Drop Off and Pick-Up Procedures for the 2021/22 School Year (FAQ)
Due to construction, student drop off and pick up at the start and end of the school day may be a little bit more challenging this year. Our Leadership Team, Construction Team, and the Winooski Police Department have all worked together to come up with the safest and most efficient way to get our students in and out of the building.
Officer Jason Ziter, the district School Resource Officer, will be managing the traffic in the morning and afternoon. WSD staff will be available during the entire process to make sure students get to their classrooms in the morning, and get on their way home safely in the afternoon. We ask for your patience and flexibility as we get this new, exciting school year off to a great start!
What time should my student arrive at school?
School doors open at 7:55am for all students.
What time should I pick up my child from school?
Dismissal is at 2:50pm for JFK students and 2:55pm for WMHS students. To ensure a smooth dismissal process for all, we kindly request that parents avoid calling out their child for early dismissal after 2:30pm when possible.
What door should my student enter?
- PK-5th graders will enter through the Main JFK Door.
- 6th -12th graders will enter through the Rear JFK Door.
My child is in Kindergarten/1st grade. May I walk them to their classroom?
For the 1st three days of school only, caregivers of Kindergarteners and 1st graders may walk their students to their classrooms. Due to limited space in our building, we ask that only one adult accompany their child into the building.
My child is a PreK student. May I walk them to their classroom?
PreK students will follow the same drop-off and pick-up procedures as outlined below. Parents are allowed in on the first three days of PreK (Tuesday, September 7) but then after they will drop their student off at the door if the student is not riding the bus.
I drive my child to and from school. How will that work this year?:
This year, student drop-off and pick-up will take place in front of the WSD building (60 Normand Street). Due to construction, all students arriving at school by car should be dropped off in the student drop-off loop. Elementary school students will enter and exit the building through the JFK Elementary Main Door and WMHS students will enter and exit through the Rear JFK Entrance.
Here is the procedure for vehicle drop off and pick-up:
- Follow the road to the drop off/pick-up loop (previously the short-term parking loop).
- Follow the traffic flow until you arrive at the drop off/pick-up point.
- Please don’t stop before this point, or you might block traffic.
- Once you’re at the drop-off point, ask your child to safely exit your car.
- Say good-bye to your child in the car and wish them a day full of fun and learning!
- Students will walk to the JFK Main Entrance Walkway.
- WSD staff will greet your child at the entrance of the JFK building and make sure they get to their classroom.
- If your child is in middle or high school they will walk around past the JFK Main Entrance to the JFK Rear Entrance. The walkway will be clearly marked and WSD staff will be at the door to greet them and make sure they get to their classroom.
- Turn left out of the drop-off loop and exit the parking lot. Enjoy the day!
I walk/ride bikes with my child to school. How will I drop them off this year?
Great! We highly encourage anyone who is able to walk or ride bikes to school. This will help reduce vehicle traffic during pick-up and drop-off times.
- When you bring your child to school by foot or bike, you may walk them to their entrance.
- PreK – 5th graders should enter the JFK Main Entrance, and 6-12th graders should enter through the JFK Rear Entrance (off George Street.)
- There will be bike racks available at each entrance.
- Staff will greet students at the entrance and help direct them to class if needed.
How should I pick my child up by car?
- Follow the road to the drop off/pick-up loop (previously the short-term parking loop).
- Follow the traffic flow until you arrive at the drop off/pick-up point.
- Do not stop before this point, or you might block traffic.
- When you’re near the drop off/pick-up loop, let staff know which students you are picking up. Put a paper on your dashboard with their last name(s) and grade(s) to make this process easier.
- Wait in the pick-up point for your child(ren) to get into your car, then exit by following the route.
- Please be mindful of others waiting behind you and try to make this process as efficient as possible.
- Remember, safety is our top priority. Be extremely careful when driving on and off-campus.
How should I pick up my child if we walk or ride bikes?
- JFK Staff will take the walkers/bike riders through the Main JFK Door to their spot on the green in front of the JFK Main Door (between the building and the parking lot) to wait for caregivers to pick them up.
- WMHS student walkers/bike riders will walk down the sidewalk toward the Main JFK Entrance, collect any JFK students who are in their family, then walk/cycle off-campus together.
Questions? Email Emily Hecker ([email protected]).
Thanks!