The Child School
Encyclopedia
The Child School / Legacy High School (TCS) is a state chartered
private school
for children who have learning disabilities. It is located on Roosevelt Island
, New York City
where it was founded. The founder, Maari De Souza, was born in India
and holds a degree in psychology
.
which was tailored to each of her students. Eventually, the apartment was converted into a school and more students began to attend. In 1973, the Child School was formed, and in 1979, the Child School was moved to Manhattan
. In 1991, a Middle School was added to address the needs of middle schoolers with learning disabilities. In 1996, a high school was added and the Child School was renamed The Child School/Legacy High School. The first graduating class from the high school graduated in 2001.
In 2010 Marri Da Souza was replaced by sal f as the head master of the child school/ legacy high school
, a middle school
, the Island House, and the Patterson House. The four new building were less crowded, allowing more individual attention and cleaner class rooms. The buildings include a science lab
with state-of-the-art equipment and a flat-screen television
. There are also three computer lab
s.
room overseen by an award-winning teacher who left in 2008, a partially sound proof music room, and a garden
. Courses in the elementary school range from motor skills to pre-algebra
, to technology where students learn about computer
s. In the garden, students plant organic fruits and vegetables
. There is park
near the school, and sometimes classes are conducted there. Also, students of the elementary and middle schools go on other educational field trip
s.
and a computer lab. Classes range from reading to algebra
and physics
, to earth science
. Students can also take electives which include Sign Language
and web design
. Students who take electives or participate in independent studies
can gain credit toward Legacy High School.
Middle school students are given a hands-on approach to learning including field trips and extra activities. These activities have included trips to the beach
to catch sea creatures and preparation of food to be served at the New York Culinary Institute. Students who graduate from the school are given recognition awards and can go to the Legacy High School where they may be placed in the Regents
or RCT program.
In 2009, the middle school was moved to Island House.
Students of Legacy High School take courses ranging from art to precalculus
. Their studies are enhanced by a new and innovative library. Legacy students can also take electives and do independent assignments. If students are able, they can take Advanced Placement (AP) courses at other schools in calculus
and advanced physics (the school hasn't been recently open to this because it affects the school's scheduling). The school is considering the addition of an IB Diploma
. Legacy is the only high school on Roosevelt Island.
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
for children who have learning disabilities. It is located on Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, known as Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York City. It lies between the island of Manhattan to its west and the borough of Queens to its east...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where it was founded. The founder, Maari De Souza, was born in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and holds a degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
History
The Child School began in Maari's apartment building on Roosevelt Island. Maari began to teach children with learning disabilities using her own curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
which was tailored to each of her students. Eventually, the apartment was converted into a school and more students began to attend. In 1973, the Child School was formed, and in 1979, the Child School was moved to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. In 1991, a Middle School was added to address the needs of middle schoolers with learning disabilities. In 1996, a high school was added and the Child School was renamed The Child School/Legacy High School. The first graduating class from the high school graduated in 2001.
In 2010 Marri Da Souza was replaced by sal f as the head master of the child school/ legacy high school
Return to Roosevelt Island
In 2003, The Child School returned to Roosevelt Island. Upon its return, the school moved into four separate buildings: an elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, the Island House, and the Patterson House. The four new building were less crowded, allowing more individual attention and cleaner class rooms. The buildings include a science lab
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
with state-of-the-art equipment and a flat-screen television
Flat panel display
Flat panel displays encompass a growing number of electronic visual display technologies. They are far lighter and thinner than traditional television sets and video displays that use cathode ray tubes , and are usually less than thick...
. There are also three computer lab
Computer lab
A computer lab, also known as a computer suite or computer cluster is typically a room which contains many networked computers for public use...
s.
Elementary school
The elementary school has an artArt
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
room overseen by an award-winning teacher who left in 2008, a partially sound proof music room, and a garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
. Courses in the elementary school range from motor skills to pre-algebra
Pre-algebra
Pre-Algebra is a common name for a course in middle school mathematics. In the United States, it is generally taught between the fifth and eighth grades, although it may be necessary to take this course as early as sixth grade in order to advance to Calculus BC by twelfth grade...
, to technology where students learn about computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s. In the garden, students plant organic fruits and vegetables
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
. There is park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
near the school, and sometimes classes are conducted there. Also, students of the elementary and middle schools go on other educational field trip
Field trip
A field trip or excursion, known as school trip in the UK and school tour in Ireland, is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment...
s.
Middle school
The middle school has a gymGym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
and a computer lab. Classes range from reading to algebra
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, to earth science
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
. Students can also take electives which include Sign Language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
and web design
Web design
Web design is the process of planning and creating a website. Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by web designers to produce the page seen on the web browser...
. Students who take electives or participate in independent studies
Independent study
Independent study is a form of education offered by many high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions around the world. It is sometimes referred to as directed study...
can gain credit toward Legacy High School.
Middle school students are given a hands-on approach to learning including field trips and extra activities. These activities have included trips to the beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
to catch sea creatures and preparation of food to be served at the New York Culinary Institute. Students who graduate from the school are given recognition awards and can go to the Legacy High School where they may be placed in the Regents
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
or RCT program.
In 2009, the middle school was moved to Island House.
Legacy High School
When the school moved back to Roosevelt Island, the two high school buildings were for separate programs. Island House was for students who were taking the Regents program and Patterson was for students taking the RCT program. There was some controversy about this segregation and, in response, the founder has made Patterson for grades 9 and 10, and Island House for grades 11 and 12, from the 2007-2008 school year to the 2008-2009 school year, until the 11 and 12 grades were moved to Patterson, to be replaced by the middle school.Students of Legacy High School take courses ranging from art to precalculus
Precalculus
In American mathematics education, precalculus , an advanced form of secondary school algebra, is a foundational mathematical discipline. It is also called Introduction to Analysis. In many schools, precalculus is actually two separate courses: Algebra and Trigonometry...
. Their studies are enhanced by a new and innovative library. Legacy students can also take electives and do independent assignments. If students are able, they can take Advanced Placement (AP) courses at other schools in calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
and advanced physics (the school hasn't been recently open to this because it affects the school's scheduling). The school is considering the addition of an IB Diploma
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
. Legacy is the only high school on Roosevelt Island.