Growing Readers at Anna House

Families shared the joy of reading at Anna House this week.

Parents were given the opportunity to read one-on-one with their child, helping to bring the books to life and inspiring their little one’s young mind.

Reading aloud daily promotes children’s love of reading and books. It helps with development of imagination, expansion of vocabulary, and builds comprehension skills.

We strive to foster close emotional bonds and create special moments between parents and children while reading at Anna House.

BCCA aims to support the family as a whole, by growing our readers and encouraging positive parent-child relationships.

Great Kindness Challenge!

This week at Anna House we celebrated the Great Kindness Challenge.

Our students learned about compassion, empathy, and kindness. The children shared smiles, extended a helping hand, and participated in random acts of kindness all week.

Angel and Raymond spread kindness with a hug after showing each other their classroom art projects.

What a great way to show you care!

Sophie helped Milagro by pulling up her sleeves during lunch time.

How sweet to lend a helping hand!

The values taught at Anna House are carried throughout all aspects of our students’ lives, from their families at home to broader communities, fostering a sense of responsibility, compassion, and integrity in everything they do. Helping and hugs all around!

Northwell Health Dental Hygiene Workshop

Our children were all sparkling smiles as Northwell Health joined us at Anna House. They had so much fun with the Northwell Pediatric Dental Residents as they were taught how to properly brush their teeth and learn about essential dental care habits.

Thank you to Northwell Health for providing this important dental health workshop and a special thank you to BEST for helping to make this partnership possible. Look at these pearly whites!

Merry Christmas!

Our warmest wishes for a Happy Holiday and New Year filled with peace and love!

Jingle Bells Rang for the Backstretch Families!

BCCA was thrilled to host our Annual Holiday Shopping event this year on Saturday, December 7 at Anna House! Our center was transformed into a Winter Wonderland which included a Sugar Plum Cafe and Holiday Shop.

Over 300 children from the backstretch families of Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack lined up to “shop” for their relatives. Numerous volunteers from the local community acted as “elves” taking each child around to pick out the perfect gift.

A special thank you to Lt. Triolo for reprising his role as Santa!

This cherished event would not be possible without our generous supporters and BCCA would like to extend an extra special thank you to the following organizations who helped us spread the Christmas cheer: NYRA, USMC Toys for Tots, Jazwares Cares, National Charity League, Inc. (Garden City Chapter), and Floral Park Memorial National Honor Society.

Cookies with Santa

sponsored by

'Tis the Season!

All of our children at Anna House wrote

Letters to Santa

and provided him with their three holiday wishes.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

all of their wishes came true this year!

Santa thrilled us all with an early stop today at Anna House!

As the children awoke from their naps,

they were greeted with their gifts and candy canes.

A special thank you to Lt. Triolo of NYRA Security

for reprising his role as Santa once again!

Thank you, Eclipse!

Families4Families - Garden city Supports BCCA

BCCA thanks the Families4Families – Garden City chapter for creating a "Bag of Basics" for every student in our Olivia’s Herd after-school program. Each bag was filled with thoughtful cards and essential household goods which will make a real difference in the daily lives of our children and their families.

We are grateful to everyone for their generosity

and we so appreciate their commitment to our Anna House families!

BCCA celebrates Halloween with 

a Fall Festival at Anna House!

Each classroom stopped to take a group photo in front of the pumpkins and gourds.

BCCA Executive Director, Joanne K. Adams, visited the classrooms today

and read "A Witchy Spelling Bee".

Our parents were invited to join their children in their classrooms to participate

in a special Fall activity!

Hooray for Fall!

Throughout the month of October, we spent time outside

and we brought nature inside to our classrooms.

Our creative infants had so much fun painting paper towel tubes

to help decorate their classroom door.

The tubes were transformed into corn stalks, which added a warm fall vibe.

It was amazing to see their tiny hands explore new textures and colors

while connecting with nature indoors.

Great job, little artists!

Learning to express yourself through art is an important part of our curriculum here at Anna House and our students had fun creating Fall themes for their classroom doors.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month at Anna House!

BCCA was honored to celebrate this month with our students and their families!

BCCA is so proud to recognize the rich history, traditions, and achievements of Hispanic Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month. Our teachers plan immersive activities including storytime, dance, culture, and tradition. Storytime features books written by Hispanic authors, movement classes explore the steps of Hispanic dances, and our Little Chef’s program offers an opportunity to taste foods from Hispanic countries.

Alexa and Bellemery came to class dressed up in gorgeous traditional Mexican dresses.

Hispanic Heritage Month is not just a celebration, it’s an opportunity for reflection and education. BCCA is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and heard. By learning about the histories and cultures that shape our society, we empower our children to appreciate differences and cultivate empathy.

Our Students Dream BIG at

Science Saturday at Rockefeller University!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Name that Trip Sponsors Susan and Chip Fisher!

Our students explored the science behind color and participated in hands-on experiments where they were immersed in a world of discovery.

Science Saturday was filled with exciting group discussions, live demonstrations, and interactive learning that truly brought science to life!

Watching our young scientists light up with curiosity and excitement was priceless.

Special thanks to Rockefeller University for hosting such a wonderful event and inspiring our students to Dream BIG!

Ready for a new school year!

Happy Monday - We are so excited for the first full week of school!

Our students were thrilled to kick-off a new school year after their Summer of fun at Anna House.

BCCA continues to support our school-age students throughout the year, as they join us in the early morning before school, for after-school tutoring, on weekends, and during school breaks.

Our school-age students started school this week and were well prepared as they nurtured their love of reading by setting aside time to read each day at Anna House this Summer.

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader!"

We are so proud of our students for their dedication to their education.

240 books!

Our children had the best time at the happiest place in Saratoga!

A special THANK YOU to our special guest readers

who joined us for Storytime at Faith's House this year!

Pictured: Andy Serling, NYRA Racing Analyst 

We can't wait to see you all next Summer!

Unleashing the Spirit of Competition

The Inaugural Anna House Olympic Games

As the summer sun blazed down, Anna House was abuzz with excitement and camaraderie. Our school-age students gathered for a special event that promised fun, teamwork, and a dash of friendly competition. This year, we kicked off our very first Anna House Olympic Games!

First up was the water relay race, and this event quickly became a favorite among the students. The relay involved passing a sponge filled with water between teammates while navigating a playful obstacle course. The relay showcased the kids' determination and creativity as they tried different strategies to minimize spills. The excitement was infectious as students raced through the course, occasionally slipping and sliding through puddles but always with huge smiles on their faces. It wasn’t just about winning but enjoying the summer fun and fostering teamwork.

The next event on our Olympic roster was the javelin throw. With a makeshift javelin crafted from pool noodles and duct tape, the students took their turns, demonstrating impressive focus and technique. Each participant channeled their inner Olympian, aiming for distance and accuracy.

The third event this week was the bean bag toss! This classic game added a new dimension of fun and challenge to our Olympic Games. Students took turns tossing bean bags into the Olympic Rings, testing both their aim and strategy. The bean bag toss was to be a delightful addition to our lineup, combining skill and laughter in equal measure. It was a fantastic display of precision and skill, and the cheers of encouragement from fellow students made the experience even more exhilarating. The God’s, the Polar Bears, the Tigers, and the Black Pikachu’s are fired up to take on the next event.

 The inaugural Anna House Olympic Games have been a wonderful success so far. Beyond the medals and scores, the true highlight has been seeing our students come together, cheering each other on, and deepening bonds that will last beyond the summer. The sense of community and the spirit of friendly competition have truly shone through in every event. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the Anna House Olympic Games.