Academy Insider

If you’ve seen our opening-day photos already, you probably noticed that we were blessed with sunny skies for Convocation and throughout the school day. The same can’t be said, however, for the late-afternoon car pool when the clouds decided to unleash a furious deluge as many of you were picking up children from an exhausting but exhilarating first day of school.

Many of our teachers and administrators braved the elements to make sure car pool went as smoothly as possible. Sure, there were lines of cars waiting for longer periods than normal, but everyone departed safely after a short delay. A parent new to Academy was so impressed with the care shown to her son on his first day at school that she sent the following message to us:

Dear Columbus Academy Teachers, Administrators and All Around Professionals!

I want to personally thank you for a wonderful first day at Academy – from our entire family. Our son had a splendid experience and we are very thankful for that. I write to also convey the huge amount of appreciation for the enormous team effort today in getting him and the other children to the vehicles in a Noah’s Ark-type of downpour. What commitment to the families and children of this school!!! It looked absolutely miserable out there, and yet the entire team pulled together, drenched and all, to put the final, smiling coda on a great first day. It meant the world to me, to us, that we left him this morning in good, kind, nurturing hands and that he made it to the car totally exhilarated by the day – notwithstanding the miserable weather. Thank you again. I am continually amazed at the genuine care you all show for our children, as well as the warm and professional environment that envelops one as soon as one drives on to campus.

While we certainly appreciate receiving positive feedback like that, we know there is still work to be done in order to make morning dropoff and afternoon pickup go as smoothly as possible. So we’ll continue to do our best to provide you with construction updates and share other information that can help everyone navigate our campus.

As we transition to having fewer staff members outside both before and after school (don’t worry, there will still be plenty of help… just not an army of help), please take a few minutes to learn or reacquaint yourself with the following carpool guidelines:

Morning Dropoff Guidelines for Middle/Upper School Circle

1. Please pull as far forward as possible along the sidewalk (this may mean you are moving further from the doors).
2. Unload when you reach the sidewalk and must stop (do not wait until you are closer to the school).
3. Maintain single file, even if cars in front are still unloading (your patience is required for student safety).
4. Keep the intersections clear.
5. PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF STUDENTS ANYWHERE IN THE PARKING LOTS.

After-School Pickup Guidelines for Middle/Upper School Circle

1. Please pull as far forward as possible along the sidewalk (even if it means you are moving further from the doors).
2. If you reach the sidewalk and must stop, your child may board (do not wait until you are closer to the school).
3. As you wait for your child, continue moving forward as cars ahead of you leave.
4. After your child boards, pull out of the line and leave.
5. When a car ahead of you leaves, pull forward.
6. Keep the intersections clear.
7. MS carpool runs until 3:30 p.m., at which point remaining MS students are escorted to CASE, our after-school program (there is no CASE option for upper-schoolers so they can stay at the pickup circle as long as they need to).
8. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP STUDENTS ANYWHERE IN THE PARKING LOTS.

Carpool Guidelines for Lower School Dropoff/Pickup

1. Only use carpool lane for dropoff if you do not need to exit your car (you must use the parking lot if you need to leave your car for any length of time).
2. Please pay attention and stay close to car in front of you (do not let gaps form)
3. Do not swerve around vehicles to move into spaces that may open up in front
4. Have children ready to exit through rear passenger-side door
5. At afternoon pickup, have your nametag displayed in the front window on your passenger side as you approach the carpool lane
6. Do not exit your vehicle when in the carpool lane and follow rules above about paying attention and staying in line
7. LS carpool runs until 3:30 p.m., at which point remaining students are escorted to CASE, our after-school program.
8. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP STUDENTS ANYWHERE IN THE PARKING LOTS OR NEAR THE ATHLETIC ENTRANCE

One final note to add… middle and upper school students who ride the bus should use the recently reopened walkway around the upper school-side of Academy Hall. This is a much more efficient route than the one initially proposed that took them down the new pathway to the lower school playground. In the mornings, buses will make an extra stop to let them out right in front of Academy Hall before proceeding around to the other side of the bus circle to drop off lower-schoolers.

Thank you for your patience this week. Carpool will get easier and continue to move more quickly. And we’ll continue to make adjustments, as we have for the older bus riders, when we find more efficient ways to operate. Together, we will all make this school year a very successful one!