The Ballston Area Community Center (BACC) offers Universal Prekindergarten Program (UPK). An eligible child is a child who resides within the Ballston Spa Central School District (BSCSD) and who is four years of age on or before December 1st or otherwise eligible to attend kindergarten following school year.
The state-funded program is taught by a certified teachers with training in early education. The research-based curriculum is designed to promote a child’s total growth and development in all areas, including emergent literacy, to instill lifelong independent learning skills.
BACC offers four full-day UPK classrooms at its main facility at 20 Malta Ave., in the Village of Ballston Spa. Classes run from 9a-2p, Monday through Friday, September through June, following the Ballston Spa school district calendar.
BACC does not provide transportation for this program. Families who wish to take advantage of this free enrichment program for their children will need to provide transportation to and from BACC. BACC offers optional wraparound childcare services for UPK. Before care services operate from 6:30am – 9am and after care services operate from 2pm-6pm, Monday through Friday. The childcare program offers opt-in care for an additional fee for school vacation days, certain holidays, half-days and snow days.
Eligibility for BACC’s UPK program is determined by Ballston Spa Central School District.
Find more information about BSCSD’s UPK program here: Universal Pre Kindergarten Information
For general information on the BACC UPK program or childcare options call 518-885-3261 extension 4 and leave a message or email us at upk@ballstonareacc.org.
A Day in UPK
Arrival and Free Play
Before entering the classroom, all students need to wash their hands. When students enter the classroom, they will pick a free play center. Each day, the children will socialize with different classmates while participating in purposeful play.
Circle Time
Each day, we will be reviewing the calendar and learning about the days of the week, the months, the seasons, letters, numbers, and phonics. We will also sing, dance, practice sitting, learn about our emotions and listen to our friends on their special show and tell days.
Project Time
During project time, students will spend time learning letters, numbers, shapes, colors, science, and math! Through fine motor activities like cutting, pasting and painting, students will have the opportunity to develop their hand strength, dexterity, creativity, and time management skills.
Storytime
Each day, the children will listen to a story. In our classroom, we try to incorporate both fiction and non-fiction books relevant to what we are currently learning about.
Snack & Lunch
Please provide your child with one small, healthy snack, bagged lunch and drink each day. We would appreciate it if you sent your child to school a juice box or NO SPILL water bottle that will be easy for your child to open and eat/drink independently. We will notify you of any allergies in the classroom.
Gross Motor Play
Each day, your child will receive at least 20 minutes of gross motor time. If the weather permits, we will use our playground. Otherwise, the children will learn to skip, gallop, and play a variety of games in our gym.
Science/Center Time
Students participate in STEM (science, technology, electronics, mathematics) centers and projects during this time. Each classroom has a STEM station and Chromebooks to support learning.
Specials
Students participate in yoga and music classes weekly, as well as art classes monthly. Classes are taught by certified instructors and provide an opportunity to enrich students’ experience while supporting transitioning to out of classroom activities in preparation for kindergarten.
Dismissal
We will end everyday by coming back together as a large group to discuss our day, upcoming events and to read a story. This time is used to build a sense of community and foster relationships within our classroom. Please try to be punctual at pick-up as our rooms are used by other students immediately after program.
Staff
Sarah McKinley
UPK Director
Email: smckinley@ballstonareacc.org
Sarah McKinley graduated from Union College with a BS in Psychology. She earned her Master’s in Elementary Education from Manhattanville College and received permanent NYS certification in Pre-K thru 6th grade. She started her teaching career at Greenwich Country Day School in CT. She continued her teaching career at The King School in Stamford, CT. Sarah moved to Ballston Spa in 2003 and taught at The Saratoga Independent School. She took some time off from teaching when she had her two daughters but continued to tutor numerous students over the years. Sarah loves spending time with her daughters, cooking, taking walks with her dog, kayaking, and spending her summers at the St. Lawrence River. She is very excited to be teaching Pre-K for her eleventh year at the BACC.
Courtney LaVarnway
Teacher
Email: clavarnway@ballstonareacc.org
This is Courtney LaVarnway’s fifth year with the BACC team. She graduated from Plattsburgh State University with a BS in Childhood Education. Courtney began her teaching career at Pyramids Child Development Center in Morrisonville, NY. While teaching, she earned her Master’s in Special Education from Plattsburgh State University and her permanent NYS certification in Special Education. Courtney moved to the Ballston Spa area in 2011 and began teaching for Albany County Head Start. After over four years with Head Start, she took some time off to be home with her growing family. She loves walks year-round at the Saratoga Spa State Park with her husband, two daughters, and son. Courtney enjoys vegetable gardening, summers in the Adirondacks, the ocean, baking, scrapbooking, and reading. She is excited to be part of this wonderful program and great community at BACC.
Jamie Sacala
Teacher
Email: jsacala@ballstonareacc.org
Jamie Sacala joins BACC after working as a Substitute Teacher in the Ballston Spa Elementary Schools District for the past two years. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Keene State College in Keene, NH where she received her K-6 Certification. She recently moved back to the area after being away for 25 years. She started her teaching career in Harrisville, NH where she taught a 1st/2nd/3rd grade combination class. Soon after, she learned she was pregnant with triplets and took time off to raise her children. She moved to CT after several years where she also obtained a K-6 Teaching Certification. Over the years she has spent time teaching Pre-School, Pre-K and worked as a Long-Term Substitute Reading Specialist. She loves spending time with her family, going to concerts, outdoor activities and reading a good book. She is excited to be joining the BACC family!
Kelly Walker
Teacher
Email: kwalker@ballstonareacc.org
This is Kelly Walker’s first year teaching at BACC. She graduated from Stonehill College with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and earned her Master’s in Reading from the University at Albany. While pursuing her Master’s, Kelly worked at the Riverfront Even Start program in Cohoes, NY. She moved to Cherry Valley, NY and worked as a literacy specialist with the Cherry Valley-Springfield School District. In 2008 she moved back to the area and worked as a literacy specialist with the Broadalbin-Perth School District before taking time off to spend with her young children. Kelly loves spending time with her family, hiking, camping, playing tennis, and reading. She is overjoyed to join the BACC team and have an opportunity to work with the BACC community.
