Pickup & Dropoff

If a student is picked up at any time before the end of the school day, he/she must be picked up by the parent/guardian listed in the office computer. The ONLY exception to this rule is that a parent/guardian can send in a note (with their signature) stating who will be picking up their child on that specific date.  If you have any questions about this new policy, please feel free to call the office.

Please know that we are focused on your child’s safety at school.  However, in order to fully be successful, we need your help and patience in abiding by the following school rules:

1. All parents/guardians, even if we know you, need to sign in at the front office and get a visitors badge to be on campus.  If you do not have a badge, you will not be allowed on campus or in the classrooms.
2. Do not go directly to any classroom door to drop off a lunch, homework, or anything else during school hours.  Please go through the front office, and we will get the items to your child and/or give them a message from you.
3. If your child is absent and you need to get class work, you must go after the dismissal bell.  Teachers will not be expected to stop instruction to get work ready for a sick student. It is not fair to those who are in school, ready to learn.
4. When exiting the front of school, you can either exit through the front office or the front gates.  If you choose the gates, please make sure they are closed behind you.
5. Please remind your child that the classroom is where they need to be during learning time.  I often see students playing in the hallways on the way to the restrooms, and I remind them daily to use the restroom quickly and get back to class.
6. If you have information to report about an incident at your child’s school or for questions regarding school safety, please contact the principal.  You may make an anonymous report using the information below:

Crime Stoppers (800) 222-8477 http://www.crimestoppersusa.com

Students Speaking Out (888) 580-8477 http://www.studentsspeakingout.org  

***Please know your children are extremely important to me and my entire staff.  I am open to any and all suggestions on how to better keep them safe. Please never hesitate to contact me.

Parking and Traffic Concerns

We have a small parking lot with limited parking at the front of our school. During drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon our parking lot is blocked off for staff and bus access only. Our parking lot can be dangerous for students when cars and buses are coming and going. It is important that children and adults do not cut across the parking lot. Please make sure that you always use the sidewalk when coming to and leaving school. Remember that children are always watching, so please be a good role model even if you are walking without a child.

Handicapped Parking

Many of our families have handicapped placards. We have very few handicapped parking spots. Please do not come into the parking lot unless you really have challenges walking. If your child is capable of walking to you, and you are going to wait in the car, you do not need to come into the parking lot. Once the handicapped parking spot in our parking lot is full, no other vehicles will be able to enter the lot. If you get to the school early enough, there is no problem getting a parking spot directly across the street and your child can walk to you.

Traffic Concerns

Maryland Avenue Elementary School is truly a neighborhood school, built in the 1950s. In that era children walked to school from their homes in the neighborhood and there was not a great need for traffic control. Currently, things are very different. Although we still have the same basic facilities that were built in the 50s, we are dealing with a totally different set of traffic concerns. The vast majority of our students are dropped off and picked up by parents before and after school. This creates great traffic congestion, as well as frayed nerves and impatient drivers. In the interest of keeping all of our precious children safe, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE abide by these traffic rules:

• Do not ever park and leave your car in the loading zone along the Kindergarten playground fence
• Always obey the directions of our 5^th and 6^th grade Safety Patrol students
• Remember that the Safety Patrol members are children. Unkind words from adults are particularly scary to them. PLEASE be kind and patient, and remember your child might be one of those Safety Patrol members some day.
• Do not double park or stop your car in the street, causing traffic to back up behind you. It is safer to drive around the block while you wait for your child to come.
• Never allow your child to exit the car in the middle of the street.
• Always pick your child up at a curb, not while you are stopped in the middle of the street.
• Follow all traffic laws, even during drop off and pick up. Red curbs are no parking zones always, do not make U-turns in front of the driveways, cross walks, etc, be patient and considerate drivers. Do not let your busy schedule cause you to be rude to other drivers.

You may want to consider dropping off and picking up your child at our back entrance on Kiowa Drive. There is less congestion on Kiowa Drive and safety patrol and adult supervision is provided there as well. If you choose to use Kiowa Drive and leave your car to join your child at Peace Circle, keep in mind that the gate will be locked by 8:10 am.