Our mission and vision:
About the St. John Street Community School Pre-School Program:
The district’s 3PK and UPK program serves the youngest residents of the Monticello Central School District in two locations: at the St. John Street Community School, located at 22 St. John Street and at the Healthy Kids center, located at 21 Liberty Street.
Three and four-year-old children of the district are eligible, and registration takes place each year in April. Registration is lottery-based and parents are notified of their acceptance in May, and of their placement (St. John Street or 21 Liberty Street) prior to the start of school. For more information about registration, visit the district’s registration webpage.
Extended day program available
An extended day program is available for preschool students. The Healthy Kids extended day program is held at the St. John Street Community School, but children from either location are eligible to attend (students at 21 Liberty Street are bussed to 22 St. John Street at the close of school). The Healthy Kids extended day program is separate from the Monticello CSD extended day program. For more information, or to register, please visit the Healthy Kids website.
UPK schedule
Students who are not riding the bus should be dropped off by 9:15 a.m. and picked up at 3:30 p.m. in the lot behind the St. John Street Building. The UPK program runs from 9:30 to 3:25 p.m.
The UPK program follows the same calendar as the district. When the district is closed for a holiday, or for a snow day, the UPK program will be closed as well. When there is an early dismissal or a delayed opening, the UPK program will also be dismissed early or have a delayed opening. The district uses ParentSquare to communicate about dismissals, closings and other emergency information. Please download the ParentSquare app and create an account based upon the information that you have on file with the district. For more information, visit the ParentSquare webpage.
FAQ:
Who is eligible?
Monticello Central School District residents who turn three or four by December 1 of the year they enter the program.
Can I choose where my child is placed?
No, placement is determined via lottery.
Does the district provide transportation?
Students enrolled in the program at either location are eligible for transportation. Bus route information is mailed out to families the week prior to school.
Is there a cost for the program?
No.
About the program:
The St. John Street Community School Preschool program provides educational services for universal pre-kindergarten students of Monticello and classified preschool children from throughout Sullivan County. Program offerings include daycare classrooms, private tuition preschool, universal pre-k (integrated and non-integrated) as well as classes for children with disabilities (integrated and non-integrated).
Creative Curriculum
Based on the concept of learning through play, the preschool classrooms are filled with engaging activities that teach foundational skills, content knowledge, and language development through hands-on, playful activities.
Preschool classrooms are bright, colorful, full of language development and language stimulation, nurturing and open to endless possibilities for student exploration and “hands-on” learning.
By providing students with ample opportunities to explore areas of their interest, the curriculum focuses on using the strengths of the students to build self-esteem and the important preschool skills of socialization, language development, academic readiness, and motor development.
Educated Staff
The staff consists of well-trained, experienced educators driven by the educational philosophy of the Monticello Central School District. They strive to provide an educationally stimulating classroom environment enriched with positive behavior management strategies. Children receive developmentally appropriate pre-academic instruction. Daily opportunities to participate in learning experiences and activities such as art, music, and movement, help encourage children’s self-expression. Guided socialization activities and exposure to high quality literature are also a part of the diverse curriculum. Additionally, there are opportunities for gross motor development, participation in simple cooking activities, exposure to science activities, and computer instruction.