REVISED            March 7, 2006

Rancho Traffic Safety Notice

The Novato Police Department informed Rancho of the following:
 >Volunteers can no longer guide cars “around the corner” to park in the back lot.

>A Queue (a waiting line of vehicles) is not allowed until all parking spots are filled.

>At 2:55pm parents may begin to Queue Up (line up/not park).

Please review, note, and follow these new traffic guidelines:

1) A Volunteer Traffic Parent will be posted at the entrance of the back parking lot (upper playground).   These volunteers will remain until the lot is full.  Do not attempt to “go around the line” on the wrong side of the road, this is illegal and you can be ticketed!

2) For those parents who prefer picking up their student in the circle, do not arrive and queue up before 2:55pm.  Parents who arrive early to queue up will be asked to park. Not only will this help relieve early traffic congestion on Johnson Street, it will also keep the circle clear for Emergency Vehicles (just in case). 

3) Please park your car if you arrive early.  Let’s fill up the back lot and all the front parking spaces before lining up!  Back in if you can; it helps you get out easier.

4) The Novato United Methodist Church has graciously offered to Rancho parents the use of its parking lot, located on Novato Blvd.  Avoid Johnson Street completely; park at this lot and walk to & from school!

5) If you are waiting in the car line to enter the circle, be aware of the cars leaving the back parking lot and the front parking spaces.

6) Remember to refrain from using your cell phone while driving during drop off and pick up.  Kids are still kids, and a distracted driver is not a safe driver.

7) Please pay attention to the “cone crosswalk” at the corner of Adams and Johnson.  AM Volunteer crossing guards will be there to assist our students who are walking to school.  Drive slowly.

Rancho School Drop Off and Parking Rules

A reminder of Rancho School’s existing traffic rules:

· When driving in the drop off circle go to the farthest end of the white line so that as many cars as possible can fit in and drop off their children.

· Under no circumstances if you are in the drop off circle are parents allowed to get out of the car to unload children or remove items out of a trunk. If you must do this then park in a designated parking zone and help keep the flow of traffic moving.

· Children are never permitted to exit on the street side of the drop off circle. Moving cars use this section to pass other autos and children can be seriously injured.

· The Loading/Unloading zone is a non-parking area. Novato Police will give tickets to any car parked in the white zone.

· During drop off and pick up times please be sure your children are ready to hop out of the car quickly.

· If you choose not to use the Drop circle and pick up your children at a specific area please be aware that Rancho has no ability to contact them or maintain their safety.

· All crossing guards are volunteers and it is important that we as a community support and respect their work. They are there to keep our children safe and our traffic moving smoothly.

· If traffic is a headache try carpooling with friends or neighbors. Save time, energy and fuel.

· Finally, please be respectful of the residents on Johnson and Cambridge Street. They live there and we     want to keep them as our neighbors and not have them become our adversaries.

Thank you for your cooperation.  Together we can make our Traffic flow safely and smoothly!