IMPORTANT! Due to COVID-19 modifications, these guidelines are subject to change for the 2021-2022 school year. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW DROP OFF GUIDELINES from Principal Jones.
Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) policy states that children are to arrive at school no earlier than 7:45 a.m. Students are allowed to go to their classrooms at 8:00 a.m. If they arrive before 8:00 a.m., they must report to the multi-purpose room and wait to be dismissed for class. If you need before-school care, please sign-up for Y-Care.
Beginning at 8:00 a.m., the front and back entrances, as well as hallways, will be monitored by Prairie staff. Phones and iPads must be put away when traveling in the hallways. Walk safely, slowly and keep your hands to yourself.
Students arriving late to school (after 8:10 a.m.) must check-in at the office. The office staff will enter the student’s arrival time into the school district’s attendance system and print a tardy slip for the student to take to his/her teacher.
Students arriving by bus will be dropped off at the front door beginning at approximately 8:00 a.m. The front drive is reserved for use by buses only until 8:10 a.m. After 8:10 a.m., students (tardy) may be dropped off at the front entrance.
Parents who walk their children to school are asked to say goodbye in front of the school. Allowing children to walk to class independently, with the help of staff monitoring, enhances a child’s confidence and independence. This independent arrival also enables teachers to focus attention on the children as soon as they arrive.
If you walk to school with your dog, please consider our students and the busy flow of arrival and dismissal times. Please wait with your dog at the boundary to the school. (This is the sidewalk parallel to 67th Street in the front and the basketball court in the back.
Students must walk their bikes on school property, remain on sidewalks, and use crosswalks when available.
Bike racks are stationed on the north side of the school, near the gym doors. It is SMSD policy that students must be in the 3rd grade before they may to ride bikes to school.
If you drive your child to school, the drop-off lane is at the back of the school. The entrance to the lot is on Mission Road. When you pull into the lot, stay to your right, form two lines up to the gate, and then merge into one line to continue to the sidewalk drop-off point. Be patient and keep with the traffic flow. DO NOT PASS unless directed by a staff member. When you reach the sidewalk, pull up as close as possible to the vehicle in front of you. Students are asked to exit cars promptly, once they reach the sidewalk. Do not wait to reach a favorite door—even kindergarten students. Watch staff and safety patrol for movement forward. When exiting the lot onto Mission Road, it is right turn only.
The parking lot by the soccer field on 67th may be used. Cars must park in the lot, as this is not a drive-through. If you park parallel to the fields (behind the angled spaces), park as close to the curb as possible. There is no left turn into this lot, and Prairie Village police will issue a $150 ticket for doing so.
If you choose to drop off your child at the Village Presbyterian Parking lot, a crossing guard will help your child cross Mission Road.
You may drop off your child on 66th Street, to the north of Prairie where there is a crosswalk. However, be sure to park well away from the crosswalk. Students may use the bridge near the crosswalk, to reach the school. Be aware that this is not school property, and Prairie staff does not monitor the area.
Be patient and check for student movement at all times! The instructional day at Prairie Elementary School ends at approximately 3:10 p.m.
3:05 p.m. Kindergarten and 6th Grade
3:07 p.m. 1st Grade and 3rd Grade
3:10 p.m. 2nd, 4th and 5th grades
At the beginning of the year, your child’s teacher will let you know the specific pick-up place for afternoon dismissal.
If your child is going home with a bus rider, please send a note to the office for approval from Principal Kristen Jones. Written permission is required if your child is allowed to ride the bus.
Kindergarten – 8:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Elementary School – 8:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
