Holladay families driving students to Olympus Junior High on Wednesday, Aug. 12, will find new traffic rules in place: Principal Mike Douglas is asking parents to approach from the west and north sides of campus and stay off the road directly east of the building during peak arrival and dismissal.

"After listening to parents and community members, this process has changed from previous years," Douglas wrote in a message posted to the school's website on Monday, Aug. 10. "You can still drive down the road just East of our building, park, and drop off students there, but it will increase safety and decrease congestion, and let's face it, frustration if we can keep the cars off of that road during peak drop-off and pick-up times."

The goal: pedestrian safety. Douglas also urged nearby families to have students walk to school in groups rather than drive.

A PDF map linked from the principal's message shows the recommended routing. Douglas noted that arriving a few minutes before the 7:30 a.m. bell means almost no traffic, and the same applies after school.

First-day schedule

As we reported Thursday, Aug. 6, the Granite School District campus is staggering its opening day. The updated timeline from Douglas's Monday message:

• Sixth graders and new students: Arrive by 7:45 a.m., report to the auditorium. Teachers will hold signs with their names. Orientation includes a school tour and a full breakfast cooked by administrators and the school resource officer.
• Returning seventh and eighth graders: Arrive by 9:30 a.m. and go directly to first-period classes.

Parents must complete registration through the Focus Parent Portal before the first day.

Picture Day and makeup date

Student Picture Day is Thursday, Aug. 20. Makeup Picture Day is Wednesday, Sept. 30. Olympus Junior High uses Lifetouch Photography; families purchase packages directly through Lifetouch. Photos will also appear in the yearbook and the student information system so staff can identify students.