COVID and Our District Information
Health and Well-being Resources Currently Available to everyone:
Montgomery County Flu shots are free but appointments are needed. Click here
COVID-19 testing per County COVID-19 testing is free but appointments are needed.
Montgomery County: Website
Chester County: Website
Delaware County: Website
Philadelphia County: Website
LMSD Nutritional Services
All Students are eligible for free breakfast meals and free lunch meals for the school year 2020- 2021
Family gatherings and holiday celebrations create challenges during a pandemic. Research is showing that most transmission occurs outside of school, from various gatherings of family and friends. Attached is the CDCs recommendations for celebrating various holidays this year.
CDC recommendations
Transmission of coronavirus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through objects and surfaces, like doorknobs, countertops, keyboards, toys, etc. Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Close contact with a person within 6 feet for 15 minutes continues to be the most common transmission. More information here
Daily student screening: Student screening information here
The LMSD COVID-19 Dashboard
Updated LMSD School Opening information can be found on the LMSD Website.
Montgomery County Flu shots are free but appointments are needed. Click here
COVID-19 testing per County COVID-19 testing is free but appointments are needed.
Montgomery County: Website
Chester County: Website
Delaware County: Website
Philadelphia County: Website
LMSD Nutritional Services
All Students are eligible for free breakfast meals and free lunch meals for the school year 2020- 2021
- If your student attends 100% virtual, half day elementary, or half day Kindergarten you can click on this link to schedule the pick-up of 7 breakfast meals and 7 lunch meals Meal Pick Up by Appointment
- If your student attends in a Hybrid Model (2 days a week), you can click on this link to order eat-in school meals for the 2 days your student attends school myschoolaccount.com
- AND you can schedule a 5 meals pick up for when your student is not in school, using this link Meal Pick Up by Appointment
- If your student attends School 5 full days a week you can click on this link to order eat-in school meals for the 5 days your student attends school myschoolaccount.com
- AND you can schedule a 2 meals pick up using this link Meal Pick Up by Appointment
- If your student attends a half day Kindergarten you can click on this link to order the kindergarten breakfast snack myschoolaccount.com
Family gatherings and holiday celebrations create challenges during a pandemic. Research is showing that most transmission occurs outside of school, from various gatherings of family and friends. Attached is the CDCs recommendations for celebrating various holidays this year.
CDC recommendations
Transmission of coronavirus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through objects and surfaces, like doorknobs, countertops, keyboards, toys, etc. Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Close contact with a person within 6 feet for 15 minutes continues to be the most common transmission. More information here
Daily student screening: Student screening information here
The LMSD COVID-19 Dashboard
Updated LMSD School Opening information can be found on the LMSD Website.
Transportation and “Drop-Off Loop” Procedures
Children may arrive or depart school by bus, automobile, walking, or bicycle (grades 4-5 only).
Walkers: Any child who lives within 3/4 mile from the school is considered a walker unless the route has been declared hazardous. Recommended walking routes are available from the school or office. There are two crossing guards: one located at Bowman Ave. and Heath Rd. in front of the school, and one on Rockland Ave. in back of the school.
Buses: Children who are not walkers are assigned to buses by the Lower Merion School District Transportation Office. Children are permitted on their own bus ONLY. All after-school arrangements, including transportation, must be made privately and before the beginning of the day. Any personal items left on the bus by the students will remain on the bus for one week; after that period, parents must contact the transportation department for information (610-645-1940). If your child’s bus is more than 30 minutes late in the morning, your child should return home. If a bus has not been able to follow its schedule because of a breakdown, traffic congestion, etc., then a substitute bus will be sent at 9:30 AM to pick up any children who still need transportation to school. If your child is more than 30 minutes late returning home from school, please call the transportation department for information (610-645-1940).
Automobiles: Children being driven may arrive or be picked up in the drop-off loop in front of the school. Please follow the Drop-off Loop Procedures listed below. Note: ALL vehicles exiting the drop-off loop during morning arrival (7:00 to 9:30 AM) and dismissal time (3:00 to 4:00 PM) must turn right onto S. Bowman Ave.
Drop-off/Pick-up Loop Procedures (Morning Arrival):
Drop-off will use one lane only and will be delineated by cones or a visual warning signal (the little green “Caution” figure holding a flag). Children should arrive between 8:40 and 8:55 AM. Enter the loop from Bowman Ave. and pull up all the way to the island marked Drop-Off/Pick Up Here (see map). Instruct your child to exit the car from the passenger side onto the sidewalk. Children should exit vehicles only when the car reaches the front of the line. Once unloaded, children should safely cross onto the sidewalk between the area marked with black poles and sawhorses and then proceed to their morning line-up location. Cars are not permitted to park in this area.
Walkers: Any child who lives within 3/4 mile from the school is considered a walker unless the route has been declared hazardous. Recommended walking routes are available from the school or office. There are two crossing guards: one located at Bowman Ave. and Heath Rd. in front of the school, and one on Rockland Ave. in back of the school.
Buses: Children who are not walkers are assigned to buses by the Lower Merion School District Transportation Office. Children are permitted on their own bus ONLY. All after-school arrangements, including transportation, must be made privately and before the beginning of the day. Any personal items left on the bus by the students will remain on the bus for one week; after that period, parents must contact the transportation department for information (610-645-1940). If your child’s bus is more than 30 minutes late in the morning, your child should return home. If a bus has not been able to follow its schedule because of a breakdown, traffic congestion, etc., then a substitute bus will be sent at 9:30 AM to pick up any children who still need transportation to school. If your child is more than 30 minutes late returning home from school, please call the transportation department for information (610-645-1940).
Automobiles: Children being driven may arrive or be picked up in the drop-off loop in front of the school. Please follow the Drop-off Loop Procedures listed below. Note: ALL vehicles exiting the drop-off loop during morning arrival (7:00 to 9:30 AM) and dismissal time (3:00 to 4:00 PM) must turn right onto S. Bowman Ave.
Drop-off/Pick-up Loop Procedures (Morning Arrival):
Drop-off will use one lane only and will be delineated by cones or a visual warning signal (the little green “Caution” figure holding a flag). Children should arrive between 8:40 and 8:55 AM. Enter the loop from Bowman Ave. and pull up all the way to the island marked Drop-Off/Pick Up Here (see map). Instruct your child to exit the car from the passenger side onto the sidewalk. Children should exit vehicles only when the car reaches the front of the line. Once unloaded, children should safely cross onto the sidewalk between the area marked with black poles and sawhorses and then proceed to their morning line-up location. Cars are not permitted to park in this area.
Drop-off/Pick-up Loop Procedures (Dismissal Time):
Children are dismissed at 3:35 PM. Please do not arrive before 3:15 PM. Enter the loop from Bowman Ave. Pull up to the designated pick-up area all the way to the front of the loop (see map). Drivers must remain in their vehicles and should not leave cars unattended. Staff will assemble in the pick-up area and supervise the children who are being picked up by vehicle. Pick-up will be one lane only. The lane will be delineated by cones or a visual warning signal (the little green “Caution” figure holding a flag). A staff member will escort each student to his her vehicle when it arrives at the front of the line. If you park on Bowman Ave. at dismissal, please cross at the guard by the traffic light. NEVER call your children to cross Bowman in the middle of the street and NEVER load them in to the car on the street side of the car. For the safety of all of our families and children, please follow these guidelines.
*New in 2018* Staff members on Duty will provide you with a Name card that we ask you fill in and place on your dash in the PM (SMITH 4-C) It will be easier to have the teachers on duty load the cars more efficiently if you write in LARGE letters. We will provide you with a Sharpie Marker and the card to complete when you are in the loop.
Bicycles: With permission of a parent or guardian, students in grades 4-5 may ride bicycles to school. They should be locked up at either the bike rack by the kindergarten play yard or by the basketball courts. Bikes may not be used during school hours. Children should walk their bikes to the rack once they arrive on school property in the morning and when leaving in the afternoon. The school is not responsible for bike vandalism or theft. Skateboards and scooters are not permitted on school property.
Parking on School Grounds: No automobiles are allowed into the side teacher’s parking lot or the bus circle during arrival or dismissal hours. Please note the designated spots in the side parking lot and front parking lot that are reserved for staff. Parents and visitors may park in the visitor spots in the front parking lot or in legal parking spaces on the street. Always cross in crosswalks to set a good example for the children! Before- and after-school times are very busy, both in front and behind the school
Bus Riders will be dismissed from the gym or auditorium when their busses arrive in the loop.
JCC Students will exit DOOR #4 and will be escorted to the vans in the staff lot
Right at School (after school program) students will be dismissed directly to the cafeteria at 3:35 so the staff can take roll and begin the afternoon activities.
Rockland Walkers: If you live behind the school, Rockland Walkers will be dismissed from the gym on to the Basketball courts. This is the best place to meet them. Staff members will be on duty if you need assistance. Please use the cross walk and cross at the direction of the guard on duty. Please have a discussion with your child to encourage your child to go to a staff member – or the office any time they are worried about their dismissal or meeting a parent/friend/guardian.
Bowman Walkers: PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE to the EXIT DOOR at 3:35. Students will be dismissed from DOOR # 2, which is located adjacent to the staff lot closest to Heath Road and in proximity to the cross walk and crossing guard at the corner of Bowman and Heath Road. Students and families are asked to cross Bowman Avenue at the crossing guard. As you know, Bowman is a heavily traveled road and not every driver is mindful of the speed limits in front of our school. For the safety of all students and families, everyone must cross the street with the guard at the signal. This change has been made in consultation with the Lower Merion Police Traffic Safety division and our supervisor of Safety and Security.
Arrival in Inclement Weather
Please note the procedures for arrival in inclement weather in addition to other informational items:
- Students will enter the school upon arrival and will be directed by staff to their various indoor locations. Grades 4 and 5 and 3R report to the gym. Grades 1-3 will report to their classroom area and will line up outside the classrooms. Car loop and Bus students will enter the school via the front doors. Students who walk via Rockland Avenue may enter through door #7, adjacent to the kindergarten playground. A staff member will be at door #7 on all rainy/inclement weather days. Teachers and staff will assist the children to the correct hallways and entrances.
- At dismissal, we have approximately half the school in the gym and the other half in the auditorium and lobby. For safety and accountability, dismissal must be orderly and calm. Staff members who are on duty must be able to clearly hear the busses and/or groups being called for dismissal or be able to locate a student when necessary. Providing time for the students to read for 5 – 10 minutes at the end of the day helps to maintain that quiet and calm setting. Students should bring a good book from home that they can read while they are waiting to be dismissed. There are plenty of other times during the day for students to socialize and talk with friends. Having the children read for 5 or 10 minutes at the end of each school day is also great way to help develop a love for reading! Thank you for reminding your child to grab a good book to take to school.
- Bus information- Please double check the POWER School parent portal to ensure that you have the correct PM bus information for your child. Transportation was making adjustments to busses and in some cases, there were changes to afternoon bus assignments. Many of the bus numbers from last year have changed, even though it may be the same route and driver. It is better for you to know the specific PM bus number.
Walking Dogs on Lower Merion School District Ground
Walking dogs on school district property is not permitted. Parents and guardians should not take dogs to school at arrival or dismissal time, as they can not only cause a distraction but can also affect children with pet allergies
