WJRC Literacy Strategies Workshop at GPA
The West Jersey Reading Council (WJRC) will present Strategies for Literacy Development as part of it's Spring Workshop Series at Garfield Park Academy. The event will be held on March 14, 2018, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to add new stategies to their teaching toolboxes. Two (2) professional development hours will [...]
Tuning In To Biofeedback
We asked Claudia Faucher, RN, a nurse at GPA, about the biofeedback program at Garfield Park Academy. Q: What is biofeedback? A: Biofeedback uses non-invasive computerized technology to help students learn to manage their stress responses. Special instruments and sensors are used to measure heart rate, respiration, and temperature with the purpose of “feeding back” [...]
Preparing Students for Success When They Return to District
Joe Brogan, a case manager at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, knew that when T’s social and behavioral challenges and difficulty maintaining positive peer relationships, were having a negative impact on her academic work, she needed a different approach. He and others on the IEP team turned to Garfield Park Academy for placement when T [...]
Social and Emotional Learning: Zones of Regulation
Every day, we encounter circumstances that test our limits, whether on the drive to work, playing sports, or at the dinner table. When we recognize that we are stressed, we do something to manage our feelings and get ourselves back to a healthy place - a process called self-regulation. Self-regulation comes naturally for some, but [...]
A “Growing” Interest in Learning
Lush green leaves and the sweet smell of warm potting soil welcome students when they walk into the newly refurbished Horticulture Center at Garfield Park Academy. The center functions as a quiet oasis for students, where they can connect with nature and get their hands dirty. The program recently added a fenced-in outdoor organic garden [...]
Sensory Room Brings Calm
Color. Sound. Texture. A brand new sensory room is helping students improve self-awareness and explore self-regulation strategies. Used increasingly for students on the autism spectrum and those with sensory integration issues, the multisensory environment consists of an array of lights, sounds and tactile experiences that can be adjusted to individual preferences. The room includes a [...]
Tip Toeing Through Text: StoryWalk
StoryWalk, a concept created by Vermont educator Anne Ferguson, is a fun and innovative activity that places the pages from a children’s story along a route in the community, on the playground, or inside the school building. It helps build children's interest in reading while encouraging healthy activity.
Driving Ambition at GPA
Learning to drive is a right of passage for American teens, and those at GPA are no exception. This year, Michael Gill, Physical Education teacher, worked with a group of Juniors and Seniors to get them ready to take the written portion of the New Jersey drivers test.
Jonathan Noriega ’12
Private First Class, Jonathan Noriega returned to Garfield Park Academy this winter. The 2012 graduate met with staff and students, reflecting on what he learned at GPA. He took questions about hard work, life in the military, and how GPA helped turn his life around.
GPA Students Exhibit Artworks at Local Hospital
Garfield Park Academy students once again filled the gallery at Virtua Memorial Hospital with artwork, raising spirits and awareness. A reception for the students and their artwork was held at Virtua's Mount Holly Gallery on March 21st. Using a variety of recycled materials, students developed themed artworks to call attention to human trafficking [...]