Dear Parents/ Guardians:

The arrival and dismissal procedures have been put into place to be sure that students enter and exit the building as safely and efficiently as possible.  The staff and I need your help in continuing these efforts.  The area that requires the most assistance is the parent drop-off/pick-up line.  Please follow these steps to help make arrival and dismissal safe and efficient for our students.  First, we are asking that cars pull up to the flagpole as the starting point.  If cars get as close to the pole as possible, the following cars will be able to fit in our driveway and traffic will move more quickly.   

Another reason this is important is that it will help decrease the number of cars waiting on Houston Road.  Cars standing on Houston Road will block traffic and may then block other cars.  This kind of jam may cause others to drive around waiting cars, which could result in an accident.   However, here is one solution to resolve the concerns.  Rather than waiting in a long line on Houston Road, please pull into the high school entrance to the parking lot, drive around by the stadium stands, and join the drop-off/pick-up line at the top of the driveway.   In this way, cars should no longer be standing on Houston Road.  Additionally, please do not park on Houston Road and ask your child to walk to your car.  Again this is a safety issue that can delay the flow of traffic or cause accidents.

Next, please do not leave your cars in the parent drop-off/ pick-up line during arrival or dismissal times.  When adults take the time to get out of the car, open the doors for students, and walk them to the curb, this holds up the rest of the line.  If it is necessary for you to get out of your car, please park in the parking area to remove your student and his or her belongings like instruments, treats, etc. and walk them to the sidewalk.  Again, remaining in your vehicle during dismissal and pulling up as close to the flagpole as possible will help us get kids to the cars and you on your way.

Finally, please let students who are walkers meet you at dismissal time outside of the main doors.  It would also be helpful if parents would stand on the grass or sidewalk on the same side as the library doors.  Keeping the doors as clear as possible allows the children to exit quickly to walk home or to go the parent pick-up line.  

The priority in all of these procedures is student safety.  Our enrollment is quite voluminous, and keeping all children safe is the highest priority.  The steps listed above may be a slight change from previous years, but they will ultimately keep our students at Lower Gwynedd safe in their learning environment.  Taking these small precautions is the best way to guarantee that all students will get to and from school safely.  I appreciate your help, support, and cooperation in this matter.

Most sincerely,


Nicole West
Principal
Lower Gwynedd Elementary School