Drop-off and Pick-Up - Cold Weather Update

Good afternoon! I hope you are warm! At school we are all pretty warm since we stayed inside for lunch recess :-)

Despite our relative warmth inside the school, the temperatures outside have plummeted (obviously) and caused some to think about drop-off/pick-up safety and/or whether or not school can be canceled because it is too cold.

First, safety needs to be on our minds at all times during drop-off and pick-up at King. As a community we have done a GREAT JOB of following the drop-off/pick-up policy; however, temperatures of 5 °F and lower have caused almost twice as many cars at King in the morning than on other days. To help, please do the following if you drop-off and/or pick-up at King in the next 8 - 10 weeks:

1. Above all else, you'll need to be patient while dropping-off or picking-up. With as many cars as we have in front right now, it is going to take a bit longer to get in and out. If your child is older and/or able, you might consider dropping them off a block or so away from school letting them walk to school. Thank you for your cooperation.
   
2. Follow the drop-off/pick-up policy. This IS a requirement. From some of what I saw happening over the last few days in the drop-off zone (writing a note to child's teacher, backing up, not pulling forward as far as possible, dropping a child off from the left-hand lane), it looks like there are some new parents to the drop-off/pick-up zone. Please read the policy and follow it.
   
3. Emphasize after-school procedures with your child. Make sure your child knows where they are going after school (bus, KingCare, walking, picked up).
   

Secondly, there have been questions about whether or not school can be closed due to cold weather. The AAPS policy states that schools will be closed if sustained wind chill temperatures are -20 °F or below. Over the last 18 years, I can recall two occasions when the AAPS closed because it was too cold. Essentially this would happen to protect students when it is not safe to walk to school or wait at the bus stop for the required amount of time. As in all school closing situations, decisions are made as early as possible. I will post information on the King website and will send out an email to the community whenever school is closed.

I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Kevin