Arlington elementary school drop off- help me with logistics

[Anonymous]

What is drop off like for most N. Arlington elementary schools? Our kids will be 4 years apart and I'll be taking one to preschool and the other to elementary school. One of the preschools I'm looking at starts at 9:15 and the bell for the elementary school is at 9. Can I drop the older DS off early enough to make my way across town? This is all new to me as I'm coming from Alexandria where elementary starts at 8 am. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Have bus pick up your kindergartner prob no later than 830. Then plenty of time to get prek by 915. Principals wish all kids took bus makes school safer and mornings smoother. Sounds like it helps your morning too and builds independence in your DC.

School kiss and rides start around 835 but generally is zoo and you will have peak commuter travel at same time.

[Anonymous]

Good idea although I'd like to start off with dropping him since we are introducing a lot of changes all at the same time...new school, moving, friends.

So if I drop him on the early side -like 8:35-8:45 about how long will the whole process be?

[Anonymous]

You can't drop him off 30-40 minutes before school starts. At most, it's 15 mins at our school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't drop him off 30-40 minutes before school starts. At most, it's 15 mins at our school

Sorry, I misread

[Anonymous]

They say drop off starts 835 so 35 min until 915 (preschool time)

But most parents have kids take bus and then meet them at school for first day. Not a big deal. Take a city bus a few times and sure he will think big adventure.

[Anonymous]

Our bus stop is the last before the bus goes to school, and it arrives at 8:30. So that's a good option if you are eligible for bus service and decide you want to try it once your son settles in. I drive my kids to the bus stop, drop the older one off and then drive the younger one to preschool.

If you don't change your mind about the bus, drop off (at our school) starts at 8:40. It runs pretty smoothly; there are a couple of adults and a few fifth graders who open the car door and help the student out. You pull over, kid gets out, you leave.

[Anonymous]

Could you sign up the earlier kid for morning extended day? then you have a longer time to drive from one school to the other. Extended day signup starts 3/1.

[Anonymous]

Are you bus eligible? You need to check that first. I think extended day would be your best bet. If you want to srop him off at 8:30, it needs to be into the supervised area of extended day, especially when he is young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is drop off like for most N. Arlington elementary schools? Our kids will be 4 years apart and I'll be taking one to preschool and the other to elementary school. One of the preschools I'm looking at starts at 9:15 and the bell for the elementary school is at 9. Can I drop the older DS off early enough to make my way across town? This is all new to me as I'm coming from Alexandria where elementary starts at 8 am. Thanks!

Another ACPS refugee!

Generally you can drop one child at 8:45. Should give you plenty of time to get to PS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our bus stop is the last before the bus goes to school, and it arrives at 8:30. So that's a good option if you are eligible for bus service and decide you want to try it once your son settles in. I drive my kids to the bus stop, drop the older one off and then drive the younger one to preschool.

If you don't change your mind about the bus, drop off (at our school) starts at 8:40. It runs pretty smoothly; there are a couple of adults and a few fifth graders who open the car door and help the student out. You pull over, kid gets out, you leave.

Isn't the point of a bus stop is that you can walk to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good idea although I'd like to start off with dropping him since we are introducing a lot of changes all at the same time...new school, moving, friends.

So if I drop him on the early side -like 8:35-8:45 about how long will the whole process be?

Official drop off at our school with the safety patrol starts at 8:35-8:40 at our school. I would stick with the earlier side, since the later you go, the more crowded and backed up the parking lot gets. It is quick - you drive up, someone gets your child from the car, and he is on his way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our bus stop is the last before the bus goes to school, and it arrives at 8:30. So that's a good option if you are eligible for bus service and decide you want to try it once your son settles in. I drive my kids to the bus stop, drop the older one off and then drive the younger one to preschool.

If you don't change your mind about the bus, drop off (at our school) starts at 8:40. It runs pretty smoothly; there are a couple of adults and a few fifth graders who open the car door and help the student out. You pull over, kid gets out, you leave.

Isn't the point of a bus stop is that you can walk to it?

Unless its right at the corner (which many aren't) if the concern is making the most of your time to be in two or three places at once, the most efficient way to do it is load everyone in the car first, go to the earliest thing and then go right to the next thing. My son is a walker to his school (five blocks away) but since I have to work, he gets driven to drop off. I don't have the extra 20 minutes to walk there and back late enough so he can actually go into school and still get to my office anywhere close to on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't drop him off 30-40 minutes before school starts. At most, it's 15 mins at our school

Most schools suggest children take the bus the first week or two so the bus driver get to know which kids are supposed to be on the bus and what the active bus stops will be. They can also gauge if there are too many child on the bus route from the previous year and if another bus needs to pick up one end or another of the route. I have seen bus drivers eliminate bus stops and not drive down a street if no children are at the bus stop on a regular basis. If your child is not at the bus stop consistently in the beginning of the school year, they will not be part of those assessments.

[Anonymous]

As a former K teacher: please put your child on the bus and make a clean break. Walking your kid in the first week or so leads to tears and drama.