Arrival & Dismissal Changes

ARRIVAL / DISMISSAL:

Arriving to School ~ Please do not drop students off at any entrance prior to 8:10 a.m. Students will be considered tardy if they arrive after 8:30 a.m. and will be directed to the office to receive a Tardy Slip (required for late admittance to class). Students will not be considered tardy if they are late due to a back-up of the car line.

Having an accurate account of who is on campus at any given time is important to the safety of your children in the event of an emergency, so we ask your support of this procedure.

Drop off procedures:

• Drop Off (designated to the location of the youngest sibling)
• PreK-4 Car Riders drop off at the gym
• 5-8 Car Riders drop off behind Lee Hall
• All Bus Riders drop off at the flagpole
• Temperature Checks
• Pre, K, 1, & 4 students get their temperature checked in the Gym
• 2 & 3 get their temperature checked in the Library
• 5-8 get their temperature checked behind Lee Hall (even if they get dropped off elsewhere)
• Bus riders do not need a second temperature check

Afternoon Car Line ~ Please place a sign on the dashboard of your car with the names of the children you are to pick up. This will speed up the loading of children into cars.

Pick Up Procedures:

• Bus Riders will be dismissed first at 3:20 – Faculty will hold car riders until 3:30
• All bus riders will report to the flagpole
• Pick Up (designated by the location of the youngest sibling)
• PreK-4 car riders pick up at the gym
• 5-8 car riders will pick up behind Lee Hall

Temperature Checks  ~ Three temperature check stations have been assigned throughout campus.

• Pre, K, 1, & 4 students get their temperature checked in the Gym
• 2 & 3 get their temperature checked in the Library
• 5-8 get their temperature checked behind Lee Hall (even if they get dropped off elsewhere)
• Bus riders do not need a second temperature check

Bus Parents ~ Please arrive at your scheduled bus stop five minutes prior to pick-up in the morning. Students must be ready to board the bus when it arrives at the bus stop. This will help to keep the bus from getting behind schedule.

Also, during afternoon drop-off, please remember to make yourself obvious to the bus driver. If the driver does not see the individual responsible for picking up your child, the student will be kept on the bus and returned to school.

Changes in Transportation ~ Parents are reminded to notify the office of changes in a student’s normal departure plans prior to 2:00 p.m. Changes for bus riding students may not consist of riding a different bus. Also, after school care (ASAP) is being offered as a pre-enrollment option. We are not able to offer a “drop-in” program. Email Jenny Wooldridge at jennywooldridge@powhatanschool.org with any changes. Since we take attendance on the buses, a student in the wrong place seriously delays the departure of the buses and the car line.

Red Flashing Lights ~ Please remember to stop for school buses when the lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended. Virginia law states that motorists are required to stop for school buses when the red lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended. This includes when the buses are stopped on private property and school property (VA code § 46.2-859). Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped and that children are loading or unloading. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Healthy Air Zones ~ Please remember that we have “healthy air zones” in our carline. In these areas, drivers are asked to turn off their engines rather than idling any time they expect to be stopped for more than one or two minutes. Please support keeping the air around our school clean by shutting off your engine while waiting in the pick-up line.

BUS TRANSPORTATION:

All parents with bus riders need to be aware that your students will be assigned to one bus and will have assigned seats on that bus. The students will not be allowed to ride a different bus during this school year due to the COVID restrictions. We will be unable to have any “as needed” riders nor will we be able to send your students to ASAP on an “as needed” basis.

Masks will be distributed when your students arrive on their first day of school. If you have a mask, please have them wear it on the bus. If they do not have one, we will supply a disposable one for them to wear on the bus.

Again, please wait at the stop until your students’ temperature has been taken and they board the bus. If their temperature reads 100.4 or greater, they will be sent back to you to be taken home.

Bus Parents ~ Please arrive at your scheduled bus stop five minutes prior to pick-up in the morning. Students must be ready to board the bus when it arrives at the bus stop. This will help to keep the bus from getting behind schedule.

Also, during afternoon drop-off, please remember to make yourself obvious to the bus driver. If the driver does not see the individual responsible for picking up your child, the student will be kept on the bus and returned to school.