Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks -- have a rising K and just moved to Arlington so just trying to get a sense of normal! For the kids who arrive 10-20 minutes early, do they usually buy breakfast? Just hang in classroom?

Depends on the school, in the before times we could do outside recess between 8:40 and 8:50, but that has stopped. You can reach out to the school and ask. I believe bus riders are treated differently from walkers

My understanding is that the kids at our APS elementary schools hang on the playground until school starts. They certainly did all last year.

For comparison, my kid is scheduled to be picked up at 8:36 for a 9 AM start. It's about a 5 minute drive.

OP, be aware that buses can run really really late the first two weeks or so. There were days my kid was almost an hour late. The buses back up with the middle and high school routes and everything gets pushed. Don't panic.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks -- have a rising K and just moved to Arlington so just trying to get a sense of normal! For the kids who arrive 10-20 minutes early, do they usually buy breakfast? Just hang in classroom?

We are on a similar schedule - we're the first bus stop, pickup is in the 8:20s, and they usually get to school around 8:40 for a 9am start (so by the time they get to their classrooms they probably have 10-15 min). We're a <5 min drive to the school, but the bus route goes out and back.

My kindergartener said they'd usually have free play / coloring before school started. The older kids would go get breakfast in the cafeteria. The library might be open too? But for the K kids, I think the patrols shuttled them to their classroom and they could do activities.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks -- have a rising K and just moved to Arlington so just trying to get a sense of normal! For the kids who arrive 10-20 minutes early, do they usually buy breakfast? Just hang in classroom?

Depends on the school, in the before times we could do outside recess between 8:40 and 8:50, but that has stopped. You can reach out to the school and ask. I believe bus riders are treated differently from walkers

OP here. Thanks -- have a rising K and just moved to Arlington so just trying to get a sense of normal! For the kids who arrive 10-20 minutes early, do they usually buy breakfast? Just hang in classroom?

9 am is the official start (butts i seats time) the school usually opens doors earlier than that, like 8:40 or 8:50. but someone does have to be at the front of the route. you always have the option to drive.

Most kids are at school by 8:40. In the classroom at 8:50.

Someone has to be at the start of the bus route.

My pick up time is 8:19 am and school starts at 9 am -- is this typical? We're 1.6 miles from the school, 5-6 minute drive.