From the Desk of the CEO

Dear Families and Friends,

Every day, we celebrate the remarkable growth and learning of our students. These achievements are made possible through the strong partnership of families and dedicated staff members.

In this edition, we highlight many successes — from students of the Children’s Education Center volunteering to brighten Thanksgiving Day for families in need to the Barbara C. Wilson Preschool Parents Association hosting a creative, sensory-friendly Harvest Festival.

As we approach the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support. I also urge you to advocate for Early Intervention Services (EI) assisting infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. A 5% increase was planned for April and is now long overdue. Our children cannot wait. Please contact New York State legislators using our one-click campaign at brookvillecenter.org/advocate.

By working together, we can create a future where every child has the support and services they need to thrive.

Best Regards,

Stanfort J. Perry

Parent Lindsay Barry and Social Worker Kim Kaufmann Discuss How Marcus Avenue Preschooler Elle is Supported to Thrive

Check out our recent video and sit in on a conversation with Marcus Avenue Parent, Lindsay Barry and Marcus Avenue Social Worker, Kimberley “Kim” Kaufmann. Lindsay and Kim describe how preschooler Elle is thriving at school and at home with preschool services and parent training.

Students Help the Community as Part of Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Thanksgiving season often inspires generosity as people reflect on all that they’re grateful for. Ahead of Thanksgiving Day, students who attend the Children’s Education Center had the opportunity to help sort food that would be donated to 50 families in the community.

Boxes of stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn bread, bags of marshmallows, cans of corn, yams, green beans, cranberry, gravy and dessert items were piled up on a table inside the Brookville Mansion ballroom. With all the food that was donated, Volunteer Coordinator Jerri Walker needed help sorting them into categories. On tables in the ballroom, Jerri posted signs with food categories so students would know where to put each item.

The volunteers are members of the Transition class, designed for students ages 14 to 21 to work on job-ready skills and essential life skills like shopping, cooking, and cleaning.

Another Successful Year at the AHRC Foundation Walk
Fundraising and walking for a great cause

On October 27, Eisenhower Park Field 6A was filled with energy and excitement as the Brookville Center for Children’s Services (BCCS) community joined friends and neighbors to participate in the AHRC Foundation Walk.

This year, the Foundation Walk was held on a perfect brisk fall day. Ahead of the walk, everyone enjoyed the camaraderie of seeing one another while participating in activities like crafts, games, pumpkin picking, and a warm-up set to upbeat music.

“The boys and girls in our program enjoy this event every year,” said Children’s Residential Program Director Sean K. Stallings. “It also provides them an opportunity to catch up with former housemates, classmates, and staff who are also attending the walk. It’s a wonderful social event that is also an opportunity for self-advocacy in support of the services that benefit them.”

Among the top fundraisers from the BCCS community was team Go Ty Ty! Leng Lao and her son Tyler, who attends the Children’s Education Center and resides with the Children’s Residential Program, raised $2,415 together.

Special Education Teacher Karina Kononenko Joins Post Avenue Preschool

At the beginning of the month, Special Education Teacher Karina Kononenko introduced herself to the eight students and three Teacher Assistants in Post Avenue Preschool’s Foxes classroom. The group welcomed her with open arms as she familiarized herself with the curriculum and the monthly themed lessons.

With over a decade of experience, Karina’s transition to Post Avenue is going smoothly, and she’s excited about her new role.

“I just fell in love with the campus,” Karina said. “It’s beautiful here. We take the students outdoors three times a day and they do so many different activities.”

Karina’s first order of business was organizing her classroom and getting acclimated to the curriculum. Brookville Center for Children’s Services implements the Strategies for Teaching based on Autism Research (STAR) curriculum throughout its schools. This curriculum uses visual supports for students and emphasizes data collection for teachers to identify student progress. Karina’s STAR training began on November 19, and she quickly embraced the program.

Barbara C. Wilson Preschool Transforms Into Fall Festival With Sensory Activities

The Barbara C. Wilson Preschool Parent Association (PA) contributed their time and talents to creating the perfect fall fun getaway for the students on Halloween.

Parents transformed school grounds into a festive Fall Festival by setting up a tent, photo booth, and autumnal decorations.

They also prepared activity stations with dry black beans, rainbow spaghetti, play sand, faux leaves and mini rakes, a kiddie pool full of hay, and a mini pumpkin patch. The parents even carved pumpkins to spell out “BCW.”

“We wanted to give the kids all the sights and sounds they’d see at a local Fall Festival, and give it to them at school, and also include games and activities they work on in the classroom,” said Dena DeGrande, the President of the Parent Association.

Celebrate the Winter Season at the Frost & Farm Fest

Enjoy a fun-filled evening with family-friendly activities, holiday hay bale displays, and our first annual tractor lighting at Wheatley Farms & Arts Center on December 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.

There will be games, face painting, a photo booth, a holiday gift shop, and raffles. Attendees will also have a chance to look at the hay-bale winter displays created by community members. At 6 p.m., Wheatley Farms animals will be ready to interact with everyone before the tractor lighting at 7:30 p.m.

We hope to see you there! Be sure to RSVP.

Join a Community of AHRC Foundation Angels

During this season of gratitude and generosity, we invite you to become an AHRC Foundation Angel and support children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The AHRC Foundation is instrumental in funding BCCS educational and recreational programs that nurture the social, emotional, and developmental growth of children with special needs.

Your generosity empowers us to create meaningful opportunities and make a lasting impact in their lives.

Thank you for your support.