The Arch Bridge School at Wellspring Celebrates Nine Graduates in Class of 2015

BETHLEHEM, Conn. - July 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Summer is a time for celebration at Wellspring’s Arch Bridge School. On June 24 this year, nine students in the senior class graduated from high school and participated in a heartwarming ceremony in Bethlehem, Connecticut.

The graduation day format includes opportunities for staff and students to share their experiences at Arch Bridge School and Wellspring. Susan Schoenbach, Arch Bridge School’s founder and former Director of Education, was the keynote speaker. While congratulating and honoring the students and their families, she related the story of Arch Bridge School’s transformation over 25 years from a tutorial program to a fully accredited, highly respected private school, now acclaimed as a “School of Excellence” by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET).

A unique and touching element of the commencement ceremonies every year is that each graduating senior is invited to speak. Their stories – delivered through lots of laughter and many tears – are heartfelt, inspirational, and overflowing with gratitude.

Many of the students’ stories illustrated the difficulties and obstacles they faced before finding Arch Bridge School, and they  expressed gratitude for the support they found there that put them on the road to healing and success. Several students stated that they would not be alive today if it weren’t for Wellspring and the Arch Bridge School.

One graduate shared, “Remember that no one was born into this world to be alone. You always have someone there to help, no matter how desperate the situation. You are not alone - especially not here [at Wellspring].”

Another declared, “Wellspring helped save my life, but most importantly, it made me realize that my life was worth living.”

Schools where some of the graduates were accepted into college include Fairfield University, Lincoln Tech, Lyndon State University, Naugatuck Community College, Northwest Community College, Norwalk Community College, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, and Western Connecticut State University.

About Wellspring and The Arch Bridge School
Since its beginning in 1977, Wellspring has progressively expanded its services to provide residential treatment services in a private school environment for children and adolescent girls on the main campus, residential treatment for adult woman on their own private campus, extensive outpatient services at two locations, and therapeutic special education services for residential and day students on the main campus at their NEASC accredited Arch Bridge School.

Wellspring is a multi-service mental health agency and educational center, licensed by the State of Connecticut and accredited by The Joint Commission. Wellspring’s excellent reputation for quality care, comprehensive mentalhealth treatment and special education services has accompanied its growth. Wellspring is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at www.wellspring.org.