Overview

We are so excited to welcome you and your child or children to SJLES this fall! As we make our preparations for an amazing kickoff to the 2022-2023 school year, we want to share the car loop procedures for new families and as a reminder for returning families. Car loop is designated for families who drive their children to/from school and drop them off or pick them up from their car. Car loop is not designated for walkers.

Important Safety Reminders:

• Please pull forward until you arrive at the drop-off/pick-up zone. Keep pulling forward! Staff will wave you forward until you reach the drop-off/pick-up zone.

• Please stay in your car at all times. Staff will assist your child only if needed as they exit or enter the car. Parents exiting the car can create unsafe conditions for everyone. You can support this by helping your child to practice getting in and out of the car independently. This is probably something they already do at home and in the community.

  • Note: We understand that some children may still use a 5-point harness car or booster seat and may need help buckling/unbuckling. In these cases, parents should get out to help their child. 

• Please have your child exit and enter your car from the passenger side of the car and never cross between cars. This is the safest way for your child to be dropped off!

• Staff will briefly pause the cars exiting the lot when busses are ready to leave. Please look for their cues and directions.

• Grass parking is not permitted and is often private property of our neighboring residents.

• Parents who wish to park at SJLES and walk their child to the school building must park in the UPPER parking lot (closest to Mt. Hebron High School). If this applies to you, please designate your child as a WALKER in Family File.

Afternoon Parent Pick-up Traffic Pattern

1. Early parents will continue to form the line around the parent pick-up loop and along the parking lot lane closest to the school building as before. DO NOT PARK in the car loop or the parking lot for car loop pick-up.

2. At the point when the line reaches the last parking spot on the right before the entrance, staff will direct traffic as needed to form a second line.

3. When school is dismissed the first line will proceed to the pick-up zone.

4. Parents who wish to park at SJLES and walk their child from the school building must park in the UPPER parking lot (closest to Mt. Hebron High School). If this applies to you, please designate your child as a WALKER in Family File and notify the homeroom teacher so your child is dismissed through the walker door in the afternoon.

Pick-up Rules and Courtesies

It is crucial that parents picking up students adhere to the following rules in order to maintain the highest level of safety for the students and courtesy to those behind you:

1. Please stay in the car loop. The parking lot is not designated for car rider parking during arrival or dismissal. Parking your car and having your child walk through the car loop increases safey risks for all.

   1. Parents who wish to walk to meet their child should park in the UPPER parking lot and meet their child at the walker door in the rear of the building (by portables). If this applies to you, please designate your child as a WALKER in Family File and notify the homeroom teacher so your child is dismissed through the walker door.

2. Wait until you are in the pick up zone to pick up students. Do not try to pick up students in the double line or before the zone. Staff will aim to load the first four cars in teh line at a time for expediency.

3. Drivers in the first line should stay to the right to allow space for the second line.

4. The second line should be mindful to leave space to your left at the entrance of the lot for traffic to exit the parking lot.

5. Please have your car sign hanging visible from your rearview mirror or dash to help staff. This will help us get your child ready for you when you pull up to the pick-up zone.

Safety and courtesy will be maximized if all drivers follow these rules.

Tip: Please keep a small, portable umbrella in your child’s backpack if they are a car rider. This will come in handy on days when unexpected rain arrives at dismissal!

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping all students, staff, and drivers safe!