Early childhood program moving into former annex

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An early-childhood program that is moving into the former annex of the Spyuten Duyvil School (P.S. 24) will be offering an array of art and science classes, its senior executive said. But it remains unclear when the program moves in.

“We are excited to open Bright Horizons at Riverdale in this great family neighborhood. Knowing that this is a strong and involved community, we are thrilled to become a part of it by providing a new high-quality childcare option,” Donna Gretkowski, a division vice president of the Bright Horizons early childhood program, said in emailed comments.

The program will open at the Whitehall, the annex space that P.S. 24 lost when education officials failed to renew its lease, compounding the public school’s overcrowding problems.

The early-childhood programs that the new tenant would bring would include math classes, an infant sign-language course, a reading program and a STEM—science, technology and math—lab, Gretkowski said.

The big question that remains is when exactly this might happen.

The annex space, located at 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway, is still under construction, Gretkowski said in the email, declining to specify a date when the work would be completed.

“Bright Horizons has already started renovations [and] once construction is complete, they will set up and begin the licensing process.  At that point, we will be happy to announce the targeted opening date,” she said.

The new childhood program, when it arrives, would have its own playground, be divided into separate areas for each age group, Gretkowski said. There will also be six infant rooms, she said.

Despite the uncertainty about the opening date, Bright Horizon’s executive urged Riverdale’s families to apply, saying in her email that families could contact one of Bright Horizons’ enrollment specialists to receive more information about the Riverdale location.

The school’s website also says that Bright Horizons is accepting registrations and encourages families to complete a pre-enrollment form and check the program’s Facebook page for updates.

The address is http://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/NY/Riverdale/riverdale.

The early learning facility will accommodate 140 students who will range in age from 6-weeks to 5-years-old.

Bright Horizons’ website lists that it has child care programs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, Queens and Yonkers. The Riverdale location would be the company’s first in the Bronx. In addition to providing early childhood education and pre-school program, the company also offers employer-sponsored childcare, back-up childcare and educational advisory services.

Bright Horizons, which is based in Watertown, Massachusetts, employs 26,000 people, according to Yahoo Finance.

Bright Horizons, Bright Horizons Family Center, Donna Gretkowski, Lisa Herndon

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