Student Transportation Service Consortium of Grey Bruce
First Time Riders |
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PREPARING YOUR CHILD TO RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS
Riding the school bus is a new experience for kindergarten children. The bus is a very safe way for your child to travel to and from school. In fact, school buses are the safest vehicles on the road. Most mishaps take place outside the bus. This fact sheet will provide you with practical tips to help you prepare your child to safely ride the school bus.
The First Rider Program is a School Bus Safety Program that introduces young children and their parents to school buses and school bus safety. The program is intended to be a fun learning experience. While open to all young students who ride a school bus on a regular basis, it is especially designed for children who will be riding the school bus for the first time in September. The program reviews bus safety rules and allows parents and children an opportunity to ask questions about school bus safety. As part of the program, parents and their children will also be invited to take a ride on
a school bus.
Times and locations will be advertised in local newspapers and radio stations in mid-August each year and on the home page of this web-site.
WHICH SCHOOL IS MY CHILD ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND?
This site provides three helpful options:
- School Information (address, grades offered and boundary map)
- Which School do I Attend? (find your home school)
- Transportation Eligibility (find out if you qualify for transportation)
To learn about transportation eligibility Click here
Note: To use the web-site, you will need a street or road name and house or civic address number.
WHO MAY RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS?
Kindergarten students who live outside the walking boundaries for the school qualify for transportation. Please read the policies for more information about who is eligible for transportation.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Because central pick-up and drop-off locations are used, children have to walk from their home to the school bus stop.
Your child's school or bus company will inform you of bus times and bus stop locations. Schedules are approximate, so students should be at bus stops at least five minutes before the designated time and not more than ten minutes before pick up.
Kindergarten is a full day program, on alternate days. Most buses transport elementary, as well as high school students, for both the Catholic and Public school systems.
During inclement weather days, parents should listen to the local radio station serving their area, in order to be aware of announcements pertaining to changes in school bus transportation services.
All students must obey the rules of conduct on school buses. Riding on a bus is a privilege, not a right.
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM A BABYSITTER
SUPERVISION AT THE BUS STOP
Parents are encouraged to accompany their child/children to the bus stop and to meet them in the afternoon. Parents/Guardians are responsible for their children before they step on the bus and once they get off the bus.
SPECIAL SAFETY FEATURES
The following safeguards will assist kindergarten students during the first few weeks of school:
Bus Numbers
Each school bus has a route number and it is posted in the front window and back of the bus. This helps the students to identify the bus.
Bus Stops
Bus drivers will have a list of their students and their stops. The bus driver and older students will assist kindergarten children in learning their stop.
The First Rider Program is a School Bus Safety Program that introduces young children and their parents to school buses and school bus safety. The program is intended to be a fun learning experience. While open to all young students who ride a school bus on a regular basis, it is especially designed for children who will be riding the school bus for the first time in September. The program reviews bus safety rules and allows parents and children an opportunity to ask questions about school bus safety. As part of the program, parents and their children will also be invited to take a ride on
a school bus.
Times and locations will be advertised in local newspapers and radio stations in mid-August each year and on the home page of this web-site.
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