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School Policies

DCA Montessori Clothing Policy
  1. Modest & Comfortable Attire
  • Clothing should be modest, clean, and weather-appropriate.
  • Tops must cover the shoulders and midriff; no tank tops or crop tops.
  • Dresses and skirts should be knee-length or longer; leggings or shorts underneath are recommended.
  • Islamic attire (e.g., abayas, thobes, hijabs) is welcome and encouraged if age-appropriate.
  1. Easy for Independence
  • Clothes should be easy for children to manage on their own (e.g., elastic waistbands, no complicated buttons or belts).
  • Avoid overalls or jumpsuits for younger children unless they can manage them independently.
  1. Footwear
  • Closed-toe shoes with backs are required for safety.
  • No flip-flops, sandals, or shoes with heels.
  • Velcro or slip-on shoes are preferred for younger children who cannot tie laces.
  1. Headwear & Accessories
  • Girls may wear hijabs or headbands that are secure and not distracting.
  • No hats, caps, or costume accessories during class time.
  • Jewelry should be minimal and safe (e.g., stud earrings only).
  1. Extra Clothing
  • All students must keep a labeled change of clothes at school in case of spills or accidents.
  1. Outerwear
  • Jackets, coats, and hats should be labeled and suitable for outdoor play.
  • Hoods may be worn outside only.

  1. Student Health Policy At DCA, the health and well-being of our community is a top priority. To help keep everyone safe, please keep your child home and notify the school if they show any of the following:

    • Fever over 100.4°F in the morning before school
    • Unidentified or undiagnosed rashes
    • Diarrhea or vomiting
    • Signs of illness such as unusual tiredness, irritability, or paleness
    • Symptoms of communicable diseases (e.g., chickenpox, ringworm, mumps, measles, lice, conjunctivitis, scabies, or impetigo)

    If any of these symptoms appear during the school day, you will be contacted to pick up your child immediately.

    To help prevent the spread of illness, children must remain at home for at least 24 hours (without medication) after symptoms resolve.

    We appreciate your partnership in keeping our school healthy and safe for all.

  1. At DCA Montessori, we welcome children of all backgrounds—regardless of race, creed, or national origin. Enrollment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis upon completion of registration and receipt of the required deposit.

    Admissions decisions are thoughtfully made based on several considerations, including:

    • Re-enrollment of currently enrolled students
    • Maintaining a balanced age and gender distribution within each mixed-age classroom
    • Priority given to siblings of enrolled students and to children of alumni and staff families

    As a Montessori school, we uphold the importance of the three-year developmental cycle—ages 3–6, 6–9, and 9–12 (coming soon). Our classrooms are intentionally designed around these sensitive learning periods. Families demonstrating a commitment to completing the full cycle will be given priority consideration during enrollment. To support this, we offer educational workshops to help parents understand the value of staying through each cycle.

    To enroll:

    • Children entering the 3-year-old program must be fully potty-trained.
    • Elementary applicants (ages 6–9) must exhibit a genuine love of learning and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. They should demonstrate readiness to manage freedom with responsibility within the classroom. School records are required, and a meeting with the classroom teacher will be scheduled prior to final acceptance.

  1. Health & Illness Notification Policy In accordance with state regulations, parents are required to notify the school within 24 hours if their child or anyone in the household is diagnosed with a reportable communicable disease. To ensure the well-being of all students and staff, children with such illnesses should remain at home until they are no longer contagious.

    Please follow the guidelines below before returning your child to school:

    • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics
    • Chickenpox: 10 days from onset, including weekends
    • Diarrhea or Vomiting: 24 hours after the last episode
    • Strep Throat: 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics
    • Fever: 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without the use of fever-reducing medicine

  1. For the safety of children with severe allergies, please do not send any food that contains—or may contain—peanuts or tree nuts. This includes items produced in facilities where such ingredients are present. We understand this may require extra care, and we sincerely appreciate your cooperation in keeping all of our students safe.

  1. DCA follows Prince George County Public School’s (pgcps) closing and delay decisions. Information on when PGCPS is closed can be accessed at pgcps.org , found on their social media, or heard early in the morning over most of the local television or radio stations.