Apparo Academy
Fulfilling A Special Need
It’s an honor to be involved in projects like Apparo. The Augusta-based nonprofit is led by Jennifer Jones (PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, C/NDT), a renowned speech-language pathologist with a passion for children and a heart of gold.
In a nutshell, several years ago five state-funded preschools for children with significant medical and educational challenges closed their doors. These kids have very few quality care options before they reach school age - a time when brain plasticity is highest. (Didn’t know we knew about brain plasticity did you?)
Enter Apparo Academy - a nonprofit, faith-based, specialized preschool designed to teach all children in an inclusive and integrated setting. With low teacher to student ratios, quality curriculum, integrated therapy and loads of community partnerships, Aparro is the relief many families have been searching for.
First In Flight
Apparo Academy is a regional trailblazer rising up to serve our community. Starting with daycare, Apparo will provide much-needed curricula and therapy for children with special needs, while allowing their normally developing siblings and friends to learn under the same wings. Their identity needs to speak to parents, kids and donors and convey positivity, safety, hope, forward- thinking and an implicit feeling of gentle care. We created a metaphorical mark and imbued the brand with symbolism reflecting Apparo’s story and attitude in loving the little, the vulnerable, and the least of these.
What's In A Name?
Creating a memorable and appropriate name for this special place was a challenge. After researching myriad avenues, we landed on Apparo, which is latin for "to make ready," - exactly what the Academy does for its students. Bonus: alliteration is a great way to help people remember a name and helps Apparo Academy roll off the tongue.
An Aspirational Icon
The brand mark, the “Apparo Sparrow,” tells a story. In addition to being a symbol of hope, inspiration, and soaring, it represents being prepared for the world (echoing the Latin translation of ‘apparo’ – to make ready). It is flying out from the nest, ready for life.
The sparrow icon is also derived from the gospels of Matthew and Luke, alluding to God’s remembrance of even the smallest creature – not one is forgotten by Him (Luke 12:6 and Matthew 10:29-31). No child, no matter how small, is forgotten at Apparo Academy.
Sparrows are also social birds, flock in unison, and help each other build their nests. It is a perfect representation of everything Apparo is about.
Patterns With Purpose
We’ve designed two patterns to help add visual interest and dimension to large flat areas of color, such as stationery or a website. One is abstracted from a woven nest and the other represents flight patterns
“We knew the sparrow, with deep symbolic roots, would be the perfect embodiment of Apparo's story and vision. Bright, radiant colors further Apparo's positive personality, the typography relays a quality academic experience, and our 'flight' pattern evokes the upward trajectory and unique path of each student. Working with such an important cause gave us a lot of inspiration for where to take the brand creatively and we are excited to see Apparo's students soar.”
Rachel Baker / Designer
(Above) Conceptual mock-up of the school's Skinner Mill Road location, incorporating the visual identity and brand colors.
Get Involved
The school is off to a great start with initial fundraising but there's much more to accomplish. Please consider supporting Apparo Academy. For more information, visit the link below.
“The W/S team has been amazing at pulling together an unimaginably perfect brand and identity for our vision. This school has been a passion of mine for years and to finally see it happening with so much community support leaves me speechless, which is a rarity. I am thankful for how the W/S staff listened to our descriptions about the dream of this school and pulled together an elegant name to describe our academic nature and the logo that is child-like, but not childish. It is more than I could have imagined and a true inspiration to help us help these children 'take flight'.”
Dr. Jennifer Jones / Executive Director
Community Build Day, March 30th
Apparo Academy is currently seeking volunteers for their Community Build Day. Volunteers will be responsible for assisting in the building of the school's Outdoor Therapeutic Classroom Space. This wheelchair-friendly area is designed to enhance fine and gross motor skills, language, music and sensory system. No training or equipment is needed.
For volunteer information please contact Apparo Academy here.
