Editor's note: You’ll find the full text of our latest Head of School communication below. The formatting is cleaner and truer to the design in the original version, so I encourage you to read it here for the best experience.

CAR LINE INFORMATION FOR DAY ONE

Dear Wellington Community,

Wednesday is our first day of school!

As you know, one of Wellington's great logistical marvels is that, twice a day, we move nearly 900 people on and off campus through a single driveway. Those of you who know me know that I have somewhat unwittingly, yet now quite publicly, staked my professional reputation on improving car line and, much to their chagrin, dragged my leadership colleagues along for the ride.

This email may be the most important one you receive all year. In reading it, we as a community recommit ourselves to car line excellence for 2026-27.

For the record, on Wednesday I'll send my customary start-of-school letter outlining my Head of School priorities for the year. Until then, please know that while the strategic plan, educational excellence, campus construction, philanthropy, and community building all matter deeply, none generate nearly as many emails as car line.

And this year, the degree of difficulty has increased.

With construction underway on our future Upper School, our buses can no longer use the Fishinger Road entrance, so we will truly all be navigating our single entrance together. So, especially during the first few days, we need everyone's help. Please leave a little extra time, follow the directions of our team, pull all the way forward, extend some grace to your fellow Wellington drivers, and keep it moving. I promise we will be watching closely and adjusting as we go.

There is one additional plot twist for our northwest community members: Riverside Drive (US 33) remains closed between Fishinger Road and just north of River Park Drive. The closure is expected to continue into September, so families who normally travel along Riverside should plan an alternate route and allow additional time.

Below you'll find our Tips and Tricks, followed by arrival and dismissal procedures for each division. If you have children in multiple divisions, please review each applicable section, including the sibling pick-up information.

If all of us do our part, I remain confident that Wellington can accomplish what lesser institutions might consider impossible. And on Wednesday morning, my colleagues and I will be outside waiting with Duke to cheer you on and welcome you back. I can't wait.

Thank you....let's keep it moving... and Go, Jags!

Car Line Tips and Procedures

New for 2026-27: Middle and Upper School afternoon pick-up has moved to the Rotunda Entrance. MS/US car line begins at 3:35 p.m.; vehicles arriving early will be directed to park until car line begins. Those who need to coordinate an earlier pick-up for any reason need to contact their advisors and division assistant.

Morning Drop-off Map

Afternoon Pick-Up Map

Tips and Tricks

• ECLS and MS families must display their assigned car line tag so it is clearly visible to staff.
• Follow the directions of faculty and staff throughout dismissal.
• Pull forward as far as possible and avoid leaving gaps between vehicles.
• Remain attentive while driving through campus and limit distractions. No cellphone usage.
• Afternoon MS/US car line begins at 3:35 p.m.; vehicles arriving early will be directed to park until car line begins.
• Be patient and expect a learning curve during the first few days of school.

Early Childhood and Lower School (ECLS)

MORNING - Before Care: 7:30-8 a.m.
Morning care is available from 7:30-8 a.m. at no additional charge for students in Little Jags through grade 4. No registration is required. Students begin their day either on the ECLS Playscape or inside the Brisk Commons, depending on the weather. You may choose one of the following drop-off options:

• Drive-up at the rotunda doors or playscape gates, where a teacher will be on duty.
• Park and walk your child to the teacher on duty. You will park in the visitor parking lot (by the soccer fields).

MORNING - Drop Off: 8-8:15 a.m.
Classroom doors open at 8 a.m. For drop-off traffic flow, please consult the morning car line traffic flow document.

Rotunda Drop-Off: This option is for adults who prefer not to park the car. Students should be ready to independently exit the car with their belongings and walk into the building through the rotunda doors. Adults will be outside to supervise, but students are expected to walk to their classrooms on their own.

Early Childhood Families With a Badge: Families may park in the front visitor lot and enter the building between 8-8:20 a.m. Badges will allow access in one of three ways:

• Swipe at Door 44 (kindergarten door) to drop off a kindergartner at their classroom or walk through to the Little
• Jags and prekindergarten classrooms OR
• Park and enter through the rotunda OR
• Park and enter through Door 2 (by the playscape), closest to the Little Jags and prekindergarten classrooms.

Lower School Families and EC Families Without a Badge: Families may park in the visitor lot and enter through the rotunda if you wish to walk your child to the classroom door. You will need to sign in using our visitor management system if you do not have a badge. Any family who wishes to have a badge may request one at any time during the school year through Willie at the front desk.

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL

The following procedures are for students being picked up at regular dismissal. If your child is enrolled in Aftercare, enrichment classes, or Junior Jags, these instructions do not apply to your dismissal plan.

Little Jags (and Siblings):

• Little Jags can be picked up from their exterior classroom door from 3-3:25 p.m.
• Park in one of the six reserved "Little Jag Parents Only" spaces in the Student/Faculty lot.
• Little Jags do not participate in sibling staging in the library.
• Older siblings will report to their Little Jag sibling's classroom and dismiss from the exterior classroom door together.

Prekindergarten and Kindergarten (and Lower School Siblings):

• Car line begins at 3:20 p.m.
• Prekindergarten and kindergarten families should enter the third row (curb lane) of the front parking lot.
• Families should remain in their cars. A teacher will bring students to your vehicle.
• Lower school siblings will report to their younger sibling's dismissal location and load from this lane as well.

Lower School (Grades 1–4 without Younger Siblings):

• Car line begins at 3:20 p.m.
• Families should enter one of the first two rows of the front parking lot.
• Faculty will direct vehicles as the lanes merge, typically using a zipper merge.
• Students will be brought to your vehicle. Please remain in your car.
• Pull forward as far as possible and avoid leaving gaps between vehicles to help keep traffic moving efficiently.

Early Childhood and Lower School Students With Middle and Upper School Siblings:

• ECLS students with a Middle or Upper School sibling will report to the library at 3:20 p.m. and wait with a teacher until Middle/Upper School dismissal.
• Older siblings will meet their younger sibling(s) in the library before heading to the Rotunda Entrance for pick-up together beginning at 3:35 p.m.
• The MS/US car line is closed until 3:35 p.m. Vehicles arriving early will be directed to park until car line begins.
• If your Middle or Upper School student is staying for an after-school activity, please use the ECLS car line to pick up your younger child at 3:20 p.m. that day.

Please review the afternoon car line traffic flow for pick-up locations, lane assignments, and additional dismissal information.

Middle and Upper School (MS and US)

MORNING DROP-OFF 7:30-8:20 a.m. (MS) | 7:30-8:10 a.m. (US)

• For drop-off traffic flow, please consult the morning car line traffic flow document.
• Middle School students should be dropped off in the back parking lot between 7:30-8:20 a.m.
• Upper School students should be dropped off in the back parking lot between 7:30-8:10 a.m. to allow time to check in by 8:15 a.m. On Leap Days, students may arrive until 8:55 a.m.
• When dropping off, pull forward to the lowest numbered available spot (1-9) before stopping. If your student needs to access the trunk, please use spots 1-4 whenever possible.
• Middle School students who arrive between 7:30-8 a.m. report to the Middle School Commons.
• Upper School students who arrive between 7:30-8 a.m. will report to the Upper School Commons.
• Starting at 8 a.m., Middle School students check in with their advisor, and Upper School students check in with their grade-level dean.

AFTERNOON PICK-UP

Afternoon car line is for students being picked up between 3:35-3:50 p.m. If your child is enrolled in an after-school program (e.g., athletics, performing arts, Aftercare, enrichment classes, or Junior Jags), these instructions do not apply to your dismissal plan.

Please review the afternoon car line traffic flow for pick-up locations, lane assignments, and additional dismissal information.

• Middle and Upper school students will be dismissed at 3:35 p.m. and picked up at the rotunda.
• The MS/US car line is closed until 3:35 p.m. Vehicles arriving early will be directed to park until car line begins.
• Signs will indicate where the loading zone begins. To keep traffic moving efficiently, please load only in the designated area.
• For middle and upper school students with an ECLS sibling, please refer to the sibling pick-up information in the Early Childhood and Lower School section above.
• If your child is not outside when you reach the loading zone, you will be directed to the waiting zone.