Parent Resources

The updated hours create a more consistent and developmentally appropriate start to the school day for all students. Research shows that younger learners are more focused and able to engage in deep thinking earlier in the day. These revised hours give teachers more time to build foundational academic knowledge, support critical thinking, and nurture students’ social-emotional growth—especially within the homeroom setting, where core learning and relationships take root. The new hours also help us meet state and International Baccalaureate (IB) requirements and move us toward the expectations of top peer schools.

Please refer to the chart for full detail by campus. Each campus—North SAT1 (Pre-K), North SAT2 (Pre-School), South BCA1 (K–1), and South BCA2 (2–4)—has a schedule that reflects the developmental needs of its students while ensuring ample instructional time. All campuses will now include early dismissal on Wednesdays to support teacher collaboration and training.

The instructional day for 2^nd – 4^th grade (BCA2) will increase in length by 15 minutes. The length of the instructional day will not increase for Pre-School – 1^st grade. All students will start their day at the same time: 8:15 am in K-1, 8:30 am in 2^nd-4^th, and at 8:45 am in Pre-School-Pre-K. By beginning class at a fixed time each morning, students who came later at 9:00 am this past year will now experience a day of full instruction, up to 45 minutes longer.

No—in fact, it increases it. By starting the instructional day at a fixed time, students across all grade levels will now benefit from more time in the classroom. These added minutes allow for deeper lessons, better pacing, and greater flexibility for teachers to differentiate and personalize instruction. The result is a school day that feels more spacious and intentional—less rushed, more meaningful.

The “Landing Pad” is a supervised and welcoming space available during the drop-off window where students can ease into the day with quiet activities. It creates a smooth, calm start to the day without the rush of a last-minute arrival. It’s part of our commitment to a predictable and emotionally grounded learning environment.

Wednesday early dismissals provide time for our teachers to work together on professional learning, curriculum development, and strategic planning—especially focused on the IB framework. IB explicitly requires that schools build into teachers’ schedules time for collaborative planning. According to research, faculty collaboration is one of the strongest predictors of student success. This time allows us to improve instruction, align learning experiences across grades, and continuously reflect on how to best meet students’ needs.

Families can pick up their students after dismissal on Wednesdays, and we are also excited to offer high-quality, Wednesday afternoon enrichment programs, including Science Leadership Academy and Athlete’s Academy. These offerings are designed to extend meaningful learning in fun, hands-on ways while supporting families who need coverage through the end of the typical school day. Information about registration, fees, and logistics will be shared in advance of the new school year.

If you have more than one child attending BCA—especially if they are assigned to different buildings—please drop off your Kindergarten or 1st grade student at BCA 1 first, as their instructional day begins earlier. Our team will then walk your older child (Grades 2–4) to BCA 2 in time for their class start.

There is ample time built into the schedule for families to drop off children at both the South Campus and North Campus (Preschool/Pre-K), even when managing multiple carlines. We’ve designed our staggered start times and carline flow to support families with siblings and minimize stress. As always, our staff will be outside to assist during arrival and dismissal to help ensure everyone gets to class safely and smoothly.

The new hours will begin on the first day of the 2025–2026 school year. We are sharing this information now so families have ample time to plan ahead for any changes to morning or afternoon routines.

All students and families across Bellevue Children’s Academy—Preschool through Grade 4—will follow the new schedule. While each campus has slightly different start and end times tailored to the age group it serves, the broader goals of consistency, depth, and alignment remain the same across the entire school.