We look forward to the start of school on September 8, 2020! Students in grades pre-k–1st will begin school on Tuesday, September 8, and students in grades 2nd–5th will begin school on Wednesday, September 9. We know that this year brings with it many changes, one of which is to our parent drop-off and pick-up procedures. Our goal is to promote a safe and efficient drop off and pick up procedure for our students, parents, and staff. Please refer to the map below for a general overview of traffic flow and read the guidelines to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors.
School Hours - 8:10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Tardy Bell - 8:10 a.m.
All Arrivals
Students will enter and walk socially distanced to their classrooms. Red dots are on the floors of both sides of the hallways three feet apart to help students know the separation distance. For the safety of all, students will go straight to their classrooms upon arrival beginning at 7:30 a.m. Pre-k–5th teachers will begin greeting students at their doors and monitoring hallways at 7:30 a.m. with the first wave of arrivals. Additional staff will supervise students in the halls as well.
PGES Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Buses and daycares will use the small loop (nearest the parking lot) for arrival and dismissal. Arrival times are 7:30 to 8:05 a.m., and departure times will begin at 2:15 p.m. Vehicular traffic will be temporarily stopped from entering the parking lot to allow buses to dismiss at 2:15 p.m.
Our car riders will use the big loop (formerly the bus loop), for parent pick up both in the morning and afternoon. Arrival times are 7:30 to 8:05 a.m., and dismissal times will be 2:20 to 2:50 p.m. to allow buses to exit first. Thank you to parents who indicated they could pick up at 2:20 or 2:40 p.m. on our PGES transportation survey. We appreciate your efforts to spread out your arrival time so we can limit the amount of wait time. It will be key to not block the bottom entrance of the car loop so traffic can both enter the car loop and exit the car loop smoothly.
Car riders will have two PGES car pick up tags unique for your children for the driver to display in your car window when picking up your student(s) and other student(s) if you are carpooling. If you need additional signs, please let your child's teacher know at any time. Without this tag, you will need to show a photo ID instead which will cost valuable time to our departure process as this will have to be checked with office records.You will also need the student sign from a carpool family to display in your car if you are picking up other students, so we can assist you with your passengers. We will use radios to call students by name based on the displayed sign(s) on your car dashboard as you enter the loop. Staff will direct you where to pull as you wait.
Parent Drop Off (Mornings)
- Students can be dropped off in the car loop (formerly the bus loop) between 7:30 and 8:05 a.m.
- Students will proceed directly to their classroom. The tardy bell rings at 8:10 a.m.
- Please have your child ready to exit the car (backpack ready, goodbyes said, masks on face, etc.) when you reach the drop off location so that students may exit the car quickly. Students must have a mask on before exiting the car.
- Your child should exit the car on the passenger side so they are on the sidewalk side.
- Drivers should not exit the car in the parent drop off line. If your child needs assistance opening the door, one of the staff members on duty will assist your child.
- If your student arrives after 8:10 a.m. you must park in the parking lot and walk your child to the front entrance of the school. A staff member will meet you at the door to sign your child in as tardy. Parents will not be able to escort their child(ren) into the building this year as part of our health plan.
- Staff will be on duty throughout the building to assist students with getting to their classrooms each morning.
- Our school has red dots throughout the halls to help maintain proper social distancing.
Parent Pick Up (Afternoons)
Our new afternoon procedures will mimic our morning drop off. Parents will no longer park and come inside to sign out their child. Each family will receive two parent pick up car tags with your family name. When arriving have your student name tag visible in the front windshield. Students will be called by radio from their classroom. If you have a family member or neighbor who will pick up your child(ren), please be sure to give them one of your pick up tags to use the day that they are picking up.
- Parents may enter the new parent pick up loop beginning at 2:15 p.m. Dismissal will begin promptly at 2:20 p.m., so there is no need to arrive prior to 2:15 p.m.
- Parents will enter the car loop in a single file line and staff will direct you forward. Please follow staff directions to ensure the safety of all or our students and their families.
- We ask that you wait patiently in your vehicle and an adult on duty will ensure that your child is safely loaded into your vehicle each afternoon.
- Each family will only be issued two parent pick up car tags. If the person picking up your child does not have the appropriate car tag displayed, the staff member on duty will ask for photo ID to verify permission to pick up your child(ren). This may cause a delay with our parent pick up procedure, so please make every effort to have the tag used on a daily basis.
- Once your child enters your car, you should remain in line to exit the parking lot. For the safety of all students, staff, and families, you should not pass cars in line.
Tardy Students (8:10 a.m. or After)
Parents will need to walk the student to the front doors of our building and ring the doorbell. A PGES staff member will meet the student at the door. The office staff will record the tardy date and time based on the student’s arrival time. Due to safety precautions, parents cannot come inside with students.
Early Dismissal for Appointments
Parents will walk to the front door and sign student out on the clipboard outside. The parent should then ring the doorbell, and a PGES staff member will bring the student to the door. Due to safety precautions, parents cannot come inside with students. Early dismissals must be before 1:45 p.m. due to student dismissal procedures.
Pick up of Sick Students
Parents will walk to the front door and sign student out on the clipboard outside. The parent should then ring the doorbell, and the front office will alert the clinic. The parent will then walk to the exterior door closest to the clinic (near flag poles) and a PGES staff member will walk the student and his/her belongings to the door. Due to safety precautions, parents cannot come inside with students.
Changes to Transportation and Early Dismissals
- Due to limited bus transportation, students will not be allowed to ride a different bus home or to a friend’s house this year. Students may only ride their assigned bus this school year.
- If you need to alter your child’s typical dismissal plan (change from bus or daycare to parent pick up), please send a note to your child’s teacher in the morning. If an emergency arises and you need to make a last minute change, please call the school office at 365-4700 before 1:45 p.m. or email Lori Martin and the child’s teacher. All students picked up at the end of the day will be picked up in the car loop parent pick up line. The office will not be able to assist with dismissal after 1:45 p.m.
- If your child has a medical appointment that requires early dismissal, please complete and send in a note to make your child’s teacher and our office staff aware. Parents who wish to pick their children up prior to our regular dismissal (2:15 p.m.) should plan to pick up their child before 1:45 p.m. Please be prepared to state your name and child’s name at the doorbell this year and wait outside for him/her. Office staff will escort your child to the door for any early dismissal.
- Please note that if someone other than the parent/legal guardian is picking a child up early, we must have a note stating that the individual will be picking the child up early that day (even if the person is on the emergency contact/pick up list) and he/she should have a photo I.D. at the front door.
- If you are sending an email regarding transportation changes, you must send the email to the teacher and to the front office. In case of a staff absence, we want to ensure that at least one person has received your email communication.
If you have any questions about our transportation procedures, please contact the office at (804) 365-4700. Thank you for your support. We look forward to another safe and successful school year!