Parking/Traffic Handbook for Tatem School Community

*Children are not to be on school grounds before 8:15 AM

**First bell rings at 8:25 AM

***Second bell rings at 8:30 AM.  Students who enter the classroom after 8:30 AM are marked late.

Traffic Flow

• It is illegal to make a left hand turn onto Glover Avenue from Grove Street.
• Rather than making a right hand turn onto Glover Avenue from Grove Street (which is a legal turn), it is STRONGLY requested that all drivers access Tatem School through Evergreen Lane. 

Morning Routines

 AM Drop-off Guidelines for Students in Grades 1-5

• In an effort to improve AM drop-off procedures, especially during inclement weather, a “Drop-off” lane was established that is in effect only during drop-off in the morning. 
• Drivers will enter the drop-off lane near the entrance to the school.  Once a motorist enters this lane, you may not exit. 
• If you would like to take advantage of a staff member assisting your child(ren) out of your vehicle, proceed to the assisted drop-off point (see map).  Drivers are NOT to exit their cars; rather school personnel will be stationed to help assist children.  This will help to ensure the safety of children, while maintaining the flow of drop-off. 
• If your child does not require assistance, a child may exit the vehicle at any time in the drop-off lane.  However, they must exit from the passenger’s side door, and the driver must remain in the vehicle. 
• Drop-off is not permitted in any private lots along Grove Street (i.e. gas station, Remington and Vernick, etc.).
• The drop-off lane works much more safely and efficiently when cars pull up until there is no more room, allowing as many cars as possible to access the drop-off lane. 
• Cars are encouraged to make a right turn onto Grove Street.  At that time of the day, it is difficult to make a left, which backs up cars accessing Grove.

AM Drop-Off Kindergarten Only 

Outside line-up days

• For students arriving before 8:25, Mrs. Borgini will be assigned to supervise the kindergarten students as they exit from the assisted drop-off area or are walked up by a parent.

Inside line-up days

• An educational assistant (Mrs. Williams) will direct the kindergarten students to enter the building at the kindergarten entrance doors. 
• Mrs. Borgini will be posted inside of the doors by the side entrance (kindergarten entrance), supervising their entry.  At 8:25 AM, the students will be escorted to Mrs. Wolfe’s room.  This will bypass kindergarten students from having to walk through the building to the APR.  This will also be in place for children who are being walked up by parents.  Parents are still welcome to wait with their children until it is time to go to the classroom. 

AM Drop-off Guidelines for Students in AM Preschool

• The Preschool Assisted Drop Off System begins at 8:37 and runs through 8:45
• Please pull into the circular drive and wait for school personnel to escort your child inside.
• If the school bus is in the circular drive, pull up to the curb just before  the drive entrance.  Please remain in your car until the assistant arrives to escort your preschooler.  As each car is emptied, we ask that you pull up to the area near the driveway for your child to be helped out.
• If you prefer to unbuckle your child yourself, we ask that you wait until you are the first vehicle in line before you exit your car.  
• Please never allow your preschooler to exit the vehicle on their own and “meet” the assistant at a distance.
• Only those cars in the designated drop off area along the school side of Glover Ave. are considered part of the assisted drop off. 
• No cars are ever to be parked on the school side of Glover Ave.

As we only have one assistant to supervise the entire assisted drop off students, we ask parents who are not using the drop off to remain with their preschoolers until the teachers open the doors at the rear of the building. 

In case of inclement weather, the parents and students may enter the side entrance and wait there for the teachers to collect their students at 8:45.

MORNING INCLEMENT WEATHER ROUTINES

Student Line-Up and Building Entrance

1.  Students in grades 1-5 line up in the APR (signs designate class location)

2.  Students in AM Kindergarten line up in the hallway adjacent to where they line up daily (by location “e” on the map)

3.  All K-5 students have the option of entering the building in one of five locations. (Click here for a diagram)

a)    Main entrance—Ideal for students in grades 1-5.  Students then proceed to the APR.

b)    First Grade entrance—Also ideal for students in grades 1-5. Students then proceed to the APR.

c)     Middle Entrance (brick area in front of JFT logo)—These doors are open during indoor line-ups.  Students then proceed to the APR or to the kindergarten line up in the hallway (bottom level, through the library).

d)    Fifth Grade Entrance 

e)    Kindergarten Entrance—Ideal for kindergarten students.

Vehicle Drop Off

• Please proceed down the drop off lane as far as possible.  Stopping by the driveway backs up traffic.  The middle entrance doors are open so students do not have a far walk, even if dropped off by the bus loop.

• Please anticipate extra heavy traffic during inclement weather days.

Click here for a diagram of the inclement weather entrances

AFTERNOON ROUTINES

PM Kindergarten Assisted Drop-Off Guidelines

Drop-Off for PM Kindergarten

·        Drop-Off begins at 12:05 and runs through 12:15

• Please pull into the circular drive and wait for school personnel to escort your child inside.
• If the school bus is in the circular drive, pull up to the curb just before the drive entrance.  Please remain in your car until the assistant arrives to escort your kindergartner.  As each car is emptied, we ask that you pull up to the area near the driveway for your child to be helped out.
• If you prefer to unbuckle your child yourself, we ask that you wait until you are the first vehicle in line before you exit your car.  
• Please never allow your kindergartener to exit the vehicle on their own and “meet” the assistant at a distance.
• Only those cars in the designated drop off area along the school side of Glover Ave. are considered part of the assisted drop off. 
• No cars are ever to be parked on the school side of Glover Ave.

PM Preschool Assisted Drop-off Guidelines

• Drop off begins at 12:37 and runs through 12:45.
• Please pull into the circular drive and wait for school personnel to escort your child inside.
• If the school bus is in the circular drive, pull up to the curb just before the drive entrance.  Please remain in your car until the assistant arrives to escort your preschooler.  As each car is emptied, we ask that you pull up to the area near the driveway for your child to be helped out.
• If you prefer to unbuckle your child yourself, we ask that you wait until you are the first vehicle in line before you exit your car.  
• Please never allow your preschooler to exit the vehicle on their own and “meet” the assistant at a distance.
• Only those cars in the designated drop off area along the school side of Glover Ave. are considered part of the assisted drop off. 
• No cars are ever to be parked on the school side of Glover Ave.

As we only have one assistant to supervise the entire assisted drop off students, we ask parents who are not using the drop off to remain with their preschoolers until the teachers arrive at 12:45.  All parents and preschoolers can gather in the playground area until the upper grades enter the building after recess. Miss Jen’s class can then wait outside the side entrance for her to arrive.  Miss Kim and Miss Sherri will meet their classes at the rear doors near the playground.

In case of inclement weather, parents and preschoolers can wait inside the side doors until their teacher arrives.

PM Pick-Up Guidelines

• The “Drop-Off” lane is not in effect during this time.  Drivers are to obey local traffic laws.

Parking Guidelines

• Parking is NOT permitted on Glover Avenue on either side of the street.
• Stopping is permitted only on the school side of Glover Avenue.  “Stopping” becomes “Parking” once the driver exits the vehicle.
• Parking is not permitted on any private business lots along Grove Street.

Other

• Please ensure that children enter/exit the vehicle away from oncoming traffic.
• There is no reserved parking for Faculty or Staff; therefore, any open spots in our parking lot can be used by parents and/or visitors. 
• Parking and/or stopping is not permitted where safety cones have been placed.
• If you must enter the school building in the morning, we suggest that you arrive at school before 8:15 AM.  Hopefully, this will ensure your likelihood of finding a parking space.