We rely on them to bring our children to school and return them home safely every day. Our school bus drivers are as much a part of the South Huntington family as our teachers and students. That’s why we are proud to highlight South Huntington’s Peaceful School Bus program. This initiative brings students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and our amazing drivers and bus monitors, together to celebrate their “bus family,” fostering mutual respect and trust while promoting safety.

“Students say good morning to their teachers, but often they view the driver as ‘just someone who drives me.’ Driving a bus is a very hard job. We want the kids to see them as people they should respect, introduce themselves to, and talk to. Some of the kids even want to give them hugs!” said Countrywood assistant principal Kellie Njenga. 

At Countrywood and Oakwood Primary Centers, and Birchwood and Maplewood Intermediate Schools, students on the same bus routes have been meeting in groups this school year with their bus drivers to bond and get to know each other better, bridging the gap between the classroom and the commute. Principals want to extend the school culture of kindness and respect to the ride to school. It also shows drivers how much they’re appreciated.

“Usually, students only see the driver behind the wheel. By bringing drivers into the building to participate in the school day with administrators and teachers, it shows the students that the drivers are a vital part of our community. It gives us a chance to celebrate them,” said Birchwood principal Dimitri Bernadel. 

At a recent Peaceful School Bus gathering at Birchwood, students were asked to guess their bus driver’s favorite color, favorite snack, and how long they’ve been driving a school bus. Students and teachers both applauded when they found out their special guest, driver Ralph Franklin, has been driving a bus for South Huntington for 21 years!

Key activities include students creating safety posters and team names for their “bus family,” such as Team Blues Clues, The Adventure Bus, Team Blue Stripez, and The Bubble Gum Bus.

The program also reminds students how to act responsibly on the bus and how to end bullying. “We want students to understand that what happens in one place impacts another. If a student has a negative experience on the morning bus, it impacts their entire day. We want our kids to get to school and get home safely, maintaining that same level of positivity throughout the journey,” explained Mr. Bernadel.

School bus drivers also serve as a crucial bridge between schools and families. “Drivers or monitors can often be the first to notice if something is happening at home or if a child is getting on the bus upset,” noted Ms. Njenga. “They call our attention to it, and then we can follow up with the teacher or the social worker. It’s all of us working together.”

The students all received “We Love Our Peaceful School Bus” t-shirts and will be invited to wear them on a designated day chosen by each school.

A huge thank you to our dedicated bus drivers and bus monitors for all you do to keep our children safe every single day! Thank you, also, to our young riders for all your work learning to be respectful team members on our school buses!