Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

MORNING ARRIVAL PROCEDURES:

Please note there will be no driving and parking in the south lot and walking students in the school. We are only using the south parking lot for drop off and pick up.

• First Bell – 8:50 AM:
  Students may enter the building. Wixom staff will open the doors at this time.

• Second Bell – 8:55 AM:
  Students should be in their classrooms or getting breakfast. The front doors will close and lock after this bell.
  After 8:55 AM, parents and guardians must escort students to the front vestibule and sign them in using the Chromebook.
  Students not in their classrooms by 9:00 AM will be marked tardy.

• Breakfast service ends at 9:15 AM.

END OF DAY DISMISSAL:

• 3:45 PM – Wolf Pup Pick-Up begins

• 3:55 PM – Walkers and Prime Time Care dismissal

• 4:00–4:07 PM – Bus riders dismissed

Students fall into one of the three categories for their transportation needs:

- Bus Rider

- Wolf Pup pick up-Cars only

- Walker

Below, please find information regarding all three categories.

On behalf of the entire Wixom staff, we appreciate and thank you for adhering to our school procedures. Together we can create a safe and optimal learning environment at Wixom Elementary School.

• Wolf Pup Car drop-off should begin no earlier than 8:50 a.m.

• DO NOT drop your child off early. Before school congregation is not permitted and supervision will not be available.

• Pull forward as far as possible along the curb and wait for a staff member or student safety to direct you to unload.

• Cars are not permitted to pass other cars in the drop-off line. This is critical to ensure safety for all students!
  

• Children must exit their car on the passenger side unassisted. They must be able to unbuckle their seat belt/car booster and open and close the passenger door independently. This may mean that you need to disable child safety locks.

• Staff will monitor the drop-off line and there will be staff to help your child (both outside the building and in the halls as they find their classroom).

In an effort to keep the students safe and keep traffic moving, we ask that if you are driving your child to school, you utilize the drop-off loop rather than walking your child to the front door.

Wolf Pup Pick-Up is a dismissal system that allows parents to pick up their children without coming into the building to sign out. This plan is for parents who will be picking up their children daily. It is also for parents who pick up their children on a regular basis such as every Monday for after school classes.

• All families that will use this service should indicate this on this form.

• All students will be assigned an Wolf Pup Pick Up card with a number written on it. The Wolf Pup Pick Up card MUST be in the passenger window at pick-up for their student to be released.

• If the designated person for the Wolf Pup Pick- Up forgets the name card, and you have nothing in the automobile to write on to create one, do not enter the line. You must park and walk to the office to sign your child out.

• If your Wolf Pup Pick- Up card is lost, e-mail your student’s teacher. They will forward your request to the office, and another card will be made and sent with your student.

• Enter the North parking lot and pull up to the curb. Make sure your sign is clearly visible to the staff member on duty. The staff member will alert the classroom that you have arrived for pick-up.
  
• Your student will be dismissed and under the direction of a staff member, your child will be permitted to enter your vehicle on the passenger side. Do not get out of your vehicle to assist. We will have staff members and student safeties on site who are able to assist if needed.
• If your child needs to be buckled in a car seat, please pull forward and park into a spot to buckle your child. Staff will not be buckling any students.
• While waiting in line, please adhere to kind, considerate, and safe driving procedures. Make sure that your vehicle is not blocking driveways while waiting on Theodore street. Pull as far forward as possible and keep moving forward with the traffic.

• Note that Theodore is a dead-end street with a narrow road. The line can be lengthy and it is important that you follow the guidance of staff, exercise patience, and be cognizant of our neighbors (Important: Do not block driveways as you wait).

***Because our parking lot is small, we strongly encourage you to take the bus, if you are eligible to do so.

Students that ride the bus will follow the process listed below:

Bus Riders in the morning - Students riding the bus will be dropped off in the bus loop and allowed off the bus just before the first bell.

Bus Riders in the afternoon - Students will be called over the PA to let them know when to exit the building. Staff will assist all students.

LATE BUS HOTLINE: 248-956-5199

All late buses will be listed on the hotline if the driver is running TEN OR MORE minutes late.

***In the event of an emergency or accident, parents will be notified by a Skylert email or personal phone call.

Students who are walkers will follow the process listed below:

• Arrival - students wait outside for the first bell to ring. Do not arrive before 8:50 am, as we do not have supervision outside. Students should enter through the front entrance doors.
• Dismissal - Walkers will be released out the Prime Time gates where staff is present.
• Families - Do not enter the building - no one should be in the vestibule or hallways without prior approval.

If you have to deviate from your regular end-of-the-day routine, you must inform the classroom teacher and office staff of this change at the start of the school day via email Tamara Baker at TamaraOglesby-Baker@wlcsd.org and Michele Abele at MicheleAbele@wlcsd.org Be sure to include the following details in your note:

1. Date

2. Your child(ren)’s name

3. Details of the change in plan (For example, “they are not to ride the bus, I will use car rider to pick them up today.” Or, “we have a dentist appointment at 3:30 pm and I will need to pick them up in the office at 3:15 pm).

*If a last minute change to a student’s after-school transportation plan needs to occur, this change needs to be communicated via a phone call to the main office (248-956-3400). While we understand that there may be last-minute changes beyond your control, we may not be able to honor your request if it is not received in time.

Taking a student early from school interrupts the classroom and impacts their progress. Avoid picking up students earlier than dismissal time. When early pick-up is necessary, the student must leave before 3:15 p.m. You must inform the office and your child’s teacher beforehand that an early release will occur. The student will be called to the office once a guardian has signed them out ion the Chromebook in the vestibule. Students will not be called to the office before they are signed out to ensure they miss as little instruction as possible. The end of the day is hectic in our classrooms and office. So confusion and miscommunication do not occur, students will not be called to the office for early pick-up after 3:15 p.m.

The staff at Wixom Elementary are firmly committed to student safety and we regularly review our procedures and practices. It is critical to adhere to the following reminders:

• Families are not allowed to wait in the vestibule or hallways - it impedes our process causing too much congestion and safety concerns.
• If you are driving your student to school in the morning, you need to use our drop-off & pickup loop. Do NOT use the front loop. This is reserved for busses only!
• Pull as far forward as possible to keep the traffic flow moving. Never allow your student to exit on the driver’s side; they will be in the path of parking lot traffic.
  
• Do not pass cars in the loop. Safety first!
• Students should be ready with their belongings to exit the vehicle and should exit from the passenger side only.
  
• Arrive on time to avoid truancy.
• Early dismissal is when you take your student out of school before 3:58pm. This will result in an early dismissal and documented in your student's attendance records.

In addition to safety, and an orderly arrival and dismissal process, one of our other priorities as educators is to foster independence in our students. We want them to develop confidence in their ability to navigate on their own. Staff will be visible and readily available to assist students. It is going to be a wonderful school year. Thank you for your partnership!