Getting Ready for School
- Students should be dressed properly for the weather as transportation delays will occur.
- Students should be brightly dressed and easy to see.
- Items should be placed in a backpack or school bag, thus making your hands free to be used for stability.
- Students should arrive at the bus stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled pickup up time.
Walking to the Bus Stop
- Allow extra time in the morning to get to the bus stop on time.
- Wear bright clothing so the bus driver and other motorists can see you in the early morning and late evening.
- Dress properly for the weather. Winter clothing, hats, mittens and boots will keep you warm.
- Pedestrian travel should be done on sidewalks or a safe walking path. When there is no sidewalk and you have to walk on the road, be sure to walk facing traffic.
- Watch traffic while walking to your stop. Vehicles may lose control in the snow and ice and you need to be aware of your surroundings.
- Ensure your balance by walking with hands out of pockets, free from unnecessary materials.
- Young children should be walked to the bus stop; older children should walk in groups.
- When crossing a street, look left, right, and left again. Walk across a street at corners, use crosswalks whenever possible. Do not run.
- Be careful around cars parked along the street. Drivers coming down the street may not see you.
- Listen for the sound of car motors, sirens, horns or emergency announcements before stepping into the street.
Waiting at the Bus Stop
- Be cautious at the bus stop. Student should stand 10 feet away from the curb. Snow, ice and puddles may accumulate near the stop, making it easy to slip and fall.
- During inclement weather, don't throw snowballs at the bus, other vehicles or people.
- Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. You could accidentally slide under the wheel of a vehicle or get hurt.
- No pushing or shoving at any time. Someone could fall down on the ice or fall beneath the bus or another vehicle.
- Students should wait calmly at the bus stop. Playing, pushing, shoving and running are all triggers to danger near roadways and traffic.
Entering and Exiting the Bus
- Students should always cross in front of the bus, never behind the bus.
- Teach children to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the red stop lights are activated and the driver signals it is safe to cross in front of the bus.
- Remind children to remain alert to other vehicles when entering and exiting the bus.
- Students should use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet steps.
- During inclement weather, the windows should be kept up to prevent frostbite.
- Students should listen to the driver at all times as they must pay extra attention to the road conditions and other vehicles.
- Students should maintain their conversation on the bus at a low level as the driver must pay attention to road conditions and other vehicles.