New Dismissal Expectations for the 2026-2027 School Year

July 2026

Dear Buder Parents and Guardians,

We want to make you aware of an important change that may impact your family, so you have ample time to make any necessary arrangements.

The school day ends at 3:35 p.m., at which time student dismissal begins. This process typically takes approximately 10 minutes to ensure all walkers, car riders, bus riders, and daycare riders return home safely. Therefore, all students should be picked up and out of the building by 3:45 p.m.

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, supervision for students after 3:45 p.m. will no longer be available, and you will need to ensure there is a trusted adult available on time at dismissal.

To help families prepare, we are providing several options to consider for after-school supervision if scheduling conflicts are a concern:

After-School Supervision Options

• Daycare Services – Several nearby childcare providers offer before- and after-school care, including transportation to and from Buder. In the past, Buder families have utilized services from Shapes and Colors Daycare, Strawberry International Schools, Sunshine Daycare and Sophia's Learning Center.
• Y-Club – The YMCA provides before- and after-school care for Buder students at the school. Please note that this program is not affiliated with Ritenour School District, and the YMCA manages its own enrollment and records. Please contact them directly for additional information.
• Friends, Family, Neighbors or Carpooling – Consider reaching out to trusted individuals in your community who may be able to assist with student pickup or transportation arrangements.
• Walking Groups – Families in the same neighborhood may wish to organize student walking groups so children can walk home together safely.
• Backup Plans – Unexpected situations such as traffic delays, car trouble, or work emergencies can occur. We encourage all families to establish a backup plan to ensure students are picked up on time when unforeseen circumstances arise.

As a reminder, if you need to make changes to your child's dismissal procedure, you must contact the office by 2:30 p.m. at (314) 493-6300. No changes will be made after this time so we can ensure all students go home safely. As per Ritenour School District policy, students will not be released for dismissal between 3 and 3:35 p.m. Thank you in advance for scheduling appointments accordingly to adhere to this policy.

We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to ensuring your student has a safe and timely dismissal each day. We understand this change may create inconveniences for some families; however, this adjustment is necessary to support the safety and supervision needs of our students, families and staff.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership.

Sincerely,

The Buder Office and Administrative Team