[HathawaySchool] Dismissal

[hathawayschool at lists.howardwhathaway.org]

Dear Parents, 
 
I am writing to you today to ask your cooperation at dismissal time. As you are well aware most of the Portsmouth school children take the school bus to and from school everyday. At Hathaway that means 7-8 busses in the afternoon waiting to pick up children. 
 
This year school ends at 3:20 p.m.; classes finish at 3:15 p.m. 
 
Children who are being picked up by their parents are called to the library for dismissal at 3:18 p.m. to give the parents a bit of a head start in getting to their cars and in leaving the parking lot. The first bus is usually loaded by 3:23 p.m. 
 
The children who ride the busses must be allowed to walk along the sidewalk without having their lines interrupted and to get on the bus immediately. They must be led to the bus safely along the sidewalk. 
 
It is a great concern to me that so many parents are allowing their children to leave the building unattended and to walk/run to the cars through the parking lot or up against the building near the drainage area. We need to have all children stay with their parents, to walk on the sidewalks (not in the parking lot) and to cross the parking lot with their parents. We also need drivers to respect the safety practices of stopping whenever the STOP sign is extended on the left side of the bus. To not stop is against the law, but more importantly, it is a safety precaution for our students. 
 
I appreciate your desire to get all of your children home quickly after school. The dismissal procedures allow us to have all students ready for the busses as soon as they arrive on our lot. Most busses are gone by 3:35 p.m. each day. However,  I must urge those of you who come to school to get your child to be very vigilant and not allow them to leave the building without you, to remain at your side as you walk along the sidewalk, and to only cross the yard to your car with you. 
 
Thank you. 
 
Respectfully, 
 
Christina M.Martin, Ed.D.
Principal
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