August 2011
Dear Vandever Parents:
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome all our returning students and our new students to the 2011/12 school year! The teachers and staff are looking forward to sharing many academic experiences with our students.
We are excited that construction on Vandever’s new gym, media center, and classrooms is in full force. However, along with the construction is the complication of the arrival and dismissal of students and parking. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the new procedures we are implementing at Vandever to ensure the safety of our students.
Two of our three parking lots are no longer available for parking. The far north parking lot has been unaffected by the construction and is designated for parent/guest parking. A graveled lot has been constructed to provide additional parking. This temporary parking lot is designated for teacher and staff parking only.
The parking lot closest to the school (north side of the building) is designated for school and daycare busses between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. These students will enter and exit through the north cafeteria door. Construction vehicles will be using it between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The front parking lot now has three one-way lanes for drive-thru pick-up only. You can access these lanes from both Vandever Blvd. and Lions Street. All three lanes exit right turn only. Drivers should never leave their cars at any time. To do so will create a major congestion area. The teachers will load your child into the car.
Each student from Pre-K to 5th grade will be assigned a number. Parents can pick up their child’s number from the classroom teacher at Meet Your Teacher or the first day of school. Students will stay in a designated area until their number is called for pick-up. Parents may not pick up their child from these areas as this will create a distraction for teachers thus slowing down the dismissal process. Children will be called to the office for parents who opt to park and pick them up.
Parents who ask their children to meet them outside at a pre-designated area will only be allowed to cross at the crosswalk where a teacher/crossing guard is present. Do not instruct your child to cross in-between cars, the traffic lanes, or Lions Street where a teacher/crossing guard is not present. To do so will put them in imminent danger. These students will be released with the walkers and bike riders.
Teacher report time is at 8:30 a.m. No students should arrive prior to 8:30 a.m. as there is no supervision. To do so is putting your child at risk.
All students and parents need to enter through the main entrance of the school. Students may enter through the cafeteria doors at 8:30 a.m. to eat breakfast or to wait for the 8:40 a.m. dismissal bell. The school day begins at 8:55 a.m. Any student arriving after 8:40 a.m. may go directly to his/her classroom.
Parents are welcome to walk their child to class but need to check in at the front office and obtain a visitors’ badge. It is important that we know who is in our building at all times. If you choose to drop your child off at the front door we will make sure that he/she arrives safely to his/her classroom.
Be sure to notify your child’s teacher or the front office no later than 3:00 p.m. should you have a change with your child’s daily pick-up arrangement. Last minute notification makes it difficult to relay important information prior to dismissal.
Because of high traffic on the first two days of school (August 25 & 26),students may go directly to their classrooms at 8:30 a.m. Parents walking their child to class will not be required to sign in for a visitors’ badge on these mornings. Beginning Monday, August 29th, all guests must sign in and obtain a visitors’ badge.
Please remember to check-out when you leave.
We want to keep the lines of communication open at all times with our parents however we ask that you do not engage the teacher in conversation during student arrival time or student dismissal time as that interferes with the supervision of children. You are welcome to set up an appointment with the teacher through the office at any time. We are also happy to deliver a message to the teacher for you or put you through to the teacher’s voicemail.
Student safety is our number one priority at Vandever. I am enclosing a map of Vandever’s arrival and dismissal plan. It will take everyone’s cooperation and adherence to these procedures to ensure the safety of all students throughout this time of construction. It is going to be a year of testing one’s patience and endurance but the end result will make it worth any frustration experienced. Thank you for your commitment to your child's education and I look forward to another awesome school year.
Sincerely,
Vicki L. Beckwith, Principal
Vandever Elementary
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Broken Arrow Public Schools (BAPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following people at BAPS have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: The Executive Director of Human Resources should be contacted for all non-student and/or employment related issues at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. The Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services should be contacted for all student issues except those related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. The Director of Special Education should be contacted for all student issues related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. Inquiries concerning non-discrimination can also be made to the United States Department of Education's Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.