Arrival
The gates on Highwood and Hudson will open at 7:25am for students that are participating in our Running Club. Students who arrive at this time are expected to walk or run the track around the field until the bell rings for them to got to their classrooms. The playgrounds and blacktop area are not available at this time.
Student Drop Off
Unfortunately, for the time being, the district's COVID-19 safety protocol does not permit parents on campus for either drop off or pick up.
Please advise children to use caution when crossing the street. There is a white drop off zone in the front of the school on Bisby Lake Avenue. This zone is for immediate drop off and pick up of students. There is no parking or dropping off of students in any red zone around the school. San Diego Police will ticket cars that are dropping off in a red zone.
Universal Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten: Students will be escorted by student leadership volunteers and Safety Patrol members from the gate to their classroom. Drop-off can be an emotional time so, we encourage parents to be positive, encouraging and quick. 99% of our little ones feel better within a few minutes of class starting.
1st-5th Grades: Students will walk themselves to class. Staff will be available to help students find their rooms on those first days of the new year.
Walking
Gage's award-winning Safety Patrol helps provide safe crossing at the intersection of Bisby Lake Ave. and Whelan Dr.
Bicycles
The San Diego Police Department requests that only students in grades four and above ride bicycles to school. Although the school has designated an area on Hudson Drive for students to park bicycles, the San Diego Unified School District is not responsible for theft, damage, or loss of use to any bicycle, equipment or article left in or around this area. All such risk is assumed by the student.
All bicycles should have locks and licenses. Students are urged to secure their bicycles in an appropriate manner by using a quality lock and chain or other devices.
Helmets are required by California law. Students not wearing helmets may lose the privilege of parking a bike on school grounds. As defined in Vehicle Code Section 21212, any person under 18 years of age must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet when riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or when wearing in-line or roller skates. Helmets must also meet the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Dismissal
Students are dismissed promptly at 2:10 p.m. (12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays) and should leave campus immediately upon dismissal unless they have adult supervision or are enrolled in an after school program. Busses depart shortly thereafter for students who ride the bus to and from school.
Student Pick Up
The front curb is painted white for 3-minute stopping between the hours of 7:00-9:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. Signs are posted to assist you. Cars are not to enter the parking lot at any time between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. unless you are picking a child up early and the visitor parking space is available or you need a handicap reserved parking spot. Please ensure the safety of all students by not parking in the bus loading area. Please do not ask your child(ren) to cross the street in an unsafe manner by picking them up in the middle of the block. The school's main concern is for the health and safety of your children.
Specific dismissal procedures vary by grade level, as indicated below:
| Kindergarten: |
Students will be brought to the gate by their teachers and staff will release students to approved parent/guardians. Please make sure your list is updated throughout the year. Older siblings may collect their younger siblings from this area with specific permission from parents/guardians. |
| Grade 1: |
Students will be brought to the gate by their teachers and staff will release students to approve parents/guardians/older siblings. |
| Grades 2-5: |
Students are dismissed from their classrooms and will exit the same gate they are assigned to enter through in the mornings...whether they walk home or are picked up by an adult. The campus gates are opened 5 minutes prior to dismissal. Currently, no parents are allowed on school grounds for pickup. |
| YMCA Program Students: |
YMCA provides a licensed day care program. UTK/Kindergarten students are picked up at their classrooms by a YMCA staff member and join the older students to check in at the designated location. Parent will pcik up students according to the directions provided by the YMCA. |
| Bus Students: |
All buses park in the loading/unloading zone on Hudson Drive. All bus students will line up in the designated area and wait to be called to their bus by a staff member. |
If you are more than 10 minutes late to pick up a student, please go to the front office.