A Step Up Academy (ASUA) of Jenkintown recently announced its partnership with Friends of McDevitt. The organizations intend to create a legacy of learning at ASUA’s new home on 125 Royal Avenue in Wyncote.
ASUA is a private, licensed special education school serving students with autism and co-occurring disabilities in preschool to Grade 12, and up to the age of 22. The school is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Friends of McDevitt, an organization composed of Bishop McDevitt High School graduates, was created so alumni could gather socially and to keep the Lancer spirit alive.
“Since the founding of A Step Up Academy in 2013, we have had a commitment to our mission of ‘Preparing students to become engaged participants in society by developing innovative academic, social, emotional and behavioral programming as well as impactful community partnerships,'” Karen Misher, founder and Board Chair of ASUA, said.
“Our partnerships with Arcadia University, and now with the Friends of Bishop McDevitt, builds on that commitment and brings promising new opportunities not only to ASUA students, but to the wider community we are a part of,” Misher said.
ASUA’s new home occupies the first two floors of the building, which is the former site of Bishop McDevitt High School and is now part of Arcadia University’s campus.
ASUA invited Friends of McDevitt to partner, honor, and preserve the history of Bishop McDevitt High School which closed at the end of the 2020-21 academic year. The building was later purchased by Arcadia University and will be used for the University’s College of Health Sciences programs as well as for Athletics and Recreation.
“The Friends of McDevitt are pleased to see that A Step Up Academy will be continuing the strong tradition of teaching and learning at 125 Royal Avenue. We hope to be able to play a small role in the exciting plans ASUA has for the old Bishop McDevitt High School building,” said Dan Greenberg, Class of 1988 and one of the founders of the organization.
McDevitt has been supporting those with special needs for decades. Our Lady of Confidence (OLC), was an elementary school serving those with special needs, located inside the high school. In a club called Best Friends, McDevitt students and OLC students had the opportunity to get together once a month doing crafts, playing games, and hanging out.
“I spent all four years at McDevitt volunteering for Best Friends and always looked forward to the end of the year dance for the OLC students,” said Jacque K., a Behavior Interventionist at ASUA and McDevitt alumni. “Being able to spend time with the students from OLC was a highlight at McDevitt, but I didn’t realize how big of an impact it had on me until I started working in special education. It is surreal that I will be furthering my career in the same building where it all started!”
Friends of McDevitt will be promoting involvement in ASUA activities including the upcoming Step Up for Autism Walk held on Saturday, August 24, at 9:00am, where participants will be walking 2,024 steps around the building on Royal Avenue. Friends of McDevitt will be forming walk teams, raising funds, greeting walkers, and volunteering in various capacities at the Walk. They will also have a table so graduates can join.
Registration for the Step Up for Autism Walk is also free of charge. A registration link is forthcoming. In the meantime, if you’d like more information, please reach out to Nancy Venner, director of advancement, at nancy.venner@Astepupacademy.org.
To keep their partner organization abreast of what is happening, articles about ASUA will appear in Friends of McDevitts’ newsletter and promoted through social media. Information about their organization will be on the ASUA website as well and there will be a formal tribute to honor McDevitt graduates in 2025.
“A school building is more than the wood and concrete holding it together. It is full of memories, history, and meaning. We are happy to partner with the Friends of McDevitt organization to acknowledge and respect their place in history and to work together creating memories for the ASUA students who will now walk the hallways creating new memories.” said Jamie Jenkins, ASUA’s Head of School.
For more on ASUA, located at 520 Meetinghouse Road, you can visit their Facebook page and website.
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Photos: ASUA