Over 800 students bless us daily in our Early Childhood and Elementary School programs. We seek to provide a safe and secure environment for them at all times, including arrival and dismissal times. In addition to safety and security for our students, we attempt to be good citizens on surrounding public roads and good neighbors to the medical facilities on Bissell Road. Your cooperation in following these procedures will help in achieving these goals.
 

Morning Carpool
● Before 7:40 am, students must be dropped off at the gym lobby entrance. If you drop off your child for early care in the gym on the side carpool area, please note that ​this is ​not​ a park and walk zone.​ If your child needs assistance getting into the gym, please park in one of the parking spaces close to the gym or down by the playground and walk them into the gym. Please do not pull to the side and park in the gym drop off line, by doing so you are blocking traffic and creating a traffic jam that is backing up past the front parking lot​. The line should flow smoothly and is designed to be a quick drop off line.​ If your child is not ready to exit the car when you reach the drop off zone or if they will require assistance, we kindly ask that you park and assist your child as needed. Blocking the carpool drop off line causes other drivers to go around parked cars and this puts students, parents, and others at risk for a dangerous accident.

● Reminder: The Lion Lobby (front of school) is not a holding/drop off area before 7:40.

● After 7:40, cars entering from Acton Road must drop off students in front of the school and cars entering from Altadena Road must drop off students at the gym lobby entrance​. Cars entering from Altadena Road may ​not​ blend into the front (Acton Road) carpool line for drop-off. Students may ​not​ use other church entrances.

● From 7:45 until 8:00, cars on Bissell Road should turn right at Briarwood Trace (toward The Barn) and proceed to the circle before lining up​. Cars must not block the entrances to Kirklin Clinic or Children’s South and must not be backed up on Acton Road.

● Parents who wish to walk their children into the building should use ​Parking Lot A (in the front) ​and cross at the cross walk in front of the Children’s Auditorium, where the crossing guard is directing traffic. Students may not be dropped off in any parking lot. ​For safety reasons, do not cross in the carpool at the front of school by the flagpole.

● Do not park on the perimeter road to exit a car during carpool. This is not safe.

● Cars in the drop-off line should drive down to the last drop-off station before
stopping. This allows many students to be dropped off at the same time.

● Students must ​exit the car on the ​school side onl​y​. Students should be ​ready to exit
when the car approaches the drop-off line.

● If you use the front carpool line, please do not block the entrance of Parking Lot A.

● Please refrain from cell phone use in the carpool line.

● If you are using SIDE CARPOOL (Altadena Road entrance), please remember to deliver students in the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom. When exiting the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom, please make a right turn (heading back towards Altadena Road). Side carpool traffic needs to flow in ONE direction. Please DO NOT attempt to make a left turn. Please do not ask the teacher on duty to move cones to allow you to enter or exit the side carpool line.

● If you arrive to school after 8:00 AM carpool is finished and there are no adults remaining outside on duty, you MUST park and walk your child(ren) into the building for check-in. Students are not allowed to walk in after 8:00 unattended.

Late Start Thursday Morning Carpool​:
● Before 8:10 am, students must be dropped off at the gym lobby entrance.​ If you drop off your child for early care in the gym on the side carpool area, please note that this is ​not​ a park and walk zone.​ If your child needs assistance getting into the gym, please park in one of the parking spaces close to the gym or down by the playground and walk them into the gym. Please do not pull to the side and park in the gym drop off line, by doing so you are blocking traffic and creating a traffic jam that is backing up past the front parking lot​. The line should flow smoothly and is designed to be a quick drop off line.​ If your child is not ready to exit the car when you reach the drop off zone or if they will require assistance, we kindly ask that you park and assist your child as needed. Blocking the carpool drop off line causes other drivers to go around parked cars and this puts students, parents, and others at risk for a dangerous accident.

● After 8:10 am, cars entering from Acton Road must drop off students in front of the school and cars entering from Altadena Road must drop off students at the gym lobby entrance​. Cars entering from Altadena Road may ​not​ blend into the front (Acton Road) carpool line for drop-off. Students may ​not​ use other church entrances.

● From 8:10 until 8:45, cars on Bissell Road should turn right at Briarwood Trace (toward The Barn) and proceed to the circle before lining up​. Cars must not block the entrances to Kirklin Clinic or Children’s South and must not be backed up on Acton Road.

● Parents who wish to walk their children into the building should use ​Parking Lot A (in the front) ​and cross at the cross walk in front of the Children’s Auditorium, where the crossing guard is directing traffic. Students may not be dropped off in any parking lot. ​For safety reasons, do not cross in the carpool at the front of school by the flagpole.

● Do not park on the perimeter road to exit a car during carpool. This is not safe.

● Cars in the drop-off line should drive down to the last drop-off station beforestopping. This allows many students to be dropped off at the same time.

● Students must ​exit the car on the ​school side onl​y​. Students should be ​ready to exit
when the car approaches the drop-off line.

● If you use the front carpool line, please do not block the entrance of Parking Lot A.

● Please refrain from cell phone use in the carpool line.

● If you are using SIDE CARPOOL (Altadena Road entrance), please remember to
deliver students in the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom. When exiting the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom, please make a right turn (heading back towards Altadena Road). Side carpool traffic needs to flow in ONE direction. Please DO NOT attempt to make a left turn. Please do not ask the teacher on duty to move cones to allow you to enter or exit the side carpool line.

● If you arrive to school after 8:45 AM carpool is finished and there are no adults remaining outside on duty, you MUST park and walk your child(ren) into the building for check-in. Students are not allowed to walk in after 8:45 unattended.

Carpool Procedures for Pick-ups

12:45 and 2:20 Carpools

● Carpool number/s should be displayed on the rearview mirror when cars are in the carpool line.

● Students must be picked up in front of the school. Parents are encouraged to enter the
campus from Acton Road. However, if parents choose to enter the campus from Altadena Road, they may not blend into the carpool line for pick-up. They must join the carpool line at the end by driving past the gym and down the hill to the Acton Road entrance.

● We have implemented a new traffic flow for 2:20 carpool. As you come up onto the campus, 2:20 drivers should proceed up the hill and turn into Parking Lot A. You will notice that we have two carpool lines for 2:20 carpool. Line One will line up first and fill up to the sign as to not block the entrance into Parking Lot A, then we will start Line Two, and they will line up closest to the curbside.

3:00 Carpool
● The large-sized carpool number card(s) should be displayed on the rearview mirror
when cars are in the carpool line. ​Please note that pocket-sized carpool cards may not be used in the carpool line​. If you do not have your large card for the carpool line, you will need to park and come into the Lion Lobby to check-out your child(ren).

● At 3:00, students should consistently be picked up at either the front entrance or the gym entrance. ​The pick-up location should be confirmed with your child and teacher on the first day of school and should be consistent.​ ​From 2:45 until 3:10, cars on Bissell Road should turn right at Briarwood Trace (toward The Barn) and proceed to the circle before lining up.​ Cars must not block the entrances to Kirklin Clinic or Children’s South and must not be backed up on Acton Road.

● Cars arriving before 2:20 to pick up students from 3:00 carpool should wait in the carpool line on the Barn Road until the police officer on duty signals. When cars advance, they should pull down to the last loading station. This allows many students to be loaded at the same time.

● Please DO NOT block the entrance to Parking Lot A.

● Parents who pick up in 3:00 side carpool are asked to exit on Altadena Road. Please do not circle around and mix into the front carpool line to exit on Acton Road. This slows down the front carpool line.

● Students who have after-school activities at Briarwood must go to the school lunchroom to check out with the teacher on duty. Ballet students should follow the guidelines provided by the Briarwood Ballet School after checking out with the teacher on duty. Other activity leaders (e.g., scout leaders, coaches, music teachers) must come to the lunchroom to check out the students. ​No students are allowed to leave without the responsible adult checking them out. No students are allowed to roam the building unsupervised.

● Parents who need to pick up their child in the building must go through the Lion Lobby to obtain a pass before going to the lunchroom to retrieve student(s) (See lunchroom pickup information). At 3:00 a teacher will be on duty in the lunchroom for checkout.

● Students with unusual riding arrangements (e.g., going home with a friend) must bring a written note stating the specific arrangement and the responsible adult and carpool number. We must have this information in writing and signed by a parent.

● If an emergency circumstance arises during the school day that requires notification of a student about a change, parents may call or email the School Office ​by 2:00 for 2:20 dismissal and by 2:40 for 3:00 dismissal.

● A student will not be called from the office for checkout between 2:45 and 3:00 unless the teacher and the office have been notified in advance.

● Students in first and second grades should be picked up at 2:20 unless they have a sibling or carpool member in the 3:00 dismissal. If parents need to pick up later than 2:20 and the student is not in a carpool with an older student, the student must be registered for After School Care.

● When carpool ends, students in grades 3-6 who have not been picked up will be escorted to After School Study Hall. Generally, carpool lines finish about 20 minutes after they begin. Parents who miss the 11:45 and 2:20 carpool lines must park and walk into the building to pick up kindergarten, first, and second grade students. Parents of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students who miss the 3:00 carpool line may check out their child from the receptionist in the Lion Lobby. After 3:30, students will be charged for After School Study Hall.

Please be patient the first few weeks of school as we get back into the routine of carpool line and new parents and students learn the procedures. You may experience longer and perhaps slower lines the first few weeks of school. This usually resolves within a couple of weeks once everyone settles into the routine and procedures of carpool. Please take time to read the carpool procedures to make sure you have an understanding of how the carpool lines will work. Thank you for your patience and assistance.

Also, we have developed instructional carpool videos. Please click on the link to find a video for each carpool line. ​https://vimeo.com/album/5339410

**PLEASE NOTE​: Due to 2019-2020 program changes there is NO LONGER an 11:45 am carpool. Our earliest dismissal time is now at 12:45. The 11:45 video tutorial will show what to do for the 12:45 carpool line. The carpool runs the same, there is just a time change!
*Please be sure to share the carpool procedures and video link with others who may be dropping off or picking up your child. This includes grandparents, other relatives, babysitters, etc. It is important for everyone to know the procedures for each carpool line.

July 2019

Dear Parents of BCS Lower School Students,

We want to remind you of our cell phone and electronic device policy found in our Lower School Handbook. This policy states:

Cell phones and other electronic communication devices must be powered off and stored in the student’s book bag during school hours. The use of these devices is prohibited during school hours, which include dismissal and carpool, after school care and study hall, and BCS shuttle transport.

We want to clarify that this policy states and includes the statement “other electronic communication devices”. Here are some examples of personal ELECTRONIC DEVICES that
are NOT allowed to be used or “powered on” during school hours: Gaming devices, iPods, iPads, tablets, Smart watches (i.e.: Apple’s iWatch, Moto 360, Samsung Gear 2, Gizmos, VTech Watches and all other Smart watch brands with Internet access), MP3 players, Game Boys, Nooks, Kindles, cameras, recorders or other electronic devices. This includes any device that allows for email, messaging, photography, videoing or texting. (This does not include devices such as cell phones that are used to monitor severe health issues. Medical devices of this nature must be approved by school administrators on a case by case basis.)

Please note that students may not wear any type of “Smart Watch” even if the cell phone or other device that “powers” the watch is turned off. In the past, we have let these “slide” and
allowed students to wear them since they were assumed to be “disabled”, but we are no longer able to monitor these devices and will not allow students to wear them to school. (This policy change was implemented during the 2017-2018 school year.) 

While we discourage students from bringing any type of cell phone or device to school even in a “powered off” state in their book bag, we understand that there may be a situation that makes it necessary for your child to have a phone or electronic device with them for use after they are off campus. Again, remember that ALL devices must be powered off and kept in book bags during school hours.

Any student who does not follow these guidelines will have the device taken up and sent to the office. School Administration will determine a plan of action for the violation of school
policy. A parent must pick up the device from an administrator. Devices will not be returned to students. Please know that this policy is in place to protect our students and provide the very best learning environment for them

Thank you for your support,

Mrs. Tasha Holliday and Mrs. Jennifer Bandy

Over 800 students bless us daily in our Early Childhood and Elementary School programs. We seek to provide a safe and secure environment for them at all times, including arrival and dismissal times. In addition to safety and security for our students, we attempt to be good citizens on surrounding public roads and good neighbors to the medical facilities on Bissell Road. Your cooperation in following these procedures will help in achieving these goals.
 

Morning Carpool
● Before 7:40 am, students must be dropped off at the gym lobby entrance. If you drop off your child for early care in the gym on the side carpool area, please note that ​this is ​not​ a park and walk zone.​ If your child needs assistance getting into the gym, please park in one of the parking spaces close to the gym or down by the playground and walk them into the gym. Please do not pull to the side and park in the gym drop off line, by doing so you are blocking traffic and creating a traffic jam that is backing up past the front parking lot​. The line should flow smoothly and is designed to be a quick drop off line.​ If your child is not ready to exit the car when you reach the drop off zone or if they will require assistance, we kindly ask that you park and assist your child as needed. Blocking the carpool drop off line causes other drivers to go around parked cars and this puts students, parents, and others at risk for a dangerous accident.

● Reminder: The Lion Lobby (front of school) is not a holding/drop off area before 7:40.

● After 7:40, cars entering from Acton Road must drop off students in front of the school and cars entering from Altadena Road must drop off students at the gym lobby entrance​. Cars entering from Altadena Road may ​not​ blend into the front (Acton Road) carpool line for drop-off. Students may ​not​ use other church entrances.

● From 7:45 until 8:00, cars on Bissell Road should turn right at Briarwood Trace (toward The Barn) and proceed to the circle before lining up​. Cars must not block the entrances to Kirklin Clinic or Children’s South and must not be backed up on Acton Road.

● Parents who wish to walk their children into the building should use ​Parking Lot A (in the front) ​and cross at the cross walk in front of the Children’s Auditorium, where the crossing guard is directing traffic. Students may not be dropped off in any parking lot. ​For safety reasons, do not cross in the carpool at the front of school by the flagpole.

● Do not park on the perimeter road to exit a car during carpool. This is not safe.

● Cars in the drop-off line should drive down to the last drop-off station before
stopping. This allows many students to be dropped off at the same time.

● Students must ​exit the car on the ​school side onl​y​. Students should be ​ready to exit
when the car approaches the drop-off line.

● If you use the front carpool line, please do not block the entrance of Parking Lot A.

● Please refrain from cell phone use in the carpool line.

● If you are using SIDE CARPOOL (Altadena Road entrance), please remember to deliver students in the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom. When exiting the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom, please make a right turn (heading back towards Altadena Road). Side carpool traffic needs to flow in ONE direction. Please DO NOT attempt to make a left turn. Please do not ask the teacher on duty to move cones to allow you to enter or exit the side carpool line.

● If you arrive to school after 8:00 AM carpool is finished and there are no adults remaining outside on duty, you MUST park and walk your child(ren) into the building for check-in. Students are not allowed to walk in after 8:00 unattended.

Late Start Thursday Morning Carpool​:
● Before 8:10 am, students must be dropped off at the gym lobby entrance.​ If you drop off your child for early care in the gym on the side carpool area, please note that this is ​not​ a park and walk zone.​ If your child needs assistance getting into the gym, please park in one of the parking spaces close to the gym or down by the playground and walk them into the gym. Please do not pull to the side and park in the gym drop off line, by doing so you are blocking traffic and creating a traffic jam that is backing up past the front parking lot​. The line should flow smoothly and is designed to be a quick drop off line.​ If your child is not ready to exit the car when you reach the drop off zone or if they will require assistance, we kindly ask that you park and assist your child as needed. Blocking the carpool drop off line causes other drivers to go around parked cars and this puts students, parents, and others at risk for a dangerous accident.

● After 8:10 am, cars entering from Acton Road must drop off students in front of the school and cars entering from Altadena Road must drop off students at the gym lobby entrance​. Cars entering from Altadena Road may ​not​ blend into the front (Acton Road) carpool line for drop-off. Students may ​not​ use other church entrances.

● From 8:10 until 8:45, cars on Bissell Road should turn right at Briarwood Trace (toward The Barn) and proceed to the circle before lining up​. Cars must not block the entrances to Kirklin Clinic or Children’s South and must not be backed up on Acton Road.

● Parents who wish to walk their children into the building should use ​Parking Lot A (in the front) ​and cross at the cross walk in front of the Children’s Auditorium, where the crossing guard is directing traffic. Students may not be dropped off in any parking lot. ​For safety reasons, do not cross in the carpool at the front of school by the flagpole.

● Do not park on the perimeter road to exit a car during carpool. This is not safe.

● Cars in the drop-off line should drive down to the last drop-off station beforestopping. This allows many students to be dropped off at the same time.

● Students must ​exit the car on the ​school side onl​y​. Students should be ​ready to exit
when the car approaches the drop-off line.

● If you use the front carpool line, please do not block the entrance of Parking Lot A.

● Please refrain from cell phone use in the carpool line.

● If you are using SIDE CARPOOL (Altadena Road entrance), please remember to
deliver students in the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom. When exiting the drop off area by the gym/lunchroom, please make a right turn (heading back towards Altadena Road). Side carpool traffic needs to flow in ONE direction. Please DO NOT attempt to make a left turn. Please do not ask the teacher on duty to move cones to allow you to enter or exit the side carpool line.

● If you arrive to school after 8:45 AM carpool is finished and there are no adults remaining outside on duty, you MUST park and walk your child(ren) into the building for check-in. Students are not allowed to walk in after 8:45 unattended.

Carpool Procedures for Pick-ups

12:45 and 2:20 Carpools

● Carpool number/s should be displayed on the rearview mirror when cars are in the carpool line.

● Students must be picked up in front of the school. Parents are encouraged to enter the
campus from Acton Road. However, if parents choose to enter the campus from Altadena Road, they may not blend into the carpool line for pick-up. They must join the carpool line at the end by driving past the gym and down the hill to the Acton Road entrance.

● We have implemented a new traffic flow for 2:20 carpool. As you come up onto the campus, 2:20 drivers should proceed up the hill and turn into Parking Lot A. You will notice that we have two carpool lines for 2:20 carpool. Line One will line up first and fill up to the sign as to not block the entrance into Parking Lot A, then we will start Line Two, and they will line up closest to the curbside.

3:00 Carpool
● The large-sized carpool number card(s) should be displayed on the rearview mirror
when cars are in the carpool line. ​Please note that pocket-sized carpool cards may not be used in the carpool line​. If you do not have your large card for the carpool line, you will need to park and come into the Lion Lobby to check-out your child(ren).

● At 3:00, students should consistently be picked up at either the front entrance or the gym entrance. ​The pick-up location should be confirmed with your child and teacher on the first day of school and should be consistent.​ ​From 2:45 until 3:10, cars on Bissell Road should turn right at Briarwood Trace (toward The Barn) and proceed to the circle before lining up.​ Cars must not block the entrances to Kirklin Clinic or Children’s South and must not be backed up on Acton Road.

● Cars arriving before 2:20 to pick up students from 3:00 carpool should wait in the carpool line on the Barn Road until the police officer on duty signals. When cars advance, they should pull down to the last loading station. This allows many students to be loaded at the same time.

● Please DO NOT block the entrance to Parking Lot A.

● Parents who pick up in 3:00 side carpool are asked to exit on Altadena Road. Please do not circle around and mix into the front carpool line to exit on Acton Road. This slows down the front carpool line.

● Students who have after-school activities at Briarwood must go to the school lunchroom to check out with the teacher on duty. Ballet students should follow the guidelines provided by the Briarwood Ballet School after checking out with the teacher on duty. Other activity leaders (e.g., scout leaders, coaches, music teachers) must come to the lunchroom to check out the students. ​No students are allowed to leave without the responsible adult checking them out. No students are allowed to roam the building unsupervised.

● Parents who need to pick up their child in the building must go through the Lion Lobby to obtain a pass before going to the lunchroom to retrieve student(s) (See lunchroom pickup information). At 3:00 a teacher will be on duty in the lunchroom for checkout.

● Students with unusual riding arrangements (e.g., going home with a friend) must bring a written note stating the specific arrangement and the responsible adult and carpool number. We must have this information in writing and signed by a parent.

● If an emergency circumstance arises during the school day that requires notification of a student about a change, parents may call or email the School Office ​by 2:00 for 2:20 dismissal and by 2:40 for 3:00 dismissal.

● A student will not be called from the office for checkout between 2:45 and 3:00 unless the teacher and the office have been notified in advance.

● Students in first and second grades should be picked up at 2:20 unless they have a sibling or carpool member in the 3:00 dismissal. If parents need to pick up later than 2:20 and the student is not in a carpool with an older student, the student must be registered for After School Care.

● When carpool ends, students in grades 3-6 who have not been picked up will be escorted to After School Study Hall. Generally, carpool lines finish about 20 minutes after they begin. Parents who miss the 11:45 and 2:20 carpool lines must park and walk into the building to pick up kindergarten, first, and second grade students. Parents of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students who miss the 3:00 carpool line may check out their child from the receptionist in the Lion Lobby. After 3:30, students will be charged for After School Study Hall.

Please be patient the first few weeks of school as we get back into the routine of carpool line and new parents and students learn the procedures. You may experience longer and perhaps slower lines the first few weeks of school. This usually resolves within a couple of weeks once everyone settles into the routine and procedures of carpool. Please take time to read the carpool procedures to make sure you have an understanding of how the carpool lines will work. Thank you for your patience and assistance.

Also, we have developed instructional carpool videos. Please click on the link to find a video for each carpool line. ​https://vimeo.com/album/5339410

**PLEASE NOTE​: Due to 2019-2020 program changes there is NO LONGER an 11:45 am carpool. Our earliest dismissal time is now at 12:45. The 11:45 video tutorial will show what to do for the 12:45 carpool line. The carpool runs the same, there is just a time change!
*Please be sure to share the carpool procedures and video link with others who may be dropping off or picking up your child. This includes grandparents, other relatives, babysitters, etc. It is important for everyone to know the procedures for each carpool line.

July 2019

Dear Parents of BCS Lower School Students,

We want to remind you of our cell phone and electronic device policy found in our Lower School Handbook. This policy states:

Cell phones and other electronic communication devices must be powered off and stored in the student’s book bag during school hours. The use of these devices is prohibited during school hours, which include dismissal and carpool, after school care and study hall, and BCS shuttle transport.

We want to clarify that this policy states and includes the statement “other electronic communication devices”. Here are some examples of personal ELECTRONIC DEVICES that
are NOT allowed to be used or “powered on” during school hours: Gaming devices, iPods, iPads, tablets, Smart watches (i.e.: Apple’s iWatch, Moto 360, Samsung Gear 2, Gizmos, VTech Watches and all other Smart watch brands with Internet access), MP3 players, Game Boys, Nooks, Kindles, cameras, recorders or other electronic devices. This includes any device that allows for email, messaging, photography, videoing or texting. (This does not include devices such as cell phones that are used to monitor severe health issues. Medical devices of this nature must be approved by school administrators on a case by case basis.)

Please note that students may not wear any type of “Smart Watch” even if the cell phone or other device that “powers” the watch is turned off. In the past, we have let these “slide” and
allowed students to wear them since they were assumed to be “disabled”, but we are no longer able to monitor these devices and will not allow students to wear them to school. (This policy change was implemented during the 2017-2018 school year.) 

While we discourage students from bringing any type of cell phone or device to school even in a “powered off” state in their book bag, we understand that there may be a situation that makes it necessary for your child to have a phone or electronic device with them for use after they are off campus. Again, remember that ALL devices must be powered off and kept in book bags during school hours.

Any student who does not follow these guidelines will have the device taken up and sent to the office. School Administration will determine a plan of action for the violation of school
policy. A parent must pick up the device from an administrator. Devices will not be returned to students. Please know that this policy is in place to protect our students and provide the very best learning environment for them

Thank you for your support,

Mrs. Tasha Holliday and Mrs. Jennifer Bandy

You can find the full course selection guide here.