Parent Handbook - Safety and Transportation

John R. Briggs Elementary School

Parent Handbook

We Grow and Learn Together, Here at JRB

Safety and Transportation

The following general safety guidelines are issues that every parent should discuss with their child.

Be sure that your child knows their full name, address, telephone number, and parents` place of work. They should also know the name and phone number of a grandparent, relative, or friend in case their parent or guardian cannot be reached.
Warn against speaking to strangers or accepting rides, candy, money or anything else from them.
Stress the importance of going directly home after school and coming straight to school in the morning.
Stress safeguards such as policemen, traffic lights, white lines and the like.
Show your child the most direct and safest route to school or the bus stop. Take them over the route several times before the first day of school. Point out landmarks and potential hazards.
Discuss a plan with your child in the event they come home and no one is there.

Walker Safety

Students walking home from school are dismissed after the buses leave. If your child is a "walker", please
periodically review the following safety rules throughout the school year.

Do not accept rides from strangers.
Know the quickest and safest route from home to school.
Walk directly home. Do not stop along the way at playgrounds or a friend’s house.
Walk in a single file on the shoulder of the road facing traffic if there are no sidewalks. Do not walk in the road.
Use extra care when crossing the streets.
Be constantly alert when crossing driveways and look in all directions for approaching vehicles.
Dress appropriately for the weather and wear light reflective colors when darkness is approaching.
Respect private property.
Allow time to walk to and from school safely and on time.

Bike Safety
Students biking home from school are dismissed after the buses leave. If your child rides their bike to school, please periodically review the following safety rules throughout the school year.

Students who ride their bikes to school must wear helmets. It's the LAW.
Bike riders must have written permission from their parent/guardian. (one note per year is sufficient)
Teach your child to ride on the right side of the road with traffic obeying all traffic signals and signs.
Each child should walk their bike across busy streets and intersections.
Park your bike at the bike rack and have a lock or chain to secure it.
Bikers must sign in at the school office each morning and sign out when leaving.

Bus Safety
Parents are urged to periodically review school bus safety issues with their children. The following can be used as a basis for discussion.

Wait for the bus in an orderly manner and stay out of the street.
Approach the bus only when it has come to a complete stop.
If you need to cross the road, wait until the "stop arm" is fully extended and the driver signals to cross.
Be courteous to other students and the bus driver.
Know what to do in the event the bus does not show or your child misses the bus.

Bus Rules
Riding a school bus is a privilege enjoyed by passengers who are safe and courteous. Students need to be well behaved, courteous, and responsible. Bus rules and regulations are as follows:

Students are to ride the bus to which they are assigned.
Any emergency request to ride a bus, or a different bus, must be requested in writing by the parent or guardian and submitted to the school office.
Upon entering the bus, students will immediately sit in a seat facing forward with feet on the floor.
Students should remain seated until they arrive at their designated stop.
Keep aisles clear at all times.
Students riding the bus will comply with requests and directives of the bus driver.
Students may open windows upon request. Once permission is granted by the bus driver and windows are open, students need to keep hands, arms, and head away from open windows.
Students should respect those sharing the bus with them. Talk in quiet voices. Keep
hands, feet, and other objects to oneself.
No eating, drinking, or gum chewing.
Toys are discouraged; they easily become lost.

It is the driver's responsibility to maintain safe conditions during transit. Students who do not follow the rules and regulations may lose their school bus privilege. The following actions will follow:

First Offense: Warning and the parents will be advised of the misbehavior.
Second Offense: The Principal or designee will have a conference with the parents before the student is allowed back on the bus.

Third Offense: Bus transportation privileges maybe revoked for a period determined by the Principal or designee.

*School administrators reserve the right to suspend bus privileges as consequence for inappropriate behavior.

School Bus Company: NRT Transportation 978-991-1050