May 6, 2026

In response to the March 2026 closure of the Bright Beginnings childcare facility at the Plattsburgh YMCA, Seton Catholic School has opened an additional Pre Kindergarten classroom to support local families affected by the sudden loss of child care and early education options.

The YMCA’s Bright Beginnings Child Care Center license was suspended in March, leaving many families in urgent need of a safe and reliable educational environment for their young children.

Since that time, Seton Catholic has welcomed nine former Bright Beginnings students into its Pre K program – representing approximately one third of all Pre K aged children impacted by the closure.

The new Pre K classroom officially opened on April 20, following the hiring of an additional certified teacher aligned with the school’s mission and the swift preparation of classroom space.

“We recognized immediately how disruptive and stressful this situation was for families,” said Mary Forbes, principal of Seton Catholic. “At Seton Catholic, we believe in responding with compassion and action. Opening this additional classroom ensures children are in a caring, safe, and academically supportive environment when families need it most.”

While the size of the additional class alone was not large enough to financially justify opening a second classroom, generous community support made the expansion possible.

Donations made in memory of Sister Stephanie Frenette, OP, helped offset startup costs and allowed the classroom to open immediately. Sister Stephanie, who passed away on November 3, 2025, played a pivotal role in early childhood education in the Plattsburgh community.

Decades ago, she was the driving force behind the opening of the first Pre K program at St. Peter’s School, one of Seton Catholic’s legacy schools. Her lifelong commitment to faith filled education and young learners continues to shape Seton Catholic’s mission today.

“Opening this classroom is a living tribute to Sister Steph’s legacy,” said Jeremy Eppler, senior director of Strategic Growth. “She believed deeply in the importance of early childhood education, and it is fitting that her memory helped make this possible for so many families.”

Additional financial support was raised at Seton Catholic’s Annual Gala on Saturday, April 18, providing funding to expand the Pre K program into the future.

Looking ahead, Seton Catholic is evaluating extending its Pre K program into this summer to provide continuity of quality education and care after the end of the school year.

Seton Catholic offers a close knit, mission-driven learning environment grounded in Catholic values while welcoming families of all backgrounds.

The school consistently delivers strong academic outcomes, with New York State test proficiency results 35 percent higher than the local school average.

Financial assistance is available for eligible families.

Enrollment for Pre Kindergarten through 12th grade at Seton Catholic is now open through June 14.

Families seeking a caring, safe, and academically rigorous learning environment are encouraged to contact the school for more information or visit setonknights.org.