Dorothy R. Watkins Early Childhood Center
Amy Gulick, Principal
Our Mission: At Watkins Early Childhood Center, are committed to providing a safe and orderly educational environment in which all students can learn, achieve, and grow. Our mission is to educate all students to become enthusiastic, responsible, lifelong learners, and to have a positive impact on the community. Our purpose is to provide the mastery of developmentally appropriate skills, regardless of family background, socioeconomic status, social and emotional behavior, race and gender.
Preschool is a voluntary Title I program which provides developmental school-readiness activities for 4 and 5 year olds. Go to Preschool Pre-Enrollment.
Note to Current Preschool Parents: Parents who have children in the Preschool Program DO NOT have to register their children for kindergarten. Since your child is already in the NNPS school system, his or her school records were transferred to the next zoned school in June. It would be a good idea, however, to contact your zoned school to make sure everything is in order for your child to start kindergarten.

Newport News Public Schools is pleased to host our Dual Language Immersion program at Watkins Early Childhood Center. The program started for PreK at Watkins Early Childhood Center in 2022 and continues at Katherine Johnson Elementary School. Click here to learn more about our program. To apply to the Dual Language program at WECC, please complete the PreK DLI Online Application.
Las Escuelas Públicas de Newport News se complacen en ofrecer nuestro programa de Doble Inmersión Lingüística en Watkins Early Childhood Center. El programa comenzó para PreK en Watkins Early Childhood Center en 2022 y continúa en Katherine Johnson Elementary School. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre nuestro programa. Para aplicar al programa de lenguaje dual en WECC, por favor complete la solicitud en línea PreK DLI.
SCHOOL HOURS
ECC Students: 9:40 am - 3:55 pm
PEEP a.m.: 9:50 am - 12:50 pm
PEEP p.m.: 12:55 am - 3:55 pm
Office: 8:45 am - 5:00 pm
Bell Schedule
PHONE & FAX
(757) 591-4815 (p)
(757) 591-7690 (f)
DIRECTIONS
In the News
On the Calendar
- March 29, 2025: March Mania 3.0, 10am-2pm at Menchville HS
- April 04, 2025: Marking Period 3 Ends
- April 04, 2025: Students half-day dismissal; teacher work day
- April 07 - 11, 2025: Spring Break, schools and offices closed
- April 14, 2025: Schools closed for students; full day teaching planning
- April 22, 2025: Report Cards Issued.
- May 03, 2025: Live Well Expo, 11am-2pm at Todd Stadium
- May 26, 2025: Memorial Day, schools and offices closed
- May 31, 2025: NNPS & CNU STEM Community Day, 10am-2pm, Freeman Center at CNU
- June 06 - 10, 2025: ECC, Elementary, Middle School Early Dismissal (June 6, 9, 10)
- June 10, 2025: Last Student Day
- June 10, 2025: Marking Period 4 ends (reports issued)
- June 11, 2025: Last Teacher Day
- June 19, 2025: Juneteenth, schools and offices closed
- June 20 - Aug. 08, 2025: Summer operating hours; all schools and offices closed on Fridays