School phone number: (540)828-6081

With school starting in just a few hours we wanted to send out a special edition of the Jaguar-Jiggy Journal so that tomorrow will be as smooth and joyful for you and your children. In this special edition you will find information about John Wayland Elementary School's drop-off/pick-up process, helpful information about school buses, and tips from our school counselors about how to make the entire first day experience enjoyable and safe.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, school buses are the safest vehicles on the road, and one of the safest modes of transportation overall. In fact, children are much safer traveling in school buses than in any other vehicle, whether they're going to and from school, a field trip, or a sporting event. They are even safer riding in a school bus than in a car with their parents or caregivers.

Riding the school bus safely involves several important tips for elementary school students. Be on time, stand away from the curb, and wait for the bus to stop completely before approaching. JWE and the transportation department request that students wait for the bus at least 5 minutes before it is scheduled to pick-up.  Please remind your children that once they are on board they should sit down quickly, face forward, and keep their belongings out of the aisle. And of course, they should always listen to the bus driver and follow their instructions. 

Once the children get to school there will be many staff members ready for them to unload and find their way to their class.  

Morning Student Drop-off begins at 7:50AM* and ends at 8:15AM each day.  Our school day begins at 8:20, and any child not inside at that time will need to be brought into the building and checked in through our office.

Morning Traffic Flow

1. Enter the parking lot and take the big loop around our north lot. Be sure not to block any intersections. Pull all the way around to our crosswalk and line up behind the other vehicles.

2. Say all of your goodbyes and have students ready with belongings in hand by the time your vehicle reaches the crosswalk.

3. At 7:50AM, duty staff will come outside to signal that students are able to exit vehicles and enter our building. The first 3-4 vehicles in line unload simultaneously.  Students will enter the building through our yellow hallway doors - these are closest to the drop-off zone.**  

4. After you have dropped your student off, exit the parking lot by driving through the staff lot in the front of the school (NOT our Bus Lane).  All traffic is expected to yield to buses at all times while on campus.

*We cannot have students exit vehicles or enter the building any earlier as it creates supervision/safety issues.

**We ask that students unload on the passenger-side of the vehicle whenever possible - this is the side closest to our building.

Afternoon parent pick-up begins as soon as the last school buses are loaded and leave the parking lot.  This is usually around 3:05PM, but there are occasions when things are delayed.  Please plan accordingly. The process is very similar to the process for dropping off your child.

Afternoon Traffic Flow

1. Enter the parking lot and take the big loop around our north lot.  At the crosswalk families will check-in with a staff member, providing the number of the child they are picking up.*** 

2. School staff will verify that the person picking up your child is on the list of adults allowed to do so in our system.*

3. After the buses leave, parents will pull around to the front of the school where staff will direct you to the left or right lane.

4. Wait for a staff member to bring your student to the vehicle.

Special note: We ask that all adults remain in the vehicle in order to keep traffic moving. Staff are happy to assist children as needed. If your child needs significant assistance entering or exiting a vehicle, please park in our upper parking lot and walk them across the crosswalk to our entry area.

***Duty staff will verify the adult is on our approved pick-up list.  Please ensure that you keep us up to date with any changes in who is allowed and/or not allowed to pick up your child from school.

As school counselors, our role at JWE is to support ALL students through classroom guidance lessons. We will talk more about our role in the coming weeks. Other levels of support we provide includes:

• Addressing food & other basic needs 

• Prevention and skill building small groups

• Individual short-term check-ins

The first day of school is full of excitement, but it can definitely bring some nervous feelings (for both kids and parents)! One of the best ways to ease those nerves is to practice and establish school routines at home. Sleep is an essential part of your student’s learning experience - adjusting bedtimes and morning wake-ups can help ensure your child is well rested and comes to school ready to learn. You can also help establish a routine by practicing eating meals in the allotted time (around 20 minutes per class), packing/cleaning up, and talking through what transportation will look like. Children feel more confident when they know what to expect.