Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

These procedures are in place to keep all students and faculty safe – please help us get through drop-off and pick-up safely by being attentive and staying off your cell phone.

Arrival Procedures

Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) policy states that children are to arrive at school no earlier than 7:50 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 gym and wait to be dismissed for class. If you need before-school care, please sign-up for Y-Care.

Monitoring

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.

Tardy

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. Please note: 10 tardies are equivalent to 1 unexcused absence per SMSD attendance policy. 

Arrival Methods

Bus

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 and those with passes only until 8:10 a.m. After 8:10 a.m., students (tardy) may be dropped off at the front entrance.

Walkers

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.

Bike Riders

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. Younger students may ride their bike if they are supervised by an adult

Car Riders

Back Lot - Drive Through

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. 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. Do not wait to reach a favorite door—even kindergarten students.

Students are asked to exit cars promptly, adults must stay in the car. Staff will prompt you when students are safe to exit the vehicle. 

Right turn only when exiting the lot onto Mission Road.

Soccer Field - Park and Drop Off

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.

Village Presbyterian Church - Drop Off

If you choose to drop off your child at the Village Presbyterian Parking lot, a crossing guard will help your child cross Mission Road.

66th Street - Drop Off

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 do not monitor the area.

Dismissal Procedures

Be patient and check for student movement at all times! The instructional day at Prairie Elementary School ends at approximately 3:10 p.m. 

Dismissal Bell Schedule

All students are dismissed through the back of the building. Walkers and bike riders are dismissed at the 3:10 bell. Car riders are called to dismiss individually and staff will assist as they exit and enter their vehicles. 

Early Dismissal Schedule

Kindergarten – 8:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Elementary School – 8:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.