Transportation
Keep Our Wildcats Safe!
We are all responsible for keeping children safe — let's work together to make drop-off and pick-up a smooth process. Please take time to review traffic safety rules with children. Small children often forget important precautions.
In particular, May is Bike/Unicycle Everywhere Month. Many of our Wildcats are arriving at school on one or two wheels, making them feel extra vulnerable. Drivers, please take note of these driving / drop off rules at Whittier:
Driving in the School Zone: Moving People and Cars Around Whittier
When dropping off your child(ren) by car, drive slowly and carefully around the school. Please be attentive to children crossing the street, traffic patterns, drop zones, and crossing guards.
- Parents are encouraged to drive clockwise around Whittier: west on NW 75th St,
north on 14th Ave NW, east on NW 77th St, and south on 13th Ave NW.
- Don't block driveways; leave 5 feet of room or risk a ticket and a tow.
- Remember to leave at least 20 feet from any crosswalk, marked or unmarked.
- The BUS ZONE is located alongside the school on 13th Ave NW.
No drop off, pick up, or parking is permitted in this area.
- 14th Ave NW is recommended for drop off/pick up before and after school.
- Always drop off on the school side of the street or where children can
carefully cross at corners.
- Pedestrians and cyclists: do not cross between buses or cars.
Parking
Please observe No Parking signs, do not double park, and remember there is NO parking or drop off allowed in bus zones (located alongside the school on 13th Ave NW). Please do not block driveways (leave 5 feet of space) or crosswalks (leave 20 feet of space); parking too close to crosswalks decreases visibility, and school buses can't turn the corners. Failing to observe these restrictions could result in a fine or your car being towed.
Bikes, Scooters, and Skateboards
Students riding to school are expected to walk their bicycles, scooters, and skateboards once they reach a patrol crossing. Bicycles, scooters, and skateboards may not be ridden on school property between 8:20am and 2:50pm.
Bike parking is available behind the school building in the southeast corner of the blacktop area. Please lock your bike as the school is not responsible for loss or damage. Arrange skateboard and scooter storage in advance with teachers or the office.
Bike Trains
A bike train is a group of students and adults who bicycle to school together along a previously-arranged route, making stops to pick up others along the way. Organizing a bike train can be formal — involving the school community in a program with several bike trains —or informal — with just you and your neighbors riding to school together; just make sure that everyone has fun!
In general, the components of a bike train include:
- Front and rear adult riders to make sure children are all "aboard" together (its best to have one parent for every 3-6 students)
- Appropriate spacing (one bike-distance between each passenger)
- Single file
- Train rules (use hand signals, no swerving, have basic knowledge of bicycle safety, etc.)
Several online guides and resources can help you organize a community bike train:
Bus Transportation
Staff members help students learn the bus routine, meet students arriving by bus in the mornings, and escort bus riders to their bus each day after school. Children who ride the bus are expected to be respectful to the driver and follow all bus safety rules (listed below). A bus pass (green card, available from the office with a parent/guardian note or email) is required to use a different stop or to be a guest rider.
Bus Safety Rules:
- Stay back from the curb until the bus has come to a complete stop. Never go near a moving bus and stay away from the back wheels of the bus.
- When exiting the bus, wait for the bus driver to signal you to cross the street. Never run in front of a bus, even if the bus sign is out.
- Stay in the first seat you choose or your assigned seat.
- No eating or leaving your seat while on the bus.
- Talk quietly to the person sitting next to you only.
- Keep all parts of your body inside the bus.
- Never throw anything in or out of the bus.
- Keep hands, feet and items out of the middle aisle of the bus.
The privilege of riding the school bus may be revoked if a student fails to follow safety rules or receives repeated bus write-ups.
Walkers and Safety Patrol
Children who walk to school should establish a walking route with their parents. "Safe walking routes" can also be determined with the help of school staff.
Student Safety Patrol crossing guards are stationed in the morning before school, and in the afternoon after school at the following locations:
- NW 75th and 14th Ave NW (East/West Crossing)
- NW 75th and 13th Ave NW (East/West Crossing)
- NW 75th and 14th Ave NW (North/South Crossing)
Adult crossing guards are stationed in the morning before school and in the afternoon after school at the following locations:
- NW 75th and 8th Ave NW
- NW 80th and 13th Ave NW