May 6-10th marked Teacher Appreciation Week! Every day, Guild School education staff create engaging learning opportunities for students tailored to their unique interests and needs. Thanks to these dedicated team members, students have the opportunity to go out into the community for 'Without Walls' lessons, participate in adaptive recreation and athletic activities, learn critical life skills to build independence, and more.

In honor of the week, we highlighted a few of our incredible Guild School staff on our social media channels. Check out the interviews below!:

The Guild School, which serves individuals ages 6-22 diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with concurrent mental health diagnoses, is now accepting referrals for immediate and upcoming residential openings.

CARF International announced that The Guild for Human Services has been accredited for a period of three years for its youth and adult residential programs. The latest accreditation is the second consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the accrediting body, CARF International, has awarded to The Guild.

Dear Colleagues,

On Monday, May 25, a man died right before our eyes.  He died in real time and on instant replay, over and over and over again.  He died not of a heart attack, a car accident or old age.  He died under the knee of a person, of four people, who swore an oath to protect him.

George Floyd was an African American man who had two daughters, several jobs, and countless friends.  He was one in a long line of men and women of color who have died under a knee, at the barrel of a gun or swinging from a tree in a “free” country. 

Since June of 2022, a group of Guild School students have spent each Monday morning working at Hale Education, a scenic, 1100-acre network of trails and swimming areas. During their shift, students roll up their sleeves and make an impact on Hale’s trail beautification, cabin maintenance, and firewood clearing projects. All students are paid each week for their efforts. 

The Guild for Human Services is pleased to announce it has received a $4,984 Allison Keller Education Technology grant from the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. The grant will support The Guild’s Vocational Services department in teaching students critical employment-based skills.  

After months of planning, The Guild’s vocational services department was excited to open The Guild School Store at the end of February. The store, which carries snack items, school supplies, crafts, toys, and more, is located in the administrative wing of the school campus.

For Guild School student Thomas*, drawing had always been a passion. His colorful artwork ranged from abstract designs to renditions of people and current events.  Last fall, he took his skills to new heights by taking Drawing 1, an introductory art course at Middlesex Community College in Lowell.

On a chilly Tuesday afternoon, Guild School student Leah* is busy whipping up some homemade mac n’ cheese in Middlesex Community College’s instructional kitchen. “It’s even better than Kraft,” she promises.

In October, The Guild celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement. Throughout the month, the national #NDEAM campaign aimed to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.