Big Apple Academy




Big Apple Academy is a coeducational independent school for students, including the range from kindergarten through 8th grade. The Academy occupies two modern facilities located in the Gravesend area of Brooklyn, New York City. It is a private educational institution.

History

The Big Apple Academy takes its roots in the affiliated Bambi Academy, a Day Care Center founded by and oriented mostly towards Russian-speaking families. Due to the success of the program, the faculty decided to expand the institution's goals.
In 1992 the first kindergarten class was opened, and the school matured into a large educational center – the Big Apple Academy. The school created its own curricula, developed new teaching methods, and purchased equipment.
Today, the Big Apple Academy includes curricula for kindergarten through 8th grade.

Departments

The Big Apple Academy comprises the following departments:

Admission

Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s school records, entrance exams, and a personal interview.

Curriculum

The curriculum is based on the standards of learning for K-12 NY schools by the New York State Department of Education, as well as those provided by various national pedagogical organizations.
Starting in kindergarten, children have 40-minute lessons with subject teachers in English, Math, Computer Science, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Russian Language and P.E., which includes swimming and standard athletic exercises.
In older grades the workload increases, and more advanced subjects are added. The students are taught Algebra, Geometry, Graphic Design, Computer Science, History and Geography as parts of Social Studies, and Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as parts of Science.

Terms

The school year consists of four terms:

Language

Instruction at Big Apple Academy is conducted in the English language. However, Russian language classes are also taught as a foreign language class. The class includes Comprehension, Writing, and Language Development. In K-grades bilingual instruction is allowed for students who have recently entered the country and do not yet possess conversational skills. At parents’ request, additional Russian language lessons may be added to the existing scheduled ones. There are also Spanish and French clubs for students in the upper elementary.

Sports and academic clubs

Students of the Big Apple Academy can choose one or more clubs and after-school activities:
Sports clubs:
Academic clubs:
Art clubs:
Children are transported by school buses to and from the school. The boroughs of school bus coverage are Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.