August 8, 2023

Ottiwell Families,

We hope that you’ve had an incredible summer, and we cannot wait to see you for the first day of school, on Monday, Aug. 19! Please note - the first two days of school will be half days and scholars will be dismissed at 12:30 pm on both Monday, Aug. 19 and Tuesday, Aug. 20.

We ask all families to please review our pick up / drop off procedures to ensure a safe and smooth experience for everyone. NOTE FOR EXISTING FAMILIES: Although this procedure is mostly unchanged from the 23-24 school year, we ask that you review it to ensure that you are aware of all parent/ guardian expectations during pick up/drop off. We greatly appreciate your partnership in ensuring a safe and efficient experience for all!

Arrival

All scholars who do not take a bus will enter the building via the front door (Belleville Ave.). Doors open at 8:30 am. Scholars arriving after 8:45 am will be marked tardy.

Prior to 8:30, we ask that scholars remain with a parent/guardian until a staff member greets them at the door. To maintain safety & efficiency,  we ask that parents/guardians park their vehicle and escort their scholar to the main entrance. Families are encouraged to park on Hathaway St., Earle St., Funchal Place or any other neighboring street. Please do NOT park over crosswalks, in intersections, or in or around the gas station at the corner.  

Dismissal

ALL DISMISSAL CHANGE REQUESTS MUST BE COMMUNICATED TO THE MAIN OFFICE NO LATER THAN 2pm ON FULL SCHOOL DAYS, AND 10:30 am ON EARLY RELEASE DAYS.

All parent/guardian pick up scholars in grades K-2: Dismissal begins at 3:15 pm

All parent/guardian pick up scholars in grades 3-8: Dismissal begins at 3:25 pm

Dismissal of all non bus riders occurs in the front of the building, on Belleville Ave. Scholars are escorted out of the building by a staff member and must remain with this staff member until a parent or guardian makes contact with this staff member. All parents/guardians attempting to dismiss must have a valid ID and be named on the scholar’s approved emergency contact list. As with arrival, parents/guardians are asked to exit their vehicles and walk to the front of the building to greet their scholar.

No scholar will be allowed to independently cross the street (with the exception of pre approved walkers). If an adult who is not listed as a scholar's emergency contact attempts to dismiss, they will be directed to the main office and the scholar’s parent/guardian will be contacted.

Scholar & Family Handbook Reminder:

The School dismisses at 3:30pm. If a family is 15 minutes late to pick up their scholar, the School will reach out to the scholar’s family to arrange prompt pickup. If a family is over 30 minutes late to pick up their scholar for dismissal or for after school, the School may contact the Department of Children and Families or the New Bedford Police Department.