Arrival and Dismissal Guidelines

Arrival and Dismissal

  • A car line is organized to manage arrival and dismissal for Primary, Lower School and Middle School.
  • Stepping Stones parents park and walk their children to and from school.
  • Please limit car idling to preserve the environment.
  • Provide yourself with extra time for arrival and dismissal in case of unexpected delays.
  • When in the car line, please be patient and wait your turn to ensure the safety of our children.

 

Arrival

Arrival begins at 7:45 AM for all students. If you arrive early, you may either wait in the car with your child or sign them into the Before School Program.

  • Students should arrive in time to be in their classroom to begin school at 8:00 AM. Stepping Stones students may arrive until 8:30 AM.
  • Please encourage your child to get ready as you wait in line to expedite the drop-off. 
  • Children must exit the car on the sidewalk side. 
  • If arriving late (after 8:00 AM when staff is no longer assisting with drop-offs), students must enter through the Main Entrance and sign in at reception. Stepping Stones families may continue using that entrance until 8:30 AM.
  • Families with multiple children should drop each child off at the appropriate entrance.
  • If you need to get out of the car to assist with unloading, please park in a designated parking space and walk your child to the building.
Locations
  • Stepping Stones: Stepping Stones Entrance.
  • Primary: Brent Oval Entrance. Older siblings can exit the car at this entrance and walk to their appropriate entrance. 
  • Lower School: Main Entrance near the lobby and reception.
  • Middle School: Middle School entrance near the gym.

 

Authorized Drivers

It is important that you add/update your authorized driver's list. These are the people who have permission to pick up your child from school. 

  • Go to the Parent Portal and update your Family Profile.
  • Add or update all authorized drivers in the Contacts Section. 
  • Each household receives placards for their cars prior to the start of the new school year. 
  • Throughout the school year, if there is a change to your authorized driver list, please log on to the Parent Portal and input the new information.
  • If a person has been removed from your authorized driver list, it is a parent's responsibility to secure the Whitby Pick-up Placard from that individual.

 

Placards

  • For a student to get into a car, the placard must be visible on your car visor (affixed with provided elastic bands). 
  • A staff person will put your child in the vehicle as long as the placard is displayed.
  • It is a parent's responsibility NOT to give a Whitby Pick-up Placard to drivers not listed as authorized drivers.

 

Change of Driver

  • If a child is going home with a person who is not on your authorized driver list, please log into the Parent Portal before 2:00 PM and submit an Attendance Update and include the name of the authorized person.
  • For last minute changes, the driver may be asked to pull over while staff confirms the change. We apologize for the delay this might cause.
  • Please DO NOT EMAIL your child’s teacher with pick-up changes. You must submit the change through the Parent Portal by 2 PM or, in the case of a last-minute change, contact the Receptionist.
 
Dismissal Changes

Go to the Parent Portal or Whitby App and click Attendance Update.

  1. Select child’s name.
  2. Select Pick-up change date. You can pick a future date.
  3. Select transportation from school.
  4. Select car.
  5. In the Notes box, include your child's name and grade, as well as the full name of the driver with whom your child will be going home.


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Pick-Up During School Day

Ipick-upf your child need to leave school during the school day (illness, dentist appointment, etc.), please follow this process:

  • Go to the Parent Portal, click Attendance Update, and submit the form.
  • The person picking up the student must be an authorized driver or a one-time person designated by a parent in the notes section.
  • The driver (parent, caregiver, friend) must go to reception and may be asked to show identification before the child is permitted to leave school.
  • The student will meet the driver at the reception or, in the case of an ill child, at the Nurse’s office.

Dismissal

Students should be picked up at the same entrance used for arrival drop-off.

Monday-Thursday

  • Stepping Stones: 11:30 AM, 2:45 PM 
  • Primary 1: 11:45 AM, 2:45 PM 
  • Primary 2/3: 2:45-3:00 PM
  • Lower School: 2:50-3:00 PM
  • Middle School: 3:55-4:05 PM

Friday

  • Stepping Stones: 11:30-11:45 AM
  • Primary: 11:45 AM-Noon
  • Lower School: 2:00-2:10 PM
  • Middle School: 2:00-2:10 PM

After School Programs Dismissal

Monday-Thursday

Children's House | Walk in and pick-up between 3:50-4:00 PM at the library or between 4:50-5:00 PM in the lobby.

Lower & Middle School | Walk in and pick-up in the lobby.

Friday

All Students | Walk in and pick-up in the lobby.

 

Late Pick-Ups

Our duty of care for students extends until your child is picked up. Please pick up your child promptly. Children who are not picked up at the scheduled time will be enrolled in the after school program.

 

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