NEARI School Welcome Back 2025-26 SY

Dear NEARI Families,

Welcome back to a new school year at NEARI! We are excited to begin another year of learning, growth, and connection with your children.

Since its founding, NEARI has been guided by the belief that every student deserves a learning environment built on relationships, mastery, self-advocacy, and self-empowerment designed to meet their needs. These values continue to shape our classrooms, our therapeutic practices, and our community as a whole.

During staff training last week, we focused on practices that strengthen our work together, including Brain-Based Learning, Responsive Classroom, and Collaborative Problem Solving. These approaches give our staff shared tools and language to support students in both academics and social-emotional development.

In addition, our staff have been preparing classrooms, refining curriculum, and planning engaging opportunities for students. With our new pod structure, each age group is supported by a dedicated team of leaders who are focused on meeting the needs of every student.

We look forward to working closely with you and keeping you informed throughout the year. Your partnership helps make NEARI a place where students not only learn, but also grow in confidence and resilience.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. Let’s get ready for another meaningful and successful year ahead.

Warmly,
Matthew Schibley LMHC
Executive Director

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NEARI School’s Commitment During Times of Change

11/22/2024
Dear NEARI Community,

As we navigate the ongoing changes in education policy at the federal level, I want to take a moment to directly address our staff, families, and supporters. At NEARI School, our mission to create a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for all our students will not change, regardless of the political climate.  I know that many of you are concerned about how potential changes to the U.S. Department of Education or special education policies could affect our students. Please know that we are prepared and focused on ensuring that our school remains a strong and stable place for every member of our community.While there is uncertainty about what the future may hold, I want to share that the law that protects students with disabilities—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—has been in place for decades, and it would continue to protect students, even if the Education Department were to change or be eliminated. The Department of Education plays an important role in supporting and enforcing these rights, but much of the responsibility for special education will continue to rest with states and local communities.  The protections in IDEA will remain intact and we will continue to advocate for these essential rights.

Regardless here are some key steps we are already taking to ensure that NEARI stays strong and is prepared:

Diversifying Funding and Advocating for Resources: We are actively seeking new funding opportunities and building strong partnerships to ensure that our programs are well-supported, no matter what happens at the federal level. NEARI works closely with organizations like MAAPS and AISNE, and we are dedicated to making sure that our voices are heard, especially when it comes to advocating for the needs of students with disabilities.

Prioritizing Teacher Recruitment and Retention: We understand that having the right staff is critical to our students’ success. That's why we continue to improve our employee benefits, salaries, and professional development programs to attract and retain the best educators and staff. We also continue to ensure that all of our staff meet the high standards required to support our students effectively.

Strengthening Communication and Advocacy for Families: We are committed to keeping families informed and supported through any changes that may come. We will continue to provide regular updates, resources, and guidance to help families navigate the challenges ahead. You can always reach out to us if you have questions or need support.

While we don’t know exactly how things will unfold at the federal level, we are confident that NEARI’s core mission—ensuring a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for our students—will remain unchanged. Our staff and families have always been resilient and together, we will continue to face whatever comes our way with strength and determination.

To our staff: Your dedication and commitment to our students makes NEARI a place of hope and opportunity.
To our families: Your trust and partnership are what drives our work every day. 

Together, we will continue to provide the best possible school for our students to ensure their success.  Please know that we are here to answer any questions and provide guidance as we move forward. Let’s continue working together to make NEARI School an even stronger community.

With gratitude,
Matthew Schibley LMHC
Executive Director