There is one entrance and two exits on the school property. Enter the school property using the driveway closest to the building on S. Manhattan Place. Exit driveways are northwest of the school property on S. Manhattan Place and northeast of the school property on S. Western Avenue. DO NOT ENTER THE SCHOOL PROPERTY FROM S. WESTERN AVENUE; THE DRIVEWAY IS EXIT ONLY.
DO NOT MAKE LEFT TURNS to enter or exit the school driveways during drop-off and pickup. You may need to take the concurrent streets to enter and exit the school property.
DO NOT MAKE U-TURNS on S. Manhattan Place between W. 2nd Street and W. 3rd Street or in the post office parking lot.
DO NOT DROP-OFF OR PICK UP YOUR CHILD(REN) ON S. MANHATTAN PLACE BETWEEN W. 2ND STREET AND W. 3RD STREET. THIS INCLUDES THE CURB BETWEEN THE TWO DRIVEWAYS AND THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.
Pedestrians must cross the street at corners and crosswalks. DO NOT CROSS THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK. Please remind your children to be cautious when crossing at street corners and crosswalks and the risk of crossing in the middle of the block. Be mindful of the crossing guard at both driveways directing pedestrians and vehicles through . Pedestrians should wait at the driveway until vehicles have entered to capacity. All bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. must be walked on school property .
Children must exit/enter the vehicle from the passenger side ONLY during drop-off/pickup. Do not allow your child(ren) to exit/enter your vehicle from the driver side. Drivers are not permitted to park in the drop-off/pick up zone or get out of the vehicle to unload.
Please do not stop and exit your vehicle to pack belongings into your trunk or to fasten your children's seatbelts. If your child requires assistance with their belongings or seatbelts please safely do so in an available parking space away from the car line.
Parking designated for parents is along the north wall of the school property between the two exit driveways. However, you may also park in the staff parking spaces near the entrance to the school property and across from the Parish Center (gym) if available and only during the morning drop-off and pickup times since these spaces are normally reserved for staff. No parking at the post office. We have a relationship with the post office that we must uphold.
It is very important for children and adults to use the walkways at all times and stay behind the handrails/delineators/barriers when walking near the parking lot. DO NOT CROSS THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LINE FROM/TO THE GRASS FIELD. The two blue crosswalk markings leading from the gym should always be used when parents and their children need to cross over to the field.
THE ENTIRE TRAFFIC LINE MUST BE CLOSE TO THE CURB, NOT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF S. MANHATTAN PLACE. DO NOT BLOCK THE POST OFFICE DRIVEWAYS. DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL ALONG THE “NO PARKING” ZONE AND WAIT FOR YOUR CHILD'S PICKUP TIME. Parking in front of the school causes the northbound traffic to drive into the southbound lane to get around the parked vehicle. This also creates a backup all the way to the intersection of W. 3rd Street, and obstructs the entrance/exit to the post office. Be mindful of the changing lights and STOP ON YELLOW if the traffic line on S. Manhattan Place reaches W. 3rd Street. This applies particularly to those drivers turning right onto S. Manhattan Place from W. 3rd Street.
All incoming vehicles should enter the dedicated car lane closest to the curb during afternoon pickups. Please note that no vehicles are allowed to park in the coned-off area as it serves as a thoroughfare for incoming traffic. Those in vehicles that intend to park in the school parking lot may safely do so by bypassing to the left of the coned-off area and making sure to adhere to the traffic monitor's instructions when entering the driveway.
The family name placard is required for pickup. Each family has been provided with two placards. If you are picking up additional children one day, please write up a temporary placard. If you do not have a placard, you must park and walk to the schoolyard to meet your child(ren). Children should be informed and reminded of their responsibility to listen for their names to be announced over the loudspeaker.
Do not pick up your children until the oldest child has been dismissed. If your child is not waiting in the school yard near the gate to be picked up, and their name has been announced two times over the loudspeaker, drive around the block and re-enter the traffic line, or park and walk to the school yard to find your child. To drive around the block only takes a couple of minutes, but waiting for your child in the pickup zone causes a back-up of vehicles and long delays for everyone. Sometimes children are dismissed late or are delayed getting into the yard. Please understand when asked to exit the pickup zone.
Please observe your grade's after school pick up times. To ensure a steady flow of traffic and alleviate any congestion on Manhattan Place please adhere to your grade's after school pick up times . And do NOT park on Manhattan Place to wait for your grade's assigned pickup time as that area is reserved as the car lane for drop-offs and pickups.
Mobile phones are prohibited in the traffic line and while driving on school property. Violators are subject to a $50 fine billed through FACTS.
Mass / Church Drop-offs (for First Wednesday / School Observed Holy Days) - Drop-offs occur on the East side (church side) of Van Ness Ave. The car line should be as close to the curbside as safely possible with traffic flow going from South-to-North on Van Ness Ave (entering Van Ness Ave heading north from 4th Street). For the sake of their safety do NOT attempt to drop your children off on the opposite side of the street.
Remember to be kind and patient with everyone involved . Some of these guidelines may add only a few minutes to your drop-off/pickup and will save us all from a stressful backup or a rushed situation that could be dangerous.
