This Week at Canterbury: November 4

Good Afternoon Canterbury Families,

Our parking lot continues to see a high volume of traffic during both drop-off in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon. We have noticed that cars are parking along the woods on the south side of the parking lot. We ask that families not park in this area as it does not allow for a clear path around the fence for the buses entering the parking lot.

In an effort to ensure consistency within the parking lot, I am once again including our traffic plan for your review. Please take time to read the plan so that everyone understands the guidelines that are in place on a daily basis. In order to try and improve the situation, we are exploring the possibility of bringing in civil engineering students from a local university in order to evaluate the parking lot.

The Canterbury Traffic Plan was designed for the safety of our students. We appreciate and know we can count on your full cooperation and patience in following the plan. Please share the following rules with any other drivers who may be transporting your child. It is important that adults model safe traffic patterns for children.

Since our parking lot is so small, it can be quite hectic. Please read the procedures over carefully and call if you are unclear about any part. If everyone follows the procedures, things should go smoothly and safely.

Traffic Plan Review
In the morning, the buses will go through the gates at the bottom of the parking lot and park by the sidewalk next to the building. The buses will need to go through the bottom of the lot and up the middle of the playground so a path will need to be left for them. Day care vans will go through the lanes in the parking lot and park by the sidewalk next to the building. If you wish to leave your car, please park in the lot or in a single line by the fence. Other cars should form three lines on the playground.

In order to address the traffic congestion in the parking lot after school, the buses will load on the track. This means the buses will be driving on the track in a counter-clockwise direction at the end of the day, and the bus students will leave through the front door. This means that we will need to keep a lane open on the playground that allows for the buses to make a continuous loop on the track. We will make every effort to put out cones on a daily basis so that this lane is kept open, but in the event we are not able to put out cones please keep the track lane open.

Please DO NOT asks your child to go between buses or cars. Please pull up to the curb to pick up your child in the afternoon and/or drop off your child in the morning. DO NOT block where the buses and cars will enter.

You will notice there is a handicapped accessible parking spot. Please leave this spot for people with handicapped stickers. Unauthorized cars parked or waiting for students in handicapped designated areas are subject to being ticketed. Also, there are six spots reserved for teachers who travel to various schools during the day and need to be on time for classes. Please leave these spots open so teachers can arrive promptly to class.

Walkers
Students walking to school should stay on the sidewalks or paths and stay off private property. They are expected to observe safety rules when crossing streets, especially when cars and busses are present. Remind them not to accept rides with strangers or approach cars to answer questions. They are to leave school grounds immediately upon dismissal.

Bikers
Students who ride their bikes are expected to walk their bikes when in front of the building. They are to be careful around pedestrians and follow safety precautions when on the road. Bike racks are available on the east playground. Bike locks are suggested.

We encourage all families to walk to and from school when possible. This promotes fitness, helps our environment and alleviates the parking congestion we have at the start and end of each school day.

Please check this Weekly for important information regarding various school and district activities. As always, please contact me with any Good News or questions at 423-2770 or christian.pleister@greendale.k12.wi.us.

Important Information and Upcoming Events…

Canterbury Food Drive
Canterbury will once again be hosting a food drive during the month of November. For more information, please click here.

Scholastic Book Fair
Our Book Fair this year will be held during the week of December 5. You can preview the Book Fair by visiting the following site: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/canterbury2011

PTO Meeting
We will be holding a PTO meeting on Friday, November 11 at 8:45 a.m in the basement of the Greendale Public Library (enter through the Health Department). We are holding this meeting in an effort to accommodate those families who could not attend the evening meeting in October. We will cover the topics that were covered at that meeting in order to gather additional parent feedback.

WKCE Testing
Third, Fourth and Fifth grade students will be taking the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) in November. Third grade will be testing during the week of October 31, fourth grade will be testing during the week of November 7 and fifth grade will be testing during the week of November 14. We will be adjusting the daily schedules of many classrooms in order to accommodate the testing, so we thank you in advance for your flexibility and patience during this important time of the school year.

Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the week of November 21. Every classroom teacher has set up a schedule online through SignUpGenius. Please visit your child’s classroom website for specific information. If you are unable to attend conferences during the slotted times, contact your child’s teacher in order to make alternative arrangements. We place a high value on family involvement, so we will make every effort to accommodate individual requests.

November Calendar
11/11: Popcorn Day
11/18: Early Release at 11:30 a.m.
11/22: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
11/23: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 8:00-11:30 a.m.
11/23-25: NO SCHOOL-Thanksgiving Break