Before- & After-Care

Young Children’s & Primary Care Programs

For Young Children’s 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.

Full-Day Young Children’s Community (FDYCC) serves the needs of the youngest children (age 14 months to 3 years). This program provides a single, consistent environment from drop-off to pick-up, and is staffed by a trained Montessori teacher and assistants.

At the Primary level, a before-school and after-school program is offered within the regular classroom environment. The emphasis of the program lies in providing a relaxed, familiar environment to meet the practical daily needs of children this age: outside play, snack, and free choice of work or play. 

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times

Children with expanded-year contracts that include before-school care may arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. through the Ave. B gate and walk to the back door of the classroom. Do not drop off children before that time; the school doors are not opened until 7:30 a.m.

Drop off for all of your children will be at the youngest child’s environment. For example, if you have a child in Full-Day Young Children’s Community and Primary, you would drop off both of your children in Full-Day Young Children’s Community. The older child will enter the school through the classroom and walk to their designated environment.

For children enrolled in After-Care, service ends promptly at 5:30 p.m. Children may be picked up any time between 3:45 and 5:30 p.m. 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.

Elementary Before- & After-School Care Programs

Elementary children may enroll by the year. Families who were previously enrolled in Before- and After-Care are given priority. Drop-ins are only accepted under unusual circumstances and you must contact  Sydni Doughtie, After-Care director, with a cc of the Elementary director if you need to arrange this.

The Elementary before-school and after-school care program is housed in a specially prepared room and provides a relaxed, family-like environment for students. Indoor and outdoor activities include arts and crafts, cooking and snack preparation, board games, puzzles, building sets, reading and class projects, 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 through Friday from 3:30–4:30 p.m. ASEP class fees are discounted 25 percent for children enrolled in the after-school care program.

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

5:30 p.m. Dismissal

After-Care teachers are responsible for supervising the dismissal of children who are at school until the end of the day.

Post Oak does not charge a per-minute late fee. However, families who cannot pick up children by 5:30 p.m. will be asked to make other arrangements.