PRESS RELEASES | lakeside-school

PRESS RELEASE

Essex, NY, April 19, 2024 – Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm is excited to announce that it has received funding from Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts program, supporting the school’s efforts of expanding programs to allow increased access to affordable childcare and early childhood education in Essex County.

Lakeside School has made and continues to make it possible for families with young children to live in Essex and the surrounding counties by providing enriching full-time, year-round child care and early childhood education. Starting September 2024, Lakeside school is going to offer two separate programs accommodating children ages 1 to 4 years old. Our current Sprouts program will provide child care for children ages 12 to 35 months and a new Pre-K program will be added to provide early childhood education for children ages 3 to 4.5 years old. By creating two separate programs for this age group of 1 to 4 year olds, we’re adding additional childcare slots in the younger age group, and increasing the number of slots available.

"With the support of the Adirondack Foundation, we will be able to make the necessary modifications to some of the rooms our programs are currently using, creating a comfortable and safe space for our youngest children, and help offset the cost of onboarding and professional development for new and existing faculty members. This will allow us to receive in our care and accommodate a higher number of toddlers and preschool aged children, as we continue to provide a nurturing environment for the children to grow and thrive," said Elisaveta Goff, Director of Development and Outreach at Lakeside School.

Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm, now in its seventeenth year, offers hands-on experiential programs, including year-round day care, PreK and Kindergarten as well as a parent and child playgroup for children ages 0-3, accessible to all families in our rural Adirondack region. Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open.

Support for this work is from Generous Acts at Adirondack Foundation - a force for good that pools gifts from generous donors who love the Adirondack region and care about our communities. Adirondack Foundation enhances the lives of the people in the Adirondacks through philanthropy. To learn more, visit adirondackfoundation.org/GenerousActs

Essex, NY, April 21, 2023 – Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm is excited to announce that it has received $2,500 in funding through The Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts Program and $5,000 from the Birth to Three Alliance to support the Sprouts Daycare Program.

Lakeside School has made and continues to make it possible for families with young children to live in Essex and the surrounding counties by providing enriching full-time, year-round child care. Each year, new families move to the area citing Lakeside's programs as a major factor in their decision making. These young families are establishing roots in Essex County and creating opportunities for others to join them in part because of the school’s unique farm and forest program. The school also engages parents, faculty, alumni, and friends that has allowed us to become the foundation for a lively and sustainable future for our whole community.

"Through the support that the Adirondack Foundation is giving us, we will be able to train and maintain a group of substitute teachers that truly understand the purpose and scope of our program. This will allow us to maintain our familiar and nurturing environment for the children even when teachers must be absent due to illness or continuing education," said Jessica Stone, Lead Sprouts teacher at Lakeside School.

Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm, now in its sixteenth year, offers hands-on experiential programs, including year-round day care, PreK and Kindergarten and early elementary instruction Grades 1-3, affordable for all families in our rural Adirondack region. Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is now open, please visit https://www.lakesideschoolinessex.org/ for more information.

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