The glorious mess of artistic creativity… the thrill of discovering nature’s secrets… the joy of bonding with a new friend…. Experiences of one’s childhood are deep and abiding, setting the foundation for an understanding of the human and natural world. At Brookside School, every child is supported, loved, and offered rich opportunities to learn and grow.

Our program offers a regionally unique community preschool including a Rondout Valley Central School District Universal Pre-Kindergarten site, and a preschool special education program within an integrated setting. Open to all area preschool children, the school serves both children with and without special needs. Lessons of tolerance and acceptance come naturally, as classes take field trips into the community, celebrate holidays, perform for each other and their families, and individualize the preschool curriculum to address the needs of all the students.  With every event, they celebrate the fullness of their young lives. Most of our graduates move on to their neighborhood schools.

Brookside School also offers special education to children with multiple disabilities through age 21. Students with continuing needs may receive services later on from Ulster-Greene ARC, which helps people with disabilities over the course of their lifetime.
Students enrolled at Brookside School are eligible to receive the following services when approved by their school district on their Individualized Education Plan: speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, parent counseling and training, nursing services, assistive technology services, 1:1 teacher aide, and vision services. The school also provides physical education and music to all of the students.

The beauty of this special preschool, according to Brookside’s families, is that their children are included in classes with children of all ability levels and the children learn so much not only from their teachers but from each other in this type of setting. “We believe we are teaching tolerance and sensitivity, as well as the skills to help all of our children be ready to enter a kindergarten setting,” according to Marcene Basch Johnson, Director of Educational Services.  “They are all just kids playing together; they do not see any differences.”

For more information, contact: Marlene Kennedy, Assistant Director of Educational Services

Brookside School
11 Tanhouse Brook Road
Cottekill, NY 12419
845- 687-7250

 Click here to Email