Actually, there is no bus at all. A Walking School Bus (WSB) is a safe and fun way for children to get physical activity as they travel to and from school with adult supervision.
Each ‘bus’ walks along a set route with one or more adults leading it, picking children up at designated stops along a predetermined route and walking them to school.
A WSB allows the kids get exercise that helps them focus in school. The walk to school is a chance for parents or route leaders to share, teach and talk with your kids without the stress of honking horns and backed-up traffic. It’s a chance too for you to meet your children’s friends, their parents, get to know the neighborhood, and teach your kids to be street smart and safe.
Each participating school will recruit a Walking School Bus Coordinator to run their program. This could be a teacher, principal, parent, or community member.
The Coordinator undergoes a background check before they are allowed to start working with the program. Walking School Bus Coordinators register students to participate, recruits and trains volunteer route leaders, promotes the program, and coordinates day-to-day activities.
The Coordinator, in partnership with the school and the Safe Routes to School program, will determine the meeting place and walking route(s) to the school. There are two different starting and meeting point options:
»Option one, is to have students meet at a central location and walk to school together with a route leader. For example, the route could start at a park or church and walk to school along a designated route.
»Option two, Route leaders or “drivers” take turns walking along a set route to and from school, collecting children from designated “bus stops” along the way.
Walking School Bus Program at Clovis Grove ES in Menasha:
