Use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior and let students know you have confidence they can handle the privilege of riding the bus. The kids won't be consequenced for lateness, the school will track the arrival times of that bus and chase it up. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Hats off to the writer to bringing out such crucial tips especially during the beginning of the year. All rights reserved. It all comes down to a small item of annual maintenance that hardly . You cannot predict how long it will take you to get to your bus stop. Youre most likely to get support if you approach parents about bus behavior problems in a way that says you care about their childs experience being safe and pleasant. Its important for all drivers, as well as parents and students, to understand school bus safety. "We found that drivers were not necessarily leaving the driving profession. For kids who get off to a rough start or need to hit the reset button, set up a refresher course. Related: 9 Ways to Stop School Bus Bullying. In addition to Readers Digest she has been published at The Week, Bustle, PopSugar, Inside Lacrosse, and more. For example, if youre worried about a big test, write down the main points you need to remember so you can stop obsessing over them. But, giving him a free ride will only teach your child that missing the bus is a good idea. Large school buses are heavier and distribute crash forces differently than passenger cars and light trucks. Drivers plan out seat assignments because it helps maintain order and provides better chances for cooperation between childrenespecially as they get older, when their on-bus behavior can become even more of a distraction. If you want to do everything you can to keep your vehicle running reliably and well for 10, 20, 30 years and beyond, I can help. If youre used to hitting the snooze button in the morning, it might take some time to break the habit. If you want to try out a new shortcut, do it over the weekend instead. The bus was assigned to run late again. Though they may have received some stimulus money during the pandemic, it isn't a long-term solution. 2011. Always obey your school bus driver's instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions. If you think your issue is your morning routine, time yourself and see how long it takes to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and make it out of the door. Use an old-school alarm clock instead of your cell phone. They have to withstand daily pranks from their charges and at times abuse from the children, parents and other road users. Here are the results: 3%of the students smoke often. At the start of the school year, students and families are dealing with yet another round of school bus driver shortages. Believe it or not, kids are safer taking the bus to school than when you drive them: The chances of getting in an accident are much lower with a school bus. Show them one of a wide variety of bus safety. Even kids who dont use the bus daily will more than likely be riders for field trips or special events. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. One possible version: On Non-smoking Day, a school did a survey to find out how many students smoke. If a driver is running really late they try to notify dispatc. 101 JFK Parkway | Short Hills, NJ | 07078 | (973) 921-5500. If you walk with your friends, it can be easy to get distracted, goof around, or walk slower than usual. Support wikiHow by Our transportation department has been working each day and evening to continue to build efficiency into our routes. That's beyond your control and squarely in their court. Did you know that the school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road? Drivers gain seniority just like everyone else, and they earn more; plus, in some districts the senior drivers graduate to smaller, van-type buses, which means fewer students. Your child should also receive a negative consequence for missing the bus. Encourage School Attendance 1. Listen to your child's concerns. Ed Source. ', In 2015, Harvards Center on the Developing Child released a study that said, in part, Every child who winds up doing well has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.. This can be attributed to the several high-profile school bus accidents that have taken place in the past. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). If your child is young, make sure you walk them to the bus stop and wait until the bus arrives. The bus driver probably won't turn the bus around to pick you up anyway. She delivered one of the most popular TEDx talks of all time. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. This article was co-authored by Csar de Len, M.Ed. When the alarm goes off, the lights turn on, making it easier to wake up. One principal suggested a random-buses-random-days approach to keep kids on their toes. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Required fields are marked *. Usually this should run pretty smoothly and the driver would be on time. It could be anything that the bus driver has no control over. Typically a driver will have a middle or high school run and then an elementary school run in the morning and afternoon. The most common cause of action that parents may make when their child is injured in a school bus is that of negligence. The following school districts have classes or bus routes altered on Wednesday due to the weather. Copyright 2021. Good rule of thumb: buses will always be late. Ever feel like dealing with bus problems is a full-time job? They cite a laundry list of offenses, from foul language, bullying, and not following driver instructions to aggressive behavior, threats, fights, weaponseven drugs and alcohol. If you end up driving him to school, make him pay your time and gas money (similar to the price he might pay if he called a cab). It will get easier as you get used to riding the bus. After all, drivers cant do their best job (keeping kids safe) when theyre distracted by rowdy kids. The school district had decided to choose one or two buses from various schools to run late. Despite our best efforts to set up a peaceful journey for our students, conflicts will occasionally occur. Your email address will not be published. If your child is too young to walk by himself, follow him in your car. Amy is Campus Safetys Senior Editor. If you usually buy lunch at school, put your lunch money on the counter the night before so you can easily grab it in the morning. If your school does not have a bullying or harassment reporting system that can be emulated on your bus, Spittler suggests speaking with your transportation director to come up with a solution. "So the school district expected [my son] to stand out in the rain and just wait until the bus arrived with no more information." If you need a reminder, set an alarm 30 minutes before your bedtime. Every scheduled pick up time is pushed back and the students run the risk of arriving late. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. That way, you'll have plenty of time to take a shower, get ready, and eat breakfast. You can then make adjustments to your schedule based on this. 18 Don't Overcrowd the Front. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling. social media dos and donts for the classroom. According to the American School Bus Council, children are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely if they take the school bus instead of going in a regular passenger vehicle. The New Jersey mom of two scrambled to call a few neighbors and found a friend down the street to drive him along with their own daughter. A school climate expert provides three easy strategies school bus drivers can use to maintain order and respect on their bus. It's important to give him consequences that will motivate him to get on the bus next time. She's also a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and host of the The Verywell Mind Podcast. Send kids to "bus school." For kids who get off to a rough start or need to hit the reset button, set up a refresher course. Scan Bus for Both Positive and Negative Behaviors One key way to build relationships with students is to learn how to scan for evidence of not only harmful behavior, such as bullying or. Knowing that he'll have to stay late may motivate him to get up and out the door a little faster if his motivation in missing the bus was to get out of school. These are the silent signs your child is being bullied. Give them the opportunity to earn back their seat or seat mate with improved behavior. That way, you have 10 extra minutes in case you ever need them. Some schools are more affected than others. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Students can then bring tickets to the office in exchange for a small treat. If she's scared of the other kids or she's become a target, work with the school on resolving the issue. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block . She's also a psychotherapist, an international bestselling author of books on mental strength and host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, helicopter parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. 1.6K views, 40 likes, 13 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from W18: PREGNANCY AND TILLIE UPDATE Many schools also use reward tickets or redeemable coupons for good behavior a concept that can be easily carried over to the school bus. Then, the tokens can be exchanged for privileges, like time using his electronics. So, frustrating as it may be, it is definitely an issue that must be monitored and dealt with by school leaders. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? It would be a major problem if the bus schedules were affected. Generally, you'll sleep best if your room is 6067F (1619C). Tell your child to walk on the sidewalk. Hold bus school over lunch and let students eat while you go over the rules once again. Being late in the morning is just one complication related to not having enough school bus drivers. Read our. As the bus stopped, I entered from the front door. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); In this webinar, attendees will learn the observable behaviors people exhibit as they head down a path of violence so we can help prevent the preventable. Because the bus sits so high off the ground, its much less likely to sustain damage to the seating area. How a Nationwide School Bus Driver Shortage Affects Our Children. The solution to your problem depends on the reason that you are missing the bus. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. The buses will depart from SHS at 3:30pm and from the middle schools at 4:00pm. A simple reward system may motivate him to try and get ready faster in the morning. Talk to your parents and develop a backup plan for when you miss the bus. However, children are more at risk when approaching or leaving a school bus. Whether you drive him or you make him walk, let him face the natural consequences at school. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. This is a very nice article. It is not intended to provide service to all neighborhoods due to financial limitations. The pay can be low and the work is not always full-time. Some districts are trying to have any employee with a Class-B driver's license take a route. I encourage bus drivers to pick two kids. The drivers get free access to the place the students visit, and if the trip takes place over lunchtime, they get fed as well. She supplies baskets of books for students to read along the way. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 7 It means a lot to them to be appreciated. Repeatedly coming into school late might make students feel embarrassed or anxious as well. For example, if it takes 10 minutes to get to your bus stop from your house, leave by 7:45 am to catch the bus on time. Make sure they never run across the road and to pay . What can I do? Register today to attend this free webcast! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Use looks-like-sounds-like examples of good, safe bus riders. If you miss the bus, you can try to get a ride from your parents or a neighbor. You may find getting stuck behind a school bus irritating, but the bus driver isnt too happy about you eitherespecially if youre tailgating. Eliza suggests. "This is inequitable for the students on that route and adds unnecessary stress to the first week at a new school," says Eliza. Please check your messages before calling Transportation. They also include protective seating, high crush standards and rollover protection features. Use looks-like-sounds-like examples of good, safe bus riders. Elizabeth Mulvahill is a Contributing Editor with WeAreTeachers. Sodas and sports drinks can also have caffeine, so always check labels or look it up online if you're not sure. Buses break down, roads are blocked, drivers become ill or have emergencies, but there will always be a bus at every stop. The same survey found while 80% of drivers have received bullying training, nearly half of the drivers want more training to be made available to them. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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