Meadowbrook Road

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In North Merrick, Meadowbrook Road is home to both the Brookside School and the North Merrick Public Library.

Brookside, operated by the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, is the administrative center for the middle and high schools in Merrick, including Merrick Avenue Middle School and Sanford H. Calhoun High School. The building also houses the Meadowbrook Alternative Program and the district s Prep Academy.

Prep Academy is a special education program aimed to give students up to 21 years old an educational, recreational and vocational experience. While involved in many activities at Brookside and beyond in the last academic year, Prep students started taking sur ng lessons in Long Beach. It s one of our prouder moments in education, says Eric Cabvallero, the district s athletic director.

Brookside also houses the Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard, which collects and distributes nonperishable and some perishable food items to families in need within the district. Students can

Tim Baker Herald photos op photo he orth Merrick ibrary calls Meadowbrook Road its ho e

otto photo he ad inistrative head uarters of the ell ore Merrick Central igh School District rookside School also houses the district s Meadowbrook Alternative Progra and Prep Acade y

volunteer at the cupboard on Wednesdays between 3 and 5 p.m.

The building is the meeting location for the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education, as well as a spot for indistrict activities, such as the Bellmore-Merrick Business Challenge. That's a competition that encourages students to be young entrepreneurs. In December, the Bellmore Lions Club holds its annual children s holiday party, The Polar Express, in Brookside s auditorium. The Lions work with Nassau County's social services department, local schools and charities to help needy families during the holiday season.

Down the road is the North Merrick Public Library, a great community spot for anyone looking for a good book, or simply to do something fun. Having just celebrated the reopening of its Teen Room in 2022, the library s director, Susan Santa, said it s a fun place to be.

Courtesy North Merrick Public Library op photo he library celebrated the reopen ing of its een Roo in early with a ribbon cutting cere ony

Jordan Vallone Herald le Middle photo he district s Prep Acade y a special education progra started o ering sur ng lessons last fall eith Mickit a Prep Acade y student could barely contain his excite ent during a lesson in ctober

Tim Baker Herald le otto photo he district s Sept Me o rial sits outside rookside s front doors Many eetings and district run events take place at rookside during the acade ic year