Arrival and Dismissal
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
Be Patient and check for student movement at all times!
Timing
Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) policy states that children are to arrive at school no earlier than 7:50 a.m. Students are allowed to go to their classrooms at 7:50 a.m. If you need before-school care, please sign-up for Y-Care (link).
Car Riders
***BACK LOT – DRIVE THROUGH
If you drive your child to school, the drop-off lane is at the back of the school. The entrance to the lot is on Mission Road. When you pull into the lot, stay to your right, form two lines up to the gate, and then merge into one line to continue to the sidewalk drop-off point. Be patient and keep with the traffic flow. DO NOT PASS unless directed by a staff member.
When you reach the sidewalk, pull up as close as possible to the vehicle in front of you. Students are asked to exit cars promptly, once they reach the sidewalk. Watch staff and safety patrol for movement forward. Students will enter thru their grade level assigned door.
Door 4: 2nd, 5th, and 6th
Door 5: Kindergarten and 3rd
Door 9: 1st and 4th
Right turn only when exiting the lot onto Mission Road.
***SOCCER FIELD – PARK AND DROP OFF
The parking lot by the soccer field on 67th may be used. Cars must park in the lot, as this is not a drive-through. If you park parallel to the fields (behind the angled spaces), park as close to the curb as possible. There is no left turn into this lot, and Prairie Village police will issue a $150 ticket for doing so.
***CHURCH – DROP OFF
If you choose to drop-off your child at the Village Presbyterian Parking lot, a crossing guard will help your child cross Mission Road.
***66th STREET – DROP OFF
You may drop off your child on 66th Street, to the north of Prairie, where there is a crosswalk. However, be sure to park well away from the crosswalk. Students may use the bridge near the crosswalk, to reach the school. Be aware that this is not school property, and Prairie staff does not monitor the area.
Walkers
Parents who walk their children to school are asked to say goodbye in front of the school. Allowing children to walk to class independently, with the help of staff monitoring, enhances a child’s confidence and independence. This independent arrival also enables teachers to focus attention on the children as soon as they arrive.
If you walk to school with your dog, please consider our students and the busy flow of arrival and dismissal times. It is often difficult to control the interactions between unfamiliar dogs, and this can be scary for students who are not used to dogs. Please wait with your dog at the boundary to the school.
This is the sidewalk parallel to 67th Street in the front and the basketball court in the back.
Bike Riders
Students must walk their bikes on school property, and remain on sidewalks and use crosswalks when available. This will help ensure safety, as cars and buses move through the parking lots and streets. Bike racks are stationed on the north side of the school, near the gym doors. It is SMSD policy that students must be in the 3rd grade before they may to ride bikes to school.
Monitoring
Beginning at 7:50 a.m., the front and back entrances, as well as hallways, will be monitored by Prairie staff. Phones and iPads must be put away when traveling in the hallways. Walk safely, slowly and keep your hands to yourself.
Tardy
Students arriving late to school (after 8:10 a.m.) must check-in at the office. The office staff will enter the student’s arrival time into the school district’s attendance system and print a tardy slip for the student to take to his/her teacher.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Be Patient and check for student movement at all times!
The instructional day at Prairie Elementary School ends at approximately 3:10 p.m.
At the beginning of the year, your child’s teacher will let you know the specific pick up place for afternoon dismissal.
Please review the Arrival Procedures, for car riders. Dismissal policies remain the same.
VISITOR POLICY
All parents and other visitors entering the school must report to the office. Anyone who has an appointment to meet with a teacher or visit another area of the school will be logged into the district’s computer system, and given a name sticker to be worn throughout the school. Staff members, volunteers, and substitutes will also be given badges. Anyone in the school building without a badge should expect to be approached and questioned.
These guidelines are designed to assist us in providing a safe and orderly school environment. Prairie Elementary strongly encourages parent involvement. These measures are intended to ensure the safety and security of the school community.
Currently no volunteer or visitors allowed during school hours.