Piñon Elementary opens new drop-off Monday; families use Grand Canyon entrance

Piñon Elementary will open its new parking lot and family drop-off area on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, and families are asked to use the entrance lane on Grand Canyon for student drop-off, the district said in a Los Alamos Public Schools news release as reported by Los Alamos Reporter.

The school’s own Pinon Pawprint newsletter notes an earlier operational change: “We transition to the front of the building Monday, February 2nd and there are new procedures.” The two dates appear to refer to separate steps in the project — a front-of-building transition the week of Feb. 2 and the formal opening of the new parking lot and drop-off lane on Feb. 9 — and both are included in school and district communications.

Traffic and access will be reconfigured. “The entrance to the school from Sherwood Blvd will now be for the buses and staff only,” the district said. “The bus loop will remain the same; however, the parking lot will be designated for staff only.” Families “may drop off students using the entrance lane along Grand Canyon,” and drivers are urged to “watch for merging traffic coming from both directions on Grand Canyon and for students and families crossing along the sidewalk.” The crosswalks at Sherwood and Grand Canyon, as well as “the main crosswalk on Grand Canyon, will be supervised by staff.”

Pedestrian and bicycle guidance is part of the shift. “Students walking to school are urged to enter the campus using the sidewalk,” and cyclists are instructed that “cyclists should walk their bikes on campus.” “Bike racks will be located along the front entry area as well as in their current location,” providing storage options for students who bike to school. For larger events, the district said “the back parking lot will be open to the public during special events, concerts and afterschool and evening groups using the gym,” preserving community access to school activities.

Families should also note operational details published by the school and in district documents. Piñon lists school hours as Monday–Friday 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., while a district core-docs file lists academic instructional hours as 8:00 a.m. to 3:25 p.m., with doors locked at 4:00 p.m. and pick-up expectations that include removal of students by 3:30 p.m. on regular days and 1:30 p.m. on early release days. The Piñon site outlines Early Bird Club drop-off from 7:30–7:45 a.m. with a required permission form and says “Students arriving after 7:45 will need to wait with their parent until 7:55 when morning supervision begins. They are NOT allowed on the playground until that time.” District tardy policies and escalation steps are also published in core-docs.

Mike Johnson, assistant superintendent for Operations and Finance, thanked the community: “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we make this transition in the drop off and pick up procedures at Piñon Elementary,” and added, “We are excited to move closer to completing this project.”

For questions or to confirm schedules and drop-off choreography, contact Piñon Elementary: Principal Ivanna Austell — (505) 663-2685; Assistant Principal Jennifer Kieltyka — (505) 663-3253. Absence Line: (505) 663-2681. Absence email: pinon.office@laschools.net. Office Line: (505) 663-2680. Information Line: (505) 663-2682. Fax: 505-663-3289.

Parents and caregivers should plan extra travel time the first weeks, watch for supervised crosswalks on Grand Canyon and Sherwood, and check with school staff if they need assistance or accommodations as the community adapts to the new traffic pattern.