Educational Programs
The Brookside School offers learning opportunities for all of its students. All students participate in music and art programs, hands-on learning opportunities with our own farm animals, physical play, social interaction and a structured age appropriate curriculum beginning at the age of three. We conduct educational field trips and students participate in our annual holiday and spring shows held at one of the local high schools.
Infants, Toddlers & 2-Year-Olds
A caring staff, music, art and play highlight the programs for our youngest students. Children are encouraged to explore their environment and interact with each other as they learn about themselves and the world around them. Outdoor play areas designed with safety and fun in mind and visits with our animals complement the indoor classroom areas. Children are encouraged through our structured program to develop fine and gross motor skill, vocabulary, social skills and independence.
3- & 4-Year-Old Programs
Our curriculum for 3- & 4-year-olds is designed to make learning fun with a mix of play, music, art and the introduction of new concepts, including colors, shapes, letters and numbers. Students are presented with challenges which develop their fine and gross motor skills and problem-solving skills. Children learn from each other and develop self-confidence through "show & tell" and "entertainment day" when they recite a poem or sing a song for the other classes in the school. Personal and social skills are also addressed, including manners, basic hygiene, interaction with peers and responsibility. There are computers located in each of these rooms which are used as reinforcement of concepts introduced by the teacher.
Kindergarten - 8th Grade
The elementary curriculum is designed to help each student excel to their full potential. Our academic curriculum includes a strong phonics-based reading program, practical approach mathematics, English, science, social studies, computers, music and Spanish. In addition, students participate in daily physical education classes. Field trips may include a visit to a planetarium, library, museum, theatre, post office, dentist office, local beaches or other businesses. Many students take select classes at higher grade levels depending on that individual's ability. Terra Nova testing is administered annually to help evaluate student progress as well as our own curriculum. Computers on our school-wide network are used in many aspects of teaching both in the classroom and in our computer lab.
