After more than a dozen years at its Roseland site, Stepping Stones School relocated to a brand-new building in Fairfield, bringing a fresh look and more space to the students in The Arc of Essex County’s care.

The new location, nestled in the Kingsbridge office park and situated directly across the parking lot from Studio Arc, encompasses 23 rooms and offices and covers 12,333 square feet, all on a single ground-level. Construction lasted about six months. After a field trip visit from students and staff on Friday, February 16, the final move was made over the Presidents’ Day weekend, and the school officially opened its doors for instruction on Wednesday, February 21.

Staff, teachers, and therapists quickly got into the usual routine, while supporting students who were learning their way around the new facility. Early Intervention programs started in the new space on February 27.

At both the Roseland and Fairfield locations, students participated in many different activities during the month of February. Children celebrated Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day with special learning activities and wore jerseys to school to prepare for the Super Bowl. They also enjoyed a visit from the Paper Mill Playhouse Children’s Theatre on Tour, which put on a performance of Finding Nemo, Jr., and gave Stepping Stones students the opportunity to meet the actors and try on costumes. The field trip to the new school on February 16 included a tour of the new space, a dance party, an art activity, and a pizza lunch in the new multi-purpose room. And the children celebrated Leap Day with lots of frog activities (and leaping!). It’s been a busy, but happy, month for our Stepping Stones children!

The Arc of Essex County’s Stepping Stones School is a Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities serving children ages 3-10. The school, based in Fairfield, NJ, is designed to meet the developmental and educational needs of children with cognitive impairments such as Down syndrome and other students with similar educational and developmental needs. For more information, or to request a virtual tour and assistance with an out-of-district placement, contact Robin Moses, Director of Early Childhood and Education at (862) 210-8781 or rmoses@arcessex.org.