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Strong Foundations for Young Learners: NY Governor Kathy Hochul Visits Healthy Kids Pre-K at William E. Cottle Elementary
- Heather Lynn
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The school year is officially underway, and the Pre-K classrooms at William E. Cottle Elementary School in Eastchester, NY, had an unforgettable first week.
To kick off the new school year and highlight New York State’s historic expansion of free Pre-K seats across more than 400 school districts, Governor Kathy Hochul visited our classroom in person.
Partnering with the Tuckahoe Union Free School District, Healthy Kids Programs is proud to operate the Pre-K program at William E. Cottle, providing local four-year-olds with an enriching, high-quality, play-based early childhood education. Governor Hochul’s visit placed a statewide spotlight directly on the joyful learning happening inside our classrooms every day.
Learning Through Purposeful Play
Governor Hochul didn't just tour the facility—she sat right down with our young learners to experience our hands-on curriculum in action.
Rolling up her sleeves, the Governor joined the children at their activity tables across several learning stations:
Mastering Tangram Puzzles: Together, the Governor and our preschoolers explored spatial reasoning and geometric concepts, carefully rotating and piecing together colorful tangram shapes into original designs.
Matching Alphabet Letters: Governor Hochul observed and encouraged students as they worked on foundational early literacy, matching uppercase and lowercase letters using hands-on, colorful popsicle manipulatives.
Stringing Colorful Blocks: Working side-by-side with students, Governor Hochul helped thread vibrant wooden blocks onto laces—a foundational activity designed to strengthen fine motor coordination, bilateral dexterity, and focus.
These moments capture the heart of what Healthy Kids Programs strives to create: warm, engaging environments where cognitive, physical, and social-emotional milestones unfold naturally through play.
The Road to Universal Access by 2028
While New York State has made major strides in funding free Pre-K seats across hundreds of districts, access is not yet universal statewide. Governor Hochul used her visit to spotlight the state's ongoing momentum and her ambitious goal: achieving truly universal Pre-K for every four-year-old in New York State by the 2028–2029 school year.
Expanding access to full-day Pre-K removes critical barriers for working families, provides essential socialization, and ensures all young learners enter kindergarten ready to thrive.
"Every child in New York deserves a strong start, and that begins with access to high-quality early childhood education. By continuing to expand free Pre-K seats across more than 400 school districts, we are investing directly in our children’s futures and laying the groundwork for truly universal access across New York."— Governor Kathy Hochul
Our Commitment to Tuckahoe & Eastchester Families
As a New York Benefit Corporation, Healthy Kids Programs exists to make early learning, Pre-K, and childcare accessible, dependable, and exceptional for modern families. Operating our Pre-K program at William E. Cottle Elementary in close partnership with district leadership allows us to support school readiness while offering seamless wraparound care—including before- and after-school programs that give parents peace of mind throughout the workday.
Watching our students share their morning with Governor Hochul was an inspiring reminder of the lifelong educational foundations being built right here in Eastchester.
A warm thank you to Governor Hochul, our passionate educators and staff at William E. Cottle, and the Tuckahoe Union Free School District for making this milestone visit so meaningful for our children!
Learn More About Our Programs
Interested in learning more about our Pre-K, Early Learning, and Before/After School programs?
Explore our offerings and find a site near you at HealthyKidsPrograms.com.
