Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program

Location

The Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program is housed at Gouverneur Elementary School at 111 Gleason Street, Gouverneur, NY.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, a child must reside in the Gouverneur Central School District and be 4 years of age on or before December 1st of the school year you wish them to attend.

Selection Process

Gouverneur Central School District will use a lottery system to select students for the UPK program if more student registrations are received by the deadline than there are seats available.

Attendance

The UPK program is a full-day program that follows the GCS school calendar. Attendance is closely monitored. If a UPK student is frequently absent, they may be asked to give their space to a child on the waiting list.

Cost

There is no cost for the UPK program.

Transportation

Bus transportation is available to and from Gouverneur Elementary School each day.

Food

Free breakfast and lunch will be offered to UPK students every day. However, students may bring a lunch from home.

What will my child learn in Pre-K?

The Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program is staffed with certified teachers and teacher assistants. The goal of the program is to provide high-quality early educational childhood experiences that focus on developmental best practices which support young children in an environment that is safe, nurturing and engaging. An emphasis of the program is to create strong partnerships with families.

At this age, students learn a great deal from one another. We focus on social-emotional skills that encourage students to cooperate and interact appropriately with peers as well as gain independence. Immersing students in literacy activities develops reading readiness. Students will develop those readiness skills by listening to many stories and participating in a variety of learning tasks. We also focus on beginning handwriting. Math skills are practiced daily using manipulatives and technology. Students enjoy learning about health and fitness. We incorporate both fine and gross motor activities in the classroom and outdoors. We will create art projects that allow us to practice coloring, cutting and gluing. We engage in musical activities that encourage singing and dancing. Students develop technological skills as classrooms are equipped with SMART Boards and other integrated technology. Children also attend music, art, library, and physical education classes on a rotational schedule.

UPK Presentation

View a UPK program presentation.

Questions

If you have questions about this program, please feel free to call Gouverneur Elementary School at 315-287-2260.