Lakeside School marks 13th year

ESSEX | Making childcare and early education affordable here is a working part of success at Lakeside School. "Now in its thirteenth year, Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm offers hands-on experiential programs, including year-round day care, that are affordable for all families in our rural Adirondack region," School Administrator Maeve Taylor said of direction focused on 2020. "This year, 40 children are attending the school programs, while another 21 children attended summer camp throughout five week-long sessions. "The little yellow school on a mountain road just outside of Essex offers school programs and summer camp for children ages one to nine as well as a parent-child weekly program for babies to age three." Lakeside's School Board purchased the Black Kettle Farm on 70.3 acres, an historic farm property, last year. With established forest trails, an environmental-based curriculum and a hands-on focus, the school's model for inclusion continues to build community. "Lakeside School strives to provide accessible education for any interested family," Taylor said of their focus on affordable and sustainable childcare, pre-K and education. "Families choose from tiered tuition options as to what best fits their monthly budget. Further assistance is given based on a financial need application, a third of the school's participating families are low-income." Lakeside's Tuition Assistance Program makes it possible to serve the economically diverse community in Essex County, she said. And in 2019-20, the school awarded $22,000, the largest amount in the school's history. The support structure benefited from grant awards from the Cloudsplitter Foundation; through the Adirondack Foundation; the Kelsey Trust; the Lake Placid Education Foundation and Stewart's Shops. "Lakeside School is reliant on the support of donors who share the school's vision for an inclusive, diverse student body," Taylor said, acknowledging strides the funds made for families in Essex County. In 2018 and 2019, numerous grants were received through the Adirondack Foundation: the Generous Acts Fund; the Adirondack Foreign Language Enhancement Grant; the Essex Community Fund; the Nancy Johnson Remembrance Fund; and the Small Grants for Small Children. Lakeside School also received program support monies from the Adirondack Garden Club's Ellen Lea Paine Memorial Nature Fund; a Willsboro School District Pre-K Grant; International Paper; the Bruce McLanahan Family Fund; the Rudolph Steiner Foundation; the Fortune Foundation and many local small businesses and individuals. "These contributions enable Lakeside School to continually improve the quality of education and childcare offered to the community." To find out more: lakesideschoolinessex.org Families wishing to visit can reach Administrator Maeve Taylor by telephone at 518-963-7385. ■

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Lakeside School marks 13th year

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