Black Cat Bulletin
Keeping it R.E.A.L. at West Terrace
Changes in Car Traffic and Safety
Good afternoon,
While we had a WONDERFUL week inside our building, the traffic outside has been congested and caused concerns for many. I apologize for the difficulties and have some new procedures I think may help with the dangerous intersection into and out of our pickup line.
We had 194 cars drop students off in the morning who were not daycare.
We had 108 parents pick up in the afternoon.
Some issues were seen with near head on collisions, or heated interactions between families when entering and leaving our property. Your safety is number one! we will make the following changes to try to address the concerns.
MORNINGS:
- Gates open at 7:45. Children cannot be dropped before that time as there is no supervision for the children until 7:45.
- Please do not arrive on the property before 7:40. The traffic flows very quickly once the gates are open. By 7:55 there was NO traffic at all on West Terrace Drive and it was an easy 2 minute drop off procedure.
- Please do not block driveways or street entrances while waiting.
- Please do not pull in front of the school to drop off your child unless you are day care. DAY CARE parents may drop off on the front lot IF the side lot is already blocked due to the no-pass rule.
AFTERNOONS:
- The gate opens at 2:45, but dismissal will not begin until closer to 3:10. (We are trying to accommodate middle school parents who have already picked up their children and do not wish to go home before picking up a younger sibling so the gate opens earlier.)
- Arriving after 3:00 is best, as traffic WILL NOT FLOW until dismissal begins.
- All traffic will need to be ONE LANE, ONE WAY when entering the property.
- There is NO passing on the street, NO passing on the side of the school with one exception.
- Students needing extra assistance and time to get in and safely buckle will be assisted on the east side of the school. These parents will pull out of the lane of traffice and we will assist them. They will then need to pull back into the lane of traffic. These students are in Ms. Bennett and Ms. Butrum's rooms, or are by arrangement through the office. This is a safer space to get out of traffic and assist.
- Kindergarten parents may no longer pass on the street, or on the side of the building.
- Kindergarten parents MAY pass into the inner lane AFTER they've passed the gate.
- Kindergarten parents will now load from the playground side, on the left. The teachers will stand on the playground and deliver your children to you. (They practiced this Friday.)
- If a kindergarten child has a sibling, they will follow the procedures they have followed all year.
I hope these changes and suggestions will make things easier and safer for all of our families.
Please contact me, katie.white@evsc.k12.in.us with any further concerns.
Looking forward to a great second week!
Sincerely,
Katie White
principal