• 3:45PM: Preschool
• 4:30PM: Kindergarten
• 5:15PM: First Grade
• 6:00PM: Second Grade
• 6:45PM: Third Grade
• 7:30PM: Fourth Grade

• September 2 - Grades 1-4 - Students whose last name begins with A-L will attend.
• September 3 - Grades 1-4 - Students whose last name begins with M-Z will attend.
• September 4 - All grade levels 1-4 will attend.

• September 2 and September 3 - Kindergarten students whose last name begins with A-L will attend.
• September 4 and September 8 - Kindergarten students whose last name begins with M-Z will attend.
• September 9 - All kindergarten students attend school.

• We will have a staggered arrival time for bus and car riders.
• Car Riders - 8:15-8:30AM  
• Kindergarten, Grade 2, and Grade 4 - Please drop students off in the back of the school
• Kindergarten and Grade 2 will enter the playground doors outside of kindergarten rooms.
• Grade 4 will enter the building using middle doors - the drop-off area from last year.
• Grade 1, Grade 3, and Preschool - will be dropped off utilizing the front circle
• Grade 1 and Grade 3 enter the front doors
• Preschool enter the preschool doors up front

• Bus Riders - 8:30-8:45 AM 
• If a car rider arrives after 8:30 AM, and the buses are already in the front circle, you will have to wait until they have unloaded to drop off your child.
• If you have multiple children, please choose one location for drop-off and share this with your child’s teacher.
• If you opted out of busing, and your child/children will be an afternoon car rider - please complete the below form.

• We will have staggered pick-up times for bus and car riders.
• No parents/guardians will be allowed in the building for pick-up. All students will go directly to cars.
• 3:00-3:15 PM - Car Rider Pick-Up
• Kindergarten will be picked up outside the playground doors near the kindergarten classrooms.
• Grade 2 and Grade 4 will be picked up at the middle doors
• Preschool - picked up at the preschool doors
• Grade 1 and Grade 3 at the front circle
• 3:15-3:30 PM - Bus Pick-Up

• As we begin the 2020-21 school year under the State of Ohio restrictions that address COVID-19, the students will be served box lunches. We will be able to best protect the students with this process through controlled distribution. Students in grades 2 through 12 will order their lunch on a Google form on their Chromebook every morning. Kindergarten and 1st-grade teachers will take a lunch count in their rooms. Menus will be online at www.independence.k12.oh.us, or parents may download the app named My School Menus. Menus will be available to view one week ahead. We encourage parents to view the menu and discuss their children’s choices so that they can select the best option for them.
• Middle School and High School students will be served their lunches in the cafeteria. Primary students will be served in their classrooms/outside. It is important to note that there will be NO CASH TRANSACTIONS, all money must be deposited on the student’s account. An account may be set up online at www.independence.k12.oh.us. There is a link to EZpay under the drop-down “How To…”add money to lunch account.” 
• On the first day of school, a personalized EZpay letter will be coming home with your child’s student ID. This information is needed to create an account on EZpay. If you need it sooner, please contact Diane Brown at dbrown@independence.k12.oh.us. Please remember, these student IDs do not change from year-to-year.
• Students that use school-provided transportation will be assigned seats on their designated bus. All students will be required to wear a mask while on the bus. Students will be seated one per seat except for siblings who will be seated together. The students must stay in their assigned seats for the duration of the trip to and from school. Parents will be notified if their child has difficulty adjusting to the new rules, and the parents may have to arrange alternative transportation if non-compliance continues. All school transportation vehicles will be wiped down and disinfected after morning and afternoon runs.
• We hope you understand our commitment to provide our community’s families the best experience under the circumstances within the rules. Please understand we are all adjusting to this together, so know that we will perfect our processes as we progress. We invite you to visit www.independence.k12.oh.us regularly for all updates.

• If you have opt-out of busing, please complete this form for your child(ren) to be picked up in the afternoon. Each family will receive two signs. Please have your sign visible in the car window. This will enable the pick-up line to move a little quicker. IMPORTANT...If the person picking up your child does not have a sign, we will not be able to release your child. 
• Please respond by Monday, August 24 - Afternoon Car Rider Pick-Up Authorization Form

• Supply lists are posted on our web page. If you ordered a supply kit, they will be in your child’s classroom by the first day of school. Please do not buy Clorox wipes. If they are in the supply kits ordered, we can send them home. The district has adequate supplies to clean areas properly.

• On Monday, August 24, we will be taping a program to review the “back-to-school” plan for IPS. We will be answering questions that our families may have about IPS. Once filmed, we will post on the PTO Facebook page and send it out by email to our families. If you still have a question after receiving the communication on our back-to-school plans, please use the below Google form to submit your questions.