BUSES
Students should be on time at their designated school bus stops and should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to board. Behaviors at the bus stop and while riding the school bus must be courteous at all times. There is to be no changing of seats, no standing while the bus is in motion, and no putting arms, hands and head out the window. School and bus authorities have the right to deny bus transportation to any student who is impolite on the bus. Fighting or arguing, bad language, inappropriate gestures and yelling are forbidden. Inappropriate bus behavior may result in a bus suspension or loss of bus riding privileges. The school buses that bring our students to school and home are for residents of Old Saybrook; children from other towns may not go on the bus, even when accompanying an Old Saybrook resident.
No electronic devices are allowed on the bus, in the book bag, or to be brought to school, unless a teacher requests they be brought in and the electronic devise permission form is signed. This includes cameras, camcorders, “Walkmen”, tape recorders, cell phones, laser pointers, Ipods, MP3 players, etc. If such items are found in the school they will be confiscated and given to the principal to be returned at a time chosen by the principal. If there is a second offense the item will be retained by the principal until the end of the school year.
Any change in a student’s transportation plans should be made known to the office before 9:00 a.m. by the parent in writing. No child will be released to anyone without parental permission.
NO FOOD OR DRINK IS PERMITTED ON THE BUS AT ANY TIME.
CAR LINE, ENTRANCE AND DISMISSAL
Management of the car line and afternoon pick up is part of the risk management program. It’s important that everyone follow the car line and afternoon pick up rules. The school’s primary goal is the safety of our children. Please do not use cell phones during carline. Please pay heed to the staff members and/or parent monitors.
Students arriving by car are to be dropped off at the door between the kitchen and gym. It is important when dropping off your child in the morning that you pull up to the Jersey barriers. Please do not let your children exit your car before reaching this area. Students who are dropped off before the Jersey barriers are reached cannot be seen. Children are allowed to exit and enter cars from the passenger side, when the cars are stopped. Children are not allowed to exit the car through the drivers’ side. They may not walk in front of cars. No one is to park in the middle of the parking lot during any carline time. Please do not get out of your car—this just holds up the people behind you.
Pre-K parents are to park by the trees outside of grade two and, using the area between the Jersey barriers and grass, walk their children to the door between the kitchen and the gym. NO ONE IS TO PARK NEITHER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT NOR BY THE GATE. This is for the safety of all.
Parents are asked NOT to go to their child’s classroom without an appointment.
Old Saybrook buses unload at the main entrance on Maynard Road. The students are to disembark the bus in a calm manner and enter the school through the doors near the flag pole.
Students arriving before 8:40 a.m. are to report to Morning Care in the gym. There will be a charge for students arriving before 8:30 a.m. Bus riders are an exception. No student may go to a classroom unless s/he is able to give morning care staff a note of permission from their teacher. This note has to have been signed by the teacher the day before. If a student does not have such a note, s/he will be required to remain in morning care and his/her parents will be billed. This applies even if the note is forgotten in the car or at home.
Dismissal- If someone other than a parent will be picking up your child on a regular basis, please send in a note at the beginning of the school year. Please be sure to send in a note if someone other than the parent or regular pick-up person will be picking up your child and make him or her aware of the car line procedure. S/he will be required to show a photo I.D. In the afternoon cars may not park for dismissal before 2:40 p.m.
Occasions have arisen in which parents would like their older children to walk to the town library after school on a regular basis. If this is the case, please write a letter requesting this, with your signature, and send it to the office. Without this letter your child will not be allowed to walk to the library. If this will occur on a regular basis, please indicate this in your letter.
At 2:55 p.m., children will be dismissed by announcement. See procedures sent to you in the summer mailing...
After school, all children are to leave when dismissed. There should be no loitering in the hallways. Aftercare children are to report to the aftercare site immediately on being dismissed. They may not leave the school and then return. No children are to be picked up in the church parking lot.
Old Saybrook bus riders leave by the front door entrance. Each bus letter will be called. We strongly urge Old Saybrook residents to ride the school bus. This would help alleviate congestion in the parking lot. No parent is permitted to drive up on Maynard Rd., park, and take their children out of bus line.
Everyone should follow these directions, to make it safe and convenient for all.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Early dismissal time is 12:55 p.m. There will be early dismissal on the First Friday of every month for faculty meetings and in service workshops. After care on early dismissal days will be available from 12:55 until 3:30 p.m.