BALLSTON SPA — Jellyfish with googly eyes made from plastic bowls. Photos of students inside paper-plate hot air balloons. Paintings of cats, baseball players, and lizards displayed above tiny desks. The Ballston Area Community Center’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten classrooms were on display Monday night for an open house event that allowed parents to meet teachers and tour the facilities.
The free pre-K program is a partnership between the Ballston Area Community Center (BACC) and the Ballston Spa Central School District. Although applicants are not guaranteed a spot, the program has been successful in placing most kids. “We try to be as open and available for as many families as possible,” said Kathleen Skellie, the district’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. “There is no restriction, as long as you live in the district, as long as you can get yourself to and from, the cost is free,” added Colleen Russo, Executive Director of BACC.
The goal of the pre-K program is to ensure a smooth transition into kindergarten. Courses include pre-K versions of kindergarten phonics and math programs. “The beauty of the consistency is when our kinders get to us, they know their letters, they know their sounds,” said Skellie.
“We work on everything from social emotional to physical,” said Russo. “They have gross motor, fine motor, all sorts of different skills that they’re building.” There are also special programs such as yoga and music. “It really helps transition the kids from the classroom to a different activity, and then back to the classroom, like they’re expected to do in kindergarten,” Russo said.
The largest classroom can fit 18 students, while smaller rooms have 14 or 16. The earliest drop-off is 9 a.m., and pickup is at 2 p.m. BACC also offers an after-care program that goes until 6 p.m. After-care does have a fee, although financial assistance may be available to families that qualify.
Registration opened on Monday. Online registration is available at bscsd.org/Page/13659. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2024. If there are more applicants than available spots, a random lottery will occur. Those not selected in this lottery will be placed on a waiting list. A letter confirming acceptance or rejection from the program will be mailed to families by March 15.
Any questions about the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program can be directed to the district’s Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-884-7195, ext. 1374. For additional information, visit bscsd.org/Page/13659.
