Universal Prekindergarten Program
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Download the UPK Family Handbook
Amherst Central School District will offer both Full-Day and Half-Day Universal Prekindergarten for the 2023-24 school year. Please read the Program Details section below for more program information.
Full-Day: Additional state funding allows the district to offer seven full-day UPK classes with two classrooms at Smallwood Drive Elementary, two classrooms at Windermere Boulevard Elementary and three classes at Amherst Community Church Child Care Center (ACCCCC). Each class will have up to 18 students.
Half-Day: The district-run UPK program will offer one morning half-day class at Amherst Nursery School.
Transportation: Busing will be provided to and from all district-run UPK locations. To be eligible for transportation, you must reside within the Amherst CSD boundaries and the child must be four years old. As per NYS guidelines, we cannot transport children who are three years old.
Age Requirement: UPK is open to any four-year-old residing in the district. The child must be four by Dec. 1 of the school year they are applying for. Your child is only eligible to attend UPK the year they turn four prior to Dec. 1.
Lottery System: If there are more students than spots available in the program, or in a selected class, a random lottery will take place. This lottery will occur in mid-March.
Site Preference: Parents can select a site preference, but placements are not guaranteed because class sizes are limited. As a result of the program being funded by state grants, definite confirmation will occur only after the New York State budget is passed and Universal Prekindergarten funding is guaranteed. Parents will receive an initial confirmation with site location by April 1. In August, families will receive a placement letter with their child’s teacher, supply list and school information.
Program Details
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Full-Day Program Details
UPK at Windermere Boulevard, 291 Windermere Boulevard
Two Classrooms.
Hours: 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Transportation will be provided by the district to and from Windermere. You must reside within the Windermere Boulevard Elementary school boundaries and the child must be four years old.
Wrap-around care provided through Just for Kids.UPK at Smallwood Drive Elementary, 300 Smallwood Drive
Two Classrooms.
Hours: 8 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Transportation will be provided by the district to and from Smallwood. You must reside within the Smallwood Drive Elementary school boundaries and the child must be four years old.
Wrap-around care provided through Just for Kids.
Amherst Community Church Child Care Center, 77 Washington Highway
Three Classrooms.
Hours: 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Transportation will be provided by the district to and from Amherst Nursery School. You must reside within the Amherst CSD school boundaries and the child must be four years old.
Wrap-around care provided by ACCCCC. It is self-pay. Contact Andrea O’Hern, ACCCCC Director, at 834-9701 for more information. -
What Does A Full Day Look Like?
Amherst Central Schools Full Day UPK program will include the same wonderful components of our half day program along with additional extended time for gross motor activities, instructional reinforcement of Literacy and Math concepts as well as lunch and rest time.
Our UPK curriculum ensures developmentally appropriate content aligned with NYS Learning Standards while providing an environment that promotes social-emotional development. Engaging learning centers are frequently utilized to promote play, communication skills, social-emotional skills, fine motor development, and skill reinforcement in ELA, Math and Science.
The full day program begins with a Morning Meeting that brings the class together as a community of learners to start the day. Next, breakfast is served, family style, which allows for social and self-help skills to be fostered and modeled by our highly qualified teachers. Whole group story time and reading lessons occur during circle time, as well as opportunities for play at one of the classroom learning centers. These centers include art, math manipulatives, blocks, sand/water, and computers. The dramatic play area models real-life settings such as a house, store, restaurant, or post office. Our monthly themes allow for science and social studies content to be connected throughout our daily learning. Additional time in our full day is designated not only for extended academic time but for social skill development, gross motor opportunities and rest time. The day ends with a Closing Circle where students recall the learning from the day while also helping to build a positive classroom community
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Half-Day Program Details
Amherst Nursery School, 350 Saratoga Road
Hours: 9:15 - 11:45 a.m. (morning session only)
Transportation will be provided by the district to and from Amherst Nursery School. You must reside within the Amherst CSD school boundaries and the child must be four years old. Amherst Nursery School does not offer any before or after school care.
Contact Us
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UPK Registration Timeline
Feb. 6, 2023 - Online registration opens
March 10, 2023 - Initial registration closes. Completed paperwork is due by this date.
March 31, 2023 - Families notified via mail of site location
Aug. 18, 2023 - Families notified via mail of child's teacher, school information and supply list.
Program Questions? Pre-K Office
Karen Redding, PreK Coordinator
Office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. You can expect a reply on those days.
