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Important Information for Parents/Guardians of Students Who Ride NWCSD Buses

Bus Stops:

• Please make sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street.

• Your child needs to be outside at the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to their scheduled pickup time.

  • They must be outside and clearly visible & dressed for the weather - they should not be waiting in a car or the garage, on the front porch, or inside the front door.

• While the District is sensitive to caregiver concerns about students having to walk to a bus stop, we cannot guarantee a stop at every home.

  • This is especially true once students get to Middle / High school; there are more generalized and corner stops on these routes.

• Please keep in mind that buses cannot make stops on dead-end streets or roadways that are not serviced by a municipality.

• Depending on the distance, students may be required to "walk out" from cul-de-sacs.

 Safety on and off the Bus:

• Students face the greatest risk of danger when getting on or off of the bus.  Remind them often that they must always wait for the driver to activate the red flashing lights and give the "safe to cross" signal before entering the roadway.

• It is extremely important that students are reminded to always remain alert to traffic, even when the driver has given them the "safe to cross" signal.

• Instruct your child that they should NEVER chase after the bus once it starts to move.

• Teach your child that they should NEVER cross behind the bus, and to always stay out of the "Danger Zone" - at least 10 feet away from all sides of the bus.

• Please remember that book bag straps and clothing with strings or items that have dangling material have the potential to get caught in the automatic bus door closers.  This is very dangerous - parents need to keep an eye out for such hazards.

Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right and is considered an extension of the school day. Therefore, all school and bus rules apply and must be strictly adhered to. The school bus driver is responsible for the safety and well‐being of all passengers from the time they enter the bus unil they depart.

Safety research has identified "Driver Distraction" as a major cause of car accidents.  Bus riding privileges may be suspended or revoked if a students behavior distracts the driver.  The safety of all children on the bus may be affected by the unsafe conduct of one student if the bus driver becomes distracted and has to take their eyes off the road.  Please cooperate with you child's bus driver by reinforcing the need for proper bus conduct to ensure the safety of all students. 

Items Allowed / Not Allowed on the School Bus

The Following items CAN be transported to or from school on the school bus:

INSTRUMENTS:

• Piccolo

• Oboe

• Bassoon

• Flute

• Clarinet

• Bass Clarinet

• Alto Saxophone

• Tenor Saxophone

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Euphonium (Elementary ONLY)

The Following items CANNOT be transported to or from school on the school bus:

INSTRUMENTS NOT ALLOWED:

• Baritone Saxophone

• French Horn

• MS & HS Euphonium

• Tuba

OTHER GENERAL ITEMS NOT ALLOWED:

• Glass Cutters

• Box Cutters, knives, mace or weapons of any kind.

• Animals (birds, hamsters, fish, insects, etc)

• Sports Equipment must be in sports bags designed specifically to item being carried.

• Skateboards

• Food or Liquid that is not contained (ie. in a lunch box or back pack)

• Balloons

• All toys, games or projects brought to school must be put in a plastic or paper bag.

• Nothing can be allowed on the bus that is too large for the student to hold securely on their lap.

• Bus Drivers have the discretion to prohibit any item that they believe poses a safety risk to passengers or themselves.

• Students may not use cell phones on the bus.

• Eating & drinking is also prohibited on the bus, not only due to the potential allergy risks, but also due to the risk of a student choking.