Parking, Dropping Off, & Walking
We at Carpenter are aware how difficult the parking situation is at our school. With everyone's cooperation we can do our best to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety caused by the lack of available parking. The easiest way you can help is, if possible, to walk your child to school. We understand the majority of parents cannot do that, so below are some tips for dropping off and picking up your children at school. Please follow these guidelines for your safety and the safety of your children.
Walking to School
Students walking to school must enter through the Laurel Canyon entrance or the pedestrian gates on Carpenter Avenue. Pedestrians may not enter through the driveway at the north end of the campus or through the staff parking lot.
To streamline pickup after the dismissal bell, designate a spot on the playground to meet your child after class. There is supervision on the playground provided by LAUSD Youth Services from school dismissal until 6:00 p.m. As a safety measure, children may not wait for pickup on the street outside of the schoolyard.
Parking & Dropping Off
Morning Drop-off: In the interest of student safety, we have a valet drop-off lane in the front of the school on Carpenter Avenue. Parents using the valet drop-off lane on Carpenter are asked to remain in the lane (clearly marked with cones) until the drop-off area are reached. At that time, an adult will assist children exiting the car. Do not allow children to leave the car prior to reaching the drop-off area. DO NOT make U-turns on Carpenter during drop-off. Please obey all posted signs to ensure the safety of Carpenter students, families, and staff.
Dismissal: If picking up students by car, please form a line on Carpenter Ave. that proceeds into the parking lot. Drive into the lot and stay in line. When you reach the front of the line, your child will be paged by megaphone and escorted to your car by an adult. Please remind your child to stay in the primary play structure area to ensure that he/she can hear the page.
Observe the (3-Way) stop sign at the corner of Carpenter Avenue and Laurelwood Drive.
Do not block the intersection of Carpenter Avenue and Ventura Boulevard, or the driveways on either end of the school.
Please don’t park in alleys or private driveways. Though it may be enticing and expedient to park in an alley or private driveway, it is not an option. You will be towed.
Note that the curb along Laurel Canyon by the school is designated as a bus stop between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm. There is no parking or stopping to drop off children in this area.
Observe the 25 mph speed limit as well as the traffic pattern in the school parking lot.
Do not park - not even double park - at any time in the school parking lot. The lot is numbered and designated for teacher and staff parking only. Please be considerate. The teachers and staff need to be able get in and out of their spaces freely.
There is additional parking off Maxwellton in the Bridges Academy Parking lot. We are grateful to Bridges Academy for their generosity.
If you stagger pickup for your children, our traffic problem could be lessened. We are suggesting pick-up at 2:30 for Grades 1 and 2, 2:45 for Grades 3 and 4, and 2:55 for the 5th grade.
Bridges Academy
Bridges Academy (at Laurel Canyon and Maxwellton) will allow Carpenter parents to use a specific portion of their parking lot. These 75 spaces are along the west wall. Please be respectful of there generosity and park only in these designated spaces. Do not block fire lanes.
The Bridges Academy lot, like the faculty lot on the other side of the school, is for pick-up and drop-off only. If you are volunteering in the school, please find street parking on the Carpenter Avenue side of the school and sign in as a volunteer in the office.