Behavior at the bus stop
This is an easy one. Leave home with enough time to get to the stop about 5 minutes before the bus is to arrive. There is a good reason for this. The driver can never predict how traffic will be or road conditions or traffic signals. It may not be fair, but you must wait for the bus; the bus cannot wait for you. There is always a schedule to keep and, if the bus waits at each stop only half a minute, how many minutes will that be if you have 22 or more stops? You see, it just doesn't work for the bus to wait. If you were at the end of the line, and the bus was another 10 minutes late and it was raining or very cold, what would you feel like?
You must wait in a safe place until the bus comes. That means you shouldn't be hanging out in the road. Find a driveway to stand in or a porch or in a garage of one of you so you can see the bus coming and go out to meet it on time. That's another biggie---please don't come off your porch or out of your door just as the bus stops. Everyone who was waiting at the stop has to now wait for you to get to the stop. Be there when the bus comes.
You must never, never approach the bus until it has stopped and the driver has opened the door. If it is wet or snowy, the bus can and does slide sometimes and if you are walking toward the bus you may get hit. Please wait until the driver opens the door. Once I had my bus slide completely sideways in the road before it stopped and I was only going about 6 miles an hour around a corner. You cannot tell how the road is. Even the driver does not know how the road is at that exact spot until they try to stop.
Wait for the bus to stop and the driver to open the door before approaching the bus.
You must ( here it comes again!) behave at the stop. You know what that means. Stand quietly and don't horse around! My little ones, under 4th grade, have made a contest that they judge each other on-just to see who does it right and who messes up. They stand in a line like soldiers and march into the bus. Each group is watched to see who does it the best. They tease each other if anyone doesn't do it right but it is all in fun and no one is hurt. I just hand out compliments. Now, I'm not saying you have to do this but I never have to worry about sliding into one of these kids! (just for the record, all the children I transport wait at the stop the correct way.)
     
That's it! Told you it was easy. Come on time. Wait in a safe place. Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it.
Children, you have a responsibility to be at the stop on time. Parents you are responsible to see that they get there on time. When you work together, this will go very smoothly.
One small addition. If you meet a special bus that acts like a shuttle to another location, it is essential that you be there before it is scheduled to leave. Not as it is ready to close it's door!
Please, Be On Time, Be On Time, Be On Time! You can do it!!
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