We recently sent out letters within the district, notifying parents that for the 2008-09 school year Herricks School District will be participating in New York State's Universal Pre-K program. This is a grant program, fully funded by the state, which provides free half-day Pre-K schooling to a limited number of children within the district.

I would like to call attention to the fact that this program is being run at no cost to the taxpayers and will continue only as long as he state provides the funding for the program. This is a wonderful opportunity for 4-year-old students in the district to benefit from a Pre-K program at no cost to their parents or to the community. According to the requirements of the grant, the limited number of students who will be funded for this program must be selected randomly - in our case by lottery - and must have proof of residency in the district.

We look forward to being able to provide this program a long as the state continues this grant and wish to assure all residents that it is being done at no cost to the district. For the upcoming year, Harbor Day Care, located in our own Community Center and well-known to many parents, will be the provider for the program. We hope that all of the students involved will enjoy their pre-school experience and that it will help to form a solid base from which they will move on to kindergarten and their school years in Herricks.

Dr. Deirdre Hayes

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction

Herricks UFSD