A bunch of very excited five-year-olds and a couple of nervous ones took their first ride on a school bus this week in Airdrie.

Around 120 students ready to start kindergarten this fall in Rocky View Schools (RVS) participated in the First Ride Program Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at the RVS Education Centre in Airdrie.  The program is provided by RVS in partnership with school bus contractors and educates both the kids and their parents on how to ride the school bus safely.

Abi Cherinet, the Manager of Student Transportation with RVS, explains what takes place during the one hour program.  "Basically the contractors provide insight into how to board the kids on the bus, safety procedures, what to do in urban and in rural situations, crossing, sitting, that kind of stuff."

Cherinet says seeing the kindergarten kids going for their first ride on a school bus is a delightful experience.  "Some of the kids are beyond excited," Cherinet exclaims.  "There were a couple of kids that didn't want to go home after it was finished.  Some of the parents accompanied their kids on the bus because of course this is their first time and they're worried, but a lot of them are very excited."

The parents involved were relieved that their children made it through their first bus ride and were happy that the program takes place in RVS.  "It makes it easier for them to see, okay, what are we going to expect, how does it look," says Cherinet.  The biggest part of this program is actually the kids getting on the bus and riding the bus.  So some of the parents being able to get on the bus and see what the seating arrangments look like, the safety instructions supplied to the kids, In my opinion, I think parents appreciate and enjoy this program."

The RVS Board of Trustees has made school bus management a priority in the upcoming year.  Cherinet says the First Ride program is very helpful in making students and parents aware of what the expectations are from each of them and following the rules right from the time they start school.  

'Absolutely, yes," says Cherinet.  "Because now parents are aware, okay what are the expectations from parents, what are the expectations from contractors and from Rocky View Schools.  It also identifies where one responsibility starts and where the other one continueS.  So I think it makes it easier for them to know this ahead of time."

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