As a principal and a mom, I take my responsibility to keep our Highland Elementary community safe very seriously. Please know that every decision is made carefully, thoughtfully, and with safety as my top priority every single day. It takes all of us to maintain safe and secure drop off and pick up zones for our students, staff, bus drivers, and families. These procedures will be revised as necessary to address any safety concerns we encounter throughout this year. Please read the procedures carefully and do your part to partner with us to keep everyone safe.
BUS
If it works for your family, bus transportation is highly recommended. It is the most streamlined and efficient way for students to enter and exit the building. The bus loop will be in the front of school. No cars, at any time should be attempting to navigate through the bus loop from 9:00am-9:20am and again from 3:55pm-4:15pm. The side access point that connects the front and back parking lots is closed during arrival and dismissal. No parents or visitors will be able to wait for any reason in our bus pick up zone as it is a serious safety concern to have adults mixing with our students at this busy time.
WALKERS
We will have a crossing guard from the township stationed at W. Livingston Rd. onto the front of our school property. Please help your child time their walk so they do not arrive to school before 9:10am since there is not supervision for them until that time. If students arrive early, they will wait at the bike rack, since it is within sound and sight range of the crossing guard. At 9:10am, students will be signaled that it is time to enter the building as they see staff open the doors and students are released off of buses. Kindergarten and 2nd grade walkers will enter at Door A4. 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade walkers will enter at Door A6. If an adult walks their child to school, we ask that you stop and wait at the bike rack as well as part of our safety protocols to maintain a secure bus loop.
PARENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP
If you are picking up your child, you must get in the parent pick up line that begins off of N. John St. It will not be possible to park, walk across the car line, and find your student in the pick up lines. This poses a safety concern for so many reasons. We know waiting in the car line is not fun for anyone, but it is safest for our students, our staff, our families that are in cars, and you. If our staff sees that you park and walk up to get your child from the pick up line, they will redirect you back to your car and you will have to join the pick up line at the end. I am just not willing to risk anyone getting hit by the ongoing flow of traffic of our car line and we must maintain a secure pick up area for our students.
EARLY PICK UP CALLS
If you need to pick your child up early, please park in a parking spot, walk into the main office, and our staff will call down to your child's classroom. We will not have students begin packing up or ask them to come down to the office until you are physically in the office. Too many times students have been called down early because their ride took longer than expected and they ended up needlessly missing valuable instruction time. Please refrain from pulling up in front of the main entrance and not parking in a spot. While school is in session, we MUST keep the loop clear at all times for emergency vehicles and buses.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL MAP
