Dear BCCS Community,

As we bid farewell to another school year, we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our students and families. From preschool and kindergarten to our school-aged students who graduate at the age of 21, now is a time of looking back on how far we’ve come.

Throughout it all, “partnership” makes all the difference―the partnership among our students, teachers, clinicians and school staff who work each and every day to create success in the lives of young learners. It is a meaningful bond that we honor across BCCS and remain mindful of as we strive to prepare each child for a lifetime of fulfillment, connection and joy.

Community has always been a core value of BCCS. In a different way, this past year has been a new time to reconnect and come together. Special thanks to the parents who led the PTO across our four school sites and strengthened the bonds between families and BCCS.

To all our parents and families, we want you to know that BCCS is more than just a school. We are a lifelong resource for you and your child. Our mission is to educate and support children of all abilities, and our vision is to ensure a lifetime of achievement for every child.

We sincerely mean this and invite you to join us in continuing to advocate for a lifetime of achievement for people of all ages and abilities. Together, we can make the world a welcoming place for all.

Best regards,

Stanfort J. Perry | CEO

Get To Know Us

Brookville Center for Children’s Services (BCCS) provides comprehensive services to children with an emphasis on assisting families in understanding their child’s strengths and areas of need. By providing early intervention services, preschool and school-age special education and residential services, BCCS supports your child’s success in school and beyond. With four schools in Nassau County, BCCS supports children from 0-21, providing a comprehensive educational experience. If you are interested in learning more, please contact info@brookvillecenter.org.

Charlie’s Journey to Speech and Language Success

About a year ago, Charles “Charlie” Oshinjirin had difficulty coloring and was not meeting speech and language milestones for a three-year-old.

While Charlie was a great student, he had trouble with pronunciation and forming sentences. He also found it difficult to grab and hold objects like crayons and scissors. Charlie’s mother, Agnes, saw the need to intervene and connected with the school district on schools with more opportunities.

From there, they toured different schools including the Post Avenue School. 

“We saw the way the teachers were interacting with the children in the classrooms. It was great to see them working in small groups, the one-to-one work and that the children were happy and enjoying learning,” said Agnes.

In the fall of 2022, Charlie began attending Post Avenue School. From the beginning, Agnes noticed how the team welcomed Charlie with compassion and attention, which gave her the sense that the school would be a good fit. 

“Every teacher and therapist asked me a lot of questions. They wanted to know everything about Charlie including my concerns for him. It was a completely different approach,” said Agnes.

A few months into schooling, Agnes noticed significant improvements in Charlie.

Celebrating Third Annual Bike Day

On a sunny Wednesday, the children and staff of the Children’s Residential Program (CRP) geared up to host their third annual Bike Day on the Long Beach Boardwalk.  

Sean Stallings, CRP Director, and Casandra “Cassie” Bradshaw, Johnson Place Manager, started the bike rides as a relief from being stuck inside for extended periods during the pandemic. It also served as a great team-building activity that everyone enjoyed.

The day hosts two rides to ensure that everyone involved, including family and friends, can participate. The staff rides during the day when the children are in school, then again in the afternoon, so that children and staff get to take part in the activity.

According to James Robinson, Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS), “Bike Day is a great way for staff to bond and get to know each other. Maintenance, housekeeping, DSPs, and managers come together, and it’s very positive.”

This year, CRP staff gathered at Lido Beach to take an energetic ride to the Long Beach Boardwalk. 

Celebrating Better Hearing & Speech Month With a Fun Learning Fair

Better Hearing and Speech Month took center stage at the Education Center in Brookville, as speech pathologists hosted a fair with activities for students of all abilities to enjoy. 

Whether students used a communication device or spoken language, each took a turn participating in bubble blowing, a sensory mat activity, snack mixing, and a paper collage craft. Each activity encouraged the use of words or devices to express themselves during activities. The goal was for students to clearly express their desire to start, stop, or move on from an activity. 

The fair was developed by Speech Pathologists Michelle Del Re, Jamie Farrell, Ewa Dynda, and Jasmine Farahan, under the supervision of Alexandra Weissmann, Clinical Coordinator of Speech.

The fair included several activities designed to facilitate “incidental learning.” In other words, each activity required students to use and develop their language skills while they freely went about their chosen activity. 

Launching Learning STARs!

You may not know the Barbara C. Wilson (BCW) Preschool has been implementing the Strategies for Teaching based on Autism Research (STAR) curriculum for over a decade. The STAR curriculum equips teachers with the best available resources to develop classroom routines that teach students critical skills building toward increased independence. Essentially, STAR guides school staff by demonstrating how and what to teach students for future success.

Tactics include visual supports like a picture schedule for students to point and see what to do or where to go next. The BCW Preschool has an enrollment of 137 students in 19 classes. The classes are split into ratios, great for students who benefit from small groups.

STAR “Fidelity” requires continuous training as the needs of children with autism evolve. Each year STAR consultants visit BCW for initial training, then return 5–6 times a year to work directly with teachers in the classroom.

Along with this, BCW provides their staff with year-round training and implements classroom management checklists to strengthen areas that can be improved. 

Learning Through Play with Drummer Chris Marshak

“That was perfect,” a student called out after special musical guest, drummer, and percussionist, Chris Marshak, completed his lesson.

The Marcus Avenue Parents’ Association arranged for Chris to conduct 20-minute sessions for students, where they could engage in drum-based activities that complemented the skills they are developing in school.

During his two-day rotation, Chris was able to teach over 200 students at the school.

It’s Graduation Season at BCCS

Across the campuses, students have been participating in graduation ceremonies surrounded by friends and family. We’d like to recognize all our amazing 2023 graduates. It’s been an incredible journey and we are so proud to share it with you.