So you’ve probably already stocked up your shopping cart with school supplies, but what about bus stop prep?
Halifax Regional Centre for Education spokesperson Deborah Waines-Bauer tells our newsroom you’ll want to head out early.
She advises you to also anticipate delays.
“I’m sure we all remember our first day and how excited we were to take photos and reunite with friends,” Deborah Waines-Bauer says. “This may add an extra few minutes at each bus stop, so keep that in mind.”
She recommends you leave at least ten minutes early for the first three to four weeks of school until everyone has had a chance to settle into a new routine.
Waines-Bauer also stresses safety.
“A reminder not to run to and from the bus, or on to the bus, standing far back from the road when the bus arrives, and following the bus driver’s instructions,” she explains. “And obviously things we remember as children, don’t put your hands out the window, and stay in your seats.”
If an expected parent or guardian isn’t at the bus stop at the end of the day, the driver will return the child to their school as an extra safety precaution. The guardian will then be contacted to pick the child up.
She adds bus routes can be adjusted throughout the year if any issues or changes arise, including families moving in or out of neighbourhoods. You’ll get an email if a route changes.
Waines-Bauer also advises you to head to the parent portal for the full details on bus plans.
“Families can view their child’s transportation information, and receive email notifications about routing changes, bus cancellations, and delays through the online bus planner, parent portal account,” she says. “Activation links were shared with families earlier this summer.”
