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3rd ANNUAL WALK-A-THON RAISED FUNDS FOR CONCORDIA LEARNING CENTER STUDENTS
The school’s Executive Director, Judy Ortman was overwhelmed by the tremendous response to the event. “With each year that passes our Walk-A-Thon grows stronger, much like our students.” This year, more than 300 people participated in the event including 40 students from the Wayne High School Leos organization. The day started on a high note with the Jersey City Middle School Number 7 band under the direction of Band Instructor Marie Downes. More than 30 student band members provided an upbeat series of popular tunes for the walkers to enjoy. The Jersey City Police Department, Fire Department, and the Department of Parks worked together to provide a safe and secure route for the event. Shoo Shoo T. Clown was also on hand to cheer the walkers. The professional clown donated his time to bring smiles to the children and brighten the day. If you missed our walk, there’s still time to be counted. Send your donation to: Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind, Attention: Ellen Felicetta/Walk-A-Thon Committee, 761 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07307. View more pictures.
Justin & friends. The Justin Charity Bear Fund Visited Concordia Learning Center On a recent visit to Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph's School for the Blind, eight year old Justin Martin explained that “….every child needs to have a bear of their own, especially children who are sick.” With the help of his family and volunteers this determined, compassionate young boy set out on a mission to do just that. Through his self-named charity, Justin has built and hand delivered more than 1,100 bears in 2009 and is still counting!
At Concordia Learning Center, Justin and his younger sister Jade, personally delivered 62 bears to students who are blind, visually impaired and have additional disabilities. Accompanied by their father, Justin and Jade made their way to each classroom bringing their special Build-A-Bear friends and lots of smiles to each child.
Founded in 2008, The Justin Charity Bear Fund has donated bears to children in hospitals, shelters and in low income areas throughout New Jersey. To learn more about the fund visit http://justinbearfund.weebly.com
. Click here to view the movie.
UPS DELIVERS BIG FOR CONCORDIA LEARNING CENTER
UPS Metro Jersey District and the UPS Foundation recently awarded Concordia Leaning Center at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind a $25,000.00 check to upgrade the School’s information technology system. Through this funding, network upgrades will ensure the security of all data and flow of communication at Concordia Learning Center. The School’s Executive Director Judy Ortman who was on hand to receive the gift said, “The upgrades will prevent an abrupt system failure which would negatively impact the daily operation of our School and leave our students who are blind/visually impaired and have multiple disabilities at risk.” In addition to the grant award, 25 UPS Metro Jersey District team members tackled a series of hands-on projects at the School including fence repair and clean-up of the sensory gardens. The volunteers also conducted an information session with student reporters from the school newspaper, “The Student Voice.” Working through the UPS Foundation, company employees organize food drives, work in soup kitchens and help improve impoverished communities throughout the U.S. and around the world. They're all part of the UPS “Neighbor to Neighbor” program; the personal heart of UPS's philanthropic outreach. The UPS Metro Jersey District is headquartered in Secaucus and delivers to an area that stretches across all or parts of Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Sussex, Warren, Hudson, Union, Morris, Hunterdon, Monmouth and Middlesex counties in New Jersey and the borough of Staten Island, NY as well as Spring Valley, NY. The 25 staff volunteers represented all UPS departments including Human Resources, Finance, Labor, Security, Business Development, Industrial Engineering, Automotive, Transportation and Operations.
UPS DELIVERS FOR ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND Staff volunteers from the UPS Metro Jersey District delivered more than packages at Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph's School for the Blind. The 25 member team tackled a series of hands-on projects including fence repair and clean-up of the school’s sensory gardens. Working at record pace, the team assembled bookcases and desks, re-organized an attic storage area and assisted in the school cafeteria. UPS volunteers also conducted an information session with student reporters from the school newspaper, “The Student Voice.” Working through the UPS Foundation, company employees organize food drives, work in soup kitchens and help improve impoverished communities throughout the U.S. and around the world. They're all part of the UPS “Neighbor to Neighbor” program; the personal heart of UPS's philanthropic outreach. The UPS Metro Jersey District is headquartered in Secaucus and delivers to an area that stretches across all or parts of Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Sussex, Warren, Hudson, Union, Morris, Hunterdon, Monmouth and Middlesex counties in New Jersey and the borough of Staten Island, NY as well as Spring Valley, NY. The 25 staff volunteers represented all UPS departments including Human Resources, Finance, Labor, Security, Business Development, Industrial Engineering, Automotive, Transportation and Operations. View some pictures.
ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND CELEBRATES NEW JERSEY’S St. Joseph's School for the Blind kicked off New Jersey’s first Blindness Awareness Month (BAM) with a gala reception on Friday, October 2, 2009 at The Manor in West Orange, honoring the school’s founders, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and distinguished colleague, alumnus, and award winning sports journalist, Ed Lucas. The celebration headlined jazz pianist Ernie Edwards, a Newark resident and alumnus of St. Joseph's School for the Blind, and keyboard musician Ed Fedush who is also blind. Jacob Webb, bass player for Edwards, and student at William Paterson University also donated his talents to the event. Renowned sportscaster Spencer Ross, a longtime friend and supporter of the School presided as Master of Ceremonies. State Senator Loretta Weinberg presented official resolutions from the State House to both the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and Lucas from the Governor’s office honoring them for their years of service to the blind and visually impaired. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise also presented resolutions and thanked the School for serving the visually impaired in Hudson County and throughout the State for more than a century. Earlier this year, Governor Corzine signed into law a measure designating October of each year, “Blindness Awareness Month” in New Jersey. This important legislation acknowledges the vital importance of raising awareness about the ways to prevent, treat and cure blindness and other visual impairments. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, more than 20 million Americans report experiencing significant vision loss while the World Health Organization estimates that 75% of all blindness can be treated, cured, or prevented by highly cost-effective means.
Throughout the month of October, Concordia Learning Center will be welcoming friends and supporters to our school for personal tours. To arrange a visit, please contact Ellen M. Felicetta, Director of Development (201) 876-5432 x 113, or via email efelicetta@sjsnj.org View some pictures.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Concordia Learning Center, 761 Summit Avenue will hold an Open House on Saturday, April 25th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. to introduce its free Abbott preschool program scheduled to begin this fall. The Center will have available space for 90 students. All students must be Jersey City residents and turn 3 years old by October 1, 2009. New Jersey’s Abbott preschool program is one of the highest quality pre-k programs in the nation offering a developmentally appropriate curriculum. According to State findings, the curriculum is designed to have a significant impact on academic achievement in early and later school years. The program is taught by certified teachers and teacher aides; provides a nutritional breakfast, lunch and snack, and offers before and after school care. With only 15 students per class, students are guaranteed individualized attention and care. Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph's School for the Blind is a state of the art facility with fully equipped classrooms, a new playground, gardens, and indoor gym. For further information regarding the Open House or registration, contact Migdalia Viole, Director of the Abbott Preschool at Concordia Learning Center, (201) 876-5432 x 109 or email mviole@sjsnj.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND ANNOUNCES St. Joseph's School for the Blind’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the school has approved a new name to compliment an expanded mission in serving people with special needs. The school will now be known as Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph's School for the Blind. Since its start in 1891, St. Joseph’s has remained the only school in New Jersey serving the blind and visually impaired. Today, with a new state-of-the-art facility and more than a century of experience educating individuals with disabilities, the expanded mission reflects the schools growth as a premiere provider of educational and social services. The new school facility, which opened in 2007, was designed specifically to serve the disabled and provides ample classroom and therapeutic space to meet the growing demands for specialized services in the region. A multipurpose gymnasium, music, art and pre-vocational classrooms, speech, physical and occupational therapies, technology lab and a new adaptive playground are all on site in addition to a residence facility that adjoins the school building. Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph's School for the Blind will continue its primary mission to serve individuals who are blind and visually impaired and expand service to include individuals with multiple disabilities and preschool disabled. According to Interim Executive Director Judy Ortman, “Our new facility offers an unprecedented opportunity to expand services. The school is now poised to respond to the changing needs of our communities and become a multi-program provider for individuals with special needs.” The expansion is reflected in the School’s new mission statement whereas, For further information about Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph's School for the Blind contact Ellen M. Felicetta, Director of Development (201) 876-5432 x 113, or via email efelicetta@sjsnj.org
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Students, faculty, families and friends joined together on Friday, May 28, 2010 for Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind’s 3rd Annual Walk-A-Thon. The successful event, held at Pershing Field Park in Jersey City Heights, was sponsored by generous supporters including The Westin Hotels and Resorts, Newark Avenue Jersey City Chamber of Commerce, Louis Gargiulo Company, Minuteman Press, Hudson City Savings Bank and a host of businesses and individuals from around the region. Together they helped raise more than $14,000 which will aid in the purchase of specialized equipment for the students to assist them in the academic and therapeutic areas.
