A two-story addition has been completed at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, which now has eight large classrooms and four smaller classroom spaces that can also function as office space.
This new space will allow the school to expand pre-kindergarten programming, according to district officials. The addition was made possible through a bond voted on by the Oyster Bay-East Norwich district.
“We used to have a half-day prekindergarten program,” said principal Devra Small in a press release.
“Our surveys showed that many parents would prefer full-day prekindergarten,” she said. “The new construction, paid for through the bond, gave us the space to provide this option for two classes of 18 students each.”
The pre-kindergarten students will use the eight large classrooms in the new addition. All classrooms have their own bathrooms, and the new addition has its own entrance. The district said that both of these features will improve safety and convenience for students, as the pre-kindergarten students will have a dedicated space within the building.
“Our school provides a full range of support services to meet our students’ learning needs,” Small said.
The additional four small classrooms are intended to be used for specialized services, like speech therapy, occupational therapy and behavioral support. Before the addition, these services were offered in smaller, uncomfortable spaces.
“Last year, there was not enough space, and some services, such as physical therapy or reading intervention, were delivered in locations such as the stage or a repurposed custodial closet,” she said.
The new classrooms are much more comfortable, according to the district. Officials said that this will allow students a more enriched learning experience.
“This year, with our increased space, all services are taking place in good-sized classrooms that are designed for instruction. I am so grateful to the community and board for making this possible through the bond.”
Information provided by the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District
