By Mike Russo
The school is hosting an open house on Sunday.
The school, which will share space with Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Nursery School at 1375 Grand Ave., is recognized and approved as a nonprofit educational corporation by the New York state Department of Education. According to Leake, there are very few private elementary schools offering the necessary services for children with special needs — which she defines as both gifted and talented, and developmentally disabled — and practically no Christian schools providing them on the South Shore of Long Island.
Leake says the school is not meant to compete with public schools. It is simply another option for students and their families who deem it necessary. "There are fewer options for [students with] special needs on the South Shore," said Leake. "We're looking to offer a faith-based setting for children with a range of disabilities."
Leake said she believes that children with special needs often suffer from "social ills," feelings of inadequacy and emotions that erode their self-esteem. The school seeks to offer an education that is unique, catering to both ends of the performance spectrum, as opposed to most public schools, which deal with the majority of students who fall somewhere in the middle. According to Leake, this system will focus on children who "don't fit the mold of a regular education setting."
The school will open with two multi-age classes with 15 students in each, one of which will teach kindergarten to second grade and the other grades three through five. Each classroom will be led by an instructor with a background in special education as well as a full-time teaching assistant. On a per-diem basis, art, music and phys. ed. instructors will be on hand, as will an on-site guidance counselor.
The classrooms will have separate stations related to a particular subject. The advantage of these stations, in combination with the range of ages, is that students can be grouped based on their learning style and ability in a given subject, Leake explained. For example, an older student who is proficient in math may work with a younger student who performs above his or her expected level. This teaching style is aimed at ensuring that students get personalized attention that caters to their specific needs.
The Rev. Kimberly Wilson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Nursery School said she is looking forward to the school being so close to them. The two schools will share a lunch hall and gymnasium, but otherwise will remain separate entities. Promise will be located on the lower level of Bethlehem's building. Wilson said that minor adjustments, such as rescheduling bell schedules, will make the school day go smoothly.
"Sharing space is very doable," said Wilson. "We're very excited to have [Promise]. "We want to welcome children that aren't welcomed right now."
Attorney Doris Duffy, who is representing Promise school, said she is eagerly anticipating the school's opening, touting it as a much-needed service to children with special needs. "It's very important for a child with special needs to feel confident," said Duffy. "There's a different feel to a small school because everyone gets to know each other."
The school has received grants and private donations from various church organizations, and is in the process of applying for additional funding. In addition to tuition, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Division for Higher Education and Schools has offered financial assistance as well. The Lutheran Schools Association, a local organization of which Promise is a member, has also lent its support to the school.
Leake is hoping to open the school by September, and plans to serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade by the end of the school's third year. The school is accepting applications for students from as far west as Queens and as far east as Mineola.
The school's open house will be held on Jan. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 1375 Grand Ave. For more information, call (516) 710-6860 or e-mail info@promiselds.org.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
