Fry dismissal on Tues

[concerned2]

Fry elementary dismissed its students ten minutes early without informing parents. Crossing guards were not present and kids were left out in the cold to wait for parents who were not there in time to pick up the kids. Hard to believe that the kids would be dismissed in such a manner in a life threatening blizzard.

[concerned2]

Dear Fry Families,

I am aware that dismissal was challenging for our community yesterday. Please accept my apologies not creating a smooth and efficient system for dismissal yesterday during our inclement weather. We were dismissing the pick-up line 5 minutes earlier that normal knowing that the family vehicles were here and ready to receive children. The remaining students were asked to be lined up ready to go just after the student's were dismissed for the pick up line. Our intent was to dismiss quickly and effectively when the bell rang. We have learned that dismissal was ineffective for students who were walking/ and or meeting parents at alternate locations.

In the future, we will refine our communication with the staff and the community to dismiss in a more effective manner.

Respectfully,


Moira Arzich, Principal
Fry Elementary School
3204 Tall Grass Drive
Naperville, IL 60564
630-428-7405

[EagleDad]

I'm a little worried from what I hear about a possible circus at White Eagle elementary tomorrow. The drive around is quite tight, and the walks are not cut well, and how do I say this tactfully...some of those moms would just as soon drive over a strangers kid as have their mitzi have to walk 10 feet in the snow.

[Arch]

Feb 3, 2011 18:57:13 GMT -6 EagleDad said:

I'm a little worried from what I hear about a possible circus at White Eagle elementary tomorrow. The drive around is quite tight, and the walks are not cut well, and how do I say this tactfully...some of those moms would just as soon drive over a strangers kid as have their mitzi have to walk 10 feet in the snow.

2 years ago some bimbo in a land rover almost did just that to my little one as she swooped into a neighbor's driveway to wait for her kid instead of parking down the street like everyone else...

[southsidesignmaker]

If the man of the house must buy his better half a 300+ horsepower SUV that tips the scale at 5500+ pounds, a set of drivers lessons at the Naperville test track is a must. Better to have the "homemaker" comfortable with such a powerful unit. These high center of gravity, "gas guzzling pigs" can be a bit difficult to navigate as the roads become more obstructed with snow build up.

The last thing we need is to have a student injured or other drivers injured because the driver of the H2 had no idea of the limitations of the vehicle. Gentleman make sure you show your better half how to properly drive these very powerful machines. Maybe driving lessons as a Valentines gift is in order.

[Arch]

Vehicles up that high also have many blind spots where a small child can be around it and the driver be completely unaware...especially if the driver is engaged in important cell phone conversations regarding what the neighborhood slush wore at the party last week...

[refbasics]

Feb 3, 2011 18:57:13 GMT -6 EagleDad said:

I'm a little worried from what I hear about a possible circus at White Eagle elementary tomorrow. The drive around is quite tight, and the walks are not cut well, and

how do I say this tactfully...some of those moms would just as soon drive over a strangers kid as have their mitzi have to walk 10 feet in the snow.

----------------
it's not just during the winter... i have told my kids for many years now not to assume a driver sees them crossing a street... all the moms are on cell phones all the time... i can't imagine what all these crucial phone calls are about!

[Arch]

They just have to find out what happened on Glee, Jersey Shore and/or whether or not Bernardo will be there teaching Pilates today and just how revealing of an outfit they need to wear for him...

[treehugger]

While I would concur that many of the drivers picking up kids at schools around our district and other districts are women, and statistically traffic issues around the schools could be attributed to female drivers, I would like to point out that there are many boneheaded male drivers as well. Having been a crossing guard for a brief period of my life, I could point out a lot of stupid male driving tricks as well, particularly YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL MALES who need to prove themselves by driving recklessly. Enough said.

[Arch]

Anyone not paying attention to their surroundings while operating a motor vehicle is a hazard...

[casey]

I could write a whole thread just on driving issues around the neighborhood schools. People are pathetic. The number of line jumpers, me-firsters, I play by my own rules, etc. just makes me sick. Why can't everyone play by the rules?

I know drop-off/pick-up procedures are a mess especially at non bus schools but people need to use manners and common sense. IMO, the worst offenses occur at the middle schools. Cars are just parked all over (often directly in front of No parking, standing, stopping signs), kids run out in the street and parents are not paying attention. I've seen a lot of near-misses. My favorite is the big Cad SUV that always shows up at the last minute, doesn't wait in line and zooms up in the driving lane to pick up their baby. Why should THEY wait like the rest of us minions.

I could never be a crossing guard because I wouldn't be able to deal with non-rule followers. Too bad crossing guards can't walk around with big stickers (like the ones given in the high school parking lots) and just slap them on cars ever time they witness a major infraction. Wouldn't that be great?

[treehugger]

I had a few Kodak moments at Scullen; I would agree that MS is much worse than ES.

[doctorwho]

Feb 7, 2011 10:34:29 GMT -6 casey said:

I could write a whole thread just on driving issues around the neighborhood schools. People are pathetic. The number of line jumpers, me-firsters, I play by my own rules, etc. just makes me sick. Why can't everyone play by the rules?

I know drop-off/pick-up procedures are a mess especially at non bus schools but people need to use manners and common sense. IMO, the worst offenses occur at the middle schools. Cars are just parked all over (often directly in front of No parking, standing, stopping signs), kids run out in the street and parents are not paying attention. I've seen a lot of near-misses. My favorite is the big Cad SUV that always shows up at the last minute, doesn't wait in line and zooms up in the driving lane to pick up their baby. Why should THEY wait like the rest of us minions.

I could never be a crossing guard because I wouldn't be able to deal with non-rule followers. Too bad crossing guards can't walk around with big stickers (like the ones given in the high school parking lots) and just slap them on cars ever time they witness a major infraction. Wouldn't that be great?

I like that idea and then the police can ticket them as they drie away -- would raise more revenue than red light cameras and actually do some good

[concerned2]

But how about dismissing children on the day of the blizzard early without notifying parents or the crossing guards?

Don't they have a procedure for indoor recess, yet they can throw these children out on the street early during a blizzard?

[EagleDad]

Feb 8, 2011 22:29:16 GMT -6 concerned2 said:

But how about dismissing children on the day of the blizzard early without notifying parents or the crossing guards?

Don't they have a procedure for indoor recess, yet they can throw these children out on the street early during a blizzard?

That was a very bad call, and should not happen again unless absolutely necessary (which I am relatively certain it was not on that day as at 6PM we still only had < 2 inches of snow). In my opinion, any decision to release a school early should be approved by the superintendent, or and assistant in their absence.