Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

Getting children to and from school safely and in a timely manner is of utmost importance to school personnel as well as parents. This daily task can only be accomplished with strict adherence to the following procedures. Your full cooperation with our procedures is important for the safety of all students as well as to set a good example.

Please review the information below carefully. Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and partnership in helping us maintain a safe and orderly environment for all Stark students.

Arrival Procedures

School begins promptly at 9:00 AM.
School doors open at 8:45 AM. There is no adult supervision before 8:45 AM, so students should not be left on school grounds prior to this time.
Beginning at 8:45 AM, students may enter the building and report to their classrooms to prepare for the school day.
Students eating breakfast should report to the cafeteria upon arrival.
All students should be in their classrooms and ready to begin learning by 9:00 AM.
Students arriving after 9:00 AM are considered tardy and should follow the school's procedures for late arrival.

Starting the school day on time is important for students and staff. We appreciate families making every effort to have students arrive on time each day.

Dismissal Procedures

Dismissal begins at approximately 3:20 PM.

To ensure a safe and organized dismissal for all students, families should avoid early pickups whenever possible and communicate all dismissal changes as early in the day as possible.

Please see below for important information about Stark dismissal procedures.

PickUp Patrol & Dismissal Changes

PickUp Patrol is Stark's primary platform for communicating student arrival and dismissal information. Families should use PickUp Patrol to report absences, late arrivals, early dismissals, and changes to a student's regular dismissal plan.
Please pay careful attention to the following deadlines:

By 12:00 PM: All dismissal changes should be entered directly into PickUp Patrol.
Between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM: If an unexpected dismissal change is necessary, families must contact the Stark main office directly at 203-977-4583.
After 2:00 PM: No changes to a student's dismissal plan can be accommodated, except in the case of an emergency.

Our dismissal process requires coordination among classroom teachers, office staff, and dismissal teams. Following these cutoff times helps us ensure that every student is dismissed safely and to the correct location or authorized adult.

Car Riders

Car riders arrive and dismiss from the back of the school, accessible from Oscar Street.

Families should follow the designated traffic pattern and all directions provided by staff.
During dismissal, drivers must display their car rider tag with the student's information clearly visible.
Staff members will supervise students and direct traffic throughout arrival and dismissal.
For the safety of all students, children will only be released according to the school's established dismissal procedures.
Older siblings may wait with younger siblings when appropriate.
Please remain in your vehicle during car rider arrival and dismissal. Students will be brought to the appropriate vehicle during dismissal.
Please drive slowly, remain alert, and follow staff directions at all times while on school grounds
Your patience is especially appreciated during the first few days of school as students, families, and staff establish our routines.

Walkers

Walkers will be dismissed from the courtyard at the back of the school.

Families picking up walkers should report directly to the courtyard.
The courtyard will have clearly designated grade-level pickup areas marked by cones.
Please wait in your child's designated grade-level area so staff can safely and efficiently connect students with their families.
Students will be escorted to the courtyard by staff and released according to our established dismissal procedures.
Older siblings may meet younger siblings in the appropriate designated area when applicable.
Please keep walkways and dismissal areas clear and follow the directions of staff supervising dismissal.

We appreciate families waiting patiently while staff ensure that each child is safely dismissed to the appropriate adult.

Bus Riders

Bus riders are dismissed to designated supervised areas to wait for their assigned buses.
Students who ride the bus are expected to follow these safety expectations:
- Arrive at the bus stop on time. Buses cannot wait for late students.
- Enter the bus in an orderly manner without pushing or shoving.
- The school and/or bus driver may assign seats.
- Appropriate and respectful behavior is expected at all times.
- Students must remain seated while the bus is in motion.
- Eating and drinking are not permitted on the bus.
- Students must follow the directions of the bus driver and/or monitor at all times.
- Students may only ride the bus to which they are assigned. Students who are not registered for transportation may not ride a school bus.
- Students who engage in unsafe or inappropriate behavior may lose bus-riding privileges. Families will be notified if this becomes necessary and will be responsible for providing transportation during the suspension period.
Families should contact the Stamford Public Schools Transportation Department with questions regarding bus routes, stops, or transportation eligibility.

Early Dismissals

Whenever possible, families should schedule appointments and other commitments outside of the school day. If your child needs to leave school early:

Please enter the early dismissal into PickUp Patrol by 12:00 PM.
Early dismissal information received between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM must be communicated directly to the main office at 203-977-4583.
No dismissal changes can be made after 2:00 PM, except in the case of an emergency.

Please allow enough time for office staff to contact the classroom and prepare your child for dismissal.

Late Pickups

It is important for every family to have a backup plan in the event that the person responsible for pickup is unexpectedly delayed.

If you know that you will be unable to pick up your child on time, please put your backup plan into place and contact the school at 203-977-4583 as soon as possible.

In the event of an emergency, school staff will ensure that your child remains safely supervised while we attempt to contact a parent/guardian or another authorized emergency contact.

Important Reminders

Student safety is our highest priority during arrival and dismissal. Families can help us maintain a safe and efficient process by:

Having students arrive at school on time and being on time for dismissal.
Using PickUp Patrol by 12:00 PM for early dismissals, and changes to dismissal plans.
Calling the main office between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM if an unexpected dismissal change is necessary.
Remembering that dismissal plans cannot be changed after 2:00 PM, except in an emergency.
Following designated traffic patterns and staff directions.
Remaining in vehicles when using the car rider line.
Waiting in the appropriate grade-level courtyard area when picking up a walker.
Keeping emergency contact information current.
Having a backup pickup plan in place in case of an unexpected delay.

Thank you for your cooperation, patience, and partnership. By following these procedures, we can provide a safe, efficient, and positive arrival and dismissal experience for every Stark student.