was 44,742. www.skfusa.com  

Valley Forge Educational Services Announces Launch of New Summer Voyagers Program

Innovative, Child-Centered Summer Learning Model Is Customized for Students with Special Needs

 …Paoli, PA….Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) (www.vfes.net) today announced the launch of Summer Voyagers, a new summer learning program, part of VFES’ Summer Matters™ program.

Unlike the many traditional summer remediation model programs in the region, Summer Matters offers a continuum of innovative programming for learners with special needs, ages 5 – 21. The new Summer Voyagers program, which is designed for children entering kindergarten through fifth grade in September 2012, uses an integrated approach of direct, small group academic instruction and executive function skill building with the support of experienced educators and on-site speech and occupational therapists. It combines multisensory, small-group academic instruction in reading and math with instruction in executive function skills – such as organization, planning, adaptability, impulse control, resilience and persistence – all key factors in school success.   

On Saturday, January 28^th, VFES will recognize a $47,000 donation from SKF USA through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program at the “Special Kids” Camp Expo. The donation will  benefit the Summer Voyagers program along with VFES’ other summer programs, including Summer L.I.F.E. for students ages 8-21 with high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and Extended School Year (ESY) programs.

“Summer Voyagers’ strengths-based program helps struggling students realize their potential and develop tools for school success,” said Jim Kirkpatrick, VFES Acting CEO.  “The financial support of SKF USA levels the playing field for many of our families – offering much-needed scholarships so that children can participate in supported academic and recreational opportunities each summer.”

“Giving back to the community is very much a part of SKF’s culture and the services that Valley Forge Educational Services provide exemplifies helping others less able,” said Poul Jeppesen, President and CEO, SKF USA. “We’re delighted that we could support the Summer Voyagers program.”

To learn more about Summer Matters’ offerings for Summer 2012, visit the website www.summermatters.org or read more about VFES’ vision for summer learning.

About Valley Forge Educational Services
Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence. For more information on Valley Forge Educational Services, please visit www.vfes.net.

About SKF USA Inc.
SKF USA Inc., headquartered in Lansdale, PA, is part of the SKF Group, a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services that include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2010 were $9.1 billion and the number of employees was 44,742. www.skfusa.com

Vanguard Students Give Back

..Paoli, PA…Vanguard students show off the Kentucky Fried Chicken lunch they were given as special recognition for their participation in Free Rice. Behind them are employees from the Phoenixville KFC who delivered the meal, and Tim Lanshe, Director of Education at the School.

Vanguard Lower School students have donated more than 222,000 grains of rice to feed the hungry through the website freerice.com, an achievement celebrated at a lunch on December 13 provided by Yum! Brands, one of the site’s sponsors.

Students at the School have correctly answered vocabulary, grammar, math, geography and art questions to earn the rice. Sponsors of the website freerice.com donate rice to the U.N. World Food Program each time a user correctly answers a question. Every correct answer yields 10 grains of rice.

Yum! contributed “chicken checks” for Kentucky Fried Chicken for the students’ lunch.

Karen Sherman, Senior Director of Public Relations at Yum!, wrote that she feels “very lucky to have formed a special friendship” with Vanguard students and staff. She encouraged the students to “keep up the great work and leadership with the Free Rice game” and added that she is very thankful for them.

Vanguard Transition Center Students Celebrate the Season

Students at the Vanguard Transition Center decorated a “winter tree” they cut down at Varner Farms with eco-friendly ornaments they handcrafted from natural materials. Social, recreational and community activities are an important part of the curriculum at the Vanguard Transition Center, which prepares special education students 18-21 for their futures. Students at the Center pursue post-secondary education and vocational training and develop life and independent-living skills.

The Summer Matters Program of VFES will host an “Open House” to provide interested families and professionals with detailed information about its 2012 program offerings, as well as an overview of the Summer Matters.  Summer programs for 2012 include: Summer Voyagers, Summer L.I.F.E., The ESY Program at The Vanguard School and The Vanguard Transition Center Summer Experience.

This event is free of charge to all families and professionals.

To RSVP for this event contact Holly Zipperer at: hozipperer@vfes.net or 610-296-6725 x115 for details.

The Luma Center Announces Speech Language Pathologist For New Program Starting In January

Intensive Program Focuses on Apraxia and Speech & Language Disorders- in 4-to-5- Year Olds

PAOLI, PA—The Luma Center™ for Development and Learning in Malvern today announced Jolynn Thomas, MS Ed CCC-SLP, as the new Speech and Language Pathologist for its new school-year program, Speech and Language Explorers.

The Speech and Language Explorers program, which provides support for children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and other speech and language disorders in a brand new therapy center, is now accepting enrollments for January and the 2012-2013 school year. For registration information, please email info@lumacenter.org or call 610-296-6725, x183.

Thomas brings 16 years of working with children and adults with a variety of speech and language impairments to the program, which provides a rich, language-based curriculum to 4-5 year-olds with speech and language-based learning challenges in a small group environment.

 “Thomas’ experience and commitment to working with families will be a tremendous asset to The Luma Center,” said Nancy Allard, Director of The Luma Center.  “In developing this new program we are consulting with speech and language therapists who have worked with children for 25-30 years and have lots of experience and expertise with specific disorders such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech. As the speech language pathologist for our new Speech and Language Explorers program, Jolynn brings the skill and enthusiasm needed to meet the needs of children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech or other speech/language-based disabilities in our region.”

Thomas has a Master of Science in Education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany NY and a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in Philadelphia. She also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence and a Pennsylvania State License in Speech Language Pathology.

The Luma Center™ is directed by Nancy Allard, MA, OTR/L, who has more than twenty-eight years of experience working with children and families. She holds a master’s degree from New York University in occupational therapy, a BA in psychology, and certification in both elementary and special education. For more information on The Speech and Language Explorers program, or The Luma Center and its services, contact Nancy Allard, at 610-296-6725 x183 or www.lumacenter.org.

About the Luma Center™ for Development and Learning:
The Luma Center™ offers child development consultation and services to families and organizations to support children across home, school, and community environments. Our knowledgeable and skilled team comprises professionals from the fields of education, occupational, physical and speech therapies and psychology. The Center offers comprehensive occupational, physical, speech and language evaluations and individual therapies, sensory integration and praxis testing, developmental screenings, individualized student planning and learning support, parent coaching, and school year programs for 3-8 year-olds. The Center also offers therapeutic and social skills groups for preschoolers through teens under the guidance of experienced facilitators. The Luma Center™ is located in Malvern, PA and is a program of Valley Forge Educational Services. www.lumacenter.org

About Valley Forge Educational Services

Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence. VFES provides educational programs and offers clinical services through its programs at The Vanguard School, Vanguard Transition Center, The Luma Center™ for Development and Learning and Summer Matters™. Dedicated to improving specialized education, VFES offers innovative research and advanced practices through its own programs and outreach programs for professional development and parent education. For more information on Valley Forge Educational Services, please visit www.vfes.net.

Valley Forge Educational Services Announces New Director of Business Development

Former Executive Director of the African American Chamber of Commerce John T. Childress Brings Extensive Industry Experience to the Position

 PAOLI, PA—Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES), which offers educational services to young children, adolescents and post-high school learners with specialized learning needs, announced today the appointment of John T. Childress as Director of Business Development.

“It is a pleasure to welcome John to VFES,” said James Kirkpatrick, CFO and Acting CEO. “His deep experience in management consulting, strategic planning and business development will aid VFES as it establishes new services within the special education sector and works to assure the continued quality and sustainability of its existing offerings.”

Mr. Childress was most recently President of Childress Business Consulting, which has connected small businesses with over $3 million in new revenue and contracts. In 2005, he was selected to serve as Executive Director of the African American Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia where he helped increase membership by creating a new strategic vision for the Chamber.  Earlier in his career he served as Area Financial Manager for Edison Schools and a finance manager at Temple University.

Mr. Childress served for six years as an elected member of the East Greenwich (NJ) Board of Education. He was a member of the Mayor of Philadelphia’s Education Initiative Task Force, Committee Chair of the School District of Philadelphia Secondary Education Anchor Team and the Central Delaware Waterfront Advisory Committee.

Mr. Childress has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University School of Business.  He is certified as a trainer/facilitator in the Predictive Index, Balanced Scorecard, and FastTrac tools and programs.

About Valley Forge Educational Services:
Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence. VFES provides educational programs and offers clinical services through its programs at The Vanguard School, Vanguard Transition Center, The Luma Center™ for Development and Learning and Summer Matters™. Dedicated to improving specialized education, VFES offers innovative research and advanced practices through its own programs and outreach programs for professional development and parent education. For more information on Valley Forge Educational Services, please visit www.vfes.net.