What is Monty Lane?

(2/99) Safety/Monty Lane are important PTA committees at Monte Vista. Monty Lane was created to help with the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up safety of our children. Other safety issues are also reviewed on a regular basis.

What is Yellow Ribbon Week?

(2/99) Yellow Ribbon / Safety Week is a PTA event, focusing on safety with fun!

Safety Rules at Monte Vista

(9/96) Traffic congestion has resulted in accidents involving our children. Monty Lane has been established for the students’ safety. Please observe the following rules. Remember on rainy or foggy days extra caution is required.

MONTY LANE

Morning Drop Off:
1. Children should be ready to exit with all materials. Have your car doors unlocked.
2. Slowly pull into the coned area of the lane as far forward as possible. Come to a complete stop and get the okay before your child exits.
3. Please exit and enter on the right side only.
4. Oncoming traffic should yield to merging lane traffic.

Afternoon Pick-Up:
1. When waiting for pick-up, children must wait on the red lines along the fence.
2. Cars should slowly pull completely up into the Lane and check for their child(ren).
3. If your child is not waiting, please exit the Lane and go around the block, and try again.

Please don’t:
1. Park in Monty Lane.
2. Walk across the street through Monty Lane.
3. Exit the Lane and make a U-turn.
4. Leave the lane before the last cone.
5. Use private drive-ways to make a Y-turn.
6. Park or block private driveways.
7. Pass cars on the left into oncoming traffic.
8. Block the sidewalk where children are waiting.

Please do:
1. Be patient on rainy days, allow a little extra time.
2. Treat Monty Lane volunteers with respect and courtesy. Remember they are donating their personal time to help make it safe for all of our children.
3. Wait for your child along the fence below the gate. Don't block the sidewalk so that your children have to step into the street to go around you.
4. Drive safely!

Bicycles:
1. Only 5th and 6th graders may ride their bikes to school.
2. 4th graders may ride only after they have passed a Bike Safety class.
3. All bikes should be carefully locked. Bike locks are to be removed from the rack daily.
4. Helmets must be worn when riding a bike. It’s the Law!

For Pedestrians:
1. Cross only at crosswalks.
2. Cross only at corners.
3. Never cross the street between parked cars.
4. Look all ways before crossing the street to see cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
5. When crossing, watch for cars that are turning left or right.

(5/23/96) It has come to our attention, that many students wait for their parents at the corner of Cecilville and Orange. Often, students wait up to an hour unsupervised. Several neighbors have called to complain about the lack of safety and the students' behavior. Please do not have your child wait there unsupervised. Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated.

(6/6/96) Many parents are stopping in the red curb zone at Orange and Rosemont to drop off their children. Please use Monty Lane. It only takes a minute for a tragedy to occur. Also, thank you to those parents who no longer have their children wait for them after school at Cecilville/Orange. Pink slips will be given to students waiting there because this is an unsafe practice.

The Ice Cream Man

(6/6/96) The ice cream man has caused several problems for the school and neighbors where he parks. He has sold "poppers" which are small caps that can be exploded. Several students have been suspended when this occurred before. The students have been given items, rather than change, parents have reported and the neighbors are left with trash. The school has checked with the Sheriff's Department regarding the truck, but he is within his rights to be where he parks. One way to persuade him to move on is to not support his business! Your help in this matter is appreciated.

Yellow Ribbon Week

<1/7/99) Yellow Ribbon Week, which recognizes the commitment to school safety and the reduction of youth violence, begins Monday, January 11 and continues throughout the week to Friday, January 15. Our theme words for this year's observance are "Unity, Harmony, and Collaboration". Monte Vista will be hosting a special Traffic Safety Rodeo on Saturday, January 9 from 10-2 PM to kick off our Yellow Ribbon Week celebration. All Valley schools have been invited to participate in a mini city traffic obstacle course designed to educate and challenge a child's ability to recognize hazards and select the safe move in traffic. A parent or guardian needs to attend and sign a release for the chilren to ride through the obstacle course--but anyone can walk through the course. So, bring your bike or rollerblades (with appropriate safety gear) and test your safety skills. Also, checkout the Monty Lane Quiz located on one of the following pages of this issue of Paw Prints. Students nees to adminsiter this test to parents. Have your student return the quiz to their teacher and a ticket will be given for a random prize drawing. The drawing will be held at the BMX Stunt Bike and Safety Show in the school Cafetorium on Thursday, January 14. Our PTA has done a super job in spotlighting Safety Week here at Monte Vista. Special thanks to Val Hickman and Dave Rider for arranging many of these events. SUPER JOB!

Safe Moves - Traffic Safety Rodeo

Safe Moves is a non-profit organization that educates children on the skills they need to safely travel our sidewalks and streets. Safe Moves will be setting up a mini city traffice obstacle course consisting of sidewalks, crosswalks, stop lights, pedestrian signals, traffic signs, dogs, storeforonts, cars, potholes, driveways, houses, and other traffic hazards to simulate traffic conditions that children may encounter every day of their lives. The course is designed to educate and challenge a child's abiltiy to recognize hazards and select the "safe move" in traffic!

Traffic accidents are the leading causes of death and injury in children under the age of sixteen. Safe Moves was established to educate children and help prevent such tragedies. They are sponsored by GUSD and the police department.

Adult Contact Monte Lane: Joni Abel

Adult Contact Yellow Ribbon Week: Valerie Hickman

Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to Monte Vista.

Copyright © 1996, Monte Vista Elementary School, Last Updated - 2/17/99
Web Page Author - Mary Beth Baker
Web Page Advisor - Carla Walker