Before- and After-School Programs

Before-school and after-school programs are offered at the following levels: Infant Community, Primary, Elementary, and Middle School. Only students enrolled in The Post Oak School can participate in these programs. Before-school and after-school programs are offered on most days when school is in session and on a number of "expanded-year contract days" when regular classes are not in session.

Procedures

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times

Children may arrive as early as 7:00. Do not drop off children before that time; the school doors are not opened until 7:00. At 8:15 students go to their regular classrooms.

After-school service ends promptly at 6:00. Children may be picked up any time between 3:30 and 6:00. For your child's sense of security, and out of respect for the personal lives of Post Oak staff, it is essential that children be picked up on time. If this is not possible for your family, you will be asked to make other arrangements.

Sign-In, Sign-Out

Arrival

• Lower School parents walk their child(ren) into the classroom. Teachers record the time of arrival.
• Upper School parents drop off their child(ren) at the front entrance. Please watch to be sure your child enters the building.

Dismissal

• Full-Day Infant Community parents drive up to the gate; staff walk the child to the car.
• Primary Home Environment parents park and pass through the gate to the classroom door. Staff will bring the child to the door.
• Lower School teachers record each child's departure time.
• Upper School parents are asked to sign out their child(ren) at the front desk (see below).

For Elementary and Middle School, the sign-in/-out sheets will be at the front desk. This procedure is the parent’s responsibility; do not ask your student to sign for you. School employees are required to verify the identity of the person picking up a student from the after-school programs. Students must stay inside the building until they are released to their parent or parent’s designee.

Programs

Lower-School Care Programs

For infant community and primary levels, participation in before-school and after-school programs is on a contractual basis only. We cannot accept young children on a drop-in or hourly basis. These programs fill up quickly, so it is usually necessary to sign up at the time of re-registration in February for the following school year. Priority in re-enrollment is always given to children who are continuing in the program from the previous year.

Infant Community

Full-Day Infant Community (FDIC) serves the needs of the youngest children (age 14 months - 3 years). This program provides a single, consistent environment from drop-off to pick-up, and is staffed by a trained Montessori directress and three assistants.

Primary Home Environment

The Primary Home Environment serves children from the Primary level (ages 3 - 6 years). This environment is separate from the regular classroom and is staffed by a trained Montessori directress and assistant. From noon until 3:15 all of the children in attendance are between the ages of 3 and 4½ years. The emphasis of the program lies in generating a sense of family and community and dealing with the practical daily needs of children this age: outside play, noon meal, nap, and free choice of work or play. There is a busy but predictable schedule that provides security.

At 3:15, some of the younger children leave the Home Environment to go home with older siblings. At the same time, older primary children (ages 4½ to 6 years) join the group. The Home Environment does not duplicate the regular Montessori classroom. However, the approach to the child, the kinds of activities, and the general expectations are consistent with what the children experience in their regular classroom.

Upper-School Before- & After-School Care Programs

Elementary and middle-school students may enroll by the year or on a drop-in basis. An Upper School Before- & After-Care Manual is available for parents whose children are enrolled in the Elementary care program. This booklet includes program descriptions, schedules, snack guidelines, teacher information, and behavior expectations.

Elementary

The Before-School and After-School Care Program is housed in a specially prepared room and provides a relaxed, family-like environment for Elementary children. Indoor and outdoor activities include arts and crafts, cooking and snack preparation, board games, puzzles, building sets, reading and homework, and playground sports and games.

In addition, many children participate in after-school classes (ASEP) that are offered on a once- or twice-per-week basis Monday-Thursday from 3:30-4:30. ASEP class fees are discounted 25% for children enrolled in the After-School Care Program.

On expanded-year contract days, when Elementary children attend aftercare for the full day, they may make outings to local parks or other sites of interest.

Drop-Ins

You may sign your Elementary or Middle School student up for aftercare service on a daily basis for a flat rate of $25.00 per visit. Please call the front desk at least a day in advance to make arrangements. The school does not offer drop-in childcare on conference or extended-year-contract days, or during orientation at the start of school.

Siblings of Middle-School Students

Middle Shool students attend school until 4:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Elementary siblings of Middle School students may attend the After-School Care Program free of charge until 4:00 p.m. Please make sure to register all siblings so that their names will be on the after-school roster.

6:00 Dismissal

After-care teachers are responsible for supervising the dismissal of children who are at school until the end of the day. They follow these guidelines:

1. The Post Oak School does not charge a per-minute late fee. However, children who cannot be picked up by 6:00 are not welcome in the After-School Care Program. Each time a child is late getting picked up the parent will be asked to sign out the child so we have a record of the date and time the child was picked up. If a late pick-up happens more than three times, the receptionist informs the head of school.
   
2. At 5:50 after-care teachers come to the front desk with all of the children in their care.
   
3. At 6:00 we call the parents of those children who are not yet picked up.
   
4. At 6:05 we start calling the back-up numbers on the emergency release forms, if we haven’t reached the parents.
   
5. If the child is not picked up by 6:10, the head of school is informed.
   
6. The teacher or assistant and the receptionist should stay until the child is picked up.