Blue Zone Reminder
There are many ways to get to school: walk, bike, bus, and parent drop-off. Periodically throughout the year, we like to remind everybody of Blue Zone safety and other important tips for drop-off and pick-up. Now that it is cold and we are dealing with ice and snow we have more people using the Blue Zone, so it seems like a good time for a reminder!
THE BLUE ZONE:
The Blue Zone are the two zones (directly in front of the school and directly across from it) that are marked by signs and blue paint on the curb. These are the designated areas for parent drop off and pickup.
PLEASE abide by the Blue Zone rules to ensure that dismissal and drop off is as safe as possible for our children. PLEASE share with all caregivers, such as grandparents, nannies and babysitters. Even if you don't use the Blue Zone, legal parking is important to keep in mind for safety. Often leaving just a few minutes earlier for pickup alleviates the stress of finding a good place to park.
Some helpful tips:
Students in grade K-2 should be picked up on the school side of the road. This will ensure that the teachers see you pull up and can get your child to you quickly and safely.
Any motor vehicle may stop in a Blue Zone location only long enough to let a child enter or exit the vehicle. You can't get out to run them inside or wait to watch them go in - you need to keep moving! If you need to do bring your child in or you want to watch them get inside, please find a parking space so you can walk together.
The Blue Zone doesn't work for everybody - and that's OK! If that's the case, enjoy a walk to school or prepare to park and walk up to Burr together.
OTHER NOTES:
This year Newton has added NO IDLING signs in the blue zones. These are a great reminder to turn off your car while waiting to drop off or pick up your student. Turning off your car improves air quality for everyone around you and reduces pollutants that can be particularly harmful for our students with asthma.
Together we can make the drop-off and pick-up safe for all!
THE BLUE ZONE:
The Blue Zone are the two zones (directly in front of the school and directly across from it) that are marked by signs and blue paint on the curb. These are the designated areas for parent drop off and pickup.
PLEASE abide by the Blue Zone rules to ensure that dismissal and drop off is as safe as possible for our children. PLEASE share with all caregivers, such as grandparents, nannies and babysitters. Even if you don't use the Blue Zone, legal parking is important to keep in mind for safety. Often leaving just a few minutes earlier for pickup alleviates the stress of finding a good place to park.
Some helpful tips:
Students in grade K-2 should be picked up on the school side of the road. This will ensure that the teachers see you pull up and can get your child to you quickly and safely.
Any motor vehicle may stop in a Blue Zone location only long enough to let a child enter or exit the vehicle. You can't get out to run them inside or wait to watch them go in - you need to keep moving! If you need to do bring your child in or you want to watch them get inside, please find a parking space so you can walk together.
The Blue Zone doesn't work for everybody - and that's OK! If that's the case, enjoy a walk to school or prepare to park and walk up to Burr together.
OTHER NOTES:
- Don't let your child out on the driver's side - always the curb side.
- No dropping your child off in the middle of the street. Make sure you are pulled up to a curb, even if there's a backup.
- Don't park in the teacher's lot.
- Do not park in front of the school directly ahead of the bus lane (right before the turn into the small parking lot).
- NO U-turns in front of the school and no turning in residential driveways.
- Pay attention to the signage surrounding the school. For instance, on the school side of Washburn Ave. there's a no parking zone during school hours. When people park there, it makes it difficult for cars (and especially buses) to get through.
- Do not park on Washburn directly across from the end of Pine Street (no parking between the signs is noted). Again, the bus can't take its wide turn onto Pine when cars block Washburn.
- Follow the Burr guidelines about dogs. Please keep your furry friends on a leash and away from the school entrance and the Blue Zone.
- Cross only where there's a crosswalk (and crossing guard where applicable.)
- Do not stand in Pine Street to wait for dismissal or chit chat. We don't want kids standing in the street, so why should adults?
This year Newton has added NO IDLING signs in the blue zones. These are a great reminder to turn off your car while waiting to drop off or pick up your student. Turning off your car improves air quality for everyone around you and reduces pollutants that can be particularly harmful for our students with asthma.
Together we can make the drop-off and pick-up safe for all!