Keys to Success during Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Each day over 200 students transition onto and off of our campuses within a 15-minute window. It's a busy time, to say the least. Here's how you can help support WSM in these moments:

1. Patience - We all know that these times can be challenging, with difficult moments of separation for some children, time pressures to get to work, frustrating traffic getting here, etc. We sincerely ask for your patience and understanding of these times' natural logistical challenges.  
2. Vigilance - Your undivided attention during these times is vital. No one wants anyone to get hurt when coming to or leaving school.
3. Commitment - Following the guidelines detailed throughout this email, drop-off and pick-up will run smoothly and efficiently.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Requirements

• Cell phone use is prohibited during drop-off and pick-up.
• Stay alert; keep your eyes and ears open for pedestrians and other cars.
• Drive slowly (5mph or less) when on our campuses.
• All Toddlers MUST BE WALKED to their classrooms by a family adult.
• ALL CH & Elementary Students will be dropped off in the circle drive for arrival. Faculty/Staff will greet these students in the drive and assist them as needed in getting to their classrooms.
• Children's House & Elementary Sunrise Students who arrive before their classroom's designated arrival time MUST BE WALKED to their classrooms by an adult.
• Timeliness helps support our guides to efficiently and expediently begin their day. Guides will not accept students before 8:15.

The schedule for Drop-Off and Pick-Up is as follows:

• Toddler and Children's House: 

Arrival 8:15-8:30 (Class begins promptly at 8:30)

Dismissal 2:50-3:00 (3:01is considered late)

• Elementary: 

Arrival 8:15-8:30 (Morning Meeting begins promptly at 8:30)

Dismissal 3:00-3:10 (3:11 is considered late)

• Adolescent Program: 

Arrival 8:00-8:15 (Morning Meeting Begins Promptly at 8:15)

Dismissal 3:00-3:15 (All students should be picked up by 4:00)

• All Half-Day Student Dismissal: 11:50-12:00 (12:01 is considered late)

All-Day Drop-Off Procedures

• All-Day students must be walked to class by an adult ONLY if they arrive before 8:15
• Toddler All-Day students should be dropped off at the T3 patio
• Children's House All-Day students should be dropped off at the CH4 patio.
• Elementary Sunrise students should be walked up and dropped off at the side door near the UE Annex (a detailed email to come for those families).
• Adolescent students can arrive at the North Campus as early as 7:30

Drop-Off Procedures for Half-Day, Full-Day & Elementary Students

• All Toddler students must be walked to class by an adult
• ALL Toddler children will enter their classroom through the garden gate.
• Please park your car and walk your child to their class, do not go through the carline.
• Please utilize the crosswalks in the parking lot, and watch for Mr. Gary's instruction if he is close by helping cars move in and out of the parking lot.
• All Children's House students should be dropped off in the carline
• Pull into the carline on the sidewalk side of the circle drive, and wait for a Faculty/Staff member to give you the ok to allow your children out of the car. Please do not allow your Children's House children out of the car unless a Faculty/Staff member is there to assist them.
• You must be in the Unloading Zone (between the Gilberts, pictured below) for your child to exit the car.
• Faculty/Staff will greet your children in the drive, open the car door, and assist them in getting inside and/or to their classrooms as needed. This staff member cannot unbuckle your child.
• Your children should be dressed and ready to leave the car when you arrive at the front of the carline.
• Faculty/Staff will also be waiting inside the building to greet your children, and they will help them get to their classroom if needed.
• We understand that you may want/need to walk your Children's House student to class for the first week or two as your student gets settled into their new environment. After that, we kindly ask that you drop them off in the carline as long as they can get themselves out of the car and to their classroom independently.
• If you are walking your Children's House Student into the school, please park in the parking lot and walk them in through the main entrance, and do not come through the carline.
• All Children's House, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary students arriving between 8:15 and 8:30 will enter the building through the Main Entrance.

Half-Day Dismissal Procedures

• Toddler children must be picked up from their classroom patio 
• Park your car in the parking lot and walk to the patio gate.
• Please do not enter the playground gate until all the children have left the playground.
• Please utilize the crosswalks in the parking lot.
• Children's House students will be dismissed from the carline
• Please hang your car tag on your rearview mirror before entering the carline.
• Enter the carline in the outside lane (the lane closest to the sidewalk, illustrated by black arrows on the attached map).
• A staff member will walk your child to your car and guide them into your vehicle. This staff member can not buckle your child.
• If you need extra time getting your child buckled, please pull into one of the loading zone spots on your right just after you exit the circle. Do not get out of your car in the circle drive.

During Dismissal, there may be a long line. Please remember to:

• Wait your turn to be directed by a staff member to enter the parking lot or the circle drive. Do not pass the cars waiting in line.

Dismissal Procedures for Full-Day & Elementary Students

• Toddler children must be picked up from their classroom garden gate
• Please do not enter the playground gate until all the students have left the playground.
• ALL Children's House students will be dismissed from the carline. Please hang your YELLOW car tag on your rearview mirror before entering the carline.
• Enter the carline in the outside lane (the lane closest to the sidewalk, illustrated by black arrows on the attached map)
• A staff member will walk your child to your car and guide them into your vehicle. This staff member can not buckle your child.
• If you need extra time getting your child buckled, please pull into one of the loading zone spots on your right just after you exit the circle. Do not get out of your car in the circle drive.
• Elementary Students will be dismissed from the carline
• Please hang your ORANGE car tag on your rearview mirror before entering the carline.
• Enter the carline on the inside or the grass side of the circle drive (illustrated by the blue arrows on the attached map)
• If you also have a Children's House student, please pick them up in the outside (closest to the sidewalk) lane.
• A staff member will walk your child to your car and guide them into your car.
• If you need extra time getting your child buckled, please pull into one of the loading zone spots on your right just after you exit the circle. Do not get out of your car in the circle drive.

Walking Up to Pick Your Child Up

• Parents who choose to walk up should come into the lobby
• The doors will open promptly at 2:50.
• We will not open the doors between 2:40 and 2:50.
• Please wait in the lobby area for your child (near the table and large rug). A staff member will bring them to you.
• We encourage you to utilize our carline rather than walking up when possible.

Note: This is not a time to converse with your child's guide, as they have a 10-minute window to dismiss their entire class.

All-Day Pick-Up Procedures

• All-Day students must be picked up from their class by an adult ONLY if they are being picked up after 3:10
• Toddler All-Day students should be picked up at the T3 patio.
• Children's House All-Day students should be picked up at the CH4 patio.
• Elementary Sunrise parents should walk up and pick up their students at the side door near the UE Annex (please look for a more detailed email in the coming days).
• Adolescent students can be picked up from North Campus as late as 4:00.

Note: Persons picking up must be 16 years or older AND on your pick-up list for us to release a child to them. Please do not send a younger sibling to pick your child up.

Late Drop-Off Early Pick-Up

• All students who are dropped off after 8:30 must be signed in at the front desk and walked to their class by their parent/guardian. 
• Stay with your child as they unpack their things. 
• Once your child is unpacked and ready to enter the classroom, quietly open the classroom door, make eye contact with one of the classroom guides, and send your child into the classroom.
• Please do not enter the classroom or call the guide over to speak to them. If you have something urgent to tell them, please stop by the front desk and let someone know.
• All students who are picked up before 2:40 must be signed out at the front desk, and a staff member will get your child for you.
• If your child's guide knows you are coming early, they will have them ready when you come to pick them up.
• If you need to sign your child out early, please do so before 2:40. Otherwise, you will have to wait until their dismissal time.
• If this is an unexpected early dismissal, it is best to call the school. We will let the guide know to have to child ready.

Linked below is a detailed map of the main campus for you to refer to. This map outlines which lane Children's House and Elementary families should use when they enter the carline and times for drop-off and pick-up for all our programs. After reading this email carefully and reviewing the attached map, please get in touch with any member of our admin team if you have any questions. We look forward to a great school year. 

 Sincerely,

Patricia Flavin

On behalf of the Admin Team

Unloading Zone

Yes, there are two Gilberts! During drop-off, we do not unload children from their cars outside the zone pictured here. Our two Gilberts mark this zone. If you have yet to reach the first Gilbert, your child should remain in the car.

As you move through the carline, your child should remain safely inside the car. Please do not allow them to hang out of the window or sunroof or sit on the door with the window open to greet their friends.

Double Lane Pick-Up

In this picture, the red truck and blue van are stopped in line with Gilbert. The red truck is in the Children'sHouse lane, and the blue van is in the Elementary lane. At morning drop-off, all cars will use a single traffic lane closest to the sidewalk the red truck is in.

Staying Safe in the Parking Lot

If Mr. Gary and Mr. Tim are not giving your children high fives in the parking lot, they are guiding families to the crosswalks and in and out of their parking spots, and you never know what Mr. Gary may be up to on any given day.

Using the Circle Drive: 

• Car tags: Please hang your NEW, color-coded car tag so it is visible for our faculty/staff to view. (you will receive car tags within the first week of school, they will come home in your child's backpack)

**If you need additional car tags, please get in touch with Rebecca Satalino.**

• CH Families: Use the OUTSIDE lane of the circle, next to the sidewalk
• Elementary Families: Use the INSIDE lane of the circle, next to the grass (pick-up only) 
• STAY IN YOUR CAR for everyone's safety. We will bring your child to you!
• Need more time? Please pull out of the circle and into one of the loading zone spots directly on your right if you need extra time to get your child buckled and/or settled at pick-up. Doing so will help keep traffic flowing efficiently.
• Inclement Weather: Please be extra patient with us on these days. The line may move a little slower as holding many little hands and an umbrella is more challenging.
• New Authorized People: If your child is being picked up by someone other than a parent/guardian, please let your child's guide know of the change; make sure they are on your authorized pick-up list AND know to have their ID ready. 
• To update your authorized pick-up list, please sign in to your FACTS Family portal, click webforms, family demographics, and transportation. Please update all the information it is asking for.

**If you have questions about your authorized Pick-Up list, please email RebeccaSatalino.**

Winston-Salem Montessori School