Cornerstone Children's Network: Cornerstone School
A Piece of History
In 1965, a group of parents set out to establish the first agency in the Cranston area to serve children with developmental disabilities. The Cranston Center for Retarded Citizens would serve as an alternative to the Joseph Ladd School. Committed to keeping their children in their own communities, these parents began the process of building community-based supports for children with disabilities. Forty years later, CranstonArc provides multi-disciplined supports and services to children starting at 18 months of age through adulthood. Cornerstone School is CranstonArc’s educational component.
Over the past decade, Cornerstone School has expanded its available services in response to the needs of families and the local school districts. The focus of Cornerstone School reaches beyond mental retardation and developmental disabilities to include children with extensive cognitive, physical, major medical needs and multiple disabilities.
Who We Are
Cornerstone School is a small, year round, private special education school serving students in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The school offers a continuum of educational and therapeutic services to students ages 18 months to 21 years of age in a small, nurturing setting. Our fully certified and experienced staff of professionals share the responsibility of monitoring the entire educational and health progress of each child. At Cornerstone School the emphasis is on ability and not disability. We believe that all children need opportunities to experience the joys of learning.
What We Offer
Specialized Education
- Standards based curriculum
- Individualized Education Approach
- Small classrooms with high staff to student ratio
- Multi-disciplinary team of licensed professionals to include social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nutritionists and a skilled nursing department
- Specialized nursing
- Assistive Technology Practitioner
- Experience in meeting significant cognitive and medical challenges
- Multi-sensory approach to learning
- Snoezelen room to address sensory needs
- Daily communication with families, local school departments and family support agencies
- Community activities to include swimming at the YMCA, therapeutic horseback riding and participation in the Rhode Island Special Olympics
- Weekly music classes
- Internship site for Assisted Pet Therapy
- Parent Teacher Organization
- Collaboration with local agencies such as DCYF, Early Intervention, CEDARR, Sherlock Center on Disabilities, TECH ACCESS and local school departments in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts
- Member of the Rhode Island Association of Special Education Schools
Extended School Year (ESY) Service
- Educational and therapeutic services goals are met to maintain current levels of performance through the summer months
- Community activities to include swimming, horseback riding, sailing, bowling
- Collaboration between Cornerstone School and sending districts to ensure continuity of services
- Daily family contact
- Educational and therapeutic reports provided upon completion of ESY
Inclusive Early Childhood Program
- Ages 18 months through Kindergarten
- All classrooms are fully inclusive
- Developmentally appropriate
- Small classrooms
- High staff to student ratio
- Positive guidance techniques
- Full time nursing staff
- Creative Curriculum®
- Trained certified staff
- Licensed by DCYF
- Certified by the RI Department of Education
Contact
Pat Krakowsky, M.Ed., Director
665 Dyer Ave
Cranston, RI 02920
401-942-2388
pkrakowsky@cranstonarc.org