Arrival and Dismissal Information

Dear Elliott Families,

I apologize, in advance for this lengthy email; however, please read the contents very carefully so that we are able to have safe and successful arrivals and dismissals throughout the school year.

At Elliott, we pride ourselves for keeping children at the center of all decisions made.  We truly strive to do what is best for each and every child at Elliott.  Arrival and dismissal procedures are put into place in order to, first and foremost, ensure safety for each and every child and adult that is on our school grounds during those times.  We are most appreciative for every effort you have made during this first week of school during arrival and dismissal.  It is an expectation that all will adhere to the following required procedures for arrival and dismissal in order for us to maintain this standard.  With our large student population, it will take all of us working together to ensure our children arrive and dismiss safely.

ARRIVAL:

In order to ensure safety for all, we have numerous staff members monitoring our school grounds each and every day.  Adults, students, and siblings must follow directions given by a staff member.  If you wish to discuss the direction given, please ask the staff member to call for an administrator, wait with the staff member, and an administrator will come and be happy to discuss any concerns you have with the directions given.

WALKERS:

·         Bicycles (or any “riding toy”, i.e. scooters, tricycles for younger siblings, etc.) are to be walked at all times on school grounds (prior to crossing the crosswalk).  This rule applies to all:  adults, students, younger siblings.

·         Walkers (and those walking bicycles, etc.) must cross at a cross walk.  At no time should any person (adult, student, sibling) cross the parking lot.  We have 4 crosswalks in order to accommodate all entrances.  We realize that this may not be the quickest route; however, it is the safest route and, again, that is our priority.  Please plan to arrive early enough to walk to a crosswalk.  If you choose to cross anywhere else, staff members have been asked to direct you to the nearest crosswalk.

·         Bike riders and walkers will enter the building through the main entrance.

·         If you are dropping your child off in carpool, you should go through one of the carpool lines.  It is unsafe and it greatly affects our traffic flow when you drop your child off on the street to walk (this applies for portable classrooms, as well).  Please do not drop children off on the street.

·         Due to safety concerns and high volume traffic, please do not park in the west parking lot to walk your child through traffic.  Again, all must use the crosswalks to cross.

CARPOOL PROCEDURES:

·         Please realize that our morning carline will be challenging from 7:40 – 7:50 AM; we highly encourage our car-riders to allow sufficient time to arrive to school on time.  Please note and closely adhere to all morning carpool procedures.

·         Cars MUST pull all the way forward; please focus on staff members directing traffic and pull forward when motioned to do so; pulling all the way forward allows as many cars as possible to unload at one time and alleviates congestion on the road.

·         When orange cones are blocking the front drive, in preparation for bus arrival, cars MAY NOT drop students off in the front.  If orange cones are blocking the entrance, please proceed to the back carpool line.  After buses depart, the cones will be removed. Per district policy, the front carpool line is not available when buses are unloading. 

·         Beginning Monday, August 29^th, staff members will be available in our back carpool drop-off beginning at 7:20.  We have adjusted our times due to the fact that our buses are arriving earlier this year; we apologize for any inconvenience this had caused this week.

·         Staff members are on duty, supervising the front and back carpool line, from 7:20 - 7:50 AM each morning; their purpose is to supervise students on the sidewalk, assist unloading, if needed, and ensure all are only crossing at the cross walks.

·         **PLEASE NOTE:  Students MAY exit their vehicles without the assistance of a staff member as long as their car is on the inside lane and they are exiting on a sidewalk.  We do ask that drivers remain in their vehicles, therefore, if assistance is needed, please wait until a staff member is available to assist.

·         Once students have unloaded, cars may make their way to the outside lanes to exit.

·         If a car is unloading in front of you and you have not unloaded yet, please do not attempt to pass that car and then get back into the drop-off lane, as this is unsafe for drivers and students; only cars that have unloaded and are exiting the school grounds are to enter the outside lanes.

·         On inclement weather days, traffic is inevitably slower, please plan for this and leave at an earlier than usual time.

·         Please adhere to posted 10 mph speed limits.

·         Cell phone use is prohibited during carpool.

OTHER:

·         Once students are inside the building, for safety reasons POD exterior doors are not to be opened by any student for any adult.

·         Bus and Daycare Vans unload students at the main entrance (front driveway).

DISMISSAL

·         All children must be picked up in the proper place (i.e. “walkers” cannot be picked up in the carpool line; those riding in a car cannot be picked up in the walker line).  Walkers will not be released in the carpool line.

·         Students riding in a car are to be picked up in the carpool line.  We ask that you not park on the street and walk to the walker line to get your child, this creates an extremely unsafe situation on the street.  As you know, the streets are narrow and when cars are parked on both sides this greatly impacts traffic and can easily lead to an accident. The walker dismissal is not meant for those who will be riding home in a car.  Please use the carpool lines for this.

·         If your plans change from your usual routine, please call the school before 2:30 informing them where to send your child.  This is for the safety of your child.

·         All cars must move forward as much as possible. There is signage that indicates where lines should start.  At times, you will be asked to pass your child in order to move forward.  Please pay attention to staff members motioning cars to move forward.  Staff members will walk your child to your car.  This will greatly help in getting more cars loaded at one time and help in the overall flow of traffic.

·         Kinder and 1^st grade cars are to be in the inside 2 lanes (closest to the school).  The third lane is for 2^nd – 5^th grade cars to pass the Kinder and 1^st grade lane.  Kinder and 1^st grade cars should only travel in the 3^rd lane after they have picked up their child.

We thank you, in advance, for ensuring that our arrival and dismissal operates as efficiently and safely as possible!  Please contact the Assistant Principal, Jodi Jordan, should you have any concerns or questions regarding arrival or dismissal procedures.

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