Important Information for First Day:

• Gates open for Drop-off at 7:45 AM.
• School Starts at 8:10 AM for First through Eighth Graders.
• For Kindergartners, School Starts at 9:00 AM on Sept 3 and Sept 4. Kindergarteners join the rest of the school for an 8:10 start on Thursday, Sept 5.
• School ends at 3:00 PM. Gates open at 3:00 PM and Close at 3:30 PM.
• After-School Programs start the 2nd Week of School (Sept 9). Schedule and sign-up links will be posted by Wednesday afternoon. Chess, Spanish, Mandarin, Zumba, Art, Jiu-Jitsu Self-Defense, Soccer Teams, Flag Football Teams, Rock-Climbing, and more….!

Traffic Safety Alert:

• Construction is on-going across the street from OTA.
• The Site Superintendent is aware of our Sept 3 start and has informed his workers to be alert. But it will be a new process for everyone.
• Due to the construction and until we have established safe routines we will need everyone to be extra vigilant.
• There will be no special Start-of-the-Year Ceremony on the first day of school (we’ll hold those in individual classrooms) and so there is no reason to park and walk your child onto campus on the first day of school (unless you have a kindergartener or other new student).
  • Our main focus for the first week will be SAFETY.

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Dear OTA Parents and Guardians, a few Safety Reminders from Officer Tim Zutterland (San Diego Police Dept Traffic Dept):

• The key to a successful drop-off and pick-up is to have all drivers approach the school from the south and treat San Diego Avenue as a one-way street!

Click to enlarge map.

Directions to Old Town Academy:

Heading South: Interstate 5 to Washington Street Exit. Go left onto Washington, continue under freeway to Stop Light. Take a Left onto San Diego Ave. Continue to Old Town Academy: 2120 San Diego Avenue, San Diego CA 92110.

Heading North: Interstate 5 to Washington Street Exit. Merge right to avoid re-entry to Interstate. You are now on India St–stay left until you reach Washington St intersection, continue directly across intersection (India turns into San Diego Ave). Stay right to avoid re-entry onto I5, continue to Old Town Academy: 2120 San Diego Avenue, San Diego CA 92110.

Highlights of the plan are here:

1. All drivers arrive from the south and take a right turn into the OTA driveway. Stop to drop off their children and continue to exit driveway, taking a right turn onto San Diego Ave to reach.
2. No U-turn at Bandini and San Diego Ave intersection!
3. No left-turn into OTA driveway.
4. No parking in Teachers Garage.
5. No parking zone is now in place in front of school during drop-off and pick-up (7:30-8:30 AM and 2:30-3:30 PM)
6. Please note: Bandini St is very very very steep (think San Francisco). It is not a good idea to turn onto it and try to u-turn! Remember to curb your wheels (tickets were given this year to cars that did not)

Overall the pickup and drop-off  worked very well last year and we appreciate everyone’s support. We spoke to the neighborhood groups again at the end of the summer and they seem pleased (so long as we remember not to block the driveways in front of the condos!) A few more safety reminders below:

• Parents and children jaywalking across San Diego Ave in front of the school. Passing between cars to cross the street is bound to lead to an accident some day. Please use the crosswalk at the corner of San Diego Ave and Bandini.
• Parents parking on the south side of San Diego Avenue then walking over to pick-up or drop-off children. We have seen too many near-misses when OTA parents slow down to park across the street– the road is already narrow due to cars lined up to enter the driveway– the cars following come close to rear-ending our parents. Please do not park unless you have an appointment at school or arrive after the gates are closed (Gates Close at 8:10 AM and 3:20 PM): it is much safer to drive into the driveway and drop off or pickup your child/ren from your car!
• Last year we noticed more drivers making u-turns to enter the playground driveway, especially those arriving late. This is very dangerous both to pedestrians, bikers, and drivers– a biker and car almost collided this morning.

Thanks for your help keeping OTA students and families safe.

This Spring the city moved our School Zone Signs closer to the school, repainted the San Diego Avenue-Bandini crosswalk, and added “Curb Your Wheels” signs to Bandini Street. We are still working on a flashing light for school hours.