GUELPH – Student Transportation Services of Wellington-Dufferin (STWDSTS) is offering a First-Time Rider Program this August to prepare students to ride a school bus.
The free 45-minute program gives children and their parents a chance to learn about school bus safety and ride a real school bus before the first day of school.
The program runs on Aug. 26, and families must register by Aug. 19.
At each participating site, families will watch a safety video, learn about boarding and dismounting, ask questions, and take a practice bus ride together.
The safety video is available online at stwdsts.ca/first-rider-program, and covers topics such as how to safely cross the road, why parents shouldn’t call their children from across the street, and how to wait for the bus driver’s signal.
“This program is as much for the parents as it is for the kids,” added program coordinator Darren Gowing. “Mom and Dad learn a few things as well – and they leave feeling better prepared to support their child.”
New this year, parents and guardians are allowed to ride the bus with their children during the practice trip – an update the organizers hope will further enhance the experience for families.
Families can register and find more details under the Parents tab at stwdsts.ca/first-rider-program.
“Whether your child is a bus rider or a walker, the First Rider Program is a great way to build confidence, reinforce safety practices, and mark an exciting milestone in your child’s learning journey,” officials state.
