Sept. 17, 2021
Dear Families:
Thank so much for your cooperation as we try to streamline arrival and dismissal. Each day is getting a little better, and with your cooperation, we know it will go even more smoothly. Thank you all for adapting and keeping the children in grades K-2 in a separate area from the children in grades 3-5. In case you forget what box your child is in, you can find the map HERE.
DECIDING WHICH GATE TO USE — 1ST STREET OR 2ND STREET
It would speed up getting into the school yard and exiting at dismissal time if families with children in K-139, 1-228, 1-230, 1-136, 1-236, 1-224, 2-225, 2-M3, 2-M5, 2-M6, 2-M10, 2-M11 enter through the 1st Street gate.
At dismissal time, we will allow parents in these classes who enter through 1st Street to move into the yard and wait against the minischool. If you have children in these classes and come through 2nd Street you will have to wait against the 2nd Street fence and cannot walk through the yard.
ARRIVAL — THE HEALTH SCREENER AND SPEEDING UP ENTRY INTO THE YARD
Please try to complete your child’s health screener online before coming to school. I know that there have been technical issues; the earlier you do it the easier it generally is to get on line. You must SHOW the health screener before your child can enter. If you are waiting in line please pull it up or have your paper copy opened up.
If you cannot do the screener on line, please complete a printed copy. We will be sending home hard copies for you to use, or you can download one HERE.
Children in grades 3-5 can begin entering the yard at 8:20. We encourage children in these grades to arrive at school at 8:20 or 8:25.
We cannot let the younger children into the back yard until all the classes in grades 3-5 have left the yard. We have been able to do that at around 8:37, and are aiming for 8:35.
FOR K-2 CLASSES THAT LINE UP IN THE BACK YARD: BEGINNING ON MONDAY, WE WILL HAVE ONE PERSON GOING DOWN THE LINE OF K-2 FAMILIES WAITING TO CHECK THE HEALTH SCREENER BEFORE WE ARE LETTING THESE GRADES IN THE YARD. ONCE WE HAVE CHECKED YOUR SCREENER, YOU CHILD WILL BE GIVEN A PINK TICKET. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW THE SCREENER AGAIN AND THE CHILD gives the ticket to one of the staff members at the gate and can enter.
Please make sure your children are all ready to enter the yard before you reach the gate. That includes wearing their backpack, holding lunch, giving you the scooter and helmet, etc. Give them a hug goodbye while on line. If for some reason your child is not ready to enter, please step out of line and move closer to the street to allow those who are ready to enter the gate. Do not block the gate.
Parents who are in the yard must always be masked.
PARENTS CAN NEVER GO INTO THE MAIN PART OF THE YARD AND SHOULD STAY AGAINST THE FENCE.
DISMISSAL
PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS WHO NEED TO ENTER THE YARD AT DISMISSAL MUST STAY ALONG THE SECOND STREET FENCE, THE BACK FENCE, OR IF YOU ENTER ON 1ST STREET, IN THE GARDEN AREA OR AGAINST THE MINISCHOOL. This is for the safety of our children. Teachers cannot keep track of students if there are extra adults walking around the yard.
If you could possibly avoid bringing bikes, scooters, or strollers into the yard, that would make a huge difference. If you have a bike with you, please lock it up (far away from where people enter) before entering the yard. Dogs may never come in the yard.
MANY TEACHERS OF YOUNGER CHILDREN HAVE ASKED PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS TO HOLD UP A SIGN WITH THE CHILD AND TEACHER’S NAME AT DISMISSAL. This makes it easier for them to see you. It will also be easier to see children if parents/caregivers of classes that line up closer to 1st Street come in that entrance.
We will see how everything goes next week, and if it still feels like it is too bunched up at the gates at dismissal time, we may open the gate at the end of the minischool for exiting only. We will let you know if we do this. Meanwhile, on the more crowded 2nd Street side, we are letting smaller groups of parents in at any one time, often by class.
5th graders who have written permission to be self-dismissed will mainly be dismissed through the front doors, unless their class is in the minischool for science last period. Other self-dismissed upper grade students will be let out through the back yard gates before any parents are let in.
We understand that parents of younger kids are nervous about finding their children, but we promise we will get them to you. If parents don’t follow the rules, it is much harder to keep the children safe.
Once you have picked up your child, please exit immediately and do not remain in the yard or congregate right outside the gate. Older children cannot stay in the yard after dismissal to play. They must exit and then come back in once K-2 dismissal is over, around 3:10.
It is very important that you communicate this information to any caregivers or relatives who are picking up students.
Thanks for helping to make sure arrival and dismissal go as smoothly and safely as possible! Have a wonderful weekend.
Fondly,
Liz Phillips, Principal
P.S. We hope that new families will join us (PTA officers and administrators) for a New Family Breakfast on Tuesday morning. We are changing the place of the breakfast and will have it in front of the school. We are also moving the time to 9am. Looking forward to seeing many of you there.
