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First Time
Riders Program
WHAT IS THE FIRST TIME RIDERS PROGRAM?
The First Time Riders program is an education and awareness
program. It is designed to promote school bus safety to young
children and their parents.
It familiarizes young children who are beginning school with school
buses and helps them overcome any fears they may have about riding
on the “big yellow bus”. It also provides information to children
and their parents on school bus safety procedures, including how to
get on and off the bus safely. The program is planned as a fun
learning experience for the participants.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The First Time Riders program is targeted at young children who will
be entering the school system in September. It is intended for
those children who will be using school buses to go to and from
school on a regular basis. All First Time students can benefit from
the program, as they may travel on a school bus during a school
year. It also provides information to parents on school bus safety
procedures.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The First Time Riders’ program will be
sponsored by the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario,
school bus operators and school volunteers. The program is
approximately 45 minutes in length and usually includes:
· a
safety video
·
a ride on a school bus
· a
review of school bus safety procedures.
The event begins with
children watching a video (i.e. Winnie the Pooh’s Great School
Bus Adventure). Afterwards, children proceed to the bus. The
rules learned in the video are reviewed, and then children board the
bus with their parents.
Children are driven to a
designated area (which may be the same or a different school).
Children then get off the bus (bus rules are reviewed again). Rules
for loading and walking in front of the bus are reviewed. Parents
will also receive additional information on school board
transportation policies and safety procedures, such as ensuring that
children are dropped off and picked up on time and that young
children are supervised while waiting at the bus stop.
WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?
The program will either be scheduled in the month of June or
September, depending on your school. Please contact your school or
Transportation Department in May for date and time.
WHERE IS IT?
The program itself takes place on school property.
WHY?
School bus transportation is extremely safe. To maintain this
safety record, children and their parents must be familiar with
school bus safety rules such as how to get on and off the bus safely
and how to behave on the bus. The First Time Riders program is an
opportunity for school boards and school bus operators to introduce
school bus safety rules to children, and for parents to become
familiar with school bus procedures.
It also allows parents and children to ask questions about school
bus safety and related issues.
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