School Bus Seating Assignments

We have Kindergarten through fifth grade students riding together on the same bus. The students sit according to grade levels on the bus, with Kindergarten and first grade students in the first third of the bus, second and third grade students in the middle section of the bus, and fourth and fifth grade students in the back of the bus. Our bus drivers will consistently adhere to these guidelines on all buses. However, if in the beginning days of school you have a younger child that you feel should be sitting with an older sibling, your older child should sit in your younger child’s assigned section. There will be visible markings on the bus to help students know where to sit.

Student Arrival

After arriving at MCE, students will unload from their buses beginning at 8:30 a.m. We will unload the fourth and fifth grade students first, then the second and third grade students, and lastly the Kindergarten and first grade students. The older students are comfortable with where to enter the building and how to get to their classrooms, so unloading them first prevents added hallway congestion and provides time for the younger students to meet their teachers and get to their classrooms. As has been done in the past, in the beginning weeks of school, Kindergarten and first grade teachers will meet their students at the front of the school and walk them as a class down to their classrooms.

If you need to drive your child to school, please do not arrive prior to 8:30 a.m. We do not provide supervision in the building prior to that time. When dropping off, parents should use the drop off loop on the west side of the building. At no time should there be students crossing through the parking lot. There will be school safeties at the side door to greet incoming students. Please do not arrive with your child prior to 8:30 a.m. and park in the lot, as we have limited parking spaces for our staff to use when they arrive in the morning.

Our homeroom period begins at 8:30 a.m. and announcements will be read at 8:40 a.m. If your child arrives to school after 8:40 a.m, they are tardy and will need to be signed in at the Main Office.

Student Dismissal

Students will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. In order to prevent congestion when loading our buses, we will first dismiss our fourth and fifth grade students, then our second and third grade students, and finally our Kindergarten and first grade students. By doing so, our buses will load from back to front and students will be seated by grade level, as they are in the morning. There will also be school safeties outside to help students find their buses efficiently.

Transportation will no longer be accommodating guest rider passes. This decision represents a change in practice, but is essential for the safety of all of our students. All PCSD elementary schools will be implementing this change. If there is an extenuating circumstance that may require your child to ride home with a friend, we are asking you to seek approval from the principal by calling the Main Office at 267-1400.

If your child is not riding the bus and you are picking them up, please send in a signed and completed permission slip in the morning. To the extent possible, all dismissal arrangements should be made before your child arrives at school. Only in an extenuating circumstance should after school plans be modified throughout the day. If you are picking up your child for a routine end of the day dismissal, we ask that you do not request your child to leave class a few minutes early. It is critical that our students get as much time in the classroom as possible.

All students in grades K-5 who are being picked up by car will be picked up at the loop on the west side of the building.  Students being picked up by car need to have a signed pick-up note in the school office.  At dismissal, students will gather in the auditorium and will remain in the school until you arrive.  We utilize the Pik My Kids app to expedite the pick-up process.  If you do not have the app, please put your last name on the dash of your car.

At times, our fourth and fifth grade students may have the option of walking or riding a bike to and from school. If your child is going to walk or ride his/her bike in lieu of taking the bus, there must be a completed, signed permission slip in the office.  Additionally, with a signed permission slip, parents may give authorization to have siblings in grades K-3 walk/ride home with their older sibling. Students must have a signed Permission Slip for Long Term Walkers or Bikers to be allowed to walk or ride their bike home. This form must be filled out and on file each school year.  

For students in grades K-3 who will be walking home, they will need to have an adult meet them at door 17, by the playground.  Students will need a signed pick-up note in the office.

Activity Bus Dismissal

Our afterschool activity periods will run from 3:05-3:45 p.m., with late busses pulling away at 3:50 p.m. Students who will be participating in chorus, band, and orchestra will be on a roster that remains consistent and will not require a permission slip to participate in their activity. However, for all other school/PTSA sponsored activities, students will need to have a permission slip because attendance in these activities may vary. These activities may include: Newspaper Club, Math Lab, Reading Resource, Art Enrichment, or Student Council.

If you are picking up your child from his/her after school activity, you will need to sign your child out at the Main Office. It is helpful for parents to adhere to the plan that was set for their child prior to the child arriving at school.

"Green" Dismissal Slips

Included on this webpage is our Mendon Center permission slip which you may wish to duplicate. This form can be found on the Mendon Center webpage under “FORMS.”  Forms are also available in the Main Office and can be sent home upon request.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in implementing our procedures, all of which were carefully decided upon with the best interests of our children and their safety in mind.