Western Avenue Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
(updated July 2023)
Our primary and most important goal is the safe arrival and dismissal of students from our school. To do this requires the combined effort of our school staff, our parent community, and our students.
Parents, you know your child and therefore can make the best decision as to the most appropriate way for your child to arrive and depart from school each day. It is important that your student knows how they are getting home each day. Below are options. Please read as changes have occurred.
1. Parent Car Drop-Off (See map)
a. Begins at 7:45 am each school day-but students will not be let in until 7:50 am.
b. Cars enter the drive on the south side of the parking lot off Western Avenue. Drivers will proceed through the parking lot and head to the circle drive (the circle drive on the north side is for bussers only). Students exit cars within the circle drive only and from the passenger side of the car. Parents please do not exit your car for your safety. Starting at 7:50 am, students will enter either Door 1 or Door 2. After your child(ren) exits the car safely, cars must proceed towards the exit and make a right or left turn onto Western Avenue. Parents do not drop your child off on Western Avenue and have them walk across the street alone. This is a danger to your child(ren). Instead, please park on a side street and walk your child to school.
2. Parent Car Pick-Up (See map)
a. Begins at 2:15 pm each school day.
b. Cars enter the drive on the south side of the parking lot off Western Avenue. Drivers will proceed through the parking lot and head to the circle drive (the circle drive on the north side is for bussers only). Students will be waiting outside Door 1 until you pull-up in the circle drive. Students enter cars within the circle drive only and from the passenger side of the car. Parents please do not exit your car for your safety, staff will be there to help, if needed. After your child(ren) enters the car safely, cars must proceed towards the exit and make a right or left turn onto Western Avenue.
3. Walkers and Bike Riders (USE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE PATHS ONLY)
a. Walkers and bike riders may not arrive at school before 7:45 am.
b. Walkers and bike riders include all students who are not dropped off by a car.
c. Walkers and bike riders may enter the building through Door 1, 2, or 6.
d. For safety purposes, bike riders must walk their bikes once they reach school property. Bike racks are located on either side of the building. Students are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to lock their bikes up on the bike racks.
e. If you choose to park in the parking lot and walk your child up to school, you need park your car in an open parking spot and walk your student up to school. When walking your child
up to school, please pay close attention to the car line. Staff outside on duty, will let you know when it is ok to walk across traffic.
f. Walkers and bike riders are dismissed first at 2:15 pm and will exit through Doors 1, 2 and 6. If you plan to meet your child, please wait in the front of the building by Door 1 and 2 or on the south side of the building (Door 6). Please make sure to give our students space as they are leaving and don’t crowd right in front of the exit doors.
4. Bus Riders-Before and After School
a. Buses will pick-up and drop-off students in the front (bigger) circle drive on the north side of the school of the school.
b. Students will enter and exit the buses on the sidewalk and enter/exit Door 1 or 2.
c. If buses are at the school before 7:45 am, students will remain on the bus until 7:45 am.
d. At 2:15 pm, students will be released from the classrooms and load the bus after exiting Door 1 or 2.
e. Daycare buses will also load/unload in the front of the school as well.
5. Alternate Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up Locations
a. Some parents will choose side streets for drop-off and pick-up locations and have their student walk the remainder of the way to school. This is a parental decision based on the maturity of their student. Alternate drop-off and pick-up locations are not monitored by the school.
b. No drop-off or pick-up on Western Avenue. This presents an exceptional safety risk to your student, other students, and an accident risk due to car volume.
c. If you choose to use an alternate drop-off and pick-up location, students are strongly advised to load and unload curbside only.
Note on transportation changes
Temporary Changes-In order to prevent confusion as to how your child(ren) will get home after school, please send a note with your child or call the Western Avenue School office prior to 2:00 pm that day indicating that your student will be picked up and by whom or how dismissal will change that day. When we have your note/call prior to 2:00 pm, we are able to get the message to your student and his/her teacher. If we do not have a note/call, your student will be instructed to take their usual method home.
Permanent Transportation Changes-If something changes over the year and you will need to make a permanent change to how your student is getting home, please call the main office to make this change. (630) 463-3500