Dear Parents/Guardians,

As autumn descends upon us, I believe it is our ” shared responsibility” to safeguard children in our community, as well as those in the surrounding areas with some important reminders:

• -The sun has dropped low to the southern horizon, making visibility difficult in many driving situations. Motorists need to take into account the sun’s glare and take extra caution when driving where kids are present on the streets.
• -As autumn transitions into winter, driving conditions change and precipitation causes difficulties for motorists. Alter your schedule to allow for extra time so you won’t be rushed to accommodate appointments/work.
• -Daylight Savings Time ends November 2nd. That means some students will not arrive home from school until after the sun sets. Keep an eye out for kids coming home from school/bus in the dark.

Likewise, our students need to be reminded of what is expected from them to ensure their own safety:

• -As more kids find themselves out after dark, they should be advised to wear at least one article of light-colored or reflective clothing so they can be spotted by motorists.
• -The most dangerous time in a child’s day is likely the trip to and from school. We teach several important school bus safety lessons, but we constantly must remind them to look both ways whenever crossing the street. Each year, for example, children are killed when they cross the street to board or after exiting their bus. This is a safety lesson that applies to all kids, whether they ride a school bus or not.
• -As the weather turns cold, kids need to dress in warm clothing. We want our students focused on staying safe in and around their school bus; it’s hard to think about safety if you don’t protect yourself from the elements.
• -Drivers should follow the speed limit and slow down in school zones and near bus stops. Remember to stay alert and look for kids who may be trying to get to or from the school bus. -Slow down and stop if you’re driving near a school bus that is flashing yellow or red lights. This means the bus is either preparing to stop (yellow) or already stopped (red), and children are getting on or off.

HERE ARE SOME TOP TIPS FOR RIDING THE BUS:

• -Walk with your kids to the bus stop and wait with them until it arrives. Make sure drivers can see the kids at your bus stop.
• -Teach kids to stand at least three giant steps back from the curb as the bus approaches and board the bus one at a time.
• -Teach kids to wait for the bus to come to a COMPLETE STOP before getting on and off and not to walk next to or behind the bus.
• -If your child needs to cross the street after exiting the bus, he or she should always walk in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver and cross when the driver indicates it’s safe to do so. Teach kids at an early age to look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking until safely across.
• -Teach kids to put phones, headphones and devices down when crossing the street. They are distracted and may not even hear horns or traffic around them.
• -Instruct younger kids to use handrails when boarding or exiting the bus. Be careful of straps or drawstrings that could get caught in the door. If your child drops something, they should tell the bus driver.
• -It is always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• -Most kids are unable to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until the age of 10. They should always be with an adult when crossing the street.

Each season has unique safety considerations for our kids. Let’s continue to work in a shared concern so that we all can take credit for the safety of our most precious assets – our children!

Sherry Knight - Director of Transportation

1715 Rowell Ave.

Joliet, IL 60433

(815) 727-1206

Email - sknight@laraway70c.org