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Arrival and Dismissal

Our top priorities are keeping students safe while being respectful of our neighbors. Please review our procedures below.

☀️ Morning Arrival

General Timeline

  • 8:00–8:15 AM: Drop-off window.

    • Eating breakfast: Go directly to the Cafeteria.

    • Not eating breakfast: Go straight to class.
  • 8:20 AM: School begins.
  • 8:20 AM & Later: An adult must walk with their student to check in at the front door using our kiosk system.

Click here for our Attendance and Absence Procedures.

Walkers

  • Enter exclusively through the front door.
  • Use the crosswalk directly in front of the school whenever possible. 

Carpool

  • Line Setup: Enter the line off Bucher or Kirk (do not join from Inman). Head north on Avery.
  • Unloading: Pull up to the curb on Avery heading north. Drop off directly in front of the school at one of the three designated unloading stations.
  • Process: Staff will assist with opening doors. Students enter through the front door, where monitors guide them to class.
  • Parent Rule: Stay inside your vehicle at all times.

 

Map of arrival



 

🔔 Afternoon Dismissal

General Timeline

  • 2:50 p.m.: Dismissal begins. We call buses and van riders first, followed by car riders, and then walkers and Animal Crackers.
  • 3:00 p.m.: Students who have not yet been picked up are brought to the front office. Parents/guardians must come to the front door to sign them out.

🚶 Walkers

  • Dismissed from the Pavilion behind the school.
  • Teachers line up classes facing the field.
  • Pick-up Requirement: Parents must make direct eye contact with the teacher before leaving with their child.
  • Please vacate the field promptly after pick-up to keep the area clear.

Important Notice for Drivers: If you drive to school, please use the carpool line. This creates unsafe traffic congestion. Our carpool line is fast and efficient! If you need to park and walk up to get your student, please park at least two blocks away from the school.  

🚗 Carpool Pick-Up

  • Line Setup: Begins at the orange cone on Inman Ave (behind the modulars and service driveway). Enter the line from the Shadowmoor-Inman or S. Columbia-Inman areas.
  • Loading: Staff will load students into vehicles at the service driveway on Inman and assist with doors.
Car Rider Afternoon Pick Up map


 

🚌 Bus Riders & Vans

  • Dismissed from the front door as vehicles arrive. Attendance is taken prior to boarding.
  • Bus Questions: Contact Stephanie Clark at sclark@csdecatur.net.
  • Aftercare Vans: If changing dismissal plans, you must update PickUp Patrol and notify your aftercare provider directly.

 

🛑 Carpool & Traffic Reminders

To ensure student safety and neighborhood courtesy, DO NOT:

  • Pass other cars in the carpool lane.
  • Leave your car unattended in the carpool line.
  • Make U-turns on Avery St. or Inman Ave.
  • Turn around in private driveways.
  • Block crosswalks or driveways.
  • Drop off students before 8:00 a.m.
  • Join the morning carpool line from Inman Ave or Avery St.
  • Join the afternoon carpool line from the Avery-Bucher area.

📱 Managing Dismissal Plans (PickUp Patrol)

Winnona Park utilizes PickUp Patrol to safely track and manage all dismissal plans:

  • Set up: Families receive an email at the start of the school year to set up permanent dismissal plans.
  • Cut-Off Time: Same-day plan changes must be submitted in the app by 1:45 p.m. On early release days, same-day plan changes must be submitted in the app by noon.
  • Aftercare: Always notify your external aftercare provider separately if plans change.

🅿️ Neighborhood Parking Restrictions

Neighborhood streets are extremely busy during peak times. To preserve parking for teachers and staff, please park more than two blocks away from the school.

Strictly NO PARKING on:

  • Avery St. (from Bucher Dr. to Winnona Dr.)
  • Bucher Dr.
  • Poplar Circle
  • Inman Dr. (alongside the school field)
Parking Directions