SAFETY AT BES:

Safety is of utmost concern.  Crossing guards or teachers will control most street crossings.  These arrival and pickup procedures have been developed for safety reasons.  For each and every child's safety, they must be picked up as close to the building as possible.  When children must walk to a car, a school staff member or parents must escort them.  Students must never be allowed to cross a street without assistance.

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL/DEPARTURE PROCEDURES

ARRIVAL

All Students:

• The school opens at 7:30 a.m. Children that arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 go to a holding area and then go to their homeroom at 7:45.

  • Holding Areas:

    • Kindergarten-Kindergarten Hallway (in Kindergarten/first grade building)

    • First Grade—First Grade Hallway (in Kindergarten/first grade building)

    • Second Grade—Second Grade Hallway

    • Third Grade—Third Grade Entry Hallway

    • Fourth Grade—Media Center

• The tardy bell rings at 8:00. If your child is tardy, you must accompany them inside to sign them in.

• Parents that need to drop off children before 7:30 a.m. need to call the school office and make those arrangements. Any child that arrives at school before 7:30 must enter the school at the front entrance.

• All bus students will unload at the breezeway on Underwood Street.

• Cars must follow the routes designated on the attached map to avoid traffic confusion and keep children safe.

• All children in one car can unload at the designated place for the youngest child. Example: If you have a 3rd grader and a kindergartner, you may unload both children at the kindergarten drop-off spot.

Kindergarten and First Grade Students

• Car riders will unload on Underwood Street at the school drive breezeway. All vehicles, except school buses, must travel from the west on Underwood Street and turn left onto the school property, entering the school drive at the eastern most end of Underwood Street. Please pull to the farthest point possible for unloading several cars at one time. (Watch the teachers directing traffic.) Traffic on Belleville and Douglas must detour to Evergreen Avenue; traffic will not be permitted to turn onto Underwood from Belleville.

• Please do not park on the street to walk your children to school or unload your children on the street to cross at the crossing guard. Please drive up to the breezeway to unload.

• Traffic will exit onto Underwood Street near Belleville Avenue, turning to the right, heading toward Belleville Avenue.

Second and Third Grade Students

• Car riders will unload at the lower hallway next to the gym and enter the entrance door of this hallway—facing Jackson Street. Enter from Jackson Street and stop along the sidewalk next to the school to unload. Students should exit the vehicle on the passenger side of the sidewalk only. Students are not allowed to go between cars when unloading.

Fourth Grade Students

• Car Riders should be dropped off at the front of the school. Enter from Douglas Avenue onto West Jackson Street and exit, turning left, onto Underwood Street. Students should exit vehicle on the passenger side of the sidewalk only—do not cross through traffic.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Students who are not in their classroom by 8:00 will be marked tardy and should be signed in at the main office by their parent or guardian.  If students are sent in without parent or guardian, the office will either phone you to return and sign the student in before they are allowed to go to class, or mark the tardy as unexcused.

DISMISSAL/DEPARTURE

All Students

*Students who are bus riders may not change procedures unless a note from the parent is sent to the teacher directing the change in departure methods!

2:45 –YMCA students board the bus.

2:50 –First wave bus students (Buses 7 & 13) and walkers are dismissed. Buses will load at the breezeway on the south side of the building.

2:55 - Car riders begin loading.

3:25 - Second wave bus students (Buses, 5, 11, & 12) are dismissed. Buses will load at the breezeway on the south side of the building.

Kindergarten and first grade

Exit the building at the door leading to the breezeway. Students will assemble on the ramp and wait to be picked up. Cars should enter the school property, traveling west to east on Underwood Street, pull to the covered area, and park on the curb, making room for the school buses to enter and load students. Exit onto Underwood Street with all cars turning right coming off the school property. If you park on Underwood Street you must come to the covered area and escort your child to your car. Please use the crosswalk area to exit the bus ramp pick-up area.

Second and third grade

Exit at the lower hallway next to the gym. Students are to be picked up outside the entrance door of this hallway facing Jackson Street. Enter from Jackson Street then stop along the sidewalk next to the school. If you park your car in another area, you must come to meet your child on the walkway and provide an escort to your car. Students are not allowed to go between cars when loading.

Fourth grade

Exit inside the school building and walk to the front of the building facing Douglas Avenue. Students are to be picked up directly in front of the school. Vehicles should enter from Douglas Avenue and West Jackson. Stop along the sidewalk nearest the building. The supervising teacher will send students to their cars. If you park in the left lane, you must come to meet your child and provide an escort to the car. Students will not be allowed to go between cars when loading.   Exit onto Underwood Street, turning left toward Douglas Avenue. No right turns allowed.

SPECIAL DEPARTURE ARRANGEMENTS: Parents with more than one child may arrange for pickup of both children in one location. Talk with the principal or assistant principal to schedule a group pick up.