Dr. Lauren Effler, Pre-K director for Union County Public Schools, announces that registration is now open for Pre-K students enrolling for in-person learning next fall.
The Pre-K curriculum, designed to get kids ready for kindergarten, teaches important things such as letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. Children are also taught social skills like interacting with other kids, cooperating and working with others, and how to problem-solve.
Most classes fill up to the maximum capacity of 20 students per class. A registration form is available for downloading at ucps.org.
The completed form can be emailed or faxed to the school you’ve chosen. Alternatively, you may visit a local library for assistance with the internet or call the school where your child will attend to register by phone.
To qualify, a child must be four years old by August 15, 2021. The registration form is basic, requesting information about your child, your contact information, and your first and second choice of schools for your child to attend. The Pre-K program is federally funded through grants, therefore there is a weighted application process, designed to ensure that the most at-risk children are served.
The Pre-K teachers will contact parents to gather the required documentation and determine if your child qualifies. Letters of acceptance will be sent out in April or May.
Union County Public Schools is embracing a “Better Together” spirit, looking forward to a return to a normal school year with all students attending five days per week for the 2021/2022 school year.
Some changes will remain due to COVID-19, such as social distancing, pre-packaged meals, and wearing face masks. Effler remarks that these young children are by and large more compliant with COVID-19 restrictions than many adults. She states that kids are resilient and adjust quickly to new realities.
The most challenging adjustments are not being able to have families interact with students at school, and not having the usual parties and celebrations throughout the year.
Effler says she is happy with the extra effort teachers are taking to mark these special occasions and using the resources available such as photos to include the special people in the child’s life. Teachers are also doing an excellent job at keeping parents educated and updated throughout the year, sharing pictures of their child’s achievements. She assures new parents that their children will be in the very best of hands.
Effler succeeds Roger Flatford, who retired two years ago, as Pre-K director. She is responsible for overseeing the program, managing purchasing, applying for grants, and following federal guidelines for this voluntary program. She boasts about the great job families and students have done working with the schools with the distance-learning. Whether the child attended virtually all year or was just home on distance learning days, they have done a wonderful job of working with the materials provided by the schools and making sure the Pre-K students got what they needed to be ready for kindergarten next year!
Dr. Effler is excited about the new year and proudly proclaims that Union County has the best kids, teachers, and families who all work together to get each student ready for scholastic success!