Rock Brook School Expands Programming To Promote Inclusion, Fitness, & Real-World Skills

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Rock Brook School, a private, non-profit school serving children ages 3 to 21 with communication impairments and multiple disabilities, expanded its summer programming to include a unique partnership with Impact Training in Hillsborough.

Now in its third year, the collaboration offers secondary students a community-based fitness program tailored to their needs, with a focus on building strength, increasing range of motion, and fostering real-world skill development.

This innovative program was developed by Impact Training owner Sean Fagan and his Special Projects and Community Outreach Director, Laura Bovitz, along with Rock Brook Supervisors Jennifer Dinardi and Jenie Vargas.

Together, they designed a model that bridges classroom and therapeutic learning with practical community experiences.

The goal: to create inclusive opportunities that support students' growth beyond the school walls.

"Lifelong fitness isn’t just about physical health for our students- it’s about building confidence, independence, and real-world skills that carry over into every part of life," said Jenie Vargas, Rock Brook’s Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction.

After the pandemic, Dinardi and Vargas sought to reimagine its Extended School Year (ESY) offerings for high school and post-graduate students.

With input from the school's team of teachers, therapists, and one-to-one paraprofessionals, the summer program evolved to include both structured fitness sessions at Impact and community-based social outings facilitated by the Impact staff, like weekly swim sessions at Roycefield Swim Club.

Research continues to support the benefits of regular physical activity for individuals with disabilities — not just for physical strength and coordination, but also for emotional well-being, social engagement, and overall quality of life.

This summer, Rock Brook's approach is bringing those benefits to life for its students, helping them connect classroom learning with real-world experience in an inclusive and empowering environment.

Below, please find a quote from a parent of a postgraduate student who has been attending Impact with Rock Brook for nearly four years.

"I wanted to share how much Impact Gym has positively influenced our son, Christian. He has been attending for several years, and the training and discipline he has gained there have truly carried over into our home life.

For example, Christian is now more open to trying new exercises with our family. He consistently does strength training at home with his Dad twice a week, and every Saturday, our family enjoys a 5K walk/run at the park. I've also noticed he's become much more patient and determined to complete physical activities, which I believe is a direct reflection of the training he receives at Impact Gym and the wonderful aides who assist him.

Thank you for providing such a valuable experience for Christian.” — Parent of Post-Grad Student

— By Jennifer Dinardi