Clinton Primary Weekly 9/11

Dear Clinton Primary Families,

Our students have been settling wonderfully into the routines and structures of our primary building! I have been so impressed by how well they are doing during arrival and dismissal, at lunch, transitioning to specials, and working hard in their classrooms.

As a school, we recognize the value each individual student brings through their own unique culture, traditions, and language. Please take a moment to complete the following questionnaire so we can ensure all students are represented in our classroom and school activities, instruction, and celebrations. Thank you!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchaHvhnE4GWOobig1G1NljjW4WnmZEp-jzY_5D4M_wPNTpMg/viewform?usp=dialog

⏰ Important Reminder: School Hours

To help keep our school day running smoothly, please keep these official hours in mind:

Doors Open: 8:45 AM
Tardy Bell: Students are marked tardy beginning at 9:05 AM
Official End of School Day: 3:15 PM (start of bus dismissal)
Parent Pick-Up Line: 3:00 PM (We begin early to move cars efficiently before bus dismissal starts at 3:15 PM, preventing traffic buildup on Clinton Street and delays for our buses.)

🚗 Traffic, Parking Lot, & Safety Reminders

Our parking lot is small and must accommodate 23 buses arriving every morning and afternoon. We want to make this process go as safely and efficiently as possible in order to get students into the building on time in the morning and buses out of the lot on time in the afternoon. Please assist us at the start and end of the day to minimize car and bus traffic on Clinton Street.

Crucial Traffic Pattern:

🚫 NO LEFT TURNS INTO THE LOT: To keep traffic flowing safely and prevent severe backups, left turns into the school parking lot are strictly prohibited during arrival and dismissal hours. Please plan your route to approach the school so you are making a right-hand turn into the entrance. At dismissal, families are queued up in a single line along the shoulder; if you make a left turn in, you are cutting the line in front of those waiting patiently on the side of the road.
🛣️ PULL ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER: When waiting on Clinton Street before entering the lot, all cars must pull over onto the right shoulder of the road. Please do not block active traffic lanes while queued up.

Key Safety Reminders:

🚘 Stay in Your Vehicle at Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Please remain in your car while in the drop-off and pick-up line. Staff members are on hand to help students safely enter and exit vehicles.
📍 Use the Designated Drop-Off Zone: Only allow your child to exit or enter the vehicle when you are fully stopped in the designated loading area—never double-park or drop off in active drive lanes.
🛑 Drive Slowly & Avoid Distractions: Keep speeds low, watch for pedestrians at crosswalks, and stay off mobile phones while in the school zone.
🦺 Follow Staff Directives: Our duty staff and traffic monitors are there to direct the flow of cars and keep kids safe. Please follow their signals at all times.
# Student Tags: Every child has a tag attached to their backpack which has their bus and/or pick up number. Please take a few moments to practice these numbers with your child at home, so they can say and recognize their number(s).

We truly appreciate your partnership and cooperation in keeping our school community safe!

🌟 Skill of the Week: Listening

This week, we are focusing on Listening!

Tips for Parents to Share with Children at Home: Practice at home what it looks like to be a good listener:

Look at the person who is talking.
Think about what is being said.
Say yes or nod your head to show you understand.

🏈 Early Dismissal Notice: Thursday, September 17

Due to the anticipated increase in traffic throughout the Southtowns related to the Buffalo Bills’ home opener at Highmark Stadium on Thursday, September 17, we will dismiss students one hour earlier than regularly scheduled.