Getting Safely to and from Alcott
Bus, Car, Walk, Bicycle
Walking:
· Obey crossing guards
· Stay on walkways
· Walk with a buddy
· Go directly to school
· Walk instead of run
Riding Bikes:
· 4th, 5th and 6th may ride
· Must register with patrol advisor and pass the safety test
· Wear helmet
· Follow all bike rules
· Ride with a buddy
· Obey crossing guard
· Lock your bike
· Walk bike on school campus
· Signed parent permission form must be on file
Rollerblading/Skateboarding/Scooters:
Because of safety and liability concerns, the district does not allow skateboards and rollerblades (including roller shoes) on school grounds; therefore, students are asked to leave these items at home.
Bus Conduct Policy
Lake Washington School District’s school bus conduct policy and rules are in accordance with Washington State WAC’s and RCW’s, all of which will be enforced whether or not they are included in the following regulations. These regulations are designed to assure every student safe transportation to and from school and school sponsored activities. Violation of these rules may be sufficient reason to discontinue bus-riding privileges for the student involved, and in certain cases could cause suspension from school. The bus driver has authority and responsibility for the behavior of passengers using school district transportation. Teachers, coaches, other certified staff members, or chaperones assigned to accompany students on buses have primary responsibility for the behavior of students in charge. However, the bus driver shall have final authority and responsibility.
Safety Rules and Regulations for Riding a School Bus
· Cooperate and obey the driver at all times.
· Be courteous, use no profane language-spoken, written, or gestured.
· Students must ride their regularly assigned buses at all times unless written permission has been granted by the school office.
· Each student may be assigned a seat in which they must be seated at all times.
· Food or beverage must not be consumed on the bus except by permission of the driver.
· Tobacco, alcohol, drugs or other illegal substances and paraphernalia are prohibited.
· Objects that are dangerous or that may cause injury to another person are strictly prohibited from being brought on the school bus. Please see RCW9.41.250 for definition.
· Windows may be opened 6 inches. However, the driver may require the windows be closed at his/her discretion.
· Students must keep their head, hands, feet, and belongings inside the bus at all times.
· Animals (except official service dogs) are prohibited from being transported on the bus.
· Belongings of students must be kept out of the aisle.
· Students must be seated and remain seated while the bus is starting, stopping, or otherwise in motion.
· Students must enter and exit the bus safely, crossing only in front of the bus and only with the consent of the driver.
Rules of Conduct at the Bus Stop
Students should not stand or play on the roadway while waiting for the bus.
Students should arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled bus time.
Students should wait to board the bus in an orderly manner.
Students should respect private property while waiting for the bus.
Lake Washington School District policy specific to human dignity, harassment, and sexual harassment apply when students are awaiting the arrival of the school bus.
Supervision of elementary students at the bus stop is the responsibility of parents.
Penalties for Conduct at the Bus Stop
All school and district rules for student conduct apply at bus stops, on the bus, and on the way to and from school. Violations will be subject to school consequences, including detention, suspension and /or expulsion.
Penalties for Infractions of Established Bus Rules
Student misconduct on the bus or at the bus stop is sufficient reason to discontinue bus transportation privileges to those students involved. Infractions accumulate for the duration of the school year and may include any combination of the following:
- 1st Infraction-Warning or detention. A bus riding suspension may occur if the incident is considered a serious offense*. Procedure: A meeting may be called with the driver, school administration, and parents/guardian to discuss the incident and determine corrective measures. If the incident presents immediate danger to the student or others, assigned seating, alternative transportation and/or suspension may be possible.
- Repeat Infractions- Warning or detention. A conference with parent/guardian and/or bus driver will be held. A bus riding suspension may occur if the incident is considered a serious offense*. Procedure: A meeting with the driver and/or school administration, special education services, and parents/guardian will be held. The IEP may be reviewed and updated. Suspension of transportation services, change of bus route, assignment of a monitor, alternative transportation, and counseling may be considered as action required.
*Serious Offense: May result in immediate suspension of bus-riding privileges for the balance of the school year. (Weapons, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, harassment/bullying, or fighting while on the bus or at the bus stop are serious infractions.)
Suspension will begin at the beginning of the next school day after the misconduct has occurred. In other words, the student transported to school may be returned his/her regular stop. Students may resume their bus riding privileges as soon as all disciplinary obligations have been met.
Appeal Procedure
Parents/guardians of student who wish to appeal a bus suspension may submit a request to the school administration.
Kindergarten Drop off Procedure
A parent/guardian MUST be present when the AM kindergarten bus drops off students. If a parent is not present, the child will be taken back to the school and will need to be picked up there. It is not a requirement that parents are present during the PM drop off.
Emergency Evacuations
Every child who rides a school bus should know what to do in should it ever become necessary to evacuate the bus quickly and safely.
Emergency Exit Procedures
In compliance with WAC 392-145-040
One emergency evacuation drill shall be held within the first six weeks of the school each semester. The first exit drill shall be followed by at least one verbal review of the emergency exit drill prior to the second exit drill. Only those passengers whose participation in an exit drill poses substantial difficulty to themselves or to other passengers shall be excused and/or excluded from exit drill participation. Passengers who are excluded from such participation shall receive oral instruction in bus safety and exit drills at least three times during the school year.
WAC 392-145-045 Emergency Drills
1. Emergency drills conducted pursuant to WAC 392-145-040 shall:
· Make allowance for individual differences in exiting the emergency door.
· Provide instruction to helpers that they should offer a helping hand palm up and grasping a student’s hand or arm.
Students should also be taught to remember that most accidents are preventable, regardless of who may be at fault, and that proper behavior and good conduct on the bus is the best way to assist the driver in the safe performances of his/her duties.
Bus Passes
Please discuss after school arrangements (going home with a friend, riding the bus, etc.) before your child goes to school. A written note from a parent/guardian is required if your child is to ride the bus home with another student. This should be brought to the office before noon to receive the appropriate bus pass for the driver. ONLY CALL SCHOOL WITH AFTERNOON CHANGES IF IT’S ESSENTIAL. PLEASE DO NOT CALL DAILY!
Alcott Parking Lot Procedures
Our main goal for the Alcott parking lot is to get your children to school safely and on time. To keep all cars moving through as quickly as possible, please remember and follow these rules. Please pay attention to the Safety Patrol members. They are here to keep our kids safe. Watch for their flags, sometimes they are difficult to see behind parked vehicles. For safety reasons, they can not step out into the traffic lanes.
Times: Drop off 8:45 – 8:55am we have supervision available starting at 8:45am. The 1st bell rings at 8:58 and the 2nd at 9:00. We encourage your children to be dropped off between 8:45 and 8:50. Traffic is lighter then and they will have plenty of time to get to their classroom before the bell rings. As the weather turns cold and rainy, we will see an increase in the number of cars using the parking lot. When everyone comes at 8:55, we end up with gridlock and frustration. Children arriving at 9:00 or later are considered tardy and will need to be walked in to the office by their parent or guardian. If you are late, please do not use the bus chute to park and walk your children in. Occasionally, we have late buses or field trip buses that need to use that space.
Pick up 3:25 – 3:30pm all children will wait in the safety zone for their rides to pull forward. Please do not ask children to break the rules by going behind parked cars, picking them up in the drive through (left) lane, etc. Children who are not picked up by 3:40 will be waiting in the office. This year we will have 8 large buses, some of which will be arriving around 3:20pm. Please do not wait in the curved area until all buses are in, FOLLOW POSTED SIGNS.
For those of you who park and wish to leave during peak time: Please realize that backing your car out at this time disrupts traffic flow. The cars in the drop off/pick up lane have priority. Please wait until traffic has cleared out to leave. The safety patrol is there to help you cross safely. They may ask you to wait until traffic has filled the drop off lane before they cross you. Please wait opposite the crosswalks. This helps us to get as many cars through as quickly as we can.
Please pull forward as far as you can. The farther you pull forward, the more cars can fit in the drop off / pick up zone, and more children can be unloading or loading at the same time. Please do not stop at the first crosswalk if there is no one in front of you. Watch the adult in charge.
The drop off/pick up zone is located between the two white lines in the waiting lane. Watch for the orange cones, these mark the safe area for loading/unloading. Please do not drop off your children behind the parked cars as you are approaching. Do not use the through lane to pick up or drop off your children. This lane must remain open to allow for smooth traffic flow. This lane can be used for exiting after loading/unloading.
The parking spaces marked out with the X’s cannot be used for parking between 8:30-9:05 in the morning and 3:00-3:45 in the afternoon. This is our safety zone for our kids. The staff parking on the west side is closed for parent/student use for safety reasons. The area in front of the dumpsters on the east side is closed for safety reasons and to allow for deliveries and garbage pickup.
Encourage your child to get out of the car quickly. Backpacks etc. should be ready to go. The unloading area can be used for children to get organized, put on coats, pull up handles on wheeled bags, etc. If your child needs extra time getting out of the car, please park. The drop off / pick up lane is for QUICK loading and unloading only.
Please wait your turn to drop off your children. The wait to pull forward is very short. Dropping off your children in the approach area when the cars in front of you are about to move will delay everyone behind you. Do not use the through (left hand) lane to cut into the drop off lane.
Please do not ask us to bend the rules for you. It only irritates everyone who is following the rules.
We realize our parking lot is not adequate to suit everyone’s needs. However, we need to work with what we have. At any given time there are 60-70 cars that want to get through in a very short period of time. Your cooperation in following these rules is greatly appreciated.