Parent Resources

Arrival & Dismissal Methods

Arrival Time

Children should arrive at school no earlier than 7:15 a.m. unless enrolled in Before Care at the school. Instruction begins at 7:30 a.m.

Tardiness

All scholars arriving late to school must be accompanied to the office by a parent or guardian to receive a late slip. Scholars who arrive after 7:45 a.m. are marked tardy. Scholars who are tardy due to a late bus will not be marked tardy.

Delayed Opening

One hour – school opens 8:15 a.m. – buses also run 1 hour late for pick up.
Two hour – school starts 9:15 a.m. – buses also run 2 hours late for pick up.
ALL field trips are canceled with a delayed opening.

Dismissal

Afternoon announcements begin at 1:30 p.m. Car riders, walkers, Before & After Care, and van riders are dismissed beginning at 1:35 p.m. Bus riders will be dismissed after all of the above scholars have exited the schoolhouse.

Early Dismissal

A note is required for early dismissal. The note should state the reason for the early dismissal as well as the name of the adult who will be picking up the child. Only parents/guardians or adults listed on the family card are permitted to sign scholars out. No early dismissals can be honored after 12:45 p.m.

Arrival & Dismissal Mode And Procedures

Dismissal Tags and Codes

Scholars will be receiving specific identifiable tags for their modes of transportation (Bus-rider, Car-rider, Van-rider, Walker)

** this process is still ongoing as we identify everyone's PRIMARY mode of transportation, and why it is VITAL for you to confirm with the teacher your scholar’s means of transportation.**

Change in Dismissal Mode of Transportation

Any change in a scholar's dismissal needs to be communicated to Melwood ES main office immediately and must be done so IN WRITING. Practitioners are unable to respond to all Dojo messages during the instructional day regarding dismissal changes.

Please send in a written note to the main office and call Melwood at 301-599-2500 anytime your child will have an alternate mode of dismissal

Bus Rider

Scholars who ride the school bus should be at their assigned bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time
Melwood calls the PM buses in the order they arrive on the lot. Buses are called in batches of 3.
Scholars get their bus number called 3 separate times over the intercom to ensure they get on the bus before it departs
Parents, please be at the PM bus stop at least 10 minutes before and stay at least 15-20 minutes after their scheduled PM drop-off time. PGCPS has a bus shortage and buses can run late.
ALL K scholars must wear an identifiable vest when riding the bus.
K scholars MUST be picked up at the bus stop by a receiving adult.
If there is no receiving adult for K scholar drop-offs at the bus stop, the driver will bring the child back to MES.
Scholars on the wrong bus should always remain on the bus. Tell your child, if this ever happens, REMAIN on the bus. The driver will return them to MES.

Van Rider

Please call Melwood at 301-599-2500 if your scholar becomes a “Van rider” to a private After Care facility
Van Riders are called to the media center at the start of the MES dismissal process
Ms. McFarland has rosters for all the different “daycare” providers.
Ms. McFarland escorts van riders to their vans
Vans are located in the Admin section of the parking lot

Walkers

Scholars identified as “walkers” are called to the scholar zone at the start of the MES dismissal process.
Ms. K. Wright, Mr. Glover, and Ms. S. Wright have a lists of all scholars listed as walkers.
Ms. K. Wright, Mr. Glover, and Ms. S. Wright escorts the walkers out the front doors and down to the steps leading to Woodyard Rd.
Scholars who get picked up can meet their parents at the steps
Scholars who walk home will be crossed by a PG crossing guard

*** Parents who drive their children to school, but decide to park on Woodyard rd for drop off and pick-up need to ensure their child is coded by MES as a walker. Additionally, please have a conversation with your child to make it clear, that while they are in the “walker group” you will be picking them up in your vehicle and they should remain at the top of the steps***

Please be reminded that Melwood Elementary School advocates ALL cars enter the lot and follow our Car-rider dismissal process.

Car Rider

AM & PM

Parents are asked to enter the lot and loop around the parking lot (via the inner loop) to the Flagpole area for both dropoff and pick-up.

AM

PLEASE do not let your child out of the car until you are in the “Kiss and Ride” zone (flagpole area)
PLEASE do not get out of your vehicle - Kiss your baby goodbye and keep moving.

PM

Ensure you stay in the “Car rider” lane - Do not block the BUS LANE
Do not get out of your vehicle
Display your pick-up number for MES staff
Be mindful, during the first few weeks, dismissal may take upto 30 minutes. Please be patient

Alphabest

If your child is in AlphaBest, they will be picked up from their classroom by an AlphaBest staff member
If your child will not be in AlphaBest on any day, please call the main office -301-599-2500 and inform them of the change in dismissal mode.

Tardy Times / Early Dismissal / Office Phones / Entrance into the building

AM Drop-off - Parents, DO NOT drop your child off at school prior to 7:15 AM. Scholars dropped off before this time are not supervised. Safety is our #1 priority.
Scholars arriving in the AM after 8:00 AM will be coded as “tardy”.
Late drop-offs - Parents, please ESCORT your child to the school doors
Early Dismissal will end at 12:45 PM daily
During the dismissal process, the office will be unable to answer calls (1:30 pm - 2:05 pm)
Parent entrance into the building will be prohibited during the arrival and dismissal process of scholars.
Parents with concerns should call the school after arrival/dismissal time to speak with a staff member who can assist them. All Melwood staff email addresses are located on our website - Staff - Melwood