A Message from Transportation 

If you have a student who may be walking or biking to school, please take some time before school starts to: 

• Create a Return Home Plan (grades K-5) in your Annual Forms in Skyward Family Access. Your school uses this plan to help support students in getting to and from school safely. 

• Check and plan your routes to and from school by checking your school’s website. We work closely with the city of Bellingham and groups like Whatcom SmartTrips to identify the most direct, well-marked, and safe routes for walkers and bikers in our neighborhoods. 

• Review how to walk or bike safely, especially during high traffic times such as school drop-off and pick-up.  

We know that there are many reasons that a family may choose to drive students to and from school rather than walking or biking. If your family drives to or from school, please make sure you follow all instructions from your school for safe and efficient drop-off and pick-up, including where to drop-off, how to move through the drop-off/pick-up line, and where to park.  

If it works for your family, please also consider encouraging and helping your students learn how to walk, bike (scooter, etc.!) to school, especially in the fall when days are long and weather is cooperative. If you would like support in walking or biking to school or have feedback about concerns that may keep your family from encouraging your kids to walk or bike, please let us know by calling (360) 676-6546.