In order for us to assure that our students arrive and go home in a safe and organized manner, it is essential to have all parents and staff cooperating and working together.  We have established procedures for EVERYONE to follow. These procedures may seem inconvenient, at times, but they are necessary when managing over 1250 students. Our plan will work if everyone follows these guidelines. If we see there is a need to modify any of the procedures, we will communicate the change to all of you.

We will say in advance, thank you to everyone for being patient and following the guidelines we have presented to you.  By helping us adhere to these policies, we can all look forward to a positive and safe year.

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àSchool hours are from 8:45 to 3:00 every day except Wednesday.>  Dismissal is one hour earlier every Wednesday - 2:00.  The first bell rings at 8:35.  This is when the teachers pick up their students.  Ideally all students should be at school by then.  The students are expected to be in their classrooms by 8:45. If they are just entering the school building at any time after 8:45, they will be considered tardy.

àOur staff hours are from 8:15-3:45.Pleasedo not drop your children off before 8:20as no one will be available to supervise them.  The YMCA desk person is not responsible for supervising our students.

àThe YMCA will be offering before school care from 7:00-8:15.If you are interested in this, you must call them at 407-852-3520 to register and inquire about cost.Please remember that if you do choose to sign up for YMCA care, no children are to be dropped off before 7:00.

Summary of all Times

 

1st bell 8:35	Car loop busiest time 8:35-8:45
Late bell 8:45	No child check out 2:45-3:15 (Wed.1:45)
Dismissal 3:00 (Wed.-2:00)	If checking out without a car sign(see dismissal procedures)
Length of time for dismissal 2:50-3:15	Breakfast served 8:20-8:35
AM drop off: No earlier than 8:20	Drop off if in YMCA a.m. care: 7:00-8:15

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

TIME SAVING RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR CAR LOOP:

àThe heaviest time when the cars begin to back up is from 8:35 - 8:45.  If you are just entering the car loop at 5 to 8 minutes before 8:45, chances are good that your children will not be in their seats on time and will receive a tardy slip. If you come before that last 10 minute time slot, you can get through the car loop very quickly.  We are able to unload about 11-12 cars at a time.

àChildren should be ready, with backpacks in laps, to get out of the car once it stops.  Most parents want to get in and out of the car loop in the morning as quickly as possible. Having to wait while parents get out of the car to take things out of the trunk really slows the operation down.  Please be considerate and have the kids and their belongings ready to hop out of the car once it stops.  This is a courtesy to all those who are waiting behind you and also prevents you from having to wait on someone else. If no one is available to open your car door, please have children get out on their own.

àFIRST DAY DROP OFF: We will be having a First Day Back to School Celebration. Parents are invited to walk their children to class and stay until after the morning announcements, around 9:15. Parents will be invited to Meet your Administrators in the Media Center from 9:15-9:45.Please make sure you park in a DESIGNATED PARKING PLACE (there will be additional parking in the grassy area in the back of the school if front lots are full).If you choose not to stay in your child’s classroom you may still walk your children to the classrooms to make sure they get to where they need to go.

All students will report directly to their classroom for the first day only.  Staff members will be available to assist.

AFTER THE FIRST DAY: This is the time to allow our staff to receive your children at the door and let them learn the procedures for arrival in the mornings.  You would be surprised at how quickly they catch on and they begin to take pride in their independence from mom and dad.Students are expected to arrive by bus, as a walker/bike rider, or dropped off by using the car loop. The only exception would be if the parents have a scheduled conference or need to conduct other school business. In this case, please park in designated parking places, not along any yellow curbs or in the car loop or bus loop area.  Make sure you check in at the office. Many parents last year were pulling into the parking lot and just dropping children off.  We cannot allow that as the traffic is too hectic to watch for children coming from all directions without supervision, plus the parking lot is not big enough to handle this type of drop-off.  So, please be patient, arrive before 8:35, and use the car loop.  The line will decrease after the first week as more parents will put their children on buses or allow them to walk.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT PARENTS FOLLOW THE ABOVE GUIDELINES FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN
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WHERE DO STUDENTS AND PARENTS GO WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT SCHOOL?

àThere will be staff members standing by the doors and at various positions throughout school and the hallways to assist students with where they are to go.Please do not bring your children before 8:20 as no one can watch them unless you have enrolled them in the YMCA Before School Program.

àAll students, who will be choosing to eat breakfast, will report directly to the cafeteria.  Staff members will assist them there.

àStudents who are in kindergarten will report to the cafeteria and sit at tables designated for their class.  Staff members will be available to assist them.

à1st - 4th graders, who are not eating breakfast, will report to the gym.  Staff members will be on duty there.

à5th graders, who are not eating breakfast, will report to the aerobics room. Staff members will be on duty there.

àAt 8:35 the first bell will ring and the teachers will take their students to their classrooms so that they can be seated by 8:45, which is when the announcements will begin.

àThe second bell will ring at 8:45.  Any students arriving after that time will be considered tardy. This includes any who are still in the car loop or walking through the front door at or after 8:45.To avoid these tardies, it is best to bring your child by 8:35 at the latest.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ANYONE WHO ENTERS THE SCHOOL

àNo one is allowed anywhere in the school building without signing in at the office first and wearing a visitor badge. (This is a district policy) This includes taking your children to the cafeteria in the morning, eating lunch with your children or walking your children to their classroom.  Anyone seen without a badge will be asked to immediately return to the school office. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
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DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

àDismissal times are from 2:50-3:15.Note that all times referred to below are based on normal dismissal times. For the first week we will bump up the times about 10 minutes (beginning around2:40) because we know it will take longer to get the kids in their correct areas.

àFirst Day and all those following:  Our policy is that parents do not come to the office to pick up their children. As long as you have made sure your teacher knows how your children are to get home, we will make sure they get on the bus or brought out to the car loop or primary playground for walkers/bike riders.  It is also best that, on the first day, you do not make any changes (if possible) to the normal way your children will go home.

àNO CHILDREN MAY BE PICKED UP BY PARENTS BETWEEN 2:30 - 3:15 OR 1:30 - 2:15on Wednesdays. It is an extremely critical time for our front desk clerk to be free from distractions like check-outs to handle inquiries from bus, car, and walker attendants. She must be able to take care of emergencies immediately during the actual dismissal time. The only exception to this time frame, is if a parent called in to say that someone different will be picking up their child and that person does not have a car sign.

If you need to check a child out early for a doctor’s appointment, it must be done before 2:30, and 1:30 on Wednesdays. Prior arrangements must be made with the teacher or office for early dismissals.
 

The only exception to this policy is:

(1)If volunteers have been working at the school until dismissal time on the day they are signing their children out.

(2)If a parent called the office to say that a different person will be picking up his/her children.They will need to bring ID to the office.

(3)If a child is sick and the parent has been called and was not able to get here before 2:30.

If you are working out at the YMCA, just adjust your workout time so you are finished by 3:15 (2:15 on Wed).

àParents are to let the teacher know how their children will normally go home: bus rider, car rider, or walker/bike rider, day care bus, or YMCA after school care. Make sure the teacher knows the street names of the bus stop.

àIf, at any time, there is a change in how your children will go home, please send a note (preferably separate from the planner) to the teacher.  She/he will notify the office.  If need be, you may call the office before 2:15 or 1:15 on Wednesdays. Do not just leave it up to your child to verbally inform the teacher.WITHOUT A NOTE, WE WILL SEND THEM HOME THE USUAL WAY.  Many times children hear parents discussing other dismissal arrangements.  At the end of the day the children will suddenly say, “I think my mom said I will be a car rider instead of a bus rider today.”  It causes a lot of confusion for everyone, at the last minute, trying to call parents or in the worst case not being able to reach the parents.

àTransportation changes must be made at least 30 minutes prior to dismissal.

àParents are never allowed in the bus loop to pick up their children.  They must use the car loop if they have a car sign or come into the office to check their children out if they do not have a car sign.

àIf you have signed out a child due to not having a car sign or a change in pickup, you can wait in the lobby for when your child’s class comes down.  The teacher will not release any children if the parent is not wearing the sticker on issued by the office.

àNo parents should ever be waiting outside on the front porch for children.

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PROCEDURES FOR WALKERS AND BIKE RIDERS (Dismissal)

Parents will be asked to turn in a form that indicates whether or not they give permission for their children to go home unaccompanied by an adult.

àWalkers and bike riders who are not met by parents will be released from the primary playground area from