Mars Area School District will institute new procedures affecting afternoon dismissal at Mars Area Elementary School beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 23). 

In accordance with these new procedures, vehicle access onto Doc’s Way from Three Degree Road will be restricted to school buses only from 2:30 to 4 p.m. (when school is in session). Note: Doc’s Way will remain open to all vehicle traffic exiting the Mars Area Elementary School campus. All bus riders at Mars Area Elementary School will be dismissed to their school buses at the rear of the building.  

Parents/guardians, who are picking up your child(ren) at Mars Area Elementary School, will be required to access the Elementary School campus via Mars Area Primary Center's main parking lot entrance along Route 228. 

Student Pick-Up will occur at the front entrance of the Elementary School, where parent/guardian vehicles will be directed into one of three pick-up lines. All parents/guardians must remain in your vehicles. No walk-ups will be permitted. Please be sure that the provided placard with your student’s name is visible on your vehicle’s dashboard, as your student will be called upon your arrival and will be brought to your vehicle. 

Upon picking up your child, you may exit the Elementary School campus via the Administration Office access road onto Brickyard Road or by looping around to Doc’s Way to access Three Degree Road. 

We ask that all parents/guardians also please note that the changes to traffic patterns and drop-off/pick-up procedures that were implemented in the past few weeks at Mars Area Centennial School and Mars Area Primary Center will continue. The purpose of these new procedures, along with the changes at Mars Area Elementary School, is to aid in reducing traffic congestion and improving overall safety.