Excelsior Academy

Excelsior Parents/Guardians

School is fast approaching. Here is a basic outline of the carpool procedure. Considering

the geography of our population as well as two year’s worth of experience, we hope to

have worked out a plan that will efficiently meet the needs of our school. Safety is always

our first concern at Excelsior Academy (EA). Please be aware that we will continue to

evaluate carpool as to safety, time, and efficiency. After the first week, any new

information regarding the pick-up procedure will be sent out via the newsletter. Don’t be

surprised if the procedure needs minor “tweaking”.

DROP OFF

You may drop off your scholar(s) no earlier than 7:50 am. An adult will be at the main

crosswalk in order to safely supervise car and pedestrian traffic. You may use either the

lane closest to the main doors or the northern-most lane. Always pull as far forward as

possible.  Remember that the first bell rings at 8:10 am. The final (tardy) bell sounds at

8:15 am.

PICK UP

Pick up will run similarly to last year. (This year, those driving the back roads from

Stansbury Park are asked to enter the blue lane.) You may begin lining up in your

designated pick up lane as early as 3:00 pm. Likewise, you may choose to arrive closer to

3:45 pm. Cars are not to wait in the center turn lane on Erda Way prior to 3:30 pm; on the

road directly in front of EA at any time; or in the gravel in front of homes west of EA at

any time. Cars in these areas cause traffic congestion that is dangerous and frustrating to

our school families as well as Erda residents. Any emergency vehicles MUST  be able to

pass without restriction. Space MUST  be available in the entrance lanes prior to turning

from the street. The sheriff’s office has written citations for blocking Erda Way in the

past. If the main entrance to the academy is full, please drive to Liddell Lane (west of EA)

or to the LDS church parking lot (east of EA) in order to turn around. If you enter the

BLUE or GREEN lanes, this means that you will need to turn around a second time in

order to enter your lane from the correct direction to alleviate restricting or crossing over

lanes.

We have divided the county into three zones noted by color (Map1). These zones

correspond to the lane in which you will pick up your scholar(s). Each entrance lane is

marked with a large painted square consistent with its zone. Please follow your lane

toward its designated pick up area (Map). EA employees, as well as strategically placed

orange cones, will be in place to help ensure scholar safety during pick up.

The zones are as follows.

BLUE : Grantsville, West Erda, Stansbury Park– Driver must head east on Erda Way.

When pulling into the entrance lanes, you will pull into the farthest west lane and go

behind the building to pick up scholars on the east side of the building.

YELLOW : East Tooele, Overlake, and West Tooele to SR—112 (200 N), —Driver may

head either east or west on Erda Way. Enter the middle entrance lane. When pulling into

the pick up zone, you will be in the lane closest to the school and pick up scholars at the

front of the building.

GREEN : Stansbury Park, East Erda, Pine Canyon, Lake Point, Southwest Tooele (south of

S-112—200 N), Rush Valley, Stockton, and all other locations—Driver must head west on

Erda Way. Enter the farthest-east lane. When pulling into the pick up zone, you will be in

the northern-most lane picking up scholars in front of the building.

Each family will have an assigned number for pick up. If you are a returning family, it is

the same number as last year. New families should have received a number from the

front office upon registering. This number will be used over the PA system to call your

scholar(s) from the classroom. You will be issued a colored piece of paper at the parent

orientation in August. The color should correspond to your zone. Instruction on number

placement will be given at student orientation. If you are unable to attend this

orientation, please come to the front office prior to the beginning of school in order to pick

up your card. An example will be posted.

Please carry your placard in each car that might come for pick up. This may necessitate

having more than one card per family. Placing the placard in a sheet protector will

prolong its life. The employee “calling” numbers must be able to read the number(s) from

as far as 10 yards. Please make the numbers BIG and BOLD. Two-inch size or 150 font

size is not too big. (No napkins or sticky notes) The card needs to be visible as you enter

the carpool lanes. This might mean you will have your card in the front windshield or on

the driver’s or passenger’s side window.

Actual pick up begins promptly at 3:30 pm. At this time, the caller will begin reading the

numbers of those who have been waiting on EA property along with the numbers for that

day’s volunteers who have given their number(s) to staff. The caller will continue to call

numbers as cars proceed into EA’s driveway. An “all scholars” call will be made between

3:45 and 3:50 pm. Scholars who are not picked up by 3:50 pm will be escorted into the

office where they will be asked to call somebody to get them. They will be under the

supervision of the front-office secretary. The driver will need to fill out a late pick-up form

for their scholar(s). Those consistently failing to pick up scholars by 4:00, will be

contacted. If late pick ups continue, it will be considered a violation of the Acceptance of

Policy.

SCHOLAR

Inside the classroom, each scholar will listen for his/her number. The teacher or

instructor will also listen. He/She will circle the numbers on an overhead as they are

called. At this time each student should quietly exit the classroom and building. Scholars

are to leave the class only when their number is called. All scholars should leave the

school through the main entrance and move directly to their carpool. No scholars should

be wandering the halls to pick up friends or siblings. Scholars are to wait patiently and

quietly in the designated waiting areas. Horseplay of any kind will not be tolerated.

Carpool suspensions will be given when warnings are not heeded. Scholars should only

be picked up within the designated area. Adults will supervise these areas for safety and

movement of both scholar and vehicle.

We have a great procedure. Last year we were able to have all cars off of Erda Way in 15

minutes. This is incredible considering that many charter school carpools take upwards

of 30 minutes. Remember, carpool is a continually improving process. Safety is our main

concern!

As always, we ask that you are considerate to our employees and volunteers who help

with carpool as well as other drivers. If you would like to help with carpool or have

questions, please contact Keri Stoddard (kstoddard@excelsior-academy.org ).