Hello Thunderbirds! Here is the memo you've been waiting for all summer long: Parking and Traffic procedures for the 2026-27 school year. This information is especially important for new Thornhill families, but even if you’re a returning family, please take a few minutes to read this: 

Morning quickdrop will be between 8:15am-8:35am this year -- 5 minutes earlier than last year because of the new bell schedule. Volunteers in yellow vests in front of school will help open car doors, take backpacks, and keep the line moving. Please help them out by:

a) Not parking / standing in the white curb zone during quickdrop time;
b) Pulling all the way forward in the dropoff line; and
c) Making sure the students in your car are ready to get out. (If they need more time, please park in the church parking lot, and have them walk over to school)

There is another quickdrop zone at Gate D on Alhambra Lane, which is best for families coming from the east (uphill) side of school. Gate D is accessed by driving through the St. John's parking lot. If there are enough volunteers we'll put one at Gate D, but there usually are not, and in front of school is higher priority. Please be sure to stop at the stop sign before Alhambra Court, and do not block the Alhambra Lane - Alhambra Court intersection. There is no parking at any time on Alhambra Lane.

TK & kinder students need to be escorted into the schoolyard by a parent/guardian for the first two weeks of school (August 10-21). Starting in week 3 (August 24) those students may be dropped off at either of the quickdrop spots -- though the TK & kinder teachers recommend continuing to walk them into the schoolyard if you are able! 

There is no parking in the white curb zone in front of school between 8am-4pm on school days. The City of Oakland enforces it every now and then, and does issue parking tickets. We may revisit the parking rules in that area this year -- a green curb / 12-minute parking may be more appropriate -- but for now, beware! 

If you need to park at school, you may use the 30 gravel parking spots in the St. John's church lot. That lot is just east (uphill) of school. Please enter and exit via the bridge over Temescal Creek, and only park in the gravel spots. The rest of that parking lot is reserved for other uses, including Thornhill teacher & staff parking, and St. John's preschool. 

We need more volunteers for morning quickdrop!! We lost several longtime members of the traffic crew because of moves and graduations. Please join us if you can -- it's a small commitment (just 20 minutes before school), a fun and easy job, and you get to say hi to everyone 👋🏼

That's all for now! There will probably be a few more announcements in the coming weeks as we dial everything in. In the meantime, if you have questions, concerns, or want to volunteer with the traffic crew, please email Peter Russo at quickdrop@thornhillschool.org.