Growing, Learning & Playing Together at Huntington UPK

Huntington UFSD’s free universal pre-kindergarten program is all about growing, learning and playing together to build a strong foundation for kindergarten. The district is currently accepting lottery applications for its 2024/25 UPK program. The deadline is April 9.

The program is open to Huntington UFSD resident children who will be four years old by December 1, 2024. The program will follow the Huntington School District calendar. Funded by state UPK aid, the district anticipates the program will run five hours daily, five days per week with 163 seats available. Transportation will be provided to students who are at least four years old.

The curriculum is aligned with the New York State Pre-K Standards and offers an imaginative and developmentally appropriate program that encourages not only a child’s creativity and social skills, but expands their readiness skills that will be transitional into kindergarten.

Highlights of the program include:

• Focus on cognitive, social and emotional learning

• Utilizes developmentally appropriate practices

• Learning enhanced through play

• Instruction delivered in individual, small and large groups

• Teacher and child guided instruction

Classes will be held at Flower Hill Primary School, Jefferson Primary School, Southdown Primary School and Washington Primary School and in local community pre-kindergarten settings.

The UPK lottery will be held on April 12. Families will be notified by mail following the lottery if their child was chosen for the program. Registration will follow parent notifications. Huntington School District residency documentation will be required during the registration process.

Sample daily schedule:

• Arrival and attendance; table time activities

• Morning meeting; calendar, math, weather, literacy, morning message

• Read aloud

• Learning centers; STEAM

• Handwashing and bathroom break

• Lunch

• Rest time

• Outdoor/indoor gross motor activity

• Whole group instruction

A virtual UPK informational meeting will be held on March 6, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at https://bit.ly/HuntingtonUPKMeeting24-25.

Applications can be submitted electronically or via US Mail or dropped off at the Huntington UFSD central administration office located at 50 Tower Street in Huntington Station.

• An electronic application form can be accessed and submitted by visiting

https://bit.ly/Huntington2024-25UPK

• Paper copies of the application can be downloaded from the district’s website at

https://www.hufsd.edu/resources/upk.html or picked up at the receptionist’s desk at the central administration office.

• Completed paper copies of application forms can be mailed to:

Huntington Union Free School District

P.O. Box 1500

Huntington, NY 11743

Attn: UPK Application

• Completed hard copies of application forms can be dropped off with the superintendent’s secretary at Huntington UFSD’s central administration offices at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School. Enter the building at 50 Tower Street, Huntington Station.

Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Nancy Allard at upk@hufsd.edu or call (631) 673-4294.