NHS Playground is Complete!

It’s time to play! The students at our Springfield campus now have a safe, outdoor space to play! Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this project a reality. We are so grateful to all the foundations, organizations, businesses and individuals who donated and took part in the fundraising events that made this all possible.

The kiddos at NHS have loved having a beautiful green space with amazing playground equipment to use at school. It is also a great space for teachers to take their students out and have activities on the enclosed grass surface.

We now have a playground where children of all types of abilities can play together; one that addresses the needs of typically developing children as well as children with neurological, intellectual and physical disabilities. We are so thankful to finally have an inclusive playground that accommodates all children and challenges each of them at their own developmental levels.

2023 NHA Christmas Musical

Grab your ten-gallon hats and cowboy boots, and hustle on down to Pettisville Missionary Church on December 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. for a foot-stompin’ holiday hoedown!

This year, New Horizons Academy (NHA) will be putting on a fun, toe-tapping, country spectacular for its Christmas Musical.

NHA’s preschool to high school students, along with Music Teacher Melissa Valentine, will be putting on a Christmas Musical that no one will forget!

Be sure to save the date, and mark your calendars so you don’t miss NHA’s Holiday Country Hoedown.

Event Date:	Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Event Location:	Pettisville Missionary Church, Pettisville, Ohio
Event Time:	6:30 p.m.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Event has ended

You’re not going to want to miss this memorable holiday event!

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please call the school office at 419-335-7272 or contact NHA Music Teacher Melissa Valentine.

Springfield Playground Project Underway

New Horizons Academy (NHA) has officially broken ground and begun installing its inclusive, multisensory playground equipment at its Springfield Township Campus. NHA hopes to unveil the new playground at the beginning of this school year in August. Come on out August 17 for the school Open House and get a peek at our new, AWESOME playground!

In the coming weeks the artificial grass turf and fence are scheduled to be installed. But for now, get a sneak peek of our playground under construction!

Donations are still being accepted to help cover the cost of this new play area, so please consider giving today or walking in the September 2023 NHA Fun Run/Walk.

Back to School Open Houses

We are so excited to welcome back to school our NHA students and parents with our school Open House on August 17. To make the Open House a little less overwhelming for our special needs students and to give them and their parents more time to find their rooms and to talk with their teachers, principal, therapists, conductors, and classmates, NHA will be staggering its open house schedule.

Open House date for all campuses: Thursday, August 17

Springfield Campus—6201 Trust Dr., Holland

4:30-6:00 p.m.

Be sure to check out our NEW, fully accessible playground!

Wauseon Campus—220 Lawrence Ave, Wauseon

4:30-5:15 p.m.—STAR & KIT Classes
5:30-6:15 p.m.—Mr. Ryan’s & Ms. Anna’s Classes & Middle School
6-6:45 p.m.—Conductive Education (CE)

Sara’s Garden Building—620 W. Leggett, Wauseon

6-6:45 p.m.—Junior High & High School

Career Center—854 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon

4:30-6:00 p.m.—New Students
5-6:00 p.m.—Returning Students

For more information on NHA, please call the school offices:

Wauseon—419-335-7272
Springfield—567-703-1322

Congratulations to NHA’s 2023 graduates!

Congratulations to NHA’s LARGEST Graduating Class Yet!

At this year’s 2023 graduation, New Horizons Academy (NHA) broke its own 2021 record, graduating 12 students…its largest graduating class yet!

On May 21 at the Career Center, 12 students crossed the stage and celebrated their high school accomplishments. They included:

Luke Chambers
Tony Conti
Tyler Davidoff
Hannah Engler
Gabe Hobby (Salutatorian)
Arek Jadwisiak
Noah Nagel (Valedictorian)
Logan Parker
Josh Parran
Cadince Ramirez
Ellisha Rodriguez (Receiving her long-awaited diploma from 2020)
Jackson Snider

Our graduates are headed out on many and diverse career paths. Noah is hoping to begin college classes in the fall at Revere Bible College. Luke, Tony, Tyler, Hannah, Gabe, Arek, Logan, and Cadince will be exploring part-time jobs and career training programs. Josh and Jackson will join Ellisha returning to develop their vocational skills at the Career Center and Special Grounds Coffee in August.

Photos from the graduation ceremony can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.696534239146887&type=3

Congratulations to our 2023 graduates!

Hey Springfield… Let’s Play OUTSIDE!

“Let’s play OUTSIDE!” are words that we hope to hear very soon at New Horizons Academy’s Springfield Campus. After over two years of grant writing and fundraising, we hope to break ground mid-April on our long awaited playground project. Our hope is to unveil this fully accessible, multi-sensory playground in August to kick off the new school year.

After years of playing in the school hall and sensory room, NHA’s kiddos are ready to break free, soak in the green therapy, and PLAY!

Educators know that play is about more than just recreational activities, recess, or break time for our students. Play helps children, of all ability levels, increase their physical fitness, reduce obesity, gain emotional and mental mastery, lay the groundwork for creative thinking, promote cognitive development and reasoning, develop their fine and gross motor skills, improve their problem solving abilities, and offer them opportunities to try out new social patterns and behaviors.

This fully inclusive, multi-sensory playground will offer children and youth of all ability levels and their families a place to explore, discover, and grow together. The play area will address the needs of typically developing children, as well as, children with neurological, intellectual, and physical disabilities. It will be rich in sensory experiences, music and movement, physical fitness, social interactions, and physical challenges. The playground will also naturally expand and enhance NHA’s physical education, rehabilitation, conductive education, wellness, therapeutic and recreational programs.

The playground will feature many different elements that our special needs kids will love including—swinging, spinning, climbing, sliding, balancing, rocking, dancing, strengthening their bodies, integrating their senses, and listening to music from adaptive outdoor switches. The playground equipment will include inclusive, adaptable swings, slides, rockers, climbers, obstacle courses, parallel bars, balance beams and musical instruments.

We are super excited that the playground will also now feature three sensory rings. Children can engage with visual, tactile, and auditory sensors, including sound panels that feature interaction with adaptive switch inputs.

For green therapy, there will also be a large grassy area for students to explore, discover, and sit on for outdoor classes, activities, and reading. There truly is something for everyone!

Among the organizations and groups, which have helped make this dream a reality, are—the LPGA Dana Open, the Ohio Elks Cerebral Palsy (CP) Fund, Lockrey Manufacturing, Everence, Giving Tuesday 419, the NHA Fun Run/Walk, and many, many caring individuals and families. Donations are still being accepted, so please consider giving today or walking in the NHA Fun Run/Walk in September.

Playground Timelines:

Mid-April—Begin cutting out the blacktop and pavement for the foundation.
May—Installation of fence posts and the temporary construction fence.
June—Prepping the foundation and drainage.
July—Playground equipment arrives, and installation begins.
Mid-July—Installation of the artificial grass playground surface.
Late-July—Installation of the 6’ high vinyl privacy fence around the playground and fob entry for safety and security.
Mid-August—Finalize playground equipment installation.
August 21—First Day of School & Unveiling of the Playground

What’s My Name?

NHA has such an awesome mascot. The kids absolutely love it when the eagle makes an appearance in their classrooms. There is so much joy and wonder as they jump around and give it hugs. However, we just realized that our eagle was missing something very important… a name.

We needed to fix that!

During Right to Read Week, we held a contest with the Wauseon and Springfield campuses to come up with a name for our amazing eagle mascot.

Classrooms submitted some very creative name ideas. Ballots were then collected in a beautiful eagle submission box created by our very own Ms. Nicole. The finalists were (in alphabetical order):

Apollo (Ms. Caryn)
Everest (Ms. Kara)
Joy (Ms. Janelle)
Ozzy (Ms. Anna)
Thunder (Ms. Renate)

All students and staff will receive a special gift this week to commemorate our mascot finally getting a name.

The winner is… (cue AC/DC music)… THUNDER!

Ms. Renate’s vocational studies class will get an additional treat for winning the contest and coming up with Thunder the Eagle’s name.

NHA Field Days Announced

Mark Your Calendar!

With the end of the school year fast approaching, New Horizons Academy (NHA) has announced its 2023 Field Days. We wanted to make sure that all parents were aware of the dates, put them in their calendars, and made sure that their students were appropriately dressed for the weather (including sunscreen).

May 12 (Rain Date—May 15)
Wauseon Campus & Career Center
May 17 (Rain Date—May 18)
Springfield Campus

If you have any questions or concerns about your students’ participation in the Field Days or would like additional information about them, please call the NHA School Offices at 419-335-7272 or 567-703-1322.

NHA Year-End Awards Assemblies

New Horizons Academy (NHA) parents, caregivers & family members are warmly invited to celebrate our students’ accomplishments at the 2023 Year-End Awards Day assemblies on:

May 15 at 1:00 p.m.
Springfield Campus’ Sensory Room
May 16 at 1:00 p.m.
NHA Career Center’s Gym
May 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Wauseon Campus’ Hope Center Hall

These are always very special (and emotional) events. We look forward to seeing you there! For questions or more information, please call the NHA School Offices at 419-335-7272 or 567-703-1322.

2023 NHA Graduation Planned

New Horizons Academy (NHA) is so pleased and proud to announce its LARGEST graduating class yet with 11 students, graduating on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the NHA Career Center, located at 854 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon, OH 43567. The community is welcome to attend! All graduates are asked to arrive by noon.

NHA’s 11 graduates from the Class of 2023 include—Luke Chambers, Tony Conti, Tyler Davidoff, Hannah Engler, Gabe Hobby, Arek Jadwisiak, Noah Nagel, Logan Parker, Josh Parran, Cadince Ramirez, and Jackson Snider.

Luke Daniel Chambers—Is the son of Kirk and Carol Chambers. He has attended NHA for the last 10 years. Luke lives in the Liberty Center School District, plays on the Henry County Special Olympics Basketball Team, and works hard in the Special Grounds Kitchen. He has earned his Science and Community Service Graduation Seals, and he plans on exploring community work opportunities after graduation.
Anthony (Tony) Charles Conti, II—Is the son of Anthony and Priscilla Conti. He has attended NHA for the last nine years. Tony lives in the Wauseon School District, works in the Special Grounds Kitchen and Home Restaurant, is a gifted artist and space enthusiast (Check out his mural at the Fulton County Humane Society.), and enjoys playing with his dogs—Mordecai and Lacey in his spare time. He has earned his Science and Community Service Graduation Seals, and he plans on exploring work opportunities after graduation.
Tyler Robert Davidoff—Is the son of Patricia Hogan and is currently living with his Aunt Theresa Wehrle in the North Central School District. He has attended NHA for the last three years. Tyler works in the Special Grounds Kitchen, appreciates his work study placement at Pizza Hut, and enjoys reading and gaming in his spare time. He has earned his Citizenship, Science, and Community Service Graduation Seals; and he plans on exploring community work opportunities after graduation.
Hannah Lakota Engler—Is the daughter of Brian and Kristin Engler. She has attended NHA for the last six years. Hannah lives in the Archbold School District, has worked in her family’s Home Restaurant and The Barn’s kitchen, and enjoys playing with her dog-Hallie in her spare time. She has earned her Citizenship and Community Service Graduation Seals, and she hopes to work at McDonald’s after graduation.
Gabe (Gabriel) Alexander Hobby—Is the son of Shannon Hobby. He has attended NHA for his four years of high school. Gabe lives in the Pike-Delta-York School District, works in the Special Grounds Coffee Shop behind the counter and at the drive-thru window, and enjoys gaming in his spare time. He has earned his Science and Community Service Graduation Seals; and since he is good at finding flaws in computer programming, he hopes to enroll in a tech school in computer science in the future.
Arek Jason Jadwisiak—Is the son of Jeffrey and Christina Jadwisiak. He lives in the Springfield Local School District, has attended NHA’s Springfield Campus for the last four years, and is the third Springfield Campus graduate. In his free time, Arek enjoys reading, role playing games (RPG), and video gaming. He has earned his Citizenship and Science Graduation Seals, and he hopes to enroll in a tech school for coding in the future.
Noah Alan Nagel—Is the son of Lory and Greg Nagel. He lives in the Pike-Delta-York School District, has attended NHA for the last five years, is active in scouting, constructed benches for his community service project, and is currently finishing his Eagle Scout Award. Noah worked part-time at Chief Supermarkets, over the summer as a camp counselor at Camp Lakota, and at Special Grounds Coffee both behind the counter and in the Flavoring and Bagging Room. Noah has earned his Citizenship, Science, Community Service, and Student Engagement Graduation Seals; and he is considering attending a trade school in either electrical or welding in the short-term while still considering a career as a youth pastor.
Logan Kayle Parker—Is the son of Kristine and Paul Dick. He attended NHA for six non-consecutive years. Logan lives in the Patrick Henry School District, participates on the Henry County Special Olympics Bowling and Basketball Teams, and practiced his work skills at the NHA Career Center and Chief Supermarkets. He earned his Fine Arts and Community Service Graduation Seals, enjoys visiting Kaitlyn’s Cottage, and plans on exploring community work opportunities after graduation.
Joshua (Josh) William Parran—Is the son of Rick and Brenda Parran. He has attended NHA for the last 10 years. Josh lives in the Wauseon School District, has participated on the Fulton County Special Olympics Basketball and Track Teams, and practiced his work skills at the NHA Career Center and Ace Hardware. He earned his Fine Arts and Community Service Graduation Seals and plans on returning to NHA’s Career Center in the fall to continue honing his daily living and vocational skills (Students may stay at NHA through their 21st birthday.).
Cadince Amara Ramirez—Is the daughter of Tamina and Anthony Wright. She has attended NHA for the last eight years. Cadince lives in the Napoleon School District, has participated in the Soaring Arts Program, practiced her work skills at the NHA Career Center and Season’s Eating, and enjoys dancing and listening to music in her spare time. She earned her Fine Arts and Community Service Graduation Seals and hopes to work at Soaring Arts after graduation.
Jackson Timothy Snider—Is the son of Timothy and Jackie Snider. He has attended NHA for the last three years. Jackson lives in the Millcreek-West Unity School district, is active in his Wednesday Night Church Youth Group, and practiced his work skills at the NHA Career Center, Special Grounds Kitchen, Home Restaurant, and Chief Supermarkets. He earned his Fine Arts and Community Service Graduation Seals, plans on returning to NHA’s Career Center and Special Grounds Coffee in the fall to continue honing his vocational skills, and hopes to work at Marcos in the future making pizzas.

Congratulations to all of our graduates! We truly wish you the best, and we hope that everyone, who is able, will come out on Sunday, May 21 at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate their accomplishments at the NHA Career Center on S. Shoop Ave. in Wauseon.