On Monday, Feb. 25th my first grader was to stay after school until 4:30 for a World Drumming class we signed up for. Regular dismissal time is 3:45. I received a phone call from the school at 4:05 wondering why my son hadn't been picked up yet. I told them he has an after school activity he ought to be in. They knew nothing about it. She simply said "Ok, I'll send him down." My 6 year old had been sent outside in the cold to wait for me to pick him up. Waited an entire 20 min outside for me, when he should've been in his drumming class. Upset, I go into the school when it was finally time to pick him up. The principle wasn't there, so I talked to the secretary. She was very rude to me. Irate at this point, I called & left a message for the principle. Our conversation didn't go over well. After explaining to him what had happened, he went on to say my child was dismissed as usual & that there's 3 teachers out there watching the kids. My point was, my son should've never been dismissed to begin with. Someone should've known he had an after school activity lined up. The principle failed to acknowledge they were at fault. Was completely unapologetic, & frankly, didn't seem to care. He said, "What do you want me to do?" Suggesting someone walk him down. I said, " Why can't the teacher make herself a note & simply round up the kids staying after so they walk down together, as a group?" He said they don't do that at their school and that they foster independence. This is a 6 year old, in first grade for crying out loud. I said what they're fostering are kids at risk for being snatched up by strangers after school. This is not something I'm willing to take lightly. Safety needs to be a priority. His teacher should've known where he was going. Instead, they mindlessly send him outside to wait for me to get him. And to fuel the fire, is the principle not taking any accountability for their neglect.