Rachcel Carson Middle School Ridiculous Tardy Policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen another school with such poorly designed drop-off traffic. At Rachel Carson, there is only one lane to enter the school, whether you are dropping off a student or parking. Everyone must then drive through the circle past the parking lot to exit. During the morning rush, it is always heavily congested.

The tardy policy has also become much stricter. The main entrance closes at 7:25 a.m., and now the school has implemented a rule that even if a student enters the building before 7:25, they will still be sent to the office for a tardy pass if they cannot reach their classroom by that time. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this—surely it takes time for students to walk from the entrance to their classrooms.

Even more concerning is that students who enter the classroom carrying their backpacks are being sent to the office for a tardy pass, yet there is no written policy stating this requirement.

What I don’t understand is why, in elementary school, most teachers and staff are very supportive and approachable, but the experience seems to become increasingly rigid in middle school and high school.

I remember at the open house and back to school night, the principal and teachers stressed how much of a nightmare the kiss and ride is and said to take the bus if possible and if not, to arrive as early as possible. Then at the beginning of the school year, they sent out a ton of reminders about the same thing. It's second semester. If your child is still regularly late to school, then that means YOU need to make some changes to your schedule. Leave 10 minutes early starting tomorrow.

hat’s not the point. From a policy standpoint, if you expect kids to be seated in the classroom promptly at 7:25 a.m., then the main entrance should be closed at 7:15 a.m. so everyone clearly understands what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen another school with such poorly designed drop-off traffic. At Rachel Carson, there is only one lane to enter the school, whether you are dropping off a student or parking. Everyone must then drive through the circle past the parking lot to exit. During the morning rush, it is always heavily congested.

The tardy policy has also become much stricter. The main entrance closes at 7:25 a.m., and now the school has implemented a rule that even if a student enters the building before 7:25, they will still be sent to the office for a tardy pass if they cannot reach their classroom by that time. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this—surely it takes time for students to walk from the entrance to their classrooms.

Even more concerning is that students who enter the classroom carrying their backpacks are being sent to the office for a tardy pass, yet there is no written policy stating this requirement.

What I don’t understand is why, in elementary school, most teachers and staff are very supportive and approachable, but the experience seems to become increasingly rigid in middle school and high school.

I remember at the open house and back to school night, the principal and teachers stressed how much of a nightmare the kiss and ride is and said to take the bus if possible and if not, to arrive as early as possible. Then at the beginning of the school year, they sent out a ton of reminders about the same thing. It's second semester. If your child is still regularly late to school, then that means YOU need to make some changes to your schedule. Leave 10 minutes early starting tomorrow.

hat’s not the point. From a policy standpoint, if you expect kids to be seated in the classroom promptly at 7:25 a.m., then the main entrance should be closed at 7:15 a.m. so everyone clearly understands what to do.

Why is this so hard? If you chose to drive your kid to school so they can sleep in later, you still need to be on time. Some kids might be able to get to their locker and class by 7:25am if they arrive at 7:20am. But if the rule in the handbook and verbally told to parents at the open house was the had to be in their seats at 7:25am it sounds like everyone should know what to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students need to be seated in their classrooms by 7:25am. If they are not, they are tardy. I am glad that Rachel Carson is trying to get a handle on the ridiculous number of tardy students. Please have a little more respect for your child's education.

are you reading the message? the kid is in classroom before 7:25am. But was sent back to office to get tardy pass because she carried her backpack.

Is your kid supposed to drag her backpack on the ground?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen another school with such poorly designed drop-off traffic. At Rachel Carson, there is only one lane to enter the school, whether you are dropping off a student or parking. Everyone must then drive through the circle past the parking lot to exit. During the morning rush, it is always heavily congested.

The tardy policy has also become much stricter. The main entrance closes at 7:25 a.m., and now the school has implemented a rule that even if a student enters the building before 7:25, they will still be sent to the office for a tardy pass if they cannot reach their classroom by that time. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this—surely it takes time for students to walk from the entrance to their classrooms.

Even more concerning is that students who enter the classroom carrying their backpacks are being sent to the office for a tardy pass, yet there is no written policy stating this requirement.

What I don’t understand is why, in elementary school, most teachers and staff are very supportive and approachable, but the experience seems to become increasingly rigid in middle school and high school.

I remember at the open house and back to school night, the principal and teachers stressed how much of a nightmare the kiss and ride is and said to take the bus if possible and if not, to arrive as early as possible. Then at the beginning of the school year, they sent out a ton of reminders about the same thing. It's second semester. If your child is still regularly late to school, then that means YOU need to make some changes to your schedule. Leave 10 minutes early starting tomorrow.

hat’s not the point. From a policy standpoint, if you expect kids to be seated in the classroom promptly at 7:25 a.m., then the main entrance should be closed at 7:15 a.m. so everyone clearly understands what to do.

Why is this so hard? If you chose to drive your kid to school so they can sleep in later, you still need to be on time. Some kids might be able to get to their locker and class by 7:25am if they arrive at 7:20am. But if the rule in the handbook and verbally told to parents at the open house was the had to be in their seats at 7:25am it sounds like everyone should know what to do?

Part of the problem could be solved fairly easily. Parent's have been explicitly told not to let their kids off outside on McLearen.

Have the officer who is stationed at carson go out to the traffic light and direct traffic. The whole traffic situation occurs because people can't leave carson, so new cars can't move so that kids can be dropped off at the kiss and ride. Getting there earlier doesn't solve that problem.

Of course we could drop the silly metal detectors that kids are told to hold their notebooks and laptops above their heads so they don't set it off. Honestly what could probably end those things is every kid setting it off on purpose for a week or two and getting a secondary screening.

[Anonymous]

From Principal Washington's Jan 9 email:

Additionally, I want to emphasize the importance of getting to school on time for our "Kiss n Ride" families. We are currently seeing a high number of students arriving after the first bell rings at 7:25 AM. These students must then check in at the main office and complete their security screening, which often results in them being late for their first class. Given that morning traffic can be unpredictable and the security process takes time, please aim to have your child at school early enough to be in their seat by 7:25 AM. We are committed to getting every student through security in a safe and timely manner, and your punctuality is a vital part of that success. Please remember that students should not be dropped off on McLearen Road, EDS Drive, or anywhere else, besides our Kiss n Ride loop. Doing so causes a safety hazard to our students, and we want to make arrival and dismissal as safe as possible. Additionally, please be patient and courteous with each other when in the Kiss n Ride line, as everyone has somewhere to be but we should all want to make sure that everyone gets there in a safe manner.

[Anonymous]

Why do butts need to be in seats at 7:25? School doesn't begin until 7:30.

[Anonymous]

My DS takes the bus to Carson, and I’ve never heard him complain or be tardy. I also know a good number of parents drop off kids at kiss-and-ride, and I’ve never heard them complain about being tardy. Their kids ask their parents to drop them off early so they will be in line before the buses arrive, and that’s what their parents do. I don’t think it’s an admin issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS takes the bus to Carson, and I’ve never heard him complain or be tardy. I also know a good number of parents drop off kids at kiss-and-ride, and I’ve never heard them complain about being tardy. Their kids ask their parents to drop them off early so they will be in line before the buses arrive, and that’s what their parents do. I don’t think it’s an admin issue.

Not sure how early helps because doors don’t open until 7:10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do butts need to be in seats at 7:25? School doesn't begin until 7:30.

I have issue with that too. Mr Stokkes made that change our last year there (and his last year). It was due to the morning announcements. First period was getting less instructional time so they wanted to do the announcements at 7:25 so instruction could actually begin at 7:30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen another school with such poorly designed drop-off traffic. At Rachel Carson, there is only one lane to enter the school, whether you are dropping off a student or parking. Everyone must then drive through the circle past the parking lot to exit. During the morning rush, it is always heavily congested.

The tardy policy has also become much stricter. The main entrance closes at 7:25 a.m., and now the school has implemented a rule that even if a student enters the building before 7:25, they will still be sent to the office for a tardy pass if they cannot reach their classroom by that time. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this—surely it takes time for students to walk from the entrance to their classrooms.

Even more concerning is that students who enter the classroom carrying their backpacks are being sent to the office for a tardy pass, yet there is no written policy stating this requirement.

What I don’t understand is why, in elementary school, most teachers and staff are very supportive and approachable, but the experience seems to become increasingly rigid in middle school and high school.

I remember at the open house and back to school night, the principal and teachers stressed how much of a nightmare the kiss and ride is and said to take the bus if possible and if not, to arrive as early as possible. Then at the beginning of the school year, they sent out a ton of reminders about the same thing. It's second semester. If your child is still regularly late to school, then that means YOU need to make some changes to your schedule. Leave 10 minutes early starting tomorrow.

hat’s not the point. From a policy standpoint, if you expect kids to be seated in the classroom promptly at 7:25 a.m., then the main entrance should be closed at 7:15 a.m. so everyone clearly understands what to do.

False. There are actually some kids that can get in at 7:19 and make it to class on time if they run. They aren’t going to close the main entrance at 7:15 am - that would be stupid. You just have to adjust at home and leave earlier to account do this.

Wait until you get to high school - the traffic is even worse.

[Anonymous]

Why can't they open the door until 7:10? If the busses or car drop off arrive early, why can't the students go into the building as they come?

[Anonymous]

COME TO school on time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they open the door until 7:10? If the busses or car drop off arrive early, why can't the students go into the building as they come?

because they need staff to run the metal detectors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they open the door until 7:10? If the busses or car drop off arrive early, why can't the students go into the building as they come?

Because middle schoolers are wild and teachers aren’t babysitters. They don’t want them roaming the halls until the classroom opens. Teschers aren’t required to open their doors before 7:10 am. They need time to park, open their room, load up their computers projectors and maybe run to the bathroom or copy machine. They can’t have students unattended in their rooms. And they don’t want them roaming the halls or at the lockers for extended periods of time. Many of them have behavior issues and can’t be trusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you need to park? The people who park are clogging up the line. You should not be parking and walking your kid up. Go through the line and drop them off at kids & ride

Do parents really walk their middle school kid up? Seriously?