Peconic Community School expanding, moving to Aquebogue
Peconic Community School officials have announced the school is relocating from downtown Riverhead to a space at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Aquebogue.
The decision to move from its current location at the East End Arts Council property was made to accommodate more students and staff, said Liz Casey Searl, the school’s co-executive director
Student enrollment is expected to “double next year,” she said, and the school has hired three new teachers: Colleen Hanley, who most recently taught at a private school in Maryland, and Sharon Cook and Alison Aldredge, both veteran teachers from the Ross School in East Hampton.
Officials said the school will be leasing a portion of the church’s facilities, such as classrooms, a playground and space for a garden.
“While the two entities will of course be completely independent and distinct, the church board has been very receptive to the idea of a new school here,” Ms. Searl said.
The alternative school launched last year and now offers multi-age classes from kindergarten through fourth grade.
It uses a holistic approach toward education and partners with local organizations, including Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Group for the East End and Hallockville Museum Farm.
In addition to opening its new location for the 2013-14 school year, officials said Peconic Community School is also launching an early childhood program for the fall.
For more information about Peconic Community School, visit peconiccommunityschool.org.
Pick up the July 11th issue of The Suffolk Times for more on this story.
