Transportation
Head Start children have access to the public school bus transportation on established routes.
Early Head Start families must provide transportation to and from the centers.
There are a few bus safety rules that must be followed:
An adult must escort their child to and from the school bus. If no adult is at bus stop, your child will be returned to school or the Head Start office.
No child will be released without written authorization from the parent and proof of identity of the adult that the child will be released to.
If a parent cannot be available to drop off or pick up their child each day at the bus stop, that parent is responsible to make other arrangements to ensure their child has adult supervision before boarding the school bus and when exiting the school bus.
The classroom teacher will give each parent written information about bus safety during parent orientation, and is responsible to conduct three bus evacuation drills during field trips each year.
Parents are responsible to communicate daily bus schedule changes for their child to their teacher.
Getting On Bus
Get to the school bus stop 5 minutes early.
Stand away from the curb.
Stay at least 10 feet from the bus and do not stand behind the bus where the driver cannot see students.
Parents/guardian must be present to assist their child onto the bus and into their assigned seat.
Sit quietly in the seat on the bus.
Be quiet at train crossings so the driver can stop, look and listen.
Do not wear clothing with loose drawstrings and make sure backpack straps are short so they do not get caught in the handrail or the bus door.
Getting Off Bus
Parent/guardian must be present to assist their child safely from the bus.
Be careful when getting off the bus so nothing snags on the door.
When stepping off the bus, look to make sure that no cars are passing on the shoulder.
Before crossing the street, take 10 giant steps out from the front of the bus, or until the driver can see you. Wait for the driver to signal that is it safe to cross.
Tell the driver if anything drops so that he/she can help you find it.
*Taken from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Tips for Parents
Parents and care givers should never allow a child under age 10 to cross a street alone.
Learn and obey traffic signals and signs.
Cross at corners using traffic signals and crosswalks.
Stop at the curb, or at the edge of the roads if there is no curb, before crossing the street.
Look left-right and left again before crossing the street, cross when the street is clear and keep looking both ways while crossing.
Walk, do not run across the street.
Walk facing traffic, on sidewalks or paths.
Walk as far to the left as possible is there are no sidewalks.
Watch for cars that are turning and backing up.
Try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them; the child may see the driver, but the driver might not see the child.
Always hold a grownups hand in parking lots.
Wear bright clothing in the daytime and retro reflective clothing or tape from dusk to dawn.
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