Principal’s Message 02-12-26

St. Margaret of Scotland Families:

I hope you all have had a wonderful week and are enjoying the warm weather.  I would like to take a moment to provide a gentle reminder about our arrival and dismissal procedures.  It has been brought to my attention that there may be some confusion about our policies.  I am going to put them in this message below.  

I ask that you please re-familiarize yourself with these procedures and follow them during arrival and dismissal.  They are in place for the safety of our students, many of whom walk and ride their bikes to school.  

God Bless,

Patrick Holley

Drop Off and Pick Up: Our Students’ Safety Comes First

Between the times of 7:30-7:50am and 3:00-3:15pm – FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN – no one is permitted on the dragon’s playground.  At 3:15pm, the chain is put in place, and children may run and play.

ARRIVAL:

Families of Preschoolers

• It is required that our little ones be walked to the Lawrence doors and be escorted from the door to classrooms by a school staff member. 
• Vehicles may be parked on Lawrence or on the 4000 block of Castleman (west of Lawrence).  (Please do not leave anything of value visible in your vehicle.)
• Please do not block driveways or crosswalks, or park in non-parking areas, or block the streets temporarily in an effort to quickly drop off or pick up your child.
• Please do not park on Castleman east of Lawrence.

Families of Kindergartners through Eighth Graders

• Arrival time is between 7:30 and 7:50am for all students.  When students arrive, they go directly to their homeroom. 
• During that time, SMOS faculty and staff will be scheduled to be present outside to ensure the safety of each child as they enter the school building.  

Walkers

• K through 8 families who prefer to park and walk their children to school may park on Lawrence, on the 4000 block of Castleman (west of Lawrence), or on Shaw, but not on Castleman east of Lawrence/the school playground.
• Between 7:30 and 7:50am SMOS families may not park in the Castleman Circle or anywhere on the 3900 block of Castleman (east of Lawrence).

Vehicle Drop Off

• Adults who prefer to remain in their vehicles using the Castleman drive-through onto Shaw thoroughfare must follow these directives:
  • Heading west on Castleman Ave from 39 Street, vehicles will queue up at the curb at the playground.  When the Castleman drive-through thoroughfare is opened, vehicles will move forward towards Shaw Ave.
    • Faculty will be present to greet the children as they exit the vehicle from the driver’s side.
    • Children exiting on the passenger side must walk in front of their own car – not in the back of their car – to get to the blacktop
    • Upon leaving their vehicles, children will proceed directly to their homeroom. 
  • At 7:50am, when the queue of vehicles is finished, the Castleman drive-through will be closed off until dismissal at the end of the day.
• PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO EXIT YOUR CAR ON CASTLEMAN (BEFORE PULLING INTO THE DRIVE-THROUGH) TO RUN ACROSS THE STREET.  

DISMISSAL:

Families of Preschoolers 

• Parents will pick up their preschool students from the Lawrence doors.  
• Parents will hold signs signaling their family name.  These signs will be included in your family packet at packet pick-up day.
• Teachers will bring preschool students to the door.  
• Preschool pickup will be between 2:45-3:15pm.

Families of Kindergartners through Eighth Graders

• Dismissal time for all students is at 3:00pm, with pick-up between 3:00pm and 3:15pm; during that time, SMOS faculty and staff will be present to ensure the safety of our children.

Walkers

• All students will exit through the designated “exit” door of their building.  
• Siblings who are walking home together or need to pick up a younger sibling will have a designated place on the black top to meet before walking home. 
• K through 8th grade families who prefer to park and walk onto the playground to greet their children may park on Lawrence, on the 4000 block of Castleman (west of Lawrence), or on Shaw. 
• Between 3:00pm and 3:15pm, SMOS families may not park in the Castleman Circle or anywhere on the 3900 block of Castleman (east of Lawrence Ave).

Vehicle Pick Up

• Adults who prefer to remain in their cars using the Castleman drive-through thoroughfare must follow these directives:
  • Heading west on Castleman Ave from 39 Street, vehicles will queue up at the curb entering the playground.  When the Castleman drive-through thoroughfare is opened, vehicles will move forward.  
  • Students being picked up in the drive-through lane will remain in their classrooms until their name is called by a staff member via walkie-talkie.  
  • Each family will be required to post a sign in their car signaling their family name.  These signs will be included in your family packet at packet pick-up day.
  • All vehicles will move along the drive-through.
    • Children will enter cars from the driver’s side unless the driver indicates that the child should cross over to enter the vehicle from the far side.
      • The child will walk in front of his / her car.
    • If the child has not come outside, the driver may be sent to the parking spaces next to Purcell Hall, towards Shaw, to wait rather than hold up the entire line of cars.
  • At 3:15pm, when the queue of vehicles has ended, the Castleman drive-through will be closed off until after 6:00pm for evening meetings.
    • At 3:15 pm, when the Castleman drive-through thoroughfare is closed, the Dragon’s Playground is open; children and parents are invited to play.