Brookhaven Country Preschool

At Brookhaven Country Preschool, our Pre-K program offers an enriching, developmentally appropriate curriculum within a nurturing and supportive environment. Through hands-on exploration and experiences, we foster a love of learning and help every child grow socially, emotionally and academically. Our well-balanced approach blends independent and collaborative activities, learning centers and free play, all designed to actively engage children and meet them where they are developmentally.

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BROOKHAVEN PRE-K STUDENT

At Brookhaven, we understand the importance of keeping children actively engaged in their learning throughout the day. Our Pre-K students are constantly feeding their curiosity from the moment they step into their classroom. The daily schedule of our Pre-K classes includes a variety of activities such as morning circle time, fine motor skill development, learning centers, unstructured play, outdoor exploration and creative art projects.

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• ​MORNING CIRCLE TIME: Each morning our Pre-K classes have a circle time, where the children review the calendar, weather, and attendance, and engage in movement activities. They also discuss the current thematic unit and preview the day's events. This structured time helps children ease into the day while building routine and community.​

• FINE MOTOR SKILLS: Developing independence is a key goal in our Pre-K program. Fine motor activities are emphasized to support self-care skills and overall development. Children strengthen these small muscles through activities such as beading, lacing, peeling and placing stickers, pinching (ie, using clothes pins), cutting and manipulating dough.

• LEARNING CENTERS: Learning centers are an essential part of our curriculum, offering children opportunities to work in small groups or independently with teacher guidance. These centers are often aligned with the thematic units and include activities focused on literacy, math, science and art. The hands-on nature of these centers supports active learning in a developmentally appropriate way.

• UNSTRUCTURED PLAY: Unstructured play is a large part of each day, giving children the choice to play independently or with peers. This time is crucial for developing social-emotional skills, including cooperation, communication and teamwork.

• OUTDOOR EXPLORATION: Outdoor time is another key part of our program. In addition to getting fresh air, children develop their gross motor skills by running, jumping, climbing and playing on one of our many playgrounds. These activities help them build strength, coordination and confidence in a natural environment.

• CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Creativity and imagination are always on display in our Pre-K classrooms. Children are exposed to a variety of art materials - paints, markers, glue, crafting supplies and more - allowing them to artistically express themselves in teacher-led and open-ended projects.

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UNIVERSAL PRE-K (UPK) PROGRAM AT BROOKHAVEN​

Brookhaven Country Preschool is thrilled to be one of the community preschools selected by the Longwood Central School District to offer Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) - a partnership we've proudly maintained for 25 years. As a New York State licensed preschool, we are qualified to participate in this valuable program, which provides a ten-month, five-days-per-week, 5.5 hours-per-day early childhood education experience. Our UPK program supports the growth and development of young learners of all ability levels in an inclusive, nurturing environment, helping them to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. To learn more about the registration process, click the link at the bottom.

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In alignment with Longwood's UPK curriculum, Brookhaven utilizes a variety of research based programs; Fundations, Heggerty and PATHS.

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• FUNDATIONS is a Wilson Language program that systematically teaches foundational literacy skills including letter-sound associations and handwriting. Through a multi sensory approach, Fundations introduces letter names and sounds, with help of keyword pictures and teaches both uppercase and lowercase letter formation with hands-on activities. 

• HEGGERTY is a literacy curriculum that focuses on phonemic awareness, which is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words. Through engaging oral and auditory lessons, children learn rhyming, blending, segmenting and sound substitution.

• PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) is a social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum that teaches children skills in emotional understanding, self-control and social problem-solving. Developmentally appropriate materials are presented through interactive. whole-group lessons, promoting a supportive learning environment that helps the children develop the resilience and essential life skills to thrive in a complex, modern world. 

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Brookhaven Country Preschool's experienced and compassionate Pre-K teachers create a secure, stimulating classroom environment, encouraging each child to actively participate and thrive. We strive for every student to leave Brookhaven feeling confident, capable and excited for their educational journey ahead.