Gwinnett County Public Schools Transportation Department Student Safety Curriculum

1. Gwinnett County Public Schools Transportation Department Student Safety Curriculum 6th Grade through 8th Grade 2011 – 12 School Year Safety Super Hero to Young Adult Becoming Safety Role Models

2. Super Hero to Role Model • In the younger grades, this year's theme is "Be a Safety Super Hero!" • You have become young adults – it is time to become safety role models. • We will discuss the principles of school bus safety to guide you as you become a safety role model.

3. Walking to the Bus in the Morning If possible: • Make sure all your belongings are in your book bag – straps and strings can become caught in the bus door area. • Don’t walk to the bus stop alone, if possible. • Walk with a friend, parent or guardian. • It is safer than walking alone.

4. Wait Safely for the Bus in the Morning Tell the Bus Manager or another adult if: • Something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable or afraid. • Someone is at the bus stop who you know shouldn’t be there.

5. Wait for the Bus Safely Get up and get ready on time. Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes early every day. If you miss the bus - never run after it!

6. Morning Bus Stop Safety No playing around at the bus stop. Respect the property where you are waiting. As you see the bus coming, line up "single file" to board. Wait 12 feet back from the road.

7. Group Stop Lessons Learned from History Lessons Learned: Students must be ready for the bus on time. Follow safe loading procedures. Most importantly – pay attention to traffic around you.

8. Getting on the Bus Safely in the Morning When the bus has stopped completely, the Bus Manager will give crossing students a hold signal. The open bus door is a signal for non-crossing students to board the bus. If you drop something, do not pick it up; get the attention of the Bus Manager.

9. Crossing in the Morning Crossing students will: Stay at bus stop in an orderly manner. Wait for signal from Bus Manager to cross. Stop at the edge of roadway. Look for traffic - left, right and left again. Cross 12 feet in front of bus.

10. Crossing Lessons Learned from History Lessons Learned: Dangers of beingclose to a bus apply to students of any age. Unexpected behaviors – like running after a bus – may go unnoticed by the Bus Manager. Teenagers are being injured or killed.

11. Riding the Bus to School Always hold the handrail. Go directly to your assigned seat. Stay in your seat during the bus ride. Sit facing forward, "Back to back and bottom to bottom."

12. Riding the Bus To School • Keep your book bag in your lap. • Do not play around on the bus. • Always respect each other.

13. Bullying and Respect on the School Bus If you witness bullying on you bus: Ask the student to stop because it is not cool to bully others. Do not take matters into your own hands by starting a fight. Tell the Bus Manager or another adult after you get off the bus.

14. Lessons Learned from History about Bullying and Respect Bullying is dangerous behavior. The FBI reports many school shootings involved victims of bullying. If you are a bully – stop. If you are a victim of a bully – tell an adult. Bullying On The Bus On The Rise, According To Surveys Districts Are Trying To Keep Closer Tabs On The Problem By Angela Dice Saturday, November 19, 2011 At a glance, the jostle of kids at the back of the bus looks like any horseplay of active…

15. Stop Bullying on GCPS School Buses! Don't Let Bullies Hurt You or Your Friends… Tell Someone!

16. Harassment on the School Bus If someone’s behavior on the bus makes you nervous or uncomfortable: Tell the Bus Manager what is happening. If you don’t feel you can tell the Bus Manager, tell an adult at school. When you get home, tell your parent/guardian.

17. Harassment on the Bus If anyone, adult or student, says or does something of a sexual nature, tell a trusted adult. No one has the right to touch you inappropriately, tell an adult. If you are afraid to go into the school alone, ask the Bus Manager to help you.

18. Weapons on the School Bus Weapons of any type on the school bus are against the law. When the bus is stopped, calmly tell the Bus Manager. Write it on a piece of paper (if you can) so no one overhears you. If you cannot tell the Bus Manager, tell an adult in the school – immediately upon arriving. If it happens on the way home, tell the Bus Manager and your parent/guardian.

19. Arriving at School When it is time to leave the bus: • The open bus door is the signal to stand to unload safely. • Leave the bus in an orderly way • No pushing or shoving!

20. Getting Off the Bus at School • Walk straight into the school building. • Do not wait on the sidewalk for your friends. • More buses may be moving in to unload students and it is unsafe.

21. Loading Zone Lessons Learned from History Playing around the bus could be deadly. How would you cope if you were the one who pushed him?

22. Stay out of the Danger Zone! Stay away from the front and rear tires of the bus. Watch for moving cars that may not stop. Board the bus quickly. The School Bus Danger Zone

23. Walking to the Bus in the Afternoon Before leaving the classroom: • Put belongings in your book bag. • Check for straps or strings hanging that could get caught on the bus. • Walk quietly to the bus. • Follow directions.

24. Getting on the Bus in the Afternoon • Look for your route number. • Use the handrail to go up the steps of the bus. • Don’t push or shove on the way out of school. • Never run in the loading zone.

25. Riding the Bus Home in the Afternoon • Sit in your assigned seat – "back to back and bottom to bottom". • Keep your book bag on your lap. • Remember - bullying is not allowed on the school bus!

26. Arriving at Bus Stop in the Afternoon • Get off at assigned stop only. • Wait for bus to completely stop and door to open before standing. • Non-crossing students exit the bus first. • Use handrail as you walk down steps, in an orderly manner. • Move 12 feet away from bus.

27. Getting Off the Bus In the Afternoon • Look to the right before you step off the last step of the bus. • Stay out of the danger zone – 12 feet away from the bus.

28. Crossing Students • Walk out 12 feet in front of bus, along roadway edge. • Stop and wait. • When Bus Manager signals, go to the center of the road and stop. • Look left, right and left again. • Look at Bus Manager for signal to finish crossing, walk 12 feet away from roadway.

29. Crossing Safely in the Afternoon • Wait for the Bus Manager’s signal to cross. • Never cross behind the bus. • If you drop something near the bus, do not pick it up. Get the Bus Manager’s attention.

30. After You Are at the Bus Stop • Do not wait on the sidewalk for friends. • Do not go to the mailbox. • Go directly home. • Let's review the school bus signals.

31. Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills Safety drills are required by Georgia state law: To keep the information fresh in everyone’s mind. Because we don’t evacuate every day (thankfully) we must practice. It is not meant to imply that you don’t know. It is a reminder, because the cost of confusion could be a life lost. Take the time to cooperate – it may save your life!

32. Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills Lessons Learned from History There is no time to think about what to do in an emergency. Drills provide you the opportunity to think it through and practice. Remain silent and calm. Twenty-five Students Escape Injury In Bus Fire By Wes Wade and Matthew Stewart | A Blount County school bus carrying 25 students caught fire Tuesday afternoon in the William Blount High School parking lot, but school officials…

33. Bus Emergency Evacuation • Not all emergencies require the evacuation of the school bus – follow directions of the Bus Manager. • The bus has many different emergency exits. • This will allow you to get out of the bus no matter where the danger is on the bus. • In an emergency, the School Bus Manager will tell you which exit to use. • Stay seated until it's your turn to leave the bus.

34. The Best Exit to Use in an Emergency Your Bus Manager will guide you to the appropriate exit. Usually, the exit farthest from the potential danger on the bus, is the best. Potential dangers might be: flames, smoke or point of impact of another vehicle, etc.

35. Front Door Bus Emergency Evacuation • Leave all your belongings in the seat when you evacuate the bus. • Do not push or shove others. • Walk, never run, 100 feet away from the bus. • Remain in a group and wait in an orderly manner – be quiet and calm. • Always follow your Bus Manager’s directions.

36. Rear Door Bus Emergency Evacuation • Walk to the rear of the bus without pushing others. • When you get to the rear of the bus, sit, scoot and slide out the door. • Listen to the bus helpers, they are there to keep you from getting hurt.

37. Dual Door Evacuation Sometimes the emergency will allow evacuation using two exits: • Usually the front door and the rear door emergency exit. • Half the bus goes out the front and the other half goes out the rear. • Listen for the Bus Manager’s instructions to know which exit you are to use.

38. Bus Helpers • Bus helpers are trained to help you out of the bus in an emergency. • They will help you exit the bus safely – so no one gets hurt.

39. Emergency Evacuation Involving Downed Power Lines • Exit from the front door. • Fold arms and hop off the bus, land with both feet together. • Do not touch the bus door. • Follow the directions of the Bus Manager – they will tell you when you need to stop hopping. • Continue to hop as far as possible away from the bus.

40. GCPS School Bus Safety Rules Follow directions of the Bus Manager. Be at the bus stop 5 minutes early and wait in a safe place. Stand in a line and avoid pushing, shoving or playing. Wait for the Bus Manager’s signal and look both ways. Signal the Bus Manager with a waving motion if something is dropped. Go directly to assigned seat. Stay in your seat, bottom to bottom, back to back, legs in front of you. No eating, drinking or chewing gum on the bus. Do not carry animals, large items or glass objects onto the bus. Bring only what can be held in your lap.

41. GCPS School Bus Safety Rules cont. • Talk quietly and respect the rights of others. • Do not extend head, arms, or objects out of the bus windows. • Silence at railroad crossings. • Stay seated until the Bus Manager opens the door. • Students must only ride their assigned bus and get off at their assigned stop. • Students will keep their bus clean and in good, safe condition. • Students shall be prohibited from using any electronic devices during the operation of the school bus. • Students shall be prohibited from using mirrors, lasers, flash camera, or any other lights or reflective devices on the bus.

42. Review Quiz Question Where should students wait for the bus in the morning?

43. Answer…. 12 feet back from roadway.

44. Review Quiz Question What should you do when you see the bus coming?

45. Answer… Line up, single file, to get on the bus.

46. Review Quiz Question What should you look for to cross the roadway to board the bus?

47. Answer… The Bus Manager's signal, and traffic to be stopped.

48. Review Quiz Question When the bus arrives at your school or afternoon bus stop, when is it safe to stand up?

49. Answer… When the bus comes to a complete stop and the Bus Manager opens the bus door.

50. Review Quiz Question Once you are at the school or afternoon bus stop, where should you go when you get off the bus?