SAVE THIS EMAIL FOR EASY REFERENCE

Dear VTT Families,

The time to welcome your children to VTT for the 2022-23 school year is fast approaching--and our team is so excited to have our students filling our campus again! We know everyone is eager to find out their children’s classroom and teacher assignments. These will be emailed this Friday afternoon, September 2nd.

Welcoming and dismissing students in a safe and orderly manner is one of our top priorities and challenges. The contents of this email are incredibly important and must be read by all adults responsible for dropping off and/or picking up VTT students. Please carefully read the instructions below to be fully prepared for the start of school.

What are this year’s school hours?

This year VTT will return to its normal operational hours with school opening at 8:15 a.m. and dismissing students between 3:15-3:30 p.m. to maximize all the instructional hours we have with your children. 

There are different drop off and pick up procedures depending on a child’s grade. Please pay close attention to the instructions below which will be followed by drop off and pick up protocols for each grade. (If you have children in early childhood, you will receive a separate email with instructions.)

*Please note that students arriving to VTT after 8:30 a.m. will be recorded as late. Late/absent notes should be emailed to attendance@talmudtorah.com

For those new to VTT, we use an app, Pikmykid Parent, to manage our daily dismissal process. Every parent/grandparent/caregiver involved in picking up a student must download this application to their mobile device. 

This is the third year that VTT will use the Pikmykid App for an orderly pick up at dismissal. Geolocation markers have been set around the school and parents will be able to “announce” their arrival when they approach VTT. The announcement will notify teachers in their classrooms and students will be dismissed to their assigned exit (e.g., JCC bus, Richmond bus, 26th Avenue drive thru, parkade, independent walker, after-school programs, Bayit aftercare, etc.). It is essential that parents assign the correct dismissal location daily for their children (including bus riders) in the app for pick up to go smoothly.

You can download the new Pikmykid parent app here:

iOS

https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/Pikmykid-parent/id1559538995

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Pikmykid.parentapp

If parents do not remember their passwords for the app, it is possible to request a password reset from the login screen.

Pikmykid Parent App Registration Video (for new families):

https://player.vimeo.com/video/589995511

Instructions for using the app, such as delegating pickup and announcing are in Pikmykid Parent App User Guide Video:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/589639496

After downloading the app and setting it up, parents should make sure they see their children listed in the app - otherwise, they will not be able to use it. If you encounter issues, please email support@talmudtorah.com. Do not forget to ensure that all parents/grandparents/caregivers picking up VTT students have the app installed and set up on their mobile device.

Once successful, log into the Pikmykid app and allow Pikmykid to use your LOCATION while using the app and allow NOTIFICATIONS.

You will then be asked to confirm the name of your school (Vancouver Talmud Torah-BC) and your child(ren)’s name(s) should automatically appear.

Please note: If you want to know more, go to this link https://www.Pikmykid.com/features/for-parents/

*There are several designated pick ups you can choose from, and these can be tailored daily according to your child’s schedule: 26th Avenue, Parkade, JCC bus, Richmond bus, the Bayit, after-school programs, and Independent Walkers/Cyclists. Parents giving permission for their children to leave school on their own must submit this signed form. We require a new signed form every school year.

*Please note: A separate email will be sent outlining the drop off and pick up procedures for early childhood students (Rishonim and Junior Kindergarten) and their siblings.

During gradual entry, there is no need to use the app for SK students. (However, If there are older siblings, use the app to designate 26th Avenue as the pick up location since after SK gradual entry, this will be SK students and their siblings drop off and pick up location.)

Morning Drop Off Hours: 8:15-8:25 a.m.     Location: 26th Avenue

Families must drop off their children (and older siblings) in the drive thru in front of the school on West 26th Avenue. Families must enter the drive thru from Oak Street ONLY, proceed EAST along 26th Avenue and make a right into the drive thru at the far entrance. Upon exiting the 26th Avenue drive thru, vehicles must turn right and continue heading east along 26th Avenue. Families will be able to drop off older children at this entrance if they are accompanied by a sibling in SK. SK students will proceed to class accompanied by an awaiting teacher/staff member. SK students (and their siblings) will also be picked up here at the end of the day. Do NOT leave your car. Parents should QUICKLY get their children offloaded and proceed to the exit to avoid a backlog. 

Afternoon Pick Up Hours: 3:15-3:30 p.m.   Location: West 26th Avenue

School dismisses at 3:15 p.m. and parents have a 15-minute window to pick up their children. Parents must “announce” their arrival via the Pikmykid app a few minutes prior to arriving at VTT. Students must be picked up by 3:30 p.m.

Make sure the Pikmykid app reflects your child’s after-school plans on any given day. If you are picking up your child from after-school programs or the Bayit, there is no need to announce when you arrive for pick up.

If your SK child participates in after-school programs or the Bayit, pick up will be in the parkade. You will receive a separate communication outlining pick up in these circumstances.

Morning Drop Off Hours: 8:15-8:25 a.m.      Location: VTT Parkade

(Students dropped off from 8:00 a.m. can wait in the playground until doors open at 8:15 a.m.) Anthems start at 8:25 a.m. signaling the start of the school day. All students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to learn at that time. Students arriving after 8:25 a.m. must be dropped off at the front on 26th Avenue to sign in at the office.

*Please note that students arriving to VTT after 8:30 a.m. will be recorded as late. Late/absent notes should be emailed to attendance@talmudtorah.com

Afternoon Pick Up Hours: 3:15-3:30 p.m.     Location: VTT Parkade

School dismisses at 3:15 p.m. and parents have a 15-minute window to pick up their children. Parents must “announce” their arrival via the Pikmykid app a few minutes prior to arriving at VTT. Students must be picked up by 3:30 p.m.

Make sure the Pikmykid app reflects your child’s after-school plans on any given day. If you are picking up your child from after-school programs or the Bayit, there is no need to announce when you arrive for pick up.

STAGGERED PICK UP FOR GRADES 1-7 (without siblings in Rishonim, Junior Kindergarten or Senior Kindergarten)

For afternoon pick up, we ask that families follow the staggered pick up schedule below to allow for a smoother traffic flow. The time assignments will rotate in January.

A to H (child’s) last name: from 3:15 p.m.

I to P (child’s) last names: from 3:20 p.m.

Q to Z (child’s) last names: from 3:25 p.m.

Please make every effort to pick up your child(ren) at your appointed time to simplify and expedite afternoon pick up. However, owing to everyone’s unique schedules, we realize that some families may have to arrive at one of the other designated times. Please only switch your time if it is necessary. PikMyKid will still be the method to announce your arrival.

To ensure a smooth, one-way traffic flow, cars must enter through the 28th Avenue entrance (next to Congregation Beth Israel), staying to the right to allow BI Synagogue cars to enter through the first gate, and turn left into the middle gate. Once students are safely dropped off, vehicles must exit via the gate closest to 26th Ave, turning left and then turning right ONLY onto 26th Avenue. Staff will be present to direct families and traffic.

Watch this video on how to safely enter the parkade from 28th Avenue only and exit via 26th Avenue only:

Students who are being picked up by a parent/grandparent/caregiver on foot or those who are walking or riding their bikes home to leave via the 26th Avenue door. Any student leaving VTT independently must have a parent complete the Unaccompanied Walker Form which will be kept on file in the office. Remember to select “Independent Walker” on the days your child leaves VTT on their own. Drop off or email your signed form to office@talmudtorah.com.

If your child is a JCC Bus Rider, the JCC team will ensure that your child gets on the bus. Please indicate your child is a JCC bus rider on the Pikmykid app. If you would like to register for the JCC bus, click this link.

If your child is a Richmond Bus Rider, a member of the VTT team will ensure that your child gets on the bus. Please indicate your child is a Richmond bus rider on the Pikmykid app. If you wish to sign up your child for the Richmond bus, click here.

Remember that a separate communication will be sent for early childhood families and their siblings.

With the lifting of pandemic restrictions, all parents are welcome into our school at the end of the day, but we ask that only parents in Rishonim to SK enter the school in the mornings. We found that our students adjusted much more quickly when they were not accompanied by their parents to the classroom and that this protected the valuable learning time. Please note, while parents are welcome to enter at the times above, we are unable to provide parking for our families aside from early childhood parents (in designated spots) who must accompany their children to class as per licensing regulations. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn these procedures in our collective attempt for a smooth, orderly and safe drop off and dismissal process.

See you next week,

The VTT Traffic, Parking & Security Team