The safety of our students is our highest priority. To ensure a smooth and secure arrival and dismissal process, we ask all families to carefully follow the procedures outlined below.

Morning Drop-Off

Students who are not riding the bus may be dropped off between 8:25 AM and 8:40 AM in the horseshoe driveway on Dickinson Road. For the safety of all children:

• Children should be seated in the back seat on the passenger side to allow for a safe and efficient exit from the vehicle.

• Please make sure your child is ready to exit the car with coats on, backpacks packed, and goodbyes said prior to arrival. This helps expedite the drop-off process.

• Pull forward as far as possible when entering the horseshoe to allow multiple cars to unload safely.

• Do not park and walk your child to the door. We ask that all families use the drop-off loop rather than parking in unauthorized areas, which can block traffic and create safety concerns.

• For safety reasons, parents are not permitted to walk up to the walker door during arrival or dismissal.

• Please note that the bus drop-off area along Yale Road is strictly for buses only. No cars are permitted in the bus zone.

Late Arrivals

All students must arrive by 8:40 AM. Any student arriving after this time must be brought to the main office by an adult and will be marked tardy. The drop-off doors will be locked promptly at 8:40 AM. Consistent tardiness may result in a required conference with the principal.

Walker Safety Reminder

If you park across the street from the school on Yale Road, do not walk between buses with your child. It is very difficult for drivers to see individuals crossing between buses, and this poses a serious safety risk. Please cross at a clear, designated area where visibility is safe for all.

Bus Students and Walkers

All bus riders and walkers are escorted into the building each morning by a J. Harvey Rodgers staff member and taken directly to their classrooms. During dismissal at 2:40 PM, walkers are brought to the cafeteria, where they are signed out by an authorized adult. Bus riders are escorted to their buses by staff.

Dismissal for Parent Pick-Up

Students who are picked up at dismissal will be signed out by a certified staff member at the cafeteria doors along Dickinson Road. Adults must provide valid photo identification. Students will only be released to a parent or someone listed on the Student Pick-Up Authorization Form. If there is a change to your child’s dismissal routine, please send a signed note to your child’s teacher indicating the date, the name of the person picking up the child, and your signature. Verbal requests and phone calls cannot be accepted for safety reasons.

For consistency and safety, students may not switch between being a bus rider and a walker on a regular basis. If your child rides the bus, they should be picked up at the bus stop each day. Walk-up dismissal from school should only occur in the case of an emergency or with prior approval from the office. This policy is in place to ensure a smooth and secure dismissal process and to avoid confusion that could compromise student safety.

In households with shared custody or for families arranging alternative care, we ask that all pick-ups be made at the child’s assigned bus stop whenever possible. This helps us maintain a consistent routine for your child and ensures staff can account for every student at dismissal.

Early Dismissals

Students should remain in school for the full instructional day. Early dismissals should be limited to medical appointments or emergencies that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours. No early dismissals will be permitted within the last 30 minutes of the school day unless it is an emergency. All early pick-ups must occur through the main office, and adults must provide photo ID.

Bus Transportation and Expectations

Buses drop off and pick up students at the front of the building along Yale Road. Students riding buses are required to:

• Sit in their assigned seats

• Remain seated until dismissed

• Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus

• Follow all directions from the bus driver

Bus safety is essential, and inappropriate behavior may result in disciplinary action, including the suspension of bus privileges. We appreciate your support in reinforcing respectful and safe behavior on the bus.

As a reminder, no parents or guardians are permitted on buses at any time during arrival or dismissal. Only assigned students and authorized district staff may board GPSD buses.

A responsible adult must be at the bus stop to receive your child. If no one is present, an attempt will be made to contact the parent or guardian. If contact cannot be made or no one arrives at the stop in a timely manner, the student will be returned to the school for pick-up. Multiple incidents in a school year or repeated returns to the school may result in suspension from bus services in accordance with district policy. In such cases, a meeting will be required with the building principal and the transportation department.

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and efficient start and end to each school day. If you have any questions about arrival, dismissal, or transportation procedures, please contact the main office.