Commuting to Ohlone

Ohlone attracts students from all over Palo Alto. As a result, the parking lot and surrounding streets are busy and can be dangerous.

Please observe the following rules for dropping off and picking up children at Ohlone and share these rules with any other care-givers or family members who drive your children:

1. Only drop kids off and pick kids up in the designated loading area (in front of the marquee/sign board and flag pole). 

Do NOT let children out of the car:

• from the middle of the parking lot,
• from the bus spots,
• when double-parked beside another car, or
• from staff parking areas behind the MP room and 2/3 wing.

2. Form a single lane through the loading area; do not pull up past the lane dividers to enter the loading area from the left lane near the parking lot exit.  The left lane is for the bus and for staff leaving the staff parking spaces.  

3. At drop off, make sure your child is ready to get out of the car as soon as you stop.   

• Finish conversations before you reach the loading area.   The longer you take, the more likely that frustrated drivers behind you will take risks.    
• You, the driver, should not get out of the car. 
• Have your children get out of the car on the curb side, not the driver’s side. 
• If you need to get out of the car, park in a regular space or on the street and accompany your child to school using a crosswalk.   Do not use the staff parking spaces.

4. At pick up, make sure your child is ready to get into the car as soon as you stop in the loading zone.

• You, the driver, should not get out of the car.   Do not go look for your child. 
• If your child is not waiting at the loading zone, leave the parking lot, circle around, and re-enter the line. 

5. Do not block other cars’ access to the drop-?off area, for example by letting your child in or out before you reach the loading area.  Wait your turn, and then exit safely. 

6. Never reverse your car in the drop-off area.  Children are small, hard to see, and likely to be focused on something other than you.   

7. Please be especially careful this year when exiting the parking lot.  Because construction will block some of our habitual routes at the back, there will be more foot and bicycle traffic in front of the school.

8. Do not use the staff parking lot behind the multipurpose room and 2/3 wing, even for drop-off.  Staff cars (and the two winning auction donors) are the only cars allowed to enter that driveway.

9. Respect the Ohlone Guides and adults who direct traffic.  Remember to model our Core Values of "Trust and Respect" and "Cooperation and Collaboration".