Local schools to celebrate school bus driver appreciation week

Press release from Henderson County Public Schools:

Local Schools to Celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Week

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 6, 2015) – Whether it’s with hand-drawn cards from students, small gifts from teachers or full meals from administrators, Henderson County Public Schools are honoring its bus drivers Feb. 9-13 during School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.

Each weekday, HCPS bus drivers transport 6,300 children throughout the county, and log more than 1 million miles each year. They’re some of the first to arrive at schools in the mornings around 6 a.m., and on particularly cold days they get there even earlier to warm up the buses before starting their routes.

“Our bus drivers are tasked with the incredible responsibility of transporting the most precious cargo to and from schools on tight schedules,” said Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Bo Caldwell. “We appreciate their dedication and compassion for all the students in their care.”

Several schools, including East Henderson High, Flat Rock Middle, Atkinson Elementary and Clear Creek Elementary, are treating their bus drivers to breakfast one or more days of next week, and Atkinson is also hosting an ice cream social for drivers. Parent-teacher organizations, including the one at Edneyville Elementary, provide small gifts to their schools’ drivers each day and elementary and middle school students draw pictures and cards for their favorite bus drivers.

At North Henderson High, teachers will be participating in “ride alongs” with bus drivers on afternoon routes, to gain a greater appreciation for their peers and to improve relationships with students.

On Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., the media is invited to Edneyville Elementary for a special visit from “Buster the Bus,” a remote-controlled replica of a yellow school bus with working stop arm, crossing gate and flashing red lights. Designed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to teach young students bus safety, Buster will cover how to safely wait for, ride on, and cross in front of school buses.

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About Lea McLellan
Lea McLellan is a freelance writer who likes to write stories about music, art, food, wellness and interesting locals doing interesting things.

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