Arrival & Dismissal Safety

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Mills Elementary is serious about safety

 

Traffic congestion and pedestrian safety are a top concern at arrival and dismissal times. We have taken input from staff, families, and the community and implemented designated pick-up and drop-off zones to help direct traffic flow and maximize safety.


Arrival

For new parents, pick-up and drop-off time can be daunting. Please visit the Campus Safety Committee page to view the best way to get to Mills in the morning. To avoid being counted tardy, please have your Mountain Lion in the classroom by 7:40AM. The first thing you have to decide is whether your child will be a car rider or a walker. This decision will help guide you to the right information.

 

Morning Car Ride Drop-Off

You can drop off your Mountain Lion by car in two different spots - the front near the flagpole and the side (bus lane). In the front and side entrances, doors open at 7:15AM. Your child will be ushered into the cafeteria to await the morning trek to class. In the cafeteria, Mountain Lions are organized by grade level and then released to class by grade starting at 7:30AM.

The back doors are for walkers only and open at 7:30AM for students. Please do not park in the staff parking lot. Parents can drop kids off at the side bus lane, but again, the doors will not open until 7:15AM. 

 

Morning Walker Drop-Off

For First Grade walkers, the students can enter through the side door near the first grade hall. You will usually see a large group of parents waiting near the bike rack in the morning and saying goodbye to their kids at 7:30AM when the doors open. 

For Second Grade walkers, the students can enter through the Portable Gate. Again, you will usually see a large group of parents waiting there in the morning and saying goodbye to their kids at 7:30AM when the gates open. 

For all other walkers, come in the front or side doors starting at 7:15AM. The back doors are available for walkers but are opened at 7:30AM for students. All doors except the front doors will close right before the tardy bell at 7:40AM. After that time, students must go in the front entrance. 


Dismissal

School dismissal poses unique safety challenges that Mills has addressed to protect our students, staff, and families.If you plan to walk and meet your child, have a meet up spot where you can greet your child at the end of the day. Bunching up at the front door is never safe.

At the Meet the Teacher event, parents will be given an official dismissal number for their student. Keep that safe if you plan to pick up your kid by car. 

 

The official end of the school day is 3:10PM, but...

Pre-K dismissal is at 2:50/2:55PM and Kindergarten dismissal is at 3:00PM. Both are at the blacktop at the back of the school. There is no parking available in the staff parking lot so you please park on the side and walk. Please wait at the perimeter of the blacktop and hold your family's dismissal number. The teacher will then send your child over to you. If your child has an older sibling, please let both teachers know to send your older Mountain Lion to meet you at the blacktop.

For first through fifth grade, your Mountain Lion will walk out of Mills at 3:10PM, except...

They will come out earlier if you are in the car rider line and have your car number. The car rider line will extend from the flagpole area at the front of the school to Lantana and beyond. Please have your student dismissal number in the passenger window of your car. A staff member will come by and text to have your student sent to you. The earlier you get there, unless your student likes to dawdle like mine does, the earlier your child will hop in your car and tell you about their wonderful day at Mills. 

Second grade and fifth grade walkers will exit through the Portable Gates. Please do not bunch up at the portable gates for security purposes. Pick a spot together with your student and have them meet you there. 

For a visual perspective, please see the image below. 

Mills Map

Rainy Day Dismissal

The administration closely monitors all weather. Out of an abundance of caution, some days Mills may enact a rainy-day dismissal to get students home safely and efficiently. Here are the rules:

  • Parents/caregivers should email teachers no later than 2pm if they are changing their child’s mode of dismissal.

  • Siblings of Pre-K & Kindergarten students will dismiss together and exit out the back door leading to the blacktop. 

  • 2nd Grade Parents who walk home with their children can go directly to the portables to pick up their child. Gates will be open by 2:50pm.

  • Do not crowd the front entrance area or area near the back blacktop doors. Please clear a space so that school staff can help assist students to parents/cars. 

  • If you do not notify school staff for your child who is a walker, the student will be dismissed at normal time. 

Dismissing hundreds of students on a bad weather day means that you should expect possible delays. Thank you in advance for exercising patience. ♡