• If a student needs to leave for an appointment during the school day, please call the front office at 512-414-2369 just prior or use the intercom at our front door. 
• We will prepare your student for pickup. 
• Be prepared to share your driver’s license for us to scan for safety purposes.

There are several options for you and your family to choose as you commute to Hill each day. As a reminder, families will not be walking students inside the building to assembly/their classes this year (except for the first day of school):

• Walking/Riding your Bike: This is a great option for families that live in the Hill neighborhood. We have added connected sidewalks these past few years, including the shared use path on Hyridge that connects to Tallwood. We also have ample bike rack space up front and on the south side of the school. If this is an option, it is highly encouraged!

• Buses: For families outside of our immediate neighborhood, the school bus will run to your location if you are in our Hill Zone. If you need more information, you can visit https://www.austinisd.org/transportation. 

• Car Line: If you will be commuting in a vehicle, we highly encourage the use of our Hill Car Line! We again have students and staff supporting us to ensure it runs smoothly. You can reference the picture below for where to enter and exit. It begins on Tallwood and the line wraps around to Cima Serena drive. Please do not turn left into the carline. All cars enter by turning right. You can join the queue on Tallwood or Cima Serena coming from Robbie Lane/Greenslope.

• Parking and Walking to the Front/Back Doors: For families that would like to park and walk, we highly encourage you to use Robbie Lane if there are no spots directly in front of the school on Tallwood. The shared use path on Hyridge is an option as well. Parents/guardians should park and walk with their students if using this option. Parents/guardians should not drop off students at the curb. As stated before, Austin Woods and Amy Circle are no longer a viable choice for parking. Thank you all for respecting our neighborhood community and obeying parkings signs at all times.

• Our goal every day is to support our students emotionally first so they are ready to meet their learning potential. 
• All teachers will work with students in small groups to address specific learning needs. 
• Teachers will not teach both in-person and virtual learners, so no concurrent teaching. 
• Technology will be one of many learning stations and tools, but it will be balanced with traditional methods of instruction as well.
• Students should wash hands regularly throughout the school day. 
• Spaces will be sanitized throughout and after the school day.
• Each class will have a snack time, please pack a snack for your child. 
• Lunch will be in the cafeteria or outside as we use a hybrid model this year.
• Food should not be delivered from restaurants for students using apps.
• Homeroom classes will stay together when moving around the campus. 
• Homeroom classes will travel to the gym, art room, library, music room, and outdoor spaces together. 
• 2nd-5th grades may switch classes, but the homeroom groups will stay together. 

Dismissal

• Caregiver Pickup can happen in several ways. Teachers may also work with you on more specifics: 

  • Carline: Please use the arrival map and description above for directions on entering and exiting our front carline. Staff and safety patrol members will be present to assist students to their vehicles. We will plan to use the traditional carline waiting area. This is toward the end of the carline, just before exiting, under our North Portico (blue) area. Pre-K and some kinder students may begin at the South Portico. 4th grade families: Your students will be waiting at the South Portico (Orange) so we can better space our students. This area is shortly after you enter the car line at the first set of double doors.

  • Parking and Walking Pickup: For caregivers who want to park and walk (reference best practices under the arrival section), you can begin waiting in our front door area by the flagpole at 3:00 to retrieve students in 1st and 2nd grade. Pre-K and Kinder students can be retrieved from their carline for walk-up parents as well. Staff will walk students out at 3:10 for a safe dismissal. Parents/guardians will not enter the building until further notice during this time for pick-up. Parents of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders can meet them outside their class areas for pickup beginning at 3:05.

  • Students walking home: Please ensure your student has a safe plan and is aware of best practices.

• Caregiver Pickup can happen in several ways. Teachers may also work with you on more specifics: 
• Carline: Please use the arrival map and description above for directions on entering and exiting our front carline. Staff and safety patrol members will be present to assist students to their vehicles. We will plan to use the traditional carline waiting area with extra spacing precautions, adjusting as needed. This is toward the end of the carline, just before exiting, under our North Portico (blue) area. Pre-K and some kinder students may begin at the South Portico. 4th grade families: Your students will be waiting at the South Portico (Orange) so we can better space our students. This area is shortly after you enter the car line at the first set of double doors.
• Parking and Walking Pickup: For caregivers who want to park and walk (reference best practices under the arrival section), you can begin lining up at the front doors at 3:00 to retrieve students in 1st and 2nd grade. At 3:10, those students will be waiting in our old gym/cafeteria area for pickup. Pre-K and Kinder students can be retrieved from their carline for walk-up parents as well. Staff at the front door will assist you and call for your student from that area. Parents/guardians will not enter the building until further notice during this time. Parents of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders can meet them outside their class areas for pickup beginning at 3:05.
• Students walking home: Please ensure your student has a safe plan and is aware of best practices.