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Arrival and Dismissal

We aim to make student drop-off and pick-up safe for all students and drivers. Please carefully review the maps and written instructions for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up below.

New 2026-2027 Policy

Due to construction at Southwood Elementary, our arrival and dismissal procedures have changed this year. These procedures are designed to keep students, families, and staff safe while maintaining an efficient traffic flow. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

Morning Arrival (7:50–8:25 AM)

  • Please do not arrive before 7:50 AM. Parking is extremely limited due to construction. Arriving early may cause traffic to back up onto State Road 124, creating a significant safety hazard.

  • Student supervision begins at 7:50 AM. Please do not drop off students before 7:50 AM, as staff will not be available to supervise them.

Little Knights & Siblings Drop-Off

The West Parking Lot is reserved exclusively for Little Knights families.

Little Knights Parents may:

  • Park and walk their child to the curb or to the left double doors two doors of the main entrance (Door 1) OR
  • Walk their child to the sidewalk, where an SES staff member will assist them to the main entrance.

Vehicles dropping off Little Knights should follow the established traffic pattern:

  1. Drive in the left lane directly in front of the school (Same as previous years).
  2. Turn left, then a quick right, following the clockwise traffic pattern through the west parking lot before exiting.

General Drop-Off Procedures

  1. Have your child completely ready to exit the vehicle before reaching the drop-off area (backpack on, lunch, instruments, etc.). This helps keep traffic moving efficiently.
  2. Students should always exit from the passenger side of the vehicle (the side next to the sidewalk).
  3. Before leaving the drop-off lane, carefully check for pedestrians and other vehicles, then safely merge into the traffic lane.
  4. Students arriving between 7:50 and 8:05 AM should report directly to the cafeteria.
  5. Students eating breakfast should also report directly to the cafeteria. Breakfast service begins at 7:50 AM.
  6. Students are considered tardy if they are not seated and ready to begin learning by 8:25 AM.

Afternoon Dismissal (2:53-3:10 PM)

  • Student dismissal begins at 2:53 PM.
  • All parent pick-up students (Pre-K through Grade 5) will be dismissed from Door 1, Main Entrance. (LK and siblings will exit the left double doors and K-5 students will exit from the right double doors).
  • Anyone picking up a student should be prepared to present a valid photo ID upon request.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we adjust to these temporary procedures during construction. Working together will help ensure a safe and smooth arrival and dismissal for all students.