March 13, 2008

Dear Saint Mark’s Families:

We have been notified by the County of Los Angeles and Sequel Contracting, Inc. that the portion of Altadena Drive fronting our school will be closed to traffic on Monday morning, March 17th. Although the work is ill-timed, we are complying with the request and are alerting you of THESE EXPECTATIONS:

All upper elementary students (Grades 4 and 6) should arrive at school early on Monday, March 17th. Students should be dropped off on Lake Avenue (south of Altadena Drive on the east side of street on sidewalk designated with orange-cones) no later than 7:45 a.m. Students will walk (supervised by school personnel) to school from the Lake Avenue drop off zone from 7:00 a.m. through 7:45 a.m.

     Drop off of all lower elementary (Grades 1-3) students and daycare students will begin at 7:00 a.m. and families should enter via the Upper Maiden Lane Gate. All Grade 1 through 3 students should be at school no later than 8:30 a.m. (Early drop off will not incur daycare charges for Monday morning only.) Students should be dropped off at the Dunlap Hall Steps (steps south of first grade classrooms where school personnel will be present) and all vehicles should exit via the Lower Maiden Lane Gate.

<  All preschool (PK 3-day and 5-day) and kindergarten families should enter via the Upper Maiden Lane Gate and park in the Lower Maiden Lane Parking Lot, walk their child/ren to preschool and/or kindergarten classrooms, and return to their vehicle for exit via the Lower Maiden Lane Gate beginning at 8:45 a.m. and no later than 9:30 a.m. Preschool and kindergartners using daycare may come as early as 7:00 a.m., but must be walked to daycare after parking in the Lower Maiden Lane Parking Lot.

Pickup of preschoolers at noon, kindergartners at 2:30 p.m. and any elementary students prior to 3:00 p.m. will be released from their respective classrooms but must be appropriately signed out. Preschool and kindergarten families must enter via the Upper Maiden Lane Gate, park in the Lower Maiden Lane Parking Lot and pick up (check out) their child/ren from the preschool/kindergarten classrooms. Elementary children in Grades 1-6, (if early dismissal is necessitated), must be properly signed out at the School House (Office).

All repaving work will be completed by 3:00 p.m. and upper elementary families may pick up their fourth or sixth grader on Altadena Drive (regular pick up place/time) from 3:00 through 3:15 p.m. All others must enter via the Altadena Drive driveway at or after 3:00 p.m. for regular pickup at the Blue Tent and daycare.

We understand that the morning drop off plan and the preschool and kindergarten dismissal will take considerable support of everyone. Please be cognizant of the drop off times and locations. Thank you for your patience and your support of this temporary plan. The safety of children and families is paramount. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call me. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Doreen Oleson, Ed.D.,

Head of School

P.S. – And of course, "carpooling" would be greatly appreciated too on Monday morning!