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Getting to Thornhill

The morning drop-off and afternoon pick up can be very busy times at Thornhill.

In order to make the drop-off time as safe as possible for everyone in the neighborhood, please adhere to the four following options in the morning.

​The same options are available in the afternoon with the exception of Quick Drop. 

Note: All TK/K parents need to park and stay with their children on the playground until the first bell rings at 8:20am.

Route Options Map

Thornhill drop-off/pick up traffic routes (.pdf)

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4 Options for Parking and Quick Drop

1. Park, and walk in from the St. John’s Episcopal Church parking lot

 The church has generously offered the use of their private property for the convenience and safety of the children and parents of Thornhill school. Please respect the church signage.
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What to do:

• Enter the church parking lot from Gouldin Road.
• Park your car and walk with your child at least as far as the stairs going into the yard area at the back of the school.
• Exit the parking lot from Alhambra Lane only (right lane). Note that Alhambra Lane is a 2-way street (right after the steep downhill exit from the church parking lot). 
• Observe the stop sign at the bottom of the driveway into Alhambra Lane. Stop and look before proceeding. It is strongly encouraged that you turn right onto Thornhill Drive as a safer way to exit and also to not hold up people behind you trying to exit.
• If you need to travel south on Thornhill, please make a U-turn on Merriewood Drive.

What not to do:

• Do NOT park in the spots directly in front of the church building where the signs say “Church Parking Only” (or our privileges to park in the lot may be taken away!)
• Do NOT stop the car and drop off your child at the top of the stairs.
• Do NOT park a long car perpendicular near the entry to the stairs on the left—this may make it unsafe for both a car and those walking to the stairs to pass each other.
• Do NOT park on the school side of Thornhill Drive between Alhambra Lane and Gouldin Road (this road is clearly marked as no parking and also might be blocked off by cones).
• Do NOT walk through yards or gates of residences next to the parking lot, and do not walk through the cul-de-sac; they are all private, and the owners cannot assume the liability of non-resident foot traffic through their properties.

2. Park and walk in from Thornhill Drive

Parking spots are available along Thornhill Drive near the south end of the school (Thornhill Coffee Shop side). Please use only legal and safe options. In the morning, do not park in the Quick Drop lane, indicated by cones.

3. Drive through and drop-off at Alhambra Lane from St. John’s church lot

Suitable for 1st-5th graders only. TK/K parents need to park and stay with their children on the playground until the first bell rings at 8:20am.
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This is a drive-through drop-off zone used to get more students out of their cars quickly and safely. Children who are let out of the car here enter the school yard through the breezeway between the multipurpose room and the main Kindergarten building. This is most suitable for parents driving DOWN Thornhill Drive whose children are ready to get out of the car themselves.

What to do:

• Enter Alhambra Lane through the church parking lot
• Have your children ready to get out of the car: backpack closed, hair brushed, breakfast eaten, etc.
• Stay to your left when you pull over to stop your car, so that other cars can continue to pass on the right and your child won’t have to run in front of cars.
• Pull up as far as possible, along the backside of the main kindergarten building, before stopping to let out your children.
• If mini school buses or cars are blocking the left side of the street, wait your turn to drive forward before letting out your children.
• After you drop off your child, direct your car back to the right side of Alhambra Lane as you exit onto Thornhill Drive. Note that Alhambra Lane is a 2-way street at this point. 
• Observe the stop sign at the bottom of the driveway into Alhambra Lane. Stop and look before proceeding. It is strongly encouraged that you turn right onto Thornhill Drive as a safer way to exit and also to not hold up people behind you trying to exit.
• If you need to travel south on Thornhill, please make a U-turn on Merriewood Drive.

What not to do:

• Do NOT park in the cul-de-sac.
• Do NOT park anywhere on Alhambra Lane.
• Do NOT turn into Alhambra Lane from Thornhill Drive.

4. Quick Drop on Thornhill Drive

Suitable for 1st-5th graders only. TK/K parents need to park and stay with their children on the playground until the first bell rings at 8:20am.
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This is a drive-through, drop-off lane created in the mornings to get more students out of their cars quickly and safely. It is located between the red zone on the curb and the yard driveway. Quick Drop on Thornhill Drive is most suitable for parents driving UP Thornhill Drive whose children are ready to get out of the car.
​
What to do:

• Have your children ready to get out of the car: backpack closed, hair brushed, breakfast eaten, etc.
• Enter the Quick Drop lane at the back.
• Pull up as far as possible in the lane before stopping your car and letting out your child. The first car in line should pull up to the front cone.
• Several cars may unload at the same time in the lane.
• Exit the lane after the last cone - only when your car is the first in the lane and after ensuring there is no incoming traffic.
• Drive up to Merriewood Drive to make a U-turn, if needed.

When is Quick Drop Available?
Cones, indicating the drop-off lane, will be set up around 8am in the morning. However, the school yard is not monitored until 8:30 am. Please, do not drop your child off before we have staff monitoring the playground. ​

​Assistance
Parent volunteers will sometimes help open cars doors and offer instruction on how to best use the lane. If there is no one at the curb to help, please proceed on your own. Want to volunteer? Please email our Traffic Committee co-chairs, Christa Pennacchio and Stephen Cole, at quickdrop@thornhillschool.org.

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Additional Tips

Carpool or Walk to School
All of us who drive to school contribute to the traffic congestion around the school. Help reduce the problem by carpooling, walking, or riding your bicycle to school once in a while!

Whatever mode of transportation, PLEASE OBEY THE LAW!

• U-turns are not allowed in front of schools.
• No parking on the right or left corners of Thornhill Drive at Alhambra Lane is allowed because this blocks visibility for drivers exiting Alhambra Lane. 
• No parking north of the school during the school day. We have seen OPD ticketing cars here once this year already.
• No parking at a red curb.
• Double parking in front of the school is not safe.
• The white-painted curb  is for student loading and unloading only. If you need to walk your child to class please park in the church lot. Your traffic team is working hard to get the drop zone ready by 8:15am and cars parked in the white zone make that job challenging.
• It is not safe to drop your children off in front of the apartment buildings on Thornhill Drive and have them run across the street.
• Do not drop off in the striped cross walk in front of the coffee shop.
• Please stop for pedestrians on all three crosswalks near the school.
• When exiting the church lot at busy times of the day please turn right onto Thornhill and make a U-turn at Merriewood. Waiting to turn left causes back up into the parking lot and makes kids late for school.

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​Questions? Suggestions? Want to Help?
Please email our Traffic Committee co-chairs, Christa Pennacchio and Stephen Cole, at quickdrop@thornhillschool.org with any questions or suggestions you may have. We are always looking for more AM volunteers as well!