Safety Bulletin
Heavilin Elementary Winter 2018
Safety is No Accident
Nothing is more important than the safety of our children at school. Please read this bulletin fully in order to understand your role in assuring our students and staff are safe each day. If you need to, please report unsafe activity to the school office. Safety is everyone's responsibility.
Driving on Campus
We understand that families with school-aged children are often very busy and the schedule can be tight each day. The school grounds are not the place to make up for lost time or to rush. As an adult driver on our school campus, your number one job is to make sure you are watching for children and adults on foot and in their vehicles.
Go slow.
Put down your phone.
Always watch for walkers and crossing guards.
Be courteous.
Follow the procedures.
Be patient.
Bus Service
Buses are available to transport all students to school, with the exception of the Tuscany neighborhood. We encourage families to use our school transportation whenever possible to reduce congestion on our school campus.
Bus Safety
Please review bus safety with your children.
When the bus is securely stopped, there is an audible "pop" that can be heard
- Never approach the bus until you hear the pop
- Always remain seated in the bus until you hear the pop
- Never walk in front of the bus until you hear the pop
When boarding the bus...
- Stay a safe distance away from the road (at least 10 feet) and the bus as it approaches
- Wait for the bus to stop and the door to open before approaching the bus
- Always cross in front of the bus, never behind it
- If you drop something, alert the driver. Do not assume they see you picking something up
- Walk across the street; do not run
- If you keep your kids in the car while waiting, have them get out as soon as the bus is in sight. Please do not wait until the bus pulls up and stops. We have to keep the bus on schedule
Parents, please salt and shovel all areas of the bus stop during the winter months.
We appreciate your patience when we have a late bus or a sub driver.
Car Line Do's
- If you are the first car in line, pull all the way up to the end of the curb to the "Stop Here" sign
- At drop off, wait to allow your children out of the car until the staff indicates it is time
- Drop your children off when your car is at the curbed sidewalk, even when it is cold
- Encourage children to move quickly to leave the vehicle; give hugs and kisses before you arrive at the unloading spot. We can unload up to 9 cars at a time, which makes the line move quickly, which makes everyone happy
- If your child needs help getting to the door, park your car in the lot and walk them to the door
- Be aware of the car in front of you and move forward when it moves forward
- At pick-up always have your car line tag visible in your window, even if all the car line staff know you by name and you pick up every day. This helps when we have subs
- Plan to wait in line
- Be kind and patient with staff and other parents
- Always watch for the crossing guards at the crosswalks
- At pick-up, if your child cannot buckle the seat belt independently, keep the line moving and pull over in the parking lot to help them
- Share this information with anyone who picks up your kids - grandma and grandpa, babysitters, siblings, etc...
Car Line Don'ts
- At drop off, please do not arrive too early. When a line forms, our staff cannot get to the back parking lot because they get stuck waiting
- If you need to arrive early and you see there is a line extending past the drop off circle, park your car in the lot and walk your child to the door when it is time. This way everyone can access the parking lot until the line is moving
- Do not park in the handicapped spots unless the staff indicates to you it is necessary
- Do not cut in line
- Do not pull around the line into the left lane to get to the parking lot
- Do not go around pylons that are blocking a lane or entrance
- Do not use your phone
- Do not drop off students in the front driveway or in areas without a curbed sidewalk
- Do not leave your parked car in the drop off circle
The Jack Butler Method
Snow Gear Reminders
- Dress appropriately - VCS elementary schools go outside for recess if it is above zero degrees, windchill included
- Put all snow gear in a big bag
- Label all gear with first and last names (everyone's snow pants look the same!)
- Students should wear regular shoes indoors, not snow boots
- Remember your gym shoes on PE days
Parents of younger students, please practice putting on and putting away snow gear at home, and take time to teach them the tricks (like stuffing your mittens in your sleeve so they are not lost.) This will help kids get more time to play outside and keeps our hallways tidy.