SAFETY Letter 4.17.2017
Wendi Nolder
Dear Odyssey Families - Please see attached and below Important Safety Letter.
April 17, 2017
Dear Odyssey families, faculty and staff,
Re: An important notification regarding safe vehicle traffic and bike safety at our schools
We hope you all enjoyed a peaceful Spring break. We were happy to see students return this morning – bright, shining, and ready to learn.
Please be reminded that the speed limit for all vehicles on both our school campuses is 5 mph. We ask that you abide by this and move slowly through our car loop for the safety of all. While in your cars, please treat each family, student, and/or faculty with the highest level of consideration and respect. We also ask that you refrain from cell phone use and other distractions as you navigate through the loop. When needing to cross our parking lots while on the school campuses, please use the crosswalks with crossing guards. We understand many of you need to travel to your places of employment, so please feel free to come a few minutes earlier so that you do not need to hurry.
When exiting our school campuses, and while students are present, please be certain to leave our property at a very slow rate of speed and look for traffic, including pedestrian, both ways, before exiting. Although the speed limit in the school zones, when students are present, is presently between 20-25 mph (depending upon the campus), we are asking you to consider slower speeds until outside of the school zone. Be ever watchful of students walking and riding their bikes to and from school outside of the school zones as well.
Thank you for your consideration as we continue to work to keep all of our students safe. If you have any additional suggestions, concerns or feedback, won’t you please contact Mr. Mike Davis, Dean, Odyssey Charter School - Eldron Campus at 321 733-0442, Ms. Alicia Cohen, Dean, Odyssey Preparatory Academy (Elementary) – Wyoming Campus at 321 345-4117, or Mr. Austin Reynolds, Dean, Odyssey Charter School Junior/Senior High – Wyoming Campus at 321 345-4117. We appreciate your feedback.
On the back of this communication is some information to increase bike safety in our school community. If your student rides his/her bike to school, please take a few moments to review with them. Thank you for helping us keep you safe.
School Administration
BICYCLE SAFETY:
If your child rides their bicycle to school, we would like to remind parents to discuss bicycle safety and rules of the road with their children. Bicyclists ARE NOT pedestrians and are required to obey all traffic laws and to wear a helmet if under the age of 18.
Motorists should also keep in mind that while traveling in school zones, there are likely young, inexperienced bicyclists and pedestrians in the area. Please use extra caution while exiting driveways or making turning movements in areas around schools. Remember that the speed limit in school zones is 20-25 MPH when children are present (regardless of the posted speed limit).
Please read the following bicycle safety tips and share them with your family and friends.
ELEMENTARY - SIDEWALK VS STREET RIDING - The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street, where bicycles are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in the same direction.
• Children less than 12 years old, however, are not mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.
• Children less than 12 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.
• For anyone riding on a sidewalk:
- Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.
- Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing.
- Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, “Excuse me,” or, “Passing on your left,” or use a bell or horn.
JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH - BICYCLING ON THE ROAD - Bicycles in Florida are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:
• Go with the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles.
• Obey All Traffic Laws - A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
• Don’t ride a bicycle in a crosswalk. Crosswalks are for pedestrians. Bicycle riders need to stay within the lane of traffic in the direction they are traveling.
If a bicyclist is riding on a sidewalk, and wants to cross a roadway from one sidewalk to the next, they must dismount their bicycle and walk across the roadway within the crosswalk and therefore become a pedestrian while using the crosswalk.
• Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.
• Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headset when you ride.
• Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.
• Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).