Arrival Logistics
Each day, at 8:15 am, supervised student arrival will begin. All students should report to the back playground for entry to the school at 8:38 am. The goal is to have all students seated in homeroom by 8:45 am.
Please note, only buses are permitted in the upper lot. All other arrival methods should use the outlined routes and maps below.
Assigned Entry Doors
At Highcrest, we use three main doors for students to enter from during typical arrival.
- Door A | 5th Grade Houses 1 & 2
- Door B | All 6th Grade Houses
- Door C | 5th Grade Houses 3 & 4
Any student who enters after the second bell should sign-in at the front office by the circle drive.
AM Carline
If you're driving through the carline, please ensure you are off of your phone or electronic devices. There are many students arriving by bike, scooter, or on foot. Please proceed through the school zone with caution.
AM Bus Drop Off
Student who arrive by bus are dropped off at our upper-level parking lot, near the back playground. Students are welcomed by a Highcrest supervisor and can exit the bus and walk directly to the back playground where they will enter the school at the first bell.
Walker, Bike, + Scooter Map
If your child travels to school via walking, biking, or scootering, please consider using our safe paths. This way, you can cross with a crossing guard and avoid unnecessary roads used by cars and buses. Please take the extra moment to practice locking your bike or scooter before coming to school.
What does your student do if they arrive late to school?
While we aim to be at school early and on time each day, we recognize that every so often a tardy could occur. If this happens, please ensure your child enters through the front office located at the circle drive. Students can ring the bell, sign-in, and take a pass to their classroom.
Dismissal Procedures
HMS students are dismissed at 3:37 pm. Students are responsible for managing their dismissal plan. Students are not required to inform the front office of a change in their dismissal route or procedure.
For example, if a student signs up to take the bus but decided to bike instead, they can make that decision without communicating with the school.
If your family ever needs to communicate a change in dismissal plan to your child, please contact our front office before 3:25 pm at [email protected] or (847) 512-6500. Any contact made after that time we cannot guarantee the message will get to your child.
PM Carline
There are some slight changes in the afternoon carline compared to the morning. Students who are picked up by car should exit through the front of the school. Students will wait in the circle drive for their car to pull up. Drivers should follow the path outlined on the map below.
PM Bus Rider
If you are a PM Bus Rider, watch our student training video. Essentially, your child will be dismissed and walk to Gym C. Once there, they will find their cone labeled with their bus name. They will sit and wait for their bus to arrive. A supervisor will signal them to stand up and walk them to the bus.
General expectations while riding the bus:
Bus Conduct:
Student safety while on the bus is most important. Drivers must be able to focus and tend to the roads, especially during inclement weather. Here are the typical protocols we follow related to student bus conduct.
- 1st Report: Principal meets with student to discuss behavior as a teachable moment.
- 2nd Report: Principal meets with student and follows up with parent via email or phone.
- 3rd Report: Principal meets with the student and communicates the consequence of a 3-day bus suspension to the family.
- 4th Report: Principal meets with student and communicates the consequences of a 4-day bus suspension to the family.
- 5th Report: Principal meets with the student and communicates the consequence of a 5-day bus suspension to the family.
- 6+ Report: Principal meets with student and communicates the consequence of an extended bus suspension or removal from the bus for the remainder of the semester or year.
As with all behavior, context is important to consider and is used when assigning a consequence.
For more information regarding busing, please follow this link to our D39 Transportation Handbook and D39 Transportation website.