Arrival & Dismissal

Arrival & Dismissal Plan Template

Principal: Dr. Cynthia E. Farmer
Instructional Director: Dr. LaTonya Williams

Please use the following template to develop your school’s arrival and dismissal plan per Administrative Procedure 5090. All components with an asterisk (*) should be communicated with your parents/community and posted on your school’s website.

Transportation Coordinator(s)*: Brian Cuvo, Assistant Principal (301-805-1000, ext. 61174)

Student Arrival*

Students should not arrive at school before 8:50am, unless they are enrolled in the Before and After Care Program.  Doors will open for students at 8:50am.  Students will not be released to their classrooms until 9:00am.  From 8:50am-9:00am, students will wait in a designated hallway.  Kindergarten and 1st grade  students will wait in the Kindergarten and 1st grade hallways.  Students in 2nd and 3rd grades will wait in the hallway outside of the Art Studio.  Students in 4th and 5th grades will wait in the hallway outside of the Health Suite.  Students who are in Before and After Care will utilize the side door that leads to the Multipurpose Room.  All other students will utilize the front doors to enter the building.

Student Dismissal*

Afternoon announcement will begin at 3:15pm.  Once afternoon announcements have concluded, safety patrols will be dismissed.  At 3:20pm, Whitehall Elementary School will begin the dismissal process.  All students will dismiss through the front doors.  The following order will be used for dismissal:

1. Before and After Care/Private Van Transportation
   1. Before and After Care staff pick up students from classrooms
   2. Private Van Transportation Riders go out the front door and to the designated van pick-up area
2. Bus Riders: Per Order of Bus Arrivals
3. Walkers: Order of Walkers
   1. Kindergarten and 1st Grade
   2. 3rd and 5th Grade
   3. 2nd and 4th Grade
4. Car Riders: Order of Car Riders
   1. Kindergarten and 1st Grade
   2. 2nd and 3rd Grade
   3. 4th and 5th Grade

Important Note: Students in 4th and 5th Grades will exit by the gate located near T-10.

PGCPS buses will first line up in the traffic circle.  Once buses have been released, private vans will begin to fill in the traffic circle.  After vans, cars will begin to fill in the traffic circle.  All cars will be asked to move down to the last available cone.  Staff members will be outside on duty.  Please adhere to the directions given by these staff members.  Once a car has their children, the car will be dismissed.  This process will continue through the end of dismissal.

If there is a late bus or private van, students will wait in the multipurpose room.  A staff member will be assigned to wait with students.  If it is 3:45pm and the late bus has not yet arrived, an administrator will wait with students.

If a student’s car ride has not arrived by the end of dismissal, they will be escorted into the main office where they will call their parents or legal guardians. Students will wait in the main lobby until their ride has arrived. Parents must come into the building, present identification, and sign out your child.

If a student will take a dismissal route that is not part of their regular dismissal, a written note must be brought to the school or an email sent to the teacher and office staff.  This will be given to their child’s teacher, who will notify the main office.  If this includes going on a PGCPS school bus, a copy of the written note will be made and given to the bus driver.  An email request is acceptable.  Whitehall Elementary School will not be able to honor a change in dismissal request that is made over the telephone.

Early Dismissal*

In order for a student to be dismissed early, the following steps must be adhered to:

1. All early dismissals must take place before 3:00pm.  No early dismissals will take place after 3:00pm.
2. The person picking up the student must present a valid photo ID.  If this person does not present a valid photo ID, the student will not be released.
3. One of the main office secretaries will look at the photo ID as well as the Emergency Contact Form.  If a person picking up a student is not on the Emergency Contact Form, a student will not be released to them.  If a parent wishes to authorize someone to pick up their child, they must come up to the school and update their Emergency Contact Form.
4. Once identification has been verified, the person picking up the student will sign them out on the Early Departure Log.  One of the front office secretaries will initial that they have verified the person’s identification.

Afterschool Clubs/Activities/Sports*

If there is an afterschool club or activity, an announcement will be made as part of the afternoon announcements.  Included in this announcement will be the location of where the activity will take place.  Once walkers and car riders have been dismissed, students participating in an authorized afterschool activity should report to the activity location.  Activity sponsors will provide a list of participants to administration to verify who is authorized to stay for afterschool activities.

DISMISSAL PICK-UP

Parents/guardians may park along the side streets and walk up to the front of the school. Teachers will be in designated spots in the front of the building. You will then be able to pick up your child from his/her teacher. Please note that no left turns will be allowed into the school dismissal car line. Once you are in the car line, you should not leave your vehicle at any time. Thanks for your help!