Bear Bulletin
August 17, 2021
Transportation Edition
Message from Mrs. Spencer
Dear Parents,
Thank you for a great first day of the 2021-2022 school year. It was great to see kids and parents in our building yesterday. We are in for a great school year. Recognizing there were traffic issues yesterday, please review the following procedures for drop off and pick up procedures at SBMS. We are monitoring congestion at each time frame, but need all stakeholders to assist with the process.
Procedures follow, but please note SBISD Transportation is available to all students in our feeder pattern. Additionally, you may wish to carpool with friends and neighbors to reduce car traffic, as well.
Please Note:
- No drop off or pick up should occur near the Wayne Schaper Leadership Building behind SBMS off of Campbell. This area is strictly for bus traffic from SBMS and the visitors and employees of the Administration Building. Additional traffic to this area could create safety issues for buses and those employees.
- Additionally, Parent Circle (on north side of the building) is a RIGHT TURN ONLY. Do not turn left onto Piney Point from these two circle drives; traffic is able to flow more freely.
- Please do not u-turn on Piney Point to avoid taking the feeder. Cars engaged in the u-turn process delay the flow of traffic and create confusion.
Hopefully dismissal is less soggy this afternoon. Please note that buses will still be delayed because bus drivers are learning new routes and middle schools are the last campuses served. Please be patient and do not worry. If you cannot reach SBMS after hours, you may call SBISD Transportation at 713-251-1060 to inquire about a late bus.
Sincerely,
Stefanie Spencer
General Map of Arrival/Dismissal Locations for SBMS
Morning Drop-Off SBMS
Students may be dropped off in the following locations between 8:15- 8:40 a.m. (740 a.m. for Zero Hour students):
- Front of SBMS: Please pull forward to the end of the curb in front of the school before dropping off your student and encourage your child to prepare to exit the car quickly.
- Band Circle: Please turn right upon exit and watch for students on foot.
- Parent Circle: Please turn right upon exit and watch for students on foot.
Please pull as far forward in each of those locations before releasing your child from the car. Your child should exit the door closest to SBMS so they do not encounter traffic.
IF you are approaching SBMS from the north (from I-10), you need to pull into parking spaces parallel to the Memorial Tennis courts, rather than stop traffic to let them out. Each child should then use the sidewalk to walk to the SBMS Crossing Guard for help crossing the street.
After School Pick Up for SBMS
Please make a plan with your child as to where you will pick him or her up each day. You may wish to warn them that sometimes traffic will delay you and to be patient. Students may be picked up in the following locations beginning at 3:55 p.m.:
- Front of SBMS: Please pull forward to the end of the curb in front of the school before accepting your child into the car. DO NOT motion your child to cross Piney Point if you are driving north-bound. They must cross with the crossing guard.
- Band Circle: Please turn right upon exit and watch for students on foot.
- Parent Circle: Please turn right upon exit and watch for students on foot.
Please pull as far forward in each of those locations before accepting to your child into the car. Your child should enter the door closest to SBMS so they do not encounter traffic.
IF you are approaching SBMS from the north (from I-10), you need to pull into parking spaces parallel to the Memorial Tennis courts, rather than stop traffic to receive your child. Each child is expected to use the crossing guard if crossing Piney Point.
We highly encourage you to NOT use area businesses to avoid the congestion in our area. We need positive relationships with neighbors, both residential and business, and the proximity to the feeder places drivers at risk for worsening congestion or accidents. SBISD Transportation is available to all students.
Middle Schooler Need to Knows
Please make certain your children know the following information and can recite this information quickly and accurately so that if they ever need to know it or report it to someone, it is easy for them to do so. Practicing this information during non-emergencies allows your child to prepared for when they need it.
Middle Schooler Need to Knows:
- A parent or guardian's phone number, first and last name and place of work
- Their street address (including apartment number, if applicable)
- Name of neighborhood or apartment complex
Inclement Weather?
The processes for pick up and drop off remain the same during moments of inclement weather, but we ask that we all take greater care to drive more slowly, be more aware of our surroundings, avoid directing our children to do anything outside of our procedures and be patient with our process. There will be moments where we will ask students to remain in the building because of lightning in the area, which delays our process. Please be patient and know that we care for all of our Bears and will do what is necessary to get them to their mode of transportation. Please be patient with our SBISD Bus Drivers as they will be called to travel through SBISD traffic in all sorts of weather and we want them to go slowly and safely to reach every child's home.
Please take note:
- Please DO NOT back your cars up or park in a manner attempting to shield your child from rain as this inadvertently disrupts the flow of traffic or places you or another person in harms way once you have to move your vehicle. While it is not fun to get wet, your child will be safer if we hold to regular driving practices.
- Please slow down and monitor your surroundings. Do NOT encourage your child to cross Piney Point regardless of the weather.
Interested in Your Child Riding an SBISD Bus?
SBISD Transportation: 713-251-1060
SBMS Main Office: 713-251-4400
Stefanie Spencer: stefanie.spencer@springbranchisd.com