Testimonials

A.B.'s parents expressed so much gratitude for Rugby. Her mother expressed that she feels her daughter can finally be herself! She comes home and talks about school. Her mother said this school has made a positive impact for their family. The father expressed gratitude and appreciation that our school has carried through with everything we said we could offer his daughter

Parent Appreciation

I have been up and down New Jersey and The Rugby School is the best out-of-district school by far. It is truly an honor to work with such amazing people who truly care and get students who struggle emotionally, behaviorally, and academically.

E.V.
Social Worker
Child Study Team
Upper Freehold Regional School District

My 20-year old daughter has been attending since October 2020. I discussed with the team that she needed to be prepared to take the college entrance exam.

Many private schools say that their instruction is customized to the child's individual needs but in the 16 years and 7 schools later, Rugby is the only one that actually does it. Also, there is an art therapist and a transitional vocational specialist on staff.

Moreover, they will partner with local businesses to have their students work on-site with a job coach. If a student needed experience taking a college course, they will create that opportunity with support.

If a parent of a special needs child truly wants to prepare their child for the world that they live in, Rugby is the place that they must go.

M.F.

A mother was very appreciative to our school as she was unsure of what to do with her son, but since he started at our school, there has been a total turn around in his life. She shared that he gets up, gets ready, talks about school and loves going to school. She said he brings papers home in English and reads them to her. She said she thanks God and the school.

Parent Appreciation

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the continued support and love you all give to our son on a daily basis. My wife and I cannot thank you all enough. You have all gone above and beyond during a very difficult time. You all provided some type of structure and normalcy during a very difficult time for everyone, especially the children. I am glad I had the opportunity to get to know each of you a little better than I probably would have under normal conditions. I hope you all enjoy some downtime and can get some rest. I think we all have a new respect for what you guys do and deal with on a regular basis. And, you all did this while trying to manage your own lives and families. Thank you all again so much!

J.W.

Most importantly, I want to say thank you. Thank you for all the time you have spent shaping me into the person I am today. Thank you for all your patience while I learned things the hard way. Thank you for showing me that I only need to answer to one person: Myself. Thank you for teaching me how to trust people again when I believed that everyone was out to get me. Thank you for all the hours you spent with me, letting me cry and whine and complain to you about whatever the "trauma of the day" was. Thank you for helping me to overcome each and every one of those traumas (and if you couldn't do it yourself, you wrote a counseling referral and made them deal with it!). Thank you for holding me up when I was falling fast. Thank you for pulling me back from the cliff I was teetering on when I first started here. Thank you for telling me I was wrong and making a huge mistake even though you knew I was going to do it anyway... yet always being there to catch me when I fell (and not above saying "I told you so".) Thank you for being there to pick me up off the ground when I was convinced my life was over. And most of all, thank you for letting me be me and loving me regardless of how crazy I was at times.

In the past 3 years, I have experienced something I have never experienced before, Acceptance. From the first moment I stepped through the doors at the intake back in 2002, I knew I had found my place. I felt welcomed, wanted, like I belonged. I have met some of the most important people in my life here. I have made memories and laughed and shared with the people in these walls more than anywhere else in the world. And as much as I hate to admit it, I'm going to miss it here more than anyone will ever know.

S.
Class of 2005

A mother expressed her gratitude and said that it is amazing that her son is expressing himself and that it tells her that he feels safe with us. She said "Kudos to you guys!"

Parent Appreciation

The truth is when I first came to your class I didn't know if I would have liked it and I thought you would be really mean but you were one of, and still are, my favorite teachers. You helped me realize that it's okay to be a kid but I have to grow up and some stuff is not for kidding. I learned to respect people more and how to take responsibility for my actions and not to punk out. You are the best person to come to for advice and come to with anything. You're like a father figure to me and I look up to you. I know I have a father, but he's nothing like you. You teach really good lessons and teach me the right things to do and not to make bad choices and how to make good ones. If you don't win teacher of the year this year, I will flip out. You make students feel at home. This year, I want to try to make you proud of me and just feel like you really taught me something and you did but it's hard for me to try to make good for myself and be good. You think it's weird for me to be writing about this, but it's how I really feel and you're an important part of my life. When I leave Rugby, I'm going to write my speech just about you because you were the main person that really cares about me and wants to see me succeed. I wish I was still in your class because I think it will benefit me in a good way. So I want to thank you for everything and for changing my whole view of school and learning.

D.

I would like to thank you and all the staff at Rugby for all they have done for my son. He has come a long way from disliking school to wanting it seven days a week. He loves all his teachers, the staff, and has enjoyed all the trips, the Rugby events, and the celebration at the Oak Tree Lodge. I never thought I would see him this happy and involved in school. You are all angels that were sent to guide him and for that, I am eternally grateful. Thank you and enjoy your summer.

G. N.

A child's parents expressed appreciation as well. His father shared that he comes home from school excited to tell them about his day which he has never done before.

Parent Appreciation