by The Children's Guild | Feb 13, 2024 | News
BALTIMORE, MD, February 14, 2024 – The Children’s Guild is delighted to announce the renewal of charter and contract school status by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) for two of their schools. Monarch Academy Glen Burnie received renewal of the charter status and Monarch Global Academy Laurel received renewal for the contract school status. Each year, AACPS conducts a comprehensive on-site review of each of its charter and contract schools including interviews with parents, teachers, students, school leadership, and governing board members. This renewal signifies the continued commitment of The Children’s Guild’s charter and contract schools to provide exceptional education and opportunities for its students.
“We are thrilled to receive the renewal of our charter and contract school status by AACPS. This acknowledgment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and the broader community who support our mission of providing a high-quality education,” said Kim Jakovics, Principal, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie. “With this renewal, we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation in education. The school remains committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential.”
“Congratulations to The Monarch Academy Charter Schools who strive for high academic standards and are accountable for student performance outcomes,” explains Pat Crain, Director, Educational Options and School Climate, AACPS. “Our mission is to provide a choice for parents and the community by providing innovative charter and contract school opportunities for students and we are committed to accountability and autonomy, while supporting these schools to produce positive outcomes for students and families of Anne Arundel County.”
The Monarch Academy Schools are part of The Children’s Guild (TCG), founded in 1953 and celebrating its 70th anniversary. TCG is a leading MidAtlantic nonprofit organization focused on helping students and families find success socially, emotionally, educationally, and developmentally through special education and charter schools, school-based mental health services, treatment foster care, autism services, family mental and behavioral health services, and workforce development programs.
Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George County, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Global Academy Laurel, Monarch Academy Annapolis, Monarch Preschool College Park, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, The Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OMHC), Treatment Foster Care, and TranZed Apprenticeships. For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.
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by The Children's Guild | Jan 24, 2024 | News
Pictured left to right: Kelly Schwalbert, Hughes Johnson, Mark Rapaport, Jenny Livelli and Elizabeth Garcia
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At the NAPSEC 2024 Annual Leadership Conference, we had the opportunity to engage with leading professionals in special education. We shared strategies, current trends, and our commitment to employee engagement. We are thrilled to be a part of this community serving students with special needs!
Startling Statistics Revealed
During our presentation, we highlighted some concerning statistics about workplace trends in the United States.
If you missed our presentation, a few stats we shared are worth repeating here:
- Low Trust in Leadership: Only 23% of U.S. employees strongly agree that they trust their organization’s leadership.
- Recognition Deficit: Just 23% of employees strongly feel they receive adequate recognition for their work.
- High Job Monitoring: Over half (51%) of global workers are seeking or open to new job opportunities.
- Disconnect with Organizational Culture: Only 22% of employees feel connected to their organization’s culture.
- Values and Daily Work Misalignment: Merely 25% of U.S. employees can strongly apply their organization’s values to their daily work, and about 33% strongly believe in these values.
For more detailed insights, you can refer to the original Gallup articles: Diagnosing a Broken Culture and Worrying Workplace Numbers
Are these areas where your organization needs to focus to enhance employee engagement and retention? They were for The Children’s Guild – and this is how we did it.
The Children’s Guild’s Approach
To address these challenges, we asked our staff three critical questions during our ‘listening tour’:
- What do you want to keep?
- What do you want to throw away?
- What do you want to renovate?
We gathered responses in various formats and compiled a task list to ensure that employees felt heard and leadership remained accountable for implementing changes.
Tools and Success
At our NAPSEC session, we shared some tools like the Energy Check tool, Culture Card, and Awards Recognition which you can use to adapt to your needs.
Since implementing these and other initiatives, we’ve seen increased trust between front-line staff and management, improved recognition of staff, and engagement, including 100% participation in donations from upper management during the annual fund year-end campaign.
Join us at NatCon 24
We’re excited to share similar insights at NatCon 24, hosted by The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, April 15-17 in St. Louis. We hope to see you there for another round of valuable learning and networking!
by The Children's Guild | Jan 17, 2024 | News
Voice of America reporter Dan Novak published this great article about the Orokawa Foundation Playground at Transformation Academy.
In less than six months since its completion, the state-of-the-art playground has drawn attention from around the country.
Learn more about how the playground serves our students beyond the traditional play setting. READ THE ARTICLE HERE:
Playground Provides Learning, Safety for Kids with Autism (voanews.com)
This dual slide, with extra high side walls, was designed for a child to be joined by another friend or adult.
by The Children's Guild | Dec 5, 2023 | Events, News
BALTIMORE, MD, December 5, 2023 – The Children’s Guild – Transformation Academy, a 12-month, non-public
separate day school based in Baltimore, MD, for students ages 5-21, whose primary diagnosis is autism, hosted Maryland Governor Wes Moore at a playground dedication ceremony. The Orokawa Foundation Playground, a brand-new outdoor sensory playground that features 25 inclusive elements that use both standard and customized components for students and caregivers to experience together, was built through a state grant and the support of the nonprofit foundation.
The event featured remarks from the Governor, community leaders, and families whose lives will be positively impacted by this transformative space.
WATCH OUR EVENT VIDEO HERE
“Approximately 1 in 54 children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and we are pleased we are able to provide a grant to support The Children’s Guild – Transformation Academy,” said Gov. Moore. “Our goals are to enrich student experiences and accelerate student outcomes, as well as improve the quality of education for all children in Maryland, especially those who have been historically underserved. This new inclusive playground is a wonderful example of grant money hard at work.”
“We thank the Governor for recognizing the need at The Transformation Academy and providing the funding to build a beautiful play space for our students, many whom have the most severe form of autism and require substantial support,” said Jenny Livelli, President and CEO, The Children’s Guild. “We also thank The Orokawa Foundation for their generosity to support this wonderful new play space which means our students have access to equipment and an environment specially designed to meet their needs.”
“Every child should experience the joy of a playground. The Orokawa Foundation is thrilled to support this amazing project which promotes sensory exploration, sparks students’ creativity, and helps them develop a passion for learning beyond the classroom,” said Samantha Cleland Manekin, Executive Director. “We are also touched by the school’s gesture of honoring our father, Bruce Cleland, in such a meaningful way.”
The playground, designed by Sparks at Play, offers collaborative, imaginative, theatrical, structured, and non-structured play. The 25 inclusive elements use both standard and custom components for students who have sensory, autism, hearing, and learning disabilities. The play function links all the components – down to the surfaces which is made of artificial turf, so students have a completely sensory and accessible experience. The Orokawa Foundation Playground embodies a holistic approach, integrating a myriad of sensory experiences that encourage exploration, interaction, and imaginative play.
“The dedication of the Orokawa Foundation Playground marks a milestone in our school’s journey toward creating spaces that are truly inclusive. This playground is not just a recreational area; it’s a symbol of our dedication to ensuring that every child in our school feels welcomed and valued,” said Vesna Grujicic, Principal of Transformation Academy. “This new play space represents a significant milestone in our commitment to providing an inclusive educational environment. This space not only fosters play but also supports the social, emotional, and sensory needs of our students on the autism spectrum, empowering them to thrive.”
The Transformation Academy provides skills and support to students and their families across a variety of settings including home, workplace, and community. The teachers and administrators provide programming to foster growth and independence for each student utilizing a collaborative team approach of highly trained professionals, including special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, behavior specialists, transition coordinators, and therapeutic behavior aides.
The Transformation Academy is part of The Children’s Guild (TCG), founded in 1953 and celebrating its 70th anniversary. TCG is a leading MidAtlantic nonprofit organization focused on helping students and families find success socially, emotionally, educationally, and developmentally through special education and charter schools, school-based mental health services, treatment foster care, autism services, family mental and behavioral health services, and workforce development programs. Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George County, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Global Academy Global Laurel, Monarch Academy Annapolis, Monarch Preschool College Park, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, The Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OMHC), Treatment Foster Care, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships. For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.
by The Children's Guild | Nov 28, 2023 | News
A specially designed playground waits for students at Transformation Academy
Campaign to Raise $25,000 to Unlock the Potential for a Brighter Future
During this season of giving, The Children’s Guild, a leading Mid-Atlantic nonprofit organization serving children, families, and child serving organizations is supporting Neurodiversity in Children with a goal of raising $25,000 to improve special education services. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, The Children’s Guild is focused on helping students and families find success socially, emotionally, educationally, and developmentally through special education and charter schools, school-based mental health services, treatment foster care, autism services, family mental and behavioral health services, and workforce development programs.
The Children’s Guild recently published Understanding Neurodiversity in Children and what it means to be neurodivergent, a term used to describe individuals whose brains process, learn, or behave differently from what is considered typical neurological development (neurotypical). At The Children’s Guild (TCG) the staff is trained to meet neurodiverse students where they are with tangible resources so they can experience more success. TCG oversees nonpublic, charter, and public schools, as well as programs for children at all different learning and emotional levels. Since its inception in 1953, The Children’s Guild operates schools serving students with significant behavioral and academic issues including emotional disturbance, autism across the spectrum, developmental disabilities, and any combination of those disabilities.
Of the world’s population, 15-20 percent exhibit some form of neurodivergence. Although the word refers to the diversity of all people, it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder, as well as other neurological or developmental conditions, such as ADHD or learning disabilities. About 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017. These included autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity.
Understanding Neurodiversity in Children provides definitions on the types of neurodiversity and signs to look for and how best to support a neurodivergent loved one. The three most common types are:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3, and some even earlier. About 1 in 36 children have been identified with ASD, according to estimates from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. Autism is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is nearly 4 times more common among boys than among girls.
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they’re noticeable as early as 3 years of age. The CDC suggests that around 9.4% of all children are diagnosed with ADHD at some point before the age of 18.
- Dyslexia: A specific learning disorder that primarily affects reading skills. Dyslexia symptoms can appear as early as preschool age. According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, dyslexia affects 20% of the population.
Since neurodiversity refers to the unique way that each person’s brain develops, it is not preventable, treatable, or curable but some of the conditions that cause a person to be neurodivergent are manageable. The best ways to help a neurodivergent child is to provide sensory-friendly spaces by reducing noise levels, using soft lighting, or providing access to sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones or fidget toys. Allow for sensory breaks if sensory overload occurs. Provide targeted social skills training programs on understanding nonverbal cues and maintaining conversations and establish predictable routines and visual schedules and breaking down complex tasks into smaller chunks.
Society has shifted greatly in the past few years in its understanding of the importance and diversity of how the brain operates. Advancements have been in special education, with approaches becoming centered around how people with assorted neurodivergent tendencies learn best. The Children’s Guild schools and programs are committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for neurodiverse students. During this Season of Giving, support The Children’s Guild and help them reach their goal of raising $25,000 to support neurodiverse students throughout their schools and programs. Click here to learn how to give.
Schools and programs of The Children’s Guild include Monarch Academy Annapolis, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Global Academy Laurel, Monarch Preschool College Park, The Children’s Guild DC PCS, The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George’s County, The Children’s Guild: Transformation Academy, The Janet & Frank Kelly Autism Center, TranZed Academy for Working Students, TranZed Apprenticeships, and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.
