Bus Riders

Bus riders are expected to be courteous to other passengers and to the bus driver. A student who becomes a discipline problem on the bus may be deprived of the privilege of riding the bus. In this event, his parents will be required to furnish transportation to and from school. The pick-up and drop-off point for all buses is the circle near the classroom section of the main building. ASHS adheres to all policies regarding transportation as stipulated by the Jefferson Parish Public School System and noted below. These expectations also apply to students riding private buses providing transportation services for the school.

The school bus driver is assigned one of the most important roles in the school system: transporting our students safely to school and then home. The driver must observe constantly what is taking place outside the bus and inside the bus. Anticipating the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians, listening for sounds that may signal mechanical problems with the bus, and protecting all passengers from danger caused by improper behavior on the bus are part of the driver’s daily responsibilities. As a trained professional, the bus driver is the person in charge of the students he/she transports and is responsible for taking appropriate action to protect persons and property from injury and damage.

Parents can assist the driver by periodically reviewing with their children all behavior and safety standards, by supporting the driver when a child misbehaves, by helping keep the neighborhood safe for school buses, and by supervising children at bus stops. A procedure for reporting misconduct of bus students has been established. Situations involving misconduct will be promptly reported to parents by the driver or by school authorities. Drivers, students, parents, and school officials must all share in the responsibility for student safety.

Students must be safety-conscious at all times and must conduct themselves in a manner that will minimize hazards. The following guidelines, if followed by everyone, will make the daily bus ride safe and enjoyable.

  1. Remain at home when you or any member of your family has a contagious disease.
  2. Leave home at a time appropriate for arriving no more than 15 minutes and not fewer than 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
  3. Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the edge of the left side of the street, facing oncoming traffic.
  4. Meet the bus at your assigned bus stop.
  5. Stand off the road when waiting for the bus.
  6. Conduct yourself in an orderly manner, avoiding damage to private property and safeguarding against injury to yourself and others.
  7. If necessary to wait across the street from the bus stop, await the Bus Driver’s signal before crossing; cross only in front of the bus.
  8. Board the bus only when the driver is seated at the controls.
  9. Board the bus in single file and promptly proceed to the seat assigned to you.
  10. Stow band instruments and school bags under the seat or where designated by the driver, but never in the aisle, the entrance, or the exit.
  11. Remain seated at all times when the bus is in motion to minimize injury in case of emergency stops or collisions.
  12. Sit straight in your seat, with both feet on the floor in front of your seat.
  13. Always keep the aisle clear.
  14. Speak quietly and carry on normal conversations with the other passengers in your vicinity. (Loud talking and shouting will distract the driver.)
  15. Avoid unnecessary conversation with the driver.
  16. Abstain from eating, drinking, or smoking on the bus.
  17. Keep arms and head inside the bus window at all times.
  18. Refrain from using profanity.
  19. Avoid littering the bus with trash and never throw objects inside or outside the bus.
  20. Respect pedestrians and other motorists at all times.
  21. Protect the bus. Report to the driver as you leave the bus any damage you notice. (Parents shall be required to pay for damage caused by students!)
  22. Avoid touching any mechanical controls, including entrance and emergency exit doors, except in cases of emergency, and only then in accordance with emergency procedures as explained by the driver. (Emergency drills are to be conducted once each semester.)
  23. Never ask the driver to permit you to get off at any stop other than your designated stop. Parents must forward such requests to school officials, who then may request the driver to pick up or discharge students at an alternate stop. The driver makes the final decision.
  24. Any student who must cross the street after alighting from the bus should wait for the driver to signal that it is safe to cross. The student should cross approximately ten (10) feet in front of the bus (never behind it).
  25. Students should go home immediately after reaching the “home bus stop” location after school.