Brook Avenue School
45 Brook Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706
631-968-1130
Principal: Dr. Joseph Lemke
Assistant Principal: Ms. Erin Lentini
Grade Levels: K-2
School Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Total Enrollment: 410
Average Class Size: 25
PFA President: Kathleen McGinley
School Motto: Today We Learn, Tomorrow We Lead
School Mission Statement: Brook Avenue School, in partnership with the parents and extended community, will provide equity and excellence in order to prepare each and every child for a global society.
Special Recognition and Honors:
Suffolk Reading Council Honor School
Multiple Future Corps Award Recognitions for Community Involvement
Murals painted by parents and students throughout the school highlighting children’s literature, space and the sea
Model program for the state Two-Way Language Program
Literacy Collaborative School
School-wide character education program
Values Program received a Promising Practice Citation from the Character Education Partnership
School Background: Brook Avenue School was built in 1929 and originally house kindergarten through grade eight. An extension was built to accommodate the ever-increasing enrollment in 1957. The architectural plans for both the original building and the extension were also used to build Brook Avenue’s sister school, Fifth Avenue School.
School Staff: The Brook Avenue School learning community consists of about 35 professional educators. In addition, there are paraprofessionals, secretaries, custodians and food service workers. A school nurse, psychologist and social worker are also on staff. Ongoing professional development is given in literacy, math and technology.
Code of Conduct: A Board of Education-approved Code of Conduct outlines rights and responsibilities of students, staff and parents.
Curriculum: Under the expert supervision of experienced early childhood teachers, the students enjoy a strong foundation for literacy and language development through the Literacy Collaborative Project. Hands-on math and problem solving are taught using the Math in Focus, Singapore Math Program. Science and social studies curricula incorporate learning through discovery, group dynamics, experimentation, critical thinking, problem solving and working with documents. Teachers enrich learning experiences through art and music activities. The physical education staff provides a daily program that integrates curriculum with the total growth and development of young children. Teachers emphasize and promote a love for literacy through the Writer’s Workshop, Share-a-Book and by modeling reading of good literature. Brook Avenue School has established itself as the district’s magnet school for the New York State Two-Way Language Program in the early childhood grades. In this program, students develop dual language proficiency through instruction in English and Spanish.
Special Needs: students who require special education can receive resource room, self-contained and inclusion classroom services. Remedial and support services are available in the areas of reading, speech, counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy and English as a Second Language.
Assessments: Every Brook Avenue School student is assessed in reading as part of the Literacy Collaborative, using the Benchmark Assessment System. This comprehensive assessment is conducted three times a year (September, January and June). The students are also assessed in math at the end of every chapter and take benchmark tests twice a year. The iReady Diagnostic is used in mathematics three times a year (September, January and June) to assess the need for academic remediation.
Student Promotion: students successfully completing the Brook Avenue School curriculum continue on to South Country or Gardiner Manor.
Extra-Curricular Programs and Clubs: Before and after school programs are offered in a variety of areas including homework, dance, computer science and robotics.
Computers and Technology: All students K-2 use a computer lab with networked computers and have access to Smartboards for instruction. Additional computers online in the library and reading room are used to encourage individual research skills and communication. The school is equipped with iPads and Chromebooks. The Waterford Early Learning program, a K-2 plus computer-based curriculum for Language Arts and Math and Science is offered to the students as needed.
Parent and Community Involvement: Parents are an integral part of the school through the Parent Faculty Association (PFA). Brook Avenue School is firmly committed to community involvement and having parents as partners in their children’s education.
Special Events:
Family Fitness Night
Fall Festival
Winter Show
Holiday Fair
Family events
Dance Club
BINGO
Share-a-Book Club
Parent Workshops
Spring Fling
Visitors: Visitors are welcome at any time, however, all visitors are asked to check in at the main office. For further information please contact the Principal’s Office at 631-968-1130.