Drop Off Procedures -- PLEASE READ

We know this is a long post, but please try to read it in its entirety.

We have been having difficulty with our arrival procedures this week and we need your help.

The number of students coming in after 8:35 this week were as follows:

Monday - 12 students
Tuesday - 7 students
Wednesday - 56 students
Thursday - 0 students
Friday - 27 students

While we have definitely seen an impact of more cars in our parking lot since the implementation of the no-parking signs along the Wyndham Farm cross-streets, as Thursday's data indicates, it IS possible for all students to arrive on time.

That said, we have identified other problems (in addition to cars entering the parking lot after 8:35) that create backups in the line and cause students to be tardy:

1. An overall reduction in carpooling
2. Bussers being driven to school
3. Students trying to exit on the left or climbing over passenger-side carseats
4. Students not being prepared with backpacks and lunches ready to go
5. Parents talking to students while exiting/after exiting
6. Use of cell phones in the line
7. Drivers not paying attention when the line is moving forward
8. Reliance on staff to get kids out of cars/zip up backpacks/put lunches in backpacks/etc

That said, please be sure to help us by doing the following:

1. Carpool as much as possible
2. Utilize the bus if you are afforded bussing due to your location
3. Be sure students can easily exit on the right-hand side
4. Have backpacks ready to go with lunches inside and backpacks zipped and on kids laps when they are ready to exit the car
5. Do NOT use the time when students should be exiting to give hugs and kisses or to talk to students. Do NOT wave or talk to students once they have exited your car. Drivers looking at the walkway and talking/waving to students has caused more near-miss rear-end accidents than any other activity
6. Please do not use your cell phone while in line and pay attention to the car in front of you - move forward when the line starts moving
7. Know that staff is there to assist with problems, make sure your child can exit the car quickly and independently on the right hand side -- practice this at home to make it as efficient as possible

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Our internal procedures for TARDY students:

Any student arriving to their classroom after 8:35 is TARDY regardless of the reason.

If there is a break in traffic at any time between 8:20 and 8:35, students arriving after 8:35 will be marked tardy (Wednesday is a good example of this). If there is NOT a break in the line, students will be told they are tardy but will not be marked as such on PowerSchool. While this is implemented consistently, it is done at the Principal's discretion AND is done as a courtesy.

Please do not argue with the main office staff about your child being marked tardy. We are extremely consistent with our procedures and the bottom line is that regardless of the line of traffic, students are required to be in school by 8:35 -- crossing guards are provided at taxpayer expense to ensure that all students have the ability to WALK onto campus to avoid being tardy due to the traffic line. Our not marking students tardy in PowerSchool on the days there is not a break in the line of traffic is a COURTESY, please be mindful of that.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.