Poinsettia Parking Lot Etiquette

Dear Poinsettia Families,

Keeping child safety as a top priority, I am sending this reminder about parking lot etiquette that was developed by concerned Poinsettia parents. Please review it. If we follow these simple steps we can create a less hectic drop-off/pick-up experience and ensure that all are safe.

Mr. Wade Poinsettia Parking Lot Etiquette Be Kind . Be Courteous . Be Sensible . Be Safe

A couple points of interest (from Mr. Wade):  Between 7:30 and 8:00, 2:00 and 3:00, and 12:00-12:30 (Fri only) the small parking lot near the school office and the bus circle are only to be used for drop-off/pick-up by buses, day care vans, and vehicles with handicap placards (small parking lot only).  Even when there is a line of cars on Victoria in the morning, getting all the way through the drop-off area and back to Victoria takes no more than 5 minutes. I have timed approximately 10-12 random cars over the past month; each has taken 4-5 minutes. Please follow the correct drop-off/pick-up procedures.  The busiest time in the big parking lot is 7:55. Please consider coming at 7:45 when traffic is much lighter.  Please do not park in the Principal or Secretary spots, even when it appears that they are not on campus. The Principal spot is given to the VIP staff member each week, and the office staff needs to be able to come and go, often several times a day, and find convenient parking. Thank you.  Please walk to school or use the school bus if you can.

NO PHONE ZONE

* Please do not use your cell phone while driving in the parking lot to drop off or pick up your children. In the parking lot, it is dangerous and distracting. Make it a no phone zone!

SIDEWALK AT THE ENTRANCE/EXIT OF THE MAIN PARKING LOT

* Please be cautious crossing the driveway of the main parking lot. It is preferred that you use the designated sidewalk around the main parking lot if you are walking up the ramp from Madera or if you are walking up Victoria. There have been too many near misses with pedestrians and cars entering and exiting the parking lot.

PULL FORWARD TO END OF YELLOW CURB

* When dropping off or picking up in the parking lot, please pull forward all the way to the end of the yellow painted curb. Everyone should follow closely behind. When a car in front of you moves forward or leaves, please pull forward. It is important that we remember there are cars out on Victoria waiting to get into the parking lot.

* Do not park your car at the yellow curb and leave. If you must park, please find an available space or park in the neighborhood near Loma Vista and Madera. You may also park in the church parking lot across Victoria and use the crosswalk at Foothill Rd. during non-business hours of the church.

* Do not park in front of the portable classrooms to drop off or pick up your child(ren). You must pull forward all the way to the end of the yellow painted curb. It causes congestion at the turn and cars cannot pull forward, leaving cars out on Victoria. We all want our child(ren) to get to their classrooms safely. Younger children getting dropped off at the yellow curb have to walk farther to their classrooms than the children in the portables. It seems convenient, but not safe, so please pull forward.

* Please do not drop students off in the middle of the parking lot. It is not safe, and it inhibits the flow of traffic. PARKING

* If you park in the neighborhood across Victoria, please do not run across Victoria with your child(ren). It is not worth the risk. Take an extra minute or two to use the crosswalks at Victoria and Foothill or Victoria and Loma Vista. You’ll be glad you did; it’s safe!

* Do not pull up and park in front of the school or drop off/pick up in red zones and driveways. It is not safe! Cars speed by on Victoria and you run the risk of getting hit. You also block the school buses from getting into the bus zone to drop the children off, as well as blocking cars from exiting the main parking lot. Also, it illegal!

* Do not drop off/pick up or park in the bus zone. It is for school buses only. The school buses, carrying several children, need to get into the bus zone safely. We have several more buses this year arriving at various times.

EXITING THE PARKING LOT

 Pull all the way forward before merging and exiting the parking lot. Please alternate one car at a time to help the traffic move. It is the right thing to do.

 When exiting the main parking lot, please notice the sign “Right Turn Only”. There have been some near misses due to cars making an illegal left, and these left turns delay traffic. Please turn right!

KINDERGARTEN (K) and TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN (TK) PICK UP AND DROP OFF

* K students are dropped off and meet their teacher at the big parking lot. Please pull all the way forward and do not leave your car. If K students ride the bus, they will meet a teacher by the flagpole.

* K students walking onto campus can meet teachers at either location.

* K and TK students are picked up after school in the big parking lot where they wait with a teacher. If K/TK students ride the bus or go on a day care van, they are walked to those by a staff member.

* TK students meet their teacher at the flagpole at 10:45 (M-Th). On Fridays, TK students can be dropped off with any K/TK teacher. The TK teacher will again be by the bus circle/flagpole.

Safety should be our main priority. Please arrive to school earlier so you do not have to rush. Please do not speed through the parking lot or near the school. If we follow these simple steps, and are courteous, it will help in the ultimate goal of getting our child(ren) to school in a safe and timely manner.

THANK YOU TO THE PARENT GROUP WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND HELPED DEVELOP THESE VALUABLE REMINDERS.