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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.

With four schools in Nassau County, BCCS provides education and therapeutic supports for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including speech language disorders, traumatic brain injury and autism at its school sites and through home and community-based services.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact info@brookvillecenter.org.

Building on Daily Living and Communication

“The school store is open until one o’clock” announced Tyler Leung through the BCCS Education Center’s PA system. Speech Teacher, Jasmine Farahan, assisted by prompting him with the phrase. 

After making the announcement, Tyler and Jasmine both headed out of the front office and walked down the hallway towards the school store to prepare for the incoming customers.

Open daily, students aged 14 and older become fully responsible for the store as part of their educational transition to adulthood. The store is operated by students from four classes with the support of Transition Coordinator, Jennifer Fazio.

“Each of the children has goals, fine motor, gross motor, food prep, and housekeeping. They have four or more goals we work on improving each year,” said Jennifer. She collaborates with the teachers to ensure each child works on their targeted goals while prepping the store.

Stepping Out Petting Zoo Visits

On a sunny Thursday morning, the children of the Barbara C. Wilson Preschool met special visitors at the school’s first in-person event since the pandemic.

Karen and Mike Halaiko from Stepping Out Petting Zoo set up three pens with nearly a dozen farm animals for students to get to know. They also offered instructions on how to approach and pet animals. There were goats, sheep, and even a pig named Scarlett-Jo-“Ham”-son.

“Woah, I touched it,” shouted Kaleb Barreto after feeding a sheep—one of many students who learned how to take a little cup of feed and feel the animals nibbling near their little fingers.

“There’s a lot for children to learn during these visits. “We teach them how to hold animals correctly, pet correctly, that farm animals have feelings, and can learn their names,” said Karen. This is the first time a petting zoo has come to the school.

“We made a whole day of it with teachers introducing activities related to the farm in the lesson plans,” said Arlene Campbell, Curriculum Coordinator.

Post Avenue Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

In Miss Connie’s class earlier this May, the entire class gathered and celebrated Cinco de Mayo, a day recognizing Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Connie Neylon, Special Education Teacher at Brookville Center Post Avenue, along with Teacher’s Assistants Brittney Williams and Nicole Foschino, prepared an activity-filled week for the class.

Students completed several Mexican-themed craft projects, including a Cinco De Mayo poster and colorful construction paper tacos.

Clark was so excited to help Miss Brittney create the little batches of paper lettuce, tomato, and cheese pieces for the “tacos.” “It’s for Cinco de Mayo,” said Clark Minardi happily between snips.

They even had a musical parade where students sang and danced while playing with maracas, rattling little gourds along to Latin music.

They continued their fiesta with a parade and dance party before settling in to enjoy chips and salsa.

Preschool Mixer Returns

Once again, preschoolers at the Children’s Education Center can mix and mingle at the weekly “Preschool Exchange.” The much-loved social activity, where young learners freely meet and interact with their peers, started back up again this past fall, after a three-year pandemic hiatus.    

The exchange typically happens on Fridays when the school incorporates more creative activities. On exchange day, the teachers set up their classrooms with different stations, which range from a sensory station to blocks and Legos to an activity that requires them to work together. Before the students can break out to the different stations, they get a little card with their picture and name that they stick on a board by the classroom entrance.

The teachers then open their doors, empowering the thirty-two students to venture out, play and befriend schoolmates, all while learning.  A board by the teachers’ doors displays the classroom numbers, teacher names, as well as prospective activities they may join.

While students are free to roam, classrooms can only hold a certain number of students, which means once full, the child must look for another activity in an open room. This little exercise teaches patience while giving them freedom of choice so that students can learn they have options even though they may have to wait for their original choice. There’s an incredible amount of joy displayed as a student grabs their card when leaving a classroom and takes a moment, debating which activity they’ll go to next.

Although many students are shy at the beginning, through multiple sessions, they become more open and need less prompting. As they make friends in the different classrooms, some students follow each other from one room to another so that they can play together. As well as a fun activity, the Preschool Exchange is an opportunity to work on skills involved in meeting core social/emotional, cognitive, and communication milestones.

According to Curriculum Coordinator Abbe Finz, “It took a few sessions for them to learn the process, and now they absolutely love it. They’re so proud to carry their picture around from room to room”.

Embracing the Future: Jarred's Graduation, Looking Forward to the Path Ahead 

One last time, before heading off to his new home as an adult, Jarred Segal held out his Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) device and touched it to say, “Goodbye, everyone.”

There was pizza, singing, and dancing at Jarred’s going away party at the Sea Spray House. There were also many memorable moments with his long-time staff. One was when Rachel Butler, Direct Support Professional, supported his hand to cut cake for people who have been in his life for the past 14 years.

Looking back, Dennise Segal, Jarred’s mom, remembers initially being uncertain whether a children’s residential program (CRP) was the right choice for her son. “I said I’d give it 30 days.” Yet after just two days, she saw the changes in his behavior. Today, she sees Jarred’s CRP experience as “a gift for Jarred to have a life."

BCCS Highlights: Employee of the Quarter Recipients

Heather Ferguson, Education Center Special Education Teacher, has always wanted to be a special education teacher and mentioned that coming to BCCS felt like home.

“From day one, I started with an awesome mentor and really great staff. It’s a place with a big heart where you can learn, grow and be a part of a big family that is supportive of our kids and the autism community.”  

After 13 years with the community, Heather is eager to continue her professional growth and even be a mentor to future teachers. Congratulations Heather, on your commitment to quality education for BCCS students.

Suzann Doyle, Barbara C. Wilson Teacher Assistant, has been a part of the BCCS family for over a decade. She transitioned into the agency after working in public school with fourth and fifth graders with special needs. As Suzann nears retirement, she can’t help but reflect on the last 16 years. 

“It’s been a very good experience. Everyone is so supportive, and I love watching the students’ progress throughout the years.”

Thank you for your outstanding work and dedication Suzann. 

Candace Skeete, Direct Support Professional – CRP, received her third employee recognition award and second for Employee of the Quarter. She attributes her awards to her work ethic and ability to stay consistent under pressure. After four years with the agency, she has a few words of wisdom for those looking to enter the field.

“Make sure your heart is in it. That’s really where it starts. Be yourself and work as hard as you can.”  The care and devotion you have to the children is undeniable, Candace. Thank you.

Marcus Avenue Raises Funds with Paint Night Event

For their final fundraiser of the school year, the Marcus Avenue Parent Association threw a paint night and raffle event. On April 20, 40 parents and staff attended Painting with a Twist in Baldwin to create art and raise funds for the school.

The association organizes fundraisers every month, but the paint night was a first and turned out to be a huge success. 

“Last year we were limited due to the pandemic but this year we have more options,” mentioned Nicole Saccone, an association member.

The event raised $4,500 for the school through event ticket sales and 26 themed raffle baskets.  They sent raffle books home to parents and placed flyers around the school promoting the event. Overall, they sold 2,500 raffle tickets for the event.

“They had baskets for gardening with tools and seed packets, relaxation baskets, children’s baskets. There was something for everyone,” added Paula DeVita, Director of the Marcus Avenue School.

Funds raised were used, in part, to provide a luncheon for Marcus Avenue’s Teacher Appreciation Week, as well as a two-day spring carnival and a tactile addition to the sensory room to benefit students who learn better through touch and hands-on activities. Learn more about the sensory room here.

“Compared to this year, last year was nothing. The teachers came in with their families and we had a blast,” added Nicole.

Reach for the Stars

On Wednesday, May 17^th, the Friends of BCCS Brookville Campus held their annual fundraising event, Reach for the Stars.  Over 260 parents, friends, teachers and staff came together at the Crescent Beach Club to raise funds for the schools under the Children’s Education Center.  The evening was an incredible success, raising over $100,000!  Special thanks to the sponsors, donors, supporters and guests of the evening. 

If you would like to become involved in future events, please reach out to AHRC Foundation events@ahrcfoundation.org.

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