Arrival and Dismissal

Sousa Elementary School Arrival and Dismissal Plan

(Due to individual bus schedules, the actual time of arrival and departure may vary)

 

Most Sousa students will arrive to school by bus. They will unload in the front circle. This area is closed to parent vehicles between 8:10 and 8:45 A.M., as well as from 2:50 to 3:15 P.M. Children may arrive at school anytime between 8:15 A.M. and 8:45 A.M., and they will be supervised by paraprofessionals on the rear playground. Any student who wishes to purchase breakfast may do so at this time in the cafeteria.

 

Arrival Time: Between 8:15 am and 8:45 am 

Academic Day: Begins promptly at 8:45 am

Dismissal Time: Begins at 2:50 pm

 

Arrival (Drop-off)-

  • Location: Parking lot adjacent to the playground
  • Time: 8:15 am – 8:45 am
  • Process:
    • Enter the parking lot from Sands Point Road.
    • There are TWO lanes that can be used when arriving at the playground parking lot. The student drop off lane is the lane to the right closest to the curb. 
    • Pull as far up into this lane as possible upon arrival
    • Completely stop your vehicle
    • Allow the student(s) to exit the car independently on the passenger side onto the sidewalk
    • The student(s) will then have the choice to either play outside or purchase breakfast
    • Once your child is safely out of the vehicle, merge carefully into the middle lane which is used for parking and turning around farther down.
    • In inclement weather, your children will go indoors to pre-assigned spaces until class begins at 8:45 am.
    • Paraprofessionals will be present at the playground, cafeteria and pre-assigned spaces to help support the student(s)

 

  • Please do not drop children off in the lane for parking and turning around.
  • Please do not exit the car in the drop off area in order to help your children out of the vehicle or to walk them to the door.
  • If you feel you need to help your child to the entrance for any reason, please park in an allocated parking space past the building and drop off zone and walk them to the fence entrance. 

 

Arrival (Bus)-

  • Students will arrive beginning at approximately 8:25 am.
  • Students will exit the bus, enter the main lobby and have the choice to play outside or eat breakfast.
  • In inclement weather, your children will go to pre-assigned large spaces until class begins at 8:45 am.
  • Paraprofessionals will be present to help support the student(s)

 

Dismissal

IMPORTANT-
  • Complete the Sousa Dismissal Form (emailed) and return it to the Main Office via email at [email protected]
  • The drop off lane MUST remain clear during pick up. Vehicles should not be parked in that designated area at any time.

 

(Pick-Up)

  • The dismissal pick-up process will begin at 2:50 pm
  • All students who are being picked up by car will report to the gymnasium to wait for their parent's arrival. 
  • Parents must park their vehicle and walk to the playground doors to sign out their children at the dismissal table in the presence of one of the school employees. 
  • You may only sign out your own children or those of other parents who have given written permission to do so.
  • Once your child has been signed out, a paraprofessional will call for your child to be dismissed to you. 

 

(Bus)

  • Students will begin the bus dismissal process at 2:55 pm.
  • When their bus is called by the main office, students will walk from their classroom to their bus.
  • There will be paraprofessionals and teachers present to support the students.
  • Students will enter the bus and follow the directions of the driver .

Early Pick-Up by Parent

  • If you need to pick up your child up from school prior to our regular dismissal time, an email must be sent no later than 11:00 am to [email protected]
  • In the event of an emergency after 11:00 am, a call must be placed to the Main Office at 516-767-5352.
  • Dismissals occurring after 2:30 P.M must follow the regular dismissal procedure.

 

To pick your child up early, report to the Main Entrance of the school building. You will be required to scan your license or identification and sign your child out of school indicating the reason for early pick up. If you are sending someone in your place, it is required that you provide a note indicating your approval for this individual to act on your behalf.

 

During the winter months there is always the threat of snow and ice and the resulting harsh conditions that can make getting to and from school hazardous for both students and teachers.

 

The district website will post school closing by 6:00 A.M. and an Edlio Broadcast message will be delivered via email to all Sousa families from the office of the Superintendent.

 

The district also activates an Edlio Broadcast message by phone to all homes when school is closed.

 

In order to avoid losing an entire day of school when the weather is inclement, the Superintendent may call for a Delayed Opening.

 

A delayed opening means that bus schedules will also be delayed one or two hours. For example, if the bus pick-up time is normally 8:15 A.M., a one-hour delay will change that time to 9:15A.M., and a two-hour delay will change that time to 10:15 A.M. Similarly, school begins at 9:45 A.M. for a one-hour delay and 10:45 A.M. for a two-hour delay.

 

When there is a delayed opening, all programs scheduled prior to the regular opening of school will be canceled, e.g. breakfast program, morning meetings. A delayed school opening decision can be changed to a full-day closing decision if it is judged that the weather and road conditions will still be too hazardous despite the planned delay.

 

There are occasionally weather scenarios where conditions worsen during the day while children are already in attendance at school. Should the Superintendent of Schools deem necessary under such conditions, an early dismissal will be called. This means that school will end earlier than the regular time, and student departures, by bus and by parent pick up, will be moved to earlier in the day. Notice for an early dismissal is done by an Edlio Broadcast messaging and is, by nature, rather last minute.

 

It is therefore imperative that each family have a plan in place for such instances, including having an adult home when the bus arrives (earlier than usual), or the ability for a parent or an emergency contact person to pick up students at Sousa (again, earlier than usual). In the pick-up location (the cafeteria), children will be released only to parents/legal guardians, or those who have written permission from the parent or guardian. Please make sure to have several options in place and to keep your emergency contacts (kept in the main office) up to date.