After School Plans

Important Reminder: After-School Student Plans and Safety Guidelines

To ensure the safety of all students and to support a calm, organized end of the school day, we need your cooperation in following our after-school planning guidelines. Recently, we have seen an increase in last-minute schedule changes and phone calls after 2:15 p.m. requesting changes to student plans. These situations create confusion, disrupt instruction, and can compromise student safety. Please carefully review and follow the policies outlined below.

1. Keep Student Information Updated
Please ensure that all contact information for your child is current, including phone numbers, addresses, and emergency contacts. If a child is left unattended after school and we are unable to reach a parent or emergency contact, we are required to contact the Anchorage Police Department and/or the Office of Children’s Services.

2. Make After-School Plans Before the School Day Begins
Discuss your child’s after-school plan with them each morning before they leave for school. Every student should know their plan ahead of time. Families are responsible for making and communicating these plans—schools cannot serve as the primary means of arranging or changing them. Calling in daily schedule changes should be an emergency exception, not a routine practice.

3. Emergency Changes Must Be Reported Before 2:00 p.m.
In the event of a true emergency that requires a change in your child’s after-school plan, please call the office prior to 2:00 p.m. After this time, students are transitioning between classes, organizing belongings, and preparing for dismissal, making it unsafe and ineffective to relay messages.

4. Provide Written Schedules for Multiple Arrangements
If your child follows different after-school routines (such as alternating parent homes or daycare days), you are responsible for creating a clear schedule. This schedule must be provided in writing to both the classroom teacher and the front office. Please review the routine regularly with your child. Any changes must also be submitted in writing in a timely manner. Consistency and reliability are essential for student safety.

5. Custody Issues Must Be Resolved Outside of School
Custody matters are not issues for the school to manage, particularly during dismissal. All custody arrangements, transportation plans, and access to student information must be resolved outside of school and communicated clearly by adults. Bringing custody disputes into the school environment is stressful for both students and staff.

6. Student Release and Authorized Pick-Up
Students will only be released to adults listed on the emergency contact form. We cannot release students to individuals who are unknown or not authorized. If you would like someone to have permission to pick up your child, this must be documented in writing with the front office, including current contact information. If there is ever a question regarding a student’s release or transportation, we will contact the parent or guardian.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us maintain a safe, predictable, and respectful end-of-day routine for all students.