Departure Rhythm & Timeliness Policy

(HONORING PEACEFUL ENDINGS, EMOTIONAL HARMONY, AND THE INTEGRITY OF EACH CHILD’S DAILY ARC)

At Prime Montessori Academy, we honor a peaceful and predictable rhythm from arrival to departure. The close of day is as meaningful as its beginning, and timely transition protects a child’s emotional landscape, the order of our environment, and the dignity of our faculty. This policy ensures alignment across our community and reflects the shared responsibility of partnership.

I. OFFICIAL DEPARTURE TIMES

Montessori School Day

  • Academy dismissal concludes at 3:15 p.m.

  • All children must be collected no later than 3:15 p.m.

  • Children still on campus at 3.16 p.m. will be transitioned under staff supervision and late billing will begin.

The Afternoon Atelier

  • Ages 2–5: concludes at 5:00 p.m.

  • Ages 5 and older: concludes at 5:30 p.m.

  • Children remaining beyond these times will be considered late departures and will incur late fees.

II. LATE DEPARTURE FEES

Late fees are assessed per child beginning immediately after the designated program end time (3:15 p.m., 5:00 p.m., or 5:30 p.m., depending on your child’s schedule)

  • $25.00 for the first 5 minutes

  • $2.00 per minute thereafter

Fees are calculated for the total duration of the late departure and are payable at the time of pick-up.

III. PAYMENT OF LATE FEES

Late departure fees are payable directly to the office team at the time of pick-up. Accepted forms of payment include:

  • Cash

  • Personal check

  • Zelle

  • Venmo

Families will be asked to sign a late departure record acknowledging the date, time, and fee assessed.

IV. REQUIRED ACCOMPANYING FORM

Graceful Late Departure Declaration

All families are required to complete the Graceful Late Departure Declaration when a late departure occurs. This documentation:

  • Records the date, time, and fee assessed, and

  • Is considered as part of the family’s overall record when reviewing enrollment and re-enrollment.

Refusal to pay assessed late fees, or confrontational behavior toward staff regarding late fee assessments, is inconsistent with Prime’s expectations of mutual respect and may jeopardize continued enrollment.

V. EMOTIONAL & DEVELOPMENTAL RESPECT

Children anticipate their parent with great sensitivity. Remaining beyond dismissal time—especially after peers have left—can heighten anxiety and disrupt a child’s internal sense of order and security.

A calm and timely transition:

  • Honors the child’s sense of safety, autonomy, and belonging

  • Supports emotional regulation and continuity of routine

Our faculty also offer their full professional presence throughout the day and must conclude daily documentation and preparation. They must have a clear end to their responsibilities in order to return to their own families and personal commitments.

Out of respect for the children and for our faculty, we ask families to thoughtfully plan for travel time, traffic patterns, and seasonal weather conditions so that pick-up occurs well before closing.

VI. FREQUENCY & ENROLLMENT CONSIDERATION

To preserve the integrity of our programs and protect staff time, recurring late departures are reviewed as follows within any rolling thirty-day period and across the school year:

  • Fourth occurrence (up to 10 minutes late):

    The Academy may request an adjustment to your child’s schedule, which could include formal enrollment in The Afternoon Atelier or a conference to review continuance in the program.

  • Afternoon Atelier families:

    A fourth occurrence of late pick-up (up to 10 minutes beyond 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., as applicable) may result in the discontinuation of Afternoon Atelier privileges for that term.

  • After six incidents of late pick-up in a school year:

    Your family’s enrollment and re-enrollment status at Prime Montessori Academy will be formally reviewed.

VII. COMPASSION CLAUSE

We recognize that true emergencies may occasionally arise. We extend grace for one verified emergency per year, with same-day communication and brief written notice.

Routine delays—such as traffic, work obligations, scheduling conflicts, childcare coordination, or weather—are not classified as emergencies and will still be billed as late departures.

VIII. OUR SHARED STANDARD

We thank you for honoring the dignity of time, the rhythm of the child, and the refinement of our learning community. Your partnership in this policy allows us to care for each child, each guide, and each family with clarity, consistency, and grace.