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History & Mission
An Inspired Beginning in Long Island City
At Bunny Hill Infant and Toddler Center, our mission is to provide a warm, joyful, and thoughtfully prepared learning environment where children from infancy through Pre-K grow with confidence, curiosity, and compassion. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, we believe every child is capable, creative, and full of potential.
We honor each child as a unique individual and nurture development through meaningful relationships, hands-on exploration, and opportunities for self-expression. Our classrooms encourage children to wonder, investigate, collaborate, and communicate through many languages of learning—including art, movement, play, music, and conversation.
Serving children from our youngest learners through private and DOE Pre-K programs, we are committed to supporting the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, and academically—while fostering independence and a lifelong love of learning.
We believe families are children’s first teachers, and we value strong partnerships built on trust, communication, and shared purpose. Together, we create a caring community where children feel safe, celebrated, and inspired to thrive.
Our History
Beginnings in Brooklyn
Bunny Hill Preschool was founded in 2015 in Brooklyn as a small, family-based preschool inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Beginning with just 4 two years old children, the school quickly expanded to six classrooms as more families were drawn to its child-centered, inquiry-based approach to early childhood education. In 2016, Bunny Hill launched its Universal Pre-K (UPK) program, further expanding access to high-quality early education.
Expansion to LIC
In 2018, Bunny Hill opened its first Long Island City location at 47-28 11th Street in Queens, bringing its nurturing and Reggio-inspired environment to the LIC community. Due to growing enrollment and community support, a second LIC location dedicated to infants and toddlers opened in 2019 at 46-04 Vernon Boulevard.
Founding of
Gantry View School
In 2020, Bunny Hill partnered with Queens Paideia School founders Dr. Francis Mechner and Karyn Slutsky to establish Gantry View School, a private K–5 school located at 5-36 50th Avenue in Long Island City. The school was founded on a shared vision of combining academic rigor with a whole-child educational approach and innovative learning practices, forming a thoughtful, research-based learning community that supports children academically, socially, and emotionally.
Continued Growth
In March 2024, Bunny Hill opened its first Greenpoint location at 213 West Street in Brooklyn, expanding its reach to even more NYC families. In March 2026, the original LIC location on 11th Street relocated to a newly renovated building at 10-37 47th Road, marking another exciting milestone in Bunny Hill’s continued growth and commitment to high-quality early childhood education. Another Greenpoint location dedicated to infants and toddlers is planned to open in early 2027.
Together, our programs will support approximately 130 3K/4K seats and 250 private seats, serving families through both DOE placement and private enrollment. We also continue to offer afterschool and enrichment programs that extend learning beyond the classroom. We are excited for what’s ahead and for the growing community we continue to build.
