BCD offers after-school sports, after-school care for our youngest students, and an ongoing slate of enrichment opportunities.

Students in Third through Eighth Grade can participate in a robust sports program that runs from 3:15-4:30pm. Offerings vary by season and can include soccer, basketball, Nordic skiing, personal fitness and fun, and lacrosse. BCD has four large playing fields and multiple playgrounds with play structures and a Gaga Pit . BCD also has 26 acres of fields and trails for hiking and exploration, and a spring-fed pond used for kayaking and ice skating.

BCD has a popular After-School Program (PM) which is available Monday through Thursday for students in Preschool through Second Grade. It runs from 3:15-4:30pm. Parents have the option of signing up for it on a semester basis. Drop-ins are possible on a space available basis but the program fills quickly.

Throughout the school year, our engaged students participate in a variety of afternoon enrichment programs. Some of the programs have included Theater, for multiple age groups and Lego Robotics. BCD is continually assessing interest in enrichment programs.

Transportation

The speed limit for all vehicles on the school driveways is 10 mph. Please help to keep our students safe and drive carefully.

The school day starts for everyone at 8:00am. Students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade may proceed to the gym as early as, but not before, 7:30am.  Students arriving at school later than 8:15am are considered tardy and must report to the Main Office and obtain a late slip in order to be admitted to class.

Parents of Beginner 2s (Birch Room) will pull ahead to the wooden gate just past Albright Hall, and accompany their children to the Birch Room teachers waiting outside, or under the walkway in Albright Hall. Beginning in Preschool, we ask that students walk to class independently after faculty members help them out of their vehicles. No one is allowed to park in front of the stone wall.

Except for those taking part in school-sponsored programs (e.g., after-school programs, sports, games, theater, or activities), no student is allowed to remain on campus following dismissal. Preschool, Lower School, and Middle School parents who have an unforeseen emergency that will affect the 3:00pm pick-up of their child(ren) should notify the Main Office as soon as possible so that the child(ren) can be sent to the After-School Program (PM).

To prevent a backup of cars on Route 183, parents are asked not to arrive too early to pick up their children at dismissal, especially at the beginning of the year and at times when sports are not in session. Too many cars arriving at once causes a major back up in the school driveway. Once dismissal begins, the process goes smoothly and, usually, with no unnecessary waiting. If by chance cars coming from the direction of Lenox do back up onto 183, we ask that the drivers please proceed south of the school to the Stockbridge Bowl boat access (around the bend on the left) and wait for several minutes before returning to the campus. Please remember! Never allow a backup on Route 183!

The departure process starts at 2:55pm. Buses begin loading in the driveway and parent pick-up begins at the stone wall where the children are waiting with the teachers on duty. Buses depart campus sharply at 3:05pm.  The faculty/staff member on duty helps the children into the cars. Unless parked in an available parking spot, parents should not leave their cars to pick up their children—and children must never cross the driveway unaccompanied.

Dismissal continues until 3:15pm. at which time all students go to Extended Day, Study Hall, Enrichment, or other after-school programs. Late dismissal is at 4:30pm., following sports, theater, or other after-school programs, with a pick-up of 4:30pm.

Parents who make one-time or short-term changes in their children’s departure routine—such as switching from one bus to the other, leaving early for a doctor’s appointment, having a legitimate excuse from an after-school activity, going home with another child or in a carpool not his or her own— must notify the office in writing or by telephoning no later than 1:30pm on the day of the change—regardless of the ages of the children. A change involving adding a rider to a bus must be cleared with the office to make sure there is room. If there is no room, the change request cannot be granted and the parents will be informed.

The Chronically Late Parent: Parents who arrive late to pick up their children (at regular dismissal times, after games, following field trips, etc.) keep BCD personnel waiting. No matter how responsible they may be, students cannot be left on their own while on campus. Children left at BCD after hours must be supervised —by a teacher whose workday is over or by a staff member who has other work to do. Please make every effort to respect the BCD faculty and staff by picking up your child on time.

  • In the morning, for safety’s sake, children should get out of their cars either at the stone wall (between Albright Hall and Oakes) or behind the buses if the buses have arrived.
  • Parents may not drive onto the campus—i.e., through the openings in the stone wall, along any pedestrian paths, or in front of Furey Hall – at any time during the school day. Children walk along these routes to attend classes in the various buildings.
  • Parents may not park and leave their cars in the spaces adjacent to the stone wall during drop-off or pick-up times.
  • Parents are asked not to drive up the road past the pond to let their child(ren) off closer to Peterson, Ryan, or Oakes Hall. Any car violating this rule poses a real danger to students reporting to shop class or taking recycled products to Clemons Hall.
  • In the afternoon, parents must wait in line until the teachers on duty signal that pick-up is to begin.
  • Teachers accompany all children to cars — no child is allowed in the driveway until his or her car is in the appropriate place for loading.

All cars must line up, single file, around the traffic circle. If the car line reaches Route 183, cars will be asked to go around the secondary traffic circle located at Clemons Hall. Students are to exit their cars only when the cars pull up to the stone wall. Students should be prepared with book bags and other items to quickly exit the car. Once the student has exited the car, parents are asked to drive on once the car in front of them moves on. If you need to escort your child to the classroom, cars must be parked in designated parking only. There is no parking along the carline or around the island to avoid congestion.

As with morning drop-off, cars must line up single file, starting in front of the stone wall. When your car reaches the stone wall, your child will be called and escorted to your car. Drivers are not to leave their car unattended in the carline at any time to avoid congestion.  If you wish to meet your child on campus, cars must be parked in designated parking areas only.

Schedule a Visit Today

Melissa Kruse
Director of Admissions and Student Life 
413.637.0755
mkruse@berkshirecountryday.org

We invite you to learn more about our school, curriculum, community, and why BCD is a good fit for your family.