Celebrating Our Graduates

We recently cheered on 15 incredible students as they walked across the stage at graduation and into the next chapter of their lives. Whether heading to college, other post-secondary education, or joining the workforce, we are proud of their hard work, determination, and accomplishments. Their futures are bright, and we’ll always be rooting for them!

Game On: Basketball & Cheer Bring the Heat

Our new basketball and cheer teams made a huge impact in their debut season! The basketball team dominated the league, going undefeated and finishing as conference champions. Their camaraderie, teamwork, and sportsmanship were inspiring, both on and off the court. The cheer squad brought the energy to every game, creating new chants and routines that pumped up the players and crowds.

One word to describe campus on game days? Electric.

Writers on the Rise

In Ms. Henderson’s Upper School English class, eight students’ short stories were selected for publication in the Young Writers’ Fright Club: “Into the Night” collection. The students who received this recognition are Jeremiah, Eli, David, Aidan, Ollie, Jamar, Lisa, and Luca.

Leveling Up: 911�Թ�’s E-sports Team

This year marked the launch of our first-ever E-sports team! Led by Ms. Bilker, students developed teamwork, strategy, and communication skills. The team now has five passionate members and is growing. Their energy, resilience, and love for gaming are taking them to new places and achievements!

Robotics with a Mission

Now in their third season, our robotics team, one of the only teams in the FIRST Robotics Mid-Atlantic competition circuit with all neurodiverse members, continues to amaze. They built their robot from the ground up and impressed judges with their quick thinking and problem-solving skills during matches. With Ms. Lawton’s guidance, the team is building momentum and is already looking ahead to next year’s competitions.

Theatre Takes Center Stage

Lights. Camera. Action! Our Theatre Arts students lit up the stage this year with incredible performances of Beetlejuice Jr! and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr! Performed at The Center Theatre, students memorized their lines and gave showstopping performances that wowed the audience.

School-Wide Success Stories

We’re proud to share some major schoolwide accomplishments:

• 911�Թ� was recognized by the Pennsylvania Positive Behavior Support (PaPBS) Network for implementing School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) with fidelity across all three tiers, and we’re the only school in Montgomery County to do so this year!
• We received a grant from the Eagles Autism Foundation this year for our Career Education Program. Our school was also featured in a highlighting the foundation’s community impact and how 911�Թ� is making a difference in the lives of neurodiverse students.

We are proud to be a community partner of the Eagles Autism Foundation and grateful to receive this support for the second consecutive year. We are also so appreciative to all funders – individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, who support our deserving students!

Until Next Year

This school year was full of new opportunities and unforgettable memories. We can’t wait to see what next year brings, because if it’s anything like this one, we’re in for another amazing ride!

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The exciting part is that the 911�Թ� Players didn’t just perform someone else’s work. Last school year, they created their own adaptation of the play! They wrote their own lyrics and worked with 911�Թ�’s music teacher, Mr. Jones, whose students helped in composing original music for the performance.

Creating their own version of the play was an educational journey for our students. They brainstormed ideas, wrote scripts, and even came up with unique lyrics for the songs. This process allowed them to develop their writing skills, learn about storytelling, and collaborate with each other. It was a true team effort, and the result is a play that is entirely their own.

Two of our 911�Թ� Players, Brendan and Eric, had the special opportunity to perform a shortened version of the play at the Elmwood Park Zoo, one of 911�Թ�’s partners. This was a great experience for our students to showcase their hard work and promote inclusivity in the community.

911�Թ�’s version of “War of the Worlds” is all about inspiring creativity and allowing our students to express themselves both on and off the stage. We invite you to see the 911�Թ� Players perform on August 7 and 8 at 10:30am at the Center Theatre. You won’t want to miss these amazing performances by our talented students!

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It was a sea of blue and gold as we celebrated the Class of 2024’s graduation. Excitement flooded the gym as our graduates gave heart-touching speeches and diplomas were presented. Each 911�Թ� student’s journey to walk across the graduation stage is inspiring and unique. We cannot express how proud we are of our seniors for working so hard and achieving this incredible milestone. Congratulations graduates!

This year, our robotics team, PATH To Domination, had an electric second season and continued to impress. As one of the only special education teams in the FIRST Robotics Mid-Atlantic competition, they broke boundaries with a first and fourth place finish at regional competitions. They finished the season by qualifying for the Mid-Atlantic District Championships again! Teamwork and dedication are understatements for this team. Practicing every day, making updates to their robot, and using the skills taught to them in our STEM-based classes, our students proved that they can accomplish anything.

The 911�Թ� Players, our talented theatre arts students, performed in two show stopping productions at the Center Theatre. Students rehearsed every Monday at the theater and practiced throughout the week, memorizing their lines and perfecting their stage presence. If you missed either performance, you can watch the full videos on our !

911�Թ� pride was off the charts during spirit weeks this year! A highlight was Autism Acceptance and Appreciation Spirit Week where students and staff dressed up in pajamas, their favorite sports team gear, and more. Our students and staff beamed with joy as we celebrated inclusivity throughout our campus community.

We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Lower School teacher Mrs. Sue Subers who received the Citadel Heart of Learning Award for her outstanding dedication to inspiring students and making an impact in their lives. Learn more about the Citadel Credit Union grants and teacher recognition .

911�Թ� was recognized again for our school-wide positive behavior support program. Our dedicated staff continued successful implementation of this program making 911�Թ� the only school in Montgomery County to receive distinguished recognition this year. We also honored 98 911�Թ� students for their exemplary behavior throughout the school year. What an amazing accomplishment!

As we wrap up another wonderful year, let’s celebrate all the hard work, achievements, and fun moments that made it special. We look forward to another fantastic year ahead!

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Mr. Pryor creates a space for students to share their own experiences through performing arts to push beyond the boundaries of only performing classic plays: “I want to break out of the box of Disney classics,” Pryor said. “My hope is to challenge our students by allowing them to create their own scripts inspired by their own experiences in life.”

In this one-of-a-kind program, students first dive into reading scripts of classic productions to develop an understanding of the play. The next step is where the magic happens: the writing workshops. Mr. Pryor asks students to interpret the play and weave their own experiences and imagination into their writing. He then compiles all scripts written by the students and works with Miss Alberici, 911�Թ�’s music teacher, to finalize the scripts for their productions.

This new approach kickstarted last summer with The 911�Թ� Players’ production of “The Alice Express,” based on the classic, “Alice in Wonderland.” The students performed their version of the play at The Center Theatre in Norristown, and their scripts were used for professional shows at The Hedgerow Theatre in Media. The success continued this summer with their own adaptation and performance of “The Little Prince” once again at The Center Theatre.

Not only did The 911�Թ� Players receive professional exposure for their original scripts, but they also enhanced their reading, writing, and speaking skills through creating their own adaptations. These imaginative adaptations serve as an exceptional opportunity for students to continue practicing skills that are instilled in them in the classroom setting.

911�Թ�’s Theatre Arts Program stands as a shining example of expression and innovation. 911�Թ�’s theatre arts program is about much more than just performances – it provides transformative experiences creating paths for our students that enhance life skills, confidence, and creativity.

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Directed by Pete Pryor, the cast included seasoned actors as well as first time performers. Parents, teachers, peers and friends in the community were entertained, laughing and applauding as the actors gave amazing performances, which became more fine-tuned with each show.

Special thanks to Shanell Coleman for making the costumes, backstage managers Dan Zippay and Karen Boettger and Amy Schuler and her art class for creating the colorful props.

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