The large shared parking lot between St John Elementary, St. John Parish and St James school continues to be a safety risk for students, caregivers and staff. Over the past two years, multiple strategies have been tried to ensure a safe entry and exit. However, with two schools and parish community making use of this parking lot, we continue to struggle to accommodate the number of students being dropped off at school and picked up after school via this parking lot.
As of April 4th this parking lot will not be available for parent/guardian access for morning drop-off and after school pick-up (both St John and St James students). Rather, it will be limited to:
- accessibility vehicles,
- school busses,
- St John’s church Wednesday and Friday mass and funeral parking,
- visiting staff (supply teachers/EAs etc),
- St James technology teachers and the staff at St John.
NEW: For specific times of the day, attached to the streetlights/ crosswalk area, there will be signage indicating:
- NO left-hand turn for those coming from north end of Victoria and,
- NO right-hand turn for those coming from the south end of Victoria.
NEW: Pylons will be located at the entrance of this St. James/St. John School & Parish parking lot from 8am to 9:30am and 2:15 to 3:30pm each day. Administration will also be monitoring this area daily. For those students who are attending school during alternate times of the day, parents/guardians will be able to drop off and/or pick-up at the front Driveway loop. The pylons will not be limiting access all day, rather only during arrival and dismissal times.
This decision has been in collaboration with WCDSB Senior Administration and collectively we believe this will be the safest decision for our students and staff.
NEW: Where can St. John parents now drop-off and pick-up?
Wildcat Parents ONLY, can now use the north lot/primary area at the side of St. John Elementary School. Spots are limited, so we continue to encourage you to encourage your child(ren) to walk, bike or scooter to school whenever possible and safe to do so. Teachers of our younger students (Kindergarten – Grade 3) will still only be releasing children to their parent/guardian in the back campus of the school for safety.
If you are using this north lot for pick-up or drop off, the expectation for parents/guardians/visitors is to abide by the following;
- Patience
- Courtesy
- Modelling our school motto of Christian and Friendly
- Appropriate language
- Watch carefully and drive very slowly, for any pedestrians
Getting started and in preparation for this change, what can you and your child do over the next couple of weeks?
- Try an alternative drop-off location such as:
- Near Grange Road parking lot entrance to St James Sport field
- Grange Road Plaza and cross at streetlights
- Grange Road west of Victoria Rd N and cross at crosswalk streetlights
- Hadati Road path/walkway
- Palermo Park path/walkway
- Cassino Ave west of Victoria Rd N and cross at streetlights or crosswalk
- Cassino Ave east of Victoria Rd N
- Map and time your route to school so you can make a plan. You may need to adjust your morning routine.
- For those who live in the nearby vicinity, walk or bike to school. Students can lock their bikes at the bike rack in our back playground or their scooters in the front entrance of our school.
Thank you for your support, patience and understanding Wildcat families!
Mr. Rob Della Croce
PRINCIPAL
St. John Catholic Elementary School
P: 519.824.4710
https://twitter.com/stjohncsguelph
https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnWildcats/