Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival Procedures
Our procedures ensure safety and efficiency for our Bennett Bears and Bennett Staff.
Doors Open at 7:40am
Tardy Bell Rings at 8:10am
Breakfast is served in the cafeteria from 7:40am-8:05am.
At 7:40am, all students will walk directly to their homeroom class.
Carpool
You may drop students off at the front or back of the building. A staff member will be at the door to greet students and safety patrol members will assist with students exiting vehicles.
Students MUST exit the passenger side of the vehicle.
If your child is not able to exit the vehicle independently, or is not able to unbuckle their own seat belt, you are required to park, assist your child, and walk them to the front door. Staff are not able to assist with seat belts or safety seats.
NO parking is allowed in the front carpool or back carpool lanes. If you need to park, utilize the front parking lot. This ensures our carpool line is continuously moving.
DO NOT drop students off in the parking lot. If you do not wish to exit your vehicle, utilize the carpool lane. Our parking lot is busy in the morning and drivers may not see students.
Bikes/Scooters
We have several bike racks available for students to use during the school day. We recommend the use of a bike lock. Helmets may be kept in the student’s locker or cubby during the school day.
Dismissal Procedures
Our procedures ensure safety and efficiency for our Bennett Bears and Bennett Staff.
Dismissal begins at 3:20pm
All students should be picked up by 3:30pm
All families are provided a dismissal tag. If you do not have your dismissal tag, you are required to show a valid government ID to school staff.
Carpool
Front Carpool is for Kindergarten,1st, 2nd
Back Carpool is for 3rd, 4th, 5th
Siblings in 3rd, 4th, 5th will wait for their their younger sibling in Front Carpool
Stay in your car and have your dismissal tag and number visible. A staff member will text the number to staff inside to expedite students exiting the building.
Students will wait at the cone.
Pull your vehicle up to the cone.
Students will enter the vehicle from the PASSENGER SIDE only
Students will only be released to a car with a dismissal tag. If you forget yours, you must park in the front parking lot and go to the front office, with a valid government identification, to pick up your student(s). We are happy to replace lost tags.
Parent Walk-up
Line begins at the front door of the school.
Students are only dismissed from the front door.
Students will only be released to Parents/Grown-ups with a dismissal tag. If you forget yours, present a valid government ID at the front office to pick up your student(s). We are happy to replace lost tags.
Park in the FRONT parking lot
Park in designated spaces and use the crosswalk so we can keep carpool traffic flowing.
Staff will not allow students to cross the crosswalk into the parking lot without an Adult/ Grown-up
Walk Away Students/Bike and Scooter Riders
These students meet their Parent/Grown-up off campus at a meeting spot OR walk all the way home
Parents/Grown-ups who come on campus or park MUST pick their student up at the Parent Walk-up Dismissal station at the front of the building.
Dismissal Stations for the 26/27 school year
Form to let us know how your student will go home on the 1st day, and everyday after that.
Dismissal Station and Description
Club 360 - must sign up through McKinney ISD Club 360
Daycare Bus - Students attend a local daycare and their bus/van picks up from Bennett. Let your student’s teacher know the name and address of the Daycare
Front Carpool - Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd ONLY - Student picked up in the FRONT car line
Back Carpool - 3rd, 4th, 5th ONLY - Student picked up in the BACK car line. 3rd, 4th, 5th graders with a K-2 sibling will go to front carpool
Parent Walk-up - parent parks in front lot and joins line at front door
FRONT Walk Away/biker - students in Kinder - 5th grades. Student walks/bikes/scooters home OR meets their grown-up off campus and leaves out the cafeteria door to walk West & South of the campus. This crossing guard is in the front of the school. The front lot is reserved for the Parent Walk up dismissal station.
BACK Walk Away/biker - Students in Kinder - 5th grades. - Student walks/bikes/scooters home OR meets their grown-up off campus and leaves out the door of the gym. This is the best option for students walking NORTH or meeting their Grown-up at the church or park. This crossing guard is Ms. Betty, at the back of the school.
Parents/Guardians/Grown-ups may not wait for your student near the front door or near the bike rack. If you want to meet your student on campus, join the Parent Walk-up Dismissal station.
For safety reasons, anyone coming on campus MUST join the parent walk-up line OR be in a vehicle utilizing a designated carpool lane. This is the only way staff can verify dismissal safety numbers.
Students should NEVER walk into the parking lot without an adult. Staff will NOT allow a student to cross the crosswalk without an adult.
Students should NEVER cross Coronado Drive or Round Hill Drive to get into a vehicle.
No parking on Roundhill Drive as this impacts the traffic in our Front Carpool.
What if I need to change the way my child is going home?
On Meet the Teacher Night you will tell your student's teacher how they are going home on the 1st day of school AND every day after that.
If you need to CHANGE the way your student is going home, you will be required to complete the dismissal change form.
This notifies the office AND your student's teacher of the dismissal change. The office sends an email daily at 2:50pm to all staff with the changes.
You may email your teacher the dismissal change, but understand the teacher may not see the email until after the instructional day.
Example: my child is a front carpool rider everyday. Their sibling is ill and I need them to walk home. I would complete the form to notify the school.
Bad Weather Dismissal Procedures
Student Safety is our priority! Yes, it will take longer!
Students who walk or ride a bike/scooter home will NOT be dismissed if there is hail, thunder, lightening, sleet/ice.
An Administrator will determine when it is safe to dismiss students.
Parents/Grown-ups who want to pick up their student should join a CARPOOL line (front or back) or the Parent Walk-up line. You MUST have your dismissal tag or go to the office with a valid ID to pick up your student.
Staff will NOT dismiss directly to parents from the Walk Away/Biker (front or back). You will be asked to join the Parent Walk-up line.
All other dismissal stations will proceed as usual.