ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST SCHOOL

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

ARRIVAL

The arrival period each morning for K-Grade 8 students is between 8:00-8:15 a.m.  A faculty member or volunteer will be outside supervising the safe drop-off of students. If a faculty member/volunteer is not present to safely receive children, parents MUST NOT drop off children.  If it is necessary for a child to be dropped off at school anytime up to 7:59 a.m. he/she will need to be brought into the building by his/her parent to attend the CARES program (the before school child care program) and a fee will be charged to the family.  CARES will end at 8:00 each morning and the student will be brought to the cafeteria until the start of the official school day at 8:15 a.m.  The school expects parents to abide by the strict rule of dropping students off NO SOONER than the 8:00 a.m. drop-off start time for the safety and well being of students.

Walkers and Bikers (Grades 5-8) are not to arrive before 8:00 as a.m.  If this is occurring, the school will contact the child’s parent and will ask the parent to help his/her child in departing home at a later time.  Bikers are expected to bring a bike lock and lock their bikes to the bike rack at Exit D.  The school is not responsible for stolen or damaged bikes or inclement weather that may also cause damage.  Only students in Grades 5-8 are permitted to ride bikes to and from school.

DISMISSAL

No later than 3:00, cars may enter from Makefield or Big Oak Roads (each along side the Rectory) and travel down Lane B (see diagram to follow) toward the School, filling in the parking spaces as indicated by the arrows on the diagram. 

Cars will be positioned with front ends facing Lane C if parked facing the Parish Center OR with front ends facing Lane A if parked facing the Parish Administration Building, formally known as the Convent.

BUSSES ONLY enter from Big Oak Road between the School and Parish Administration Building and park along the front of the school for students to board.  Busses will exit down Lanes A and C where there should be no traffic, as cars are moving down Lane B to park for Car Rider dismissal.

When all busses have left the parking lot Walkers and Bikers will be dismissed followed by Car Riders.  Car Rider students will be escorted by their classroom teachers in a single file line, quiet and orderly, out of the building and down through Lane B.  Parents are to wait at the trunk of their cars to greet their children as they walk in the line.  Children will be dismissed to their cars at the point where their cars are parked. Please help your children understand that they are not to exit the line until they are at your car.   At no time is a child to run out of the line to reach his/her family car.  The School will make every effort on bad weather days to keep children under umbrellas as they walk out to their cars.  When possible, if bad weather may be predicted the School asks that the Car Riders have a rain coat or hooded jacket; expect a longer car dismissal period on these days.

IMMEDIATELY, families board their cars upon receiving children and exit as follows:

All cars will drive forward and turn toward the Rectory to exit onto Makefield or Big Oak Roads.  This means that cars parked facing the Parish Administration Building are exiting forward, turning right and traveling down Lane A to exit by the Rectory OR cars parked facing the Parish Center are exiting forward, turning left and traveling down Lane C to exit by the Rectory. 

AT NO TIME WILL CARS MOVE IN REVERSE DURING DISMISSAL NOR TRAVEL IN LANE B TO EXIT AFTER RECEIVING CHILDREN.

LATE CAR ARRIVALS ARE CARS ARRIVING AFTER DISMISSAL TIME

ALL CAR RIDER CARS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PARKED BY 3:00 P.M.  CARS ARRIVING WHILE CAR RIDERS ARE BOARDING CARS WILL BE DIRECTED OUT TO BIG OAK ROAD TO RE-ENTER PARKING LOT IN THE PATTERN THAT BUSSES FOLLOW.  THIS IS THE ONLY TIME CARS ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE SCHOOL’S PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE PARISH ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.  THE LATE CARS WILL PARK SINGLE FILE ALONG THE SCHOOL’S SIDEWALK CLOSE TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO PICK UP CAR RIDERS WHO WILL BE CIRCLING BACK TO THE BUILDING.  THESE LATE CARS WILL EXIT BY DRIVING TOWARD THE PARISH CENTER, TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF THE PARISH CENTER AND DRIVING DOWN LANE C TO EXIT ONTO MAKEFIELD OR BIG OAK ROAD. 

TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

It is expected that all drivers respectfully follow the direction of adults who are directing traffic.  A Traffic Controller will be wearing an orange safety banner and his/her directions are to be followed in order to ensure a safe dismissal.  Cars arriving late will be told by the Traffic Controller to exit and re-enter at the appropriate location as mentioned above; this is not to be debated for the sole purpose of maintaining a safe and well structured dismissal for the students.