Brewster Central School District

The Brewster Central School District is composed of 5 different school buildings:

* Brewster High School (Brewster, NY)
* Henry H. Wells Middle School (Brewster, NY)
* C. V. Starr Intermediate School
* Garden Street Elementary School
* John F. Kennedy Elementary School (Brewster, NY)

Brewster is located in the Town of Southeast, approximately convert|50|mi|km north of New York City in Putnam County. With its winding country roads and beautiful reservoirs, Southeast is a picturesque and tranquil community. The Town of Southeast surrounds the independent and separately governed convert|134|acre|km2|sing=on Village of Brewster. Although the Town of Southeast is the larger municipality, the area is commonly referred to as "Brewster," the name recognized by the Post Office and designated as zip code 10509.

Mission Statement (Adopted March 1, 1994)

The mission of the Brewster Central School District is to provide an environment in which all children will learn. The organizational structure will possess the resources and personnel to establish high standards of achievement, to foster respect and dignity for each individual, to offer varied learning opportunities, and to equip all students with the skills necessary to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

About the Schools

Brewster High School

Brewster High School is a comprehensive public secondary school for grades 9 – 12 with an enrollment of approximately 1200 students and over 110 teachers and support personnel. Academics are at the core of what we do and most students take English, Social Studies, Math, and Science through their senior year. Brewster students have been recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in all academic disciplines. Brewster High School has also grown into a regionally recognized leader in the Fine and Performing Arts, with one of the most advanced Performing Arts Centers in the region. In addition, nearly three quarters of the student body participate in interscholastic sports and/or one of our numerous clubs, honor societies, yearbook, student literary magazine, or student newspaper.

Henry H. Wells Middle School

The Henry H. Wells Middle School was the second school building known to the Brewster Central School District. Opening in 1957, it was known as Brewster High School. At that time, it housed grades 6 - 12. Garden Street School served as the lone elementary building in the district for grades K - 5. Over time, as the district continued to grow, the 'new' Brewster High School could not keep up with the needs of the school community. In 1971, when Brewster High School was opened on Foggintown Road, the existing high school was rededicated as the Henry H. Wells Middle School - a school designed to work with the unique characteristics of the middle school child, grades 6 - 8. As the Brewster community continued to grow and prosper, the Middle School was called upon to assist by taking the 5th graders into their midst. From September 1990 - January 1998, the Middle School served grades 5 - 8. With the opening of C.V. Starr in January 1998, the building went back to grades 6 - 8.

C. V. Starr Intermediate School

The C. V. Starr Intermediate School was opened in January 1998. The erection of this building helped to solve some of the major overcrowding situations in the elementary schools and the middle school. When the doors were opened, 4th grade students from JFK Elementary and GSS Elementary, along with 5th grade students from the Wells Middle School were welcomed into a learning experience created exclusively for their developmental needs.

John F. Kennedy Elementary School

John F. Kennedy Elementary School was erected in 1964 with 21 classrooms in the original building. In 1968, ten "open" classrooms were added as the "roundhouse." There was also an expansion of the school cafeteria. During the summer of 2001, the "roundhouse" was renovated and each of the ten classrooms completely enclosed. Four portable classrooms were added in 1988 to accommodate the influx of children. The roof was completely replaced during the summer of 1993.

John F. Kennedy had served as a kindergarten through grade five facility until 1990 when the fifth grade was moved to Henry H. Wells Middle School to accommodate its again growing population. With the building of C.V. Starr Intermediate School in 1998, our fourth grade vacated and JFK now houses kindergarten through third grades.

Garden Street Elementary School

Originally built in the late 1800s, Garden Street School burned to the ground and was rebuilt in 1925. The school served as the sole educational facility in Brewster until the Henry H. Wells "High School" was built in 1957. Over the years, two additions were built. The existing building stands as a 76-year-old landmark for the district and community.

More recently, Garden Street School has served as a kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school facility. In 1990, the fifth grade was moved to H.H. Wells Middle School to alleviate overcrowding at GSS. Eight years later, Garden Street said good-bye to fourth grade students and staff, as they found a new home at C.V. Starr Intermediate School.

District Office

* Dr. Jane Sandbank, Superintendent of Schools
* Timothy Conway, Assistant Superintendent for Business
* Deborah Gregory, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
* Steven Moskowitz, Director of Information Systems and Information Technology

Board of Education

The Board of Education usually meets two Tuesdays each month. The seven members of the Board are elected by the qualified voters of the district to serve without remuneration for three-year terms. The most legendary board member ever is Bruce Shaffer.

External Links

* [http://www.brewsterschools.org/ Brewster Central School District Home Page]