OUR SCHOOL

Arrival/Dismissal Options:

  1. Bus transportation if eligible

  2. Car lane drop-off

  3. Parent walking to drop off student or pickup student at assigned door

  4. Student (grades 1-5 only) walking to and from school independently with parent permission

  5. Ride bike to and from school with permission

Morning Procedures:

STUDENT ARRIVAL:

The safety of our students is important. Please note that the school hours are from 8:40 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. To assist with the safety of our students, please plan to arrive at school no earlier than 8:40 a.m., as supervision will not be provided prior to this time. The first morning bell rings at 8:40 a.m., at which time the doors open for student arrival. Parents/guardians of students in grades K-5 will not be able to enter the building at this time. Staff will be stationed both outside the school and in the hallways to assist students. Parents/students should not gather by the door entrances as you wait for your child’s entry into the building. There is no parking in the bus loop, which is located on Gibson.

LATE ARRIVAL:

If your child arrives after 8:50 a.m., you must bring him/her into the school at Door #1, the main door facing Hinds Street to sign in. The school monitor will sign your child into school and will provide him/her with a tardy slip for the teacher. You are unable to walk your child to class. Safety is a priority, and your cooperation is appreciated. 

STUDENT DROP-OFF WITH CAR:

Parents or designees who will drop off a student(s) must be in the car line located at Door# 1, the main door of the school facing Hinds Street. Staff will come to your car; at which time you can have your child exit the vehicle. Staff will unload 2 cars at one time. It is important that you drive slowly and safely. Please do not exit your vehicle, as we anticipate a high volume of vehicles each morning. You do not need a parking pass for arrival. 

KINDERGARTEN WALKERS:

Parents/guardians of kindergarten students who are walkers or are being walked to the school must enter at Door# 6. Siblings of kindergarten students may also enter at this door.

  • Door# 6: Facing Poyer and Hinds Street 

                           (by the large outdoor playground)

STUDENT WALKERS OR PARENTS WHO ARE WALKING THEIR CHILD TO THE ASSIGNED DOOR:  

There are 3 doors that will be used for students who walk to school or for parents who are walking their child to school in the morning. We strongly encourage you to walk your child to the assigned doors, based on your street address/location. There will be no supervision of students, prior to 8:40AM.

The following are the doors and their location:

  • Door# 6: Facing Poyer and Hinds (by the large outdoor playground)

  • Door# 12: Facing Gibson Street

  • Door# 26: Facing Fletcher Street

BUS STUDENTS:

Upon arrival at school, students will remain on the bus and seated until their bus is unloaded. Students will exit the bus at the bus lot, which is located on Gibson Street. Staff will assist students to enter the building. Staff will also monitor students as they walk to their classrooms.

  • Door# 14: Bus Lot ONLY; Facing Gibson Street.

Afternoon Procedures:

Parents should not gather by the door entrances as you wait for your child’s exit out of the building. Staff will be assisting students during dismissal. There is no parking in the bus lot (facing Gibson Street). 

KINDERGARTEN WALKERS:

Parents/guardians of kindergarten students who are walkers or are being picked up at dismissal, will need to sign out their child. Photo ID will be needed. Siblings of kindergarten students will also be released. Dismissal will start at approximately 3:10 p.m. 

  • Door# 6: Facing Poyer and Hinds Street (by the large outdoor playground)

STUDENT PICK-UP:

Due to the increased enrollment of the school, there will be 2 options for parents/guardians who want to pick up their child at dismissal. You may choose to either pick up your child by using the car lane OR you may sign out your child with a monitor. Siblings will be released together. 

STUDENT PICK UP WITH CAR:

Parents or designees who will pick up their child must be in the car lane located in front of the main doors of Tonawanda Elementary School. At dismissal, we will be using a number system. Each parent/designee will be assigned a tag with a number. The number will identify your child. A staff member will identify your number and will then get your child and bring them to your car. Please have photo identification available, as well. Dismissal will begin at approximately 3:05PM. We encourage you to participate in bus transportation if you qualify.

  • Door# 1: Main door of the school facing Hinds Street 

STUDENT PICK UP WITHOUT USING CAR LANE:

Parents or designee who want to pick up their child at dismissal, but DO NOT want to use the car lane can pick up their child at Door# 25.  Please include the first and last name of the person picking up your child. The person picking up your child should report to the assigned door. Photo ID will need to be shown upon student release. The student sign-out sheet will also need to be completed. 

  • Door# 25: Facing Gibson

GRADE 1 - 5 WALKERS:

Children who do not qualify for bus transportation are considered “walkers.” A reminder that students exit and leave the building independently. Walkers in grades 1-5 will  be dismissed at approximately 3:15 p.m. from the following doors.  

  • Door# 6: Facing Poyer and Hinds Street (by the large outdoor playground)

  • Door# 12: Facing Gibson Street

  • Door# 26: Facing Fletcher Street

It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to contact the Main Office if other arrangements have been made, including a parent pick up.  

BUS STUDENTS: 

We anticipate starting bus dismissal at approximately 3:15 p.m. daily. As the buses arrive, students will be called to board the bus. If your child is scheduled to take the bus daily but will not be taking the bus on a particular day, a note needs to be sent in to your child’s teacher. Please include the first and last name of the person picking up your child. Photo ID will need to be shown upon student release and the student sign-out sheet will also need to be completed. It is very important that a note gets sent in each day that there is a dismissal change. Please contact the office no later than 2:00 p.m. in the event there is a change in the dismissal procedure for your child.

Picking up your child before dismissal:

Children who must be picked up before regular school dismissal will need a note stating the reason and pick-up time for the early dismissal. Please include the first and last name of the person picking up your child. The person picking up your child should report to Door #1, facing Hinds. Photo ID will need to be shown upon student release. The student sign-out sheet will also need to be completed. 

Other Important Information:

VISITOR/RAPTOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:

In accordance with our district safety policy, we will be using the Raptor Visitor Management System. If a parent or visitor must enter the building, they will be screened and if cleared, may enter the building. All visitors will need to enter and exit the building at Door #1. All visitors will be met at the main door by the monitor. All visitors, no exceptions, will need to show a valid state issued photo ID, which will be scanned into the system.  Once approved, the Raptor system will generate a visitor badge that you will wear at all times while you are in the building.  

UPK PROGRAM:

The morning session runs from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and the afternoon session is from 12:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Parents should both drop off students at arrival and pick up students at dismissal at Door #14, which is the bus lot located on Gibson Street. You may park in the bus lot. The UPK staff will meet your child at arrival and bring your child to you at dismissal.

*If there is a change in your dismissal arrangements, we require the parent to write a note and send it in with your child in the morning.*