As you can imagine, receiving and dismissing 550 students can be challenging! Thank you for reading our arrival and dismissal procedures and partnering with us to make sure each student arrives at school and goes home safely!

Arrival: 
Students arriving between 7:20 and 7:35 a.m. should walk down the instructional hallways to their classroom doors where faculty members will supervise students. Any student arriving before 7:20 am should be checked in to KIDZU by a parent. The tardy bell rings at 7:40 a.m., and students should be in class ready to begin their day.  Any student arriving after 7:40 a.m. will need to use the main entrance off the Hughes Parking lot side to be “buzzed” in. 

We respectfully request that parents help instill an “independent start” in their child.  Please encourage your child to walk independently into the building. We invite parents to walk students to class the first three days of school. After the first three days of school, we ask that parents allow their kids to walk to class independently. Staff members are stationed throughout the building at 7:20 a.m. each morning to assist students.  We will have extra staff available the first few days of school to assist students with locating their classroom. We have found that when students walk to class independently, they experience less separation anxiety and have a better start to their day. 

Dismissal:  
All students will be escorted to their dismissal locations by a staff member. Please do not arrange to meet your child in the foyer, work room or library after school. Students have designated pick up areas depending on their mode of transportation home. EDP and bus riders will be escorted to the cafeteria. Car riders and walkers have set locations outside the building that their teachers will escort them to, as well.  Friendly reminders: dogs are not allowed on campus grounds for student safety; the small playground is reserved for EDP until 6:30pm Monday through Friday.

Walkers:
Walkers will meet their siblings, neighbors and/or walking parents and quickly proceed to the crosswalk nearest their homes. Walker Station areas should be cleared out within minutes of dismissal

• PreK-1st grade students who walk will be dismissed through the front foyer doors.

• 2nd-5th grade students will be exited through the back foyer doors.

Car Rider: 
PreK-1st  grade car riders will be dismissed from the Hall Johnson circle drive.  2nd-5th grade older siblings will meet their younger siblings in the circle drive.  All other 2rd- 5th grade car riders will be dismissed from the Hughes Parking lot side.  Please display car signs from the back of the passenger visor or hang from your rearview mirror.  This will help the line move quickly and efficiently.  Students will not be released to the parking lot areas.

Bike/Scooter Rider: 
PreK-5th grade bike/scooter riders will dismiss from the racks in the back of the building.  We encourage students to lock bikes/scooters at the racks upon arrival.  GES will not be responsible for damaged or stolen property.  Students must walk their bikes/scooters while on school property.

EDP and Daycare: 
Students attending Extended Day Program (formally KidzU) after school will be checked in at the cafeteria at dismissal. PreK-5th grade students riding a daycare bus will be dismissed from the cafeteria to their bus in the Hall Johnson circle drive.

Siblings: 
2rd – 5th grade students with younger siblings in PreK – 1st grade will meet their younger siblings at the K-1st grade Walker Station or in the Hall Johnson car rider line.  

Inclement Weather Dismissal: 
Please note that severe weather, including lightning, could delay dismissal to ensure student, parent and staff safety.  We appreciate your patience on adjusted dismissal days. If you wish to pick up your walker in a car on rainy days, please call the front office to notify your child’s teacher prior to 2:30pm or email your child’s teacher prior to 1:30pm.

Walkers:
All walkers will be dismissed to their usual walker locations even on rainy days.

• PreK-1st grade students who walk will be dismissed through the front foyer doors.

• 2nd-5th grade students will be exited through the back foyer doors.

Car Riders:
All car riders will be held inside the building on rainy days and proceed their usual car loops as names are called. If your child is a car rider, please DO NOT walk up to the building and attempt to pick up your child on rainy days, as this slows down the dismissal process. If you plan to park and walk up to get your child, you will need to call ahead of time and make arrangements for your child to be dismissed with the walkers.