Ridgeway RAP August 18, 2023

First Day Arrival Plan

Welcome back to another amazing year at Ridgeway! It was wonderful meeting so many of you and your kiddos last night at Ice Cream Social. Seeing how happy students and families were to be back at school was inspiring. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of such a committed, supportive and fun school community. Ridgeway truly is a special place. We can't wait to welcome our students back next Tuesday!

We are bringing back an old ‘first day of school’ tradition. On Tuesday, August 23rd (first day of school), please feel free to park and walk your child to the playground when you arrive. Please do NOT park on Sexton, as buses travel that road and we do not want to cause additional congestion. You can park on Grand, Mary, Woodlawn, the community center parking lot or any other street aside from Sexton.

Students and families can play and socialize until the bell rings at 7:40. At that time, students will sit down in their unit line. There will be signs noting where each unit should sit. We will come together for a quick welcome message, then each teacher will call out the students in their class and they will join their line. Unit A will dismiss first, then Unit C, and lastly Unit B. When your child’s name is called please say your goodbyes and exit the playground. If you have multiple children, of course you are welcome to stay until all of your children have been called to line up.

Teachers will be getting their classes lined up and inside quickly so that students can get settled in class and start their day. Thank you in advance for your assistance in getting our day started enthusiastically and efficiently. We are excited to start the year as a whole school family!

Just a reminder that no student should arrive on the playground or be dropped off before 7:20, as there is no staff supervision until that time.

Please continue reading for more information that will help you prepare for the first days of school!

Taryn Brinlee

Principal

Every day, we welcome 230 Ridgeway students to school and safely transfer students to Benton and Locust elementary schools with our bus transfer system. We need every family to help us make this go smoothly. There are two important parts of morning drop off when parents bring their children to school at Ridgeway:

1. Pull all the way forward.

2. Drop and go.

Read on for more detail:

• Students may arrive at school at 7:20. Please do not leave your child before that time. You might see Unit C students arriving for Safety Patrol responsibilities, but other students should not arrive early.

• All students should be dropped off in the morning along the front of the school on Sexton Road.

• Students need to be ready to get out of the car, and parents should remain in the car. This helps our line keep moving.

• Parents and buses should pull all the way forward. The front sidewalk can become congested very quickly. Please, please pull all the way forward!

• Families that need additional unloading time should pull out and turn right onto Grand Avenue. You can also circle the block and try again if you are having a slow morning.

• Please do not park across the street and cross Sexton at the crosswalk. It slows the flow of traffic.

• Develop routines with your child that you want to continue. Parting for children and parents at school in the morning should be quick. A quick wave and ‘see you tonight’ gets us all going in the morning. No need for long, elaborate rituals.

A few more important notes:

• Breakfast will be served until 7:40. Breakfast will not be available after this time. The kitchen will be cleaned up and lunch preparation begins right after breakfast ends.

• We do not accept deliveries for students. Please do not have anything delivered to school for your child.

Parent Pickup

If picking your child up in the afternoon, you will park and walk to the playground where a staff member will ask to see your orange parent pick up card. Please be aware that if you do not have your orange card we will ask you to stand by the fence while we confirm pick up authorization with the office. This is our procedure even if the staff member recognizes you. The staff member will communicate your child's name and they will be sent out to the playgroup to meet you. Please do NOT park on Sexton, as buses travel that road and we do not want to cause additional congestion. You can park on Grand, Mary, Woodlawn, the community center parking lot or any other street aside from Sexton.