I had luck sending a note asking that my kid be released from her last class 10 minutes early. This gave her time to pack up her band instrument and go to her locker for her backpack before the halls were crowded. She didn't leave the building until the release bell, so she didn't need to go to the office. But when the bell rang she immediately walked out the closest door to my car.

I think the big thing is that the office is busy at dismissal and they don't want to be dealing with stuff during that window.

My child’s elementary school gets out at 3:50 and requires early pickups no later than 3:00. While 50 mins seems excessive, I abide by this policy.

Tell the receptionist to pound sand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school does this, too. Not sure why.

Bc dismissal is a very hectic time with a ton of moving parts. Go volunteer in a school and you’ll see.

I do volunteer. But 35 minutes before the final bell is not “dismissal time” in middle school. They are still in their last period block schedule class until the final bell rings. It isn’t like elementary school where kids need to collect their papers and book bags and line up by bus color. We are requiring kids to miss almost half of their 6th/7th period class by requiring them to leave 35 minutes early when they might only need to miss the last 15 minutes to make it to a 3pm appointment.

Contributing Diet Coke to teacher appreciation week is not what I’m talking about. Go see what’s going on in the office and facilities dept the last 30 minutes of the day. They’re managing transportation, late buses, posting staff at certain doors because they can’t be locked for children to exit, etc. You’re oversimplifying Come on the dismissal process, yes even in middle school in high school, because you can’t pick up your kids at the time the school requires.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school does this, too. Not sure why.

Bc dismissal is a very hectic time with a ton of moving parts. Go volunteer in a school and you’ll see.

I do volunteer. But 35 minutes before the final bell is not “dismissal time” in middle school. They are still in their last period block schedule class until the final bell rings. It isn’t like elementary school where kids need to collect their papers and book bags and line up by bus color. We are requiring kids to miss almost half of their 6th/7th period class by requiring them to leave 35 minutes early when they might only need to miss the last 15 minutes to make it to a 3pm appointment.

Dismissal is 2:35 so it was only 20 minutes before the bell rang.

If you want to pull your kid out at the end of the day, you must do it before 2pm. So they are required to miss the last 35 minutes of their last period class. There is no flexibility under the policy that would accommodate the child only missing the last 20 minutes.

Anonymous wrote:I get my kids at natural breaks in the day. I may not “need” my kid 15-20 min early, but it’s easier for everyone if I notify the teacher and my kid goes to the office at an normal transition point instead of their next class.

That's ideal but some caregivers work, have other students, have transportation challenges... It's also hard to schedule appointments and then predict what the student may miss, if you have to take them out of class a full period early. Several of my student's teachers don't respond to any form of communication. I think everyone realizes -- or should realize -- that the end of the day is hectic, but it's these sort of interactions with school staff that happen way too often these days and damage any hope that caregivers may work together with their student's schools on things like scheduling, absences, interacting with the front offices... And before you tell me to go volunteer in a school, I do and some of the APS middle schools are very caregiver unfriendly. Yes, parents are a PITA. But the front offices very quickly can take on a middle school mean girl vibe that only ratchets up the pain part of that PITA parent.

I get my kids at natural breaks in the day. I may not “need” my kid 15-20 min early, but it’s easier for everyone if I notify the teacher and my kid goes to the office at an normal transition point instead of their next class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school does this, too. Not sure why.

Bc dismissal is a very hectic time with a ton of moving parts. Go volunteer in a school and you’ll see.

I do volunteer. But 35 minutes before the final bell is not “dismissal time” in middle school. They are still in their last period block schedule class until the final bell rings. It isn’t like elementary school where kids need to collect their papers and book bags and line up by bus color. We are requiring kids to miss almost half of their 6th/7th period class by requiring them to leave 35 minutes early when they might only need to miss the last 15 minutes to make it to a 3pm appointment.

Dismissal is 2:35 so it was only 20 minutes before the bell rang.

How can she refuse to release your child to you?

I understand the reason for the policy, but refusing to release your child?

I guess from now on your kid will have to let the teacher know she will miss the entire class, and ask for the work she will miss.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school does this, too. Not sure why.

Bc dismissal is a very hectic time with a ton of moving parts. Go volunteer in a school and you’ll see.

I do volunteer. But 35 minutes before the final bell is not “dismissal time” in middle school. They are still in their last period block schedule class until the final bell rings. It isn’t like elementary school where kids need to collect their papers and book bags and line up by bus color. We are requiring kids to miss almost half of their 6th/7th period class by requiring them to leave 35 minutes early when they might only need to miss the last 15 minutes to make it to a 3pm appointment.

My kid’s elementary has had this policy for years.

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school does this, too. Not sure why.

Bc dismissal is a very hectic time with a ton of moving parts. Go volunteer in a school and you’ll see.

Our elementary and middle school do this as well, it’s to help with traffic, transitions. You’d be surprised how busy the end of the day gets and at some schools there is no shortage of parents trying to avoid car lines or waiting so they try to bypass by picking up early.

My kid's school does this, too. Not sure why.

My kid had a late afternoon doctor's appointment this week. I got to Swanson at 2:15 and was scolded by the receptionist for not complying with the "new policy" that requires you to sign your kid out before 2 if they need to leave early for a doctor/dentist appointment. She said that "next time" she would not release my kid early if I didn't arrive before 2. There were signs posted on the front door about the new policy, although I don't recall Loft saying anything about this in her weekly emails. I get not pulling kids out 10 minutes before the final bell, but requiring parents to get kids a full 35 minutes before the end of the school day seems unreasonable. Are other middle schools doing this too?