Canyon Ridge Middle School

April 8, 2025

Dear Canyon Ridge Middle School Students, Parents, and Community,

I am writing to request your help regarding an increasing safety concern at CRMS. With the arrival of warmer weather, we are experiencing a rise in walkers, as well as various types of bikers and scooter riders. Unfortunately, this has led to several safety issues that we must address for the well-being of our students, staff, and community.

Examples of the Most Recent Safety Concerns Witnessed by Staff:

Bikes and scooters cutting across the main entrance of CRMS, not at crosswalks, nearly colliding with cars in the drop-off line.
Bus videos from transportation show bikes going on and off sidewalks, cutting off school buses.
Improper parking of bikes and scooters, blocking fire escape routes and exit doors.
Bikes speeding and doing wheelies on sidewalks frequently between pedestrians and across the parking lot.
Riding on campus tracks and fields, causing damage to our facilities.
Walkers and riders crossing Country Trails between cars without using crosswalks, putting themselves at risk.
Unsafe practices such as multiple riders on bikes or scooters without helmets.

As parents and educators, we understand that middle school students' brains are still developing and even good kids make impulsive decisions, especially when influenced or in a group of peers. No matter how he or she gets to school, I encourage you to talk to your child about safety. It is crucial that we all work together to ensure the safety of everyone arriving at and departing from CRMS.

I frequently receive reports about the choices students are making on bikes (e-bikes, dirt bikes, electric scooters, etc.), the damage caused by them, and the danger often posed to students and others when safety rules are not followed. While we cannot enforce HOA rules, please be aware of the regulations and talk with your child about following the laws of the bikes. We want to be a partner with our community and HOAs. We encourage you to remind your children to adhere to safety regulations to keep them and everyone safe and out of trouble.

Reminders of Safety & School Rules:

Always use the crosswalks.
Walk bikes and scooters across the crosswalks and on school property (this includes sidewalks on campus).
Park all bikes and scooters at designated bike racks, ensuring they do not block doors or emergency exit areas.

Students are encouraged to secure their property with a lock. The school cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen bikes or scooters.
Please note: There is no covered parking that is not in an emergency egress, and electronic scooters or bikes cannot be plugged into any campus outlets.

No bikes, scooters, skateboards, bicycles, or anything with wheels of any kind are allowed on the track or any campus fields at any time.
If a student rides a bike or scooter of any kind to school on the street, they must obey the traffic rules.***
Students must follow the guidance and directions of staff, safety patrols, and crossing guards to ensure their safety. Driving and parking a vehicle, bike, scooter, etc. on campus is a privilege afforded to students. With this privilege comes the responsibility to abide by certain rules and regulations. Students may lose the privilege to drive and park on all school property if the rules and regulations are not observed.

***Since middle school students are not typically of driving age, they often have not learned the rules of driving. In an effort to support parents and students in educating them on safety rules, our PTA is graciously hosting a discussion with campus administration regarding this critical issue at our next PTA meeting on Wednesday, May 7th, at 11 a.m. We will have the PTA meeting as a Zoom Webinar (Passcode: CRMSPTA) and record it for those unable to attend live. It is a priority for both CRMS staff and the PTA to take a proactive approach working with our parents and students to help our students and community.

We appreciate your cooperation and support in reminding our students about these safety measures. Together, we can create a safer environment for everyone in our community. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Best regards,
Wendy Sturdevant
Principal
Canyon Ridge MS