Ferry Farm Elementary - Transportation

Click here to download Bus Change form.

Bus Route Information

BUS TRANSPORTATION

The citizens of Stafford County have chosen to provide bus transportation for our children. Because bus transportation is not required, riding a bus to and from school is a privilege. Insuring student safety is the primary goal of bus rules and regulations and for that reason students are expected to behave properly and follow the rules at all times.

Should a student be reported to the school principal, the principal will be responsible for disciplinary action. Parents will be responsible for the transportation of students who have lost school bus transportation privileges.

Parents should call the Transportation Department at 373-6095 about late buses or missed stops. Please call the principal at 373-7366 for other concerns.

RIDING A DIFFERENT BUS

In order to ride a bus other than the one regularly assigned, a child must have written permission from the parents. Please send a note specifying which bus, where the child will be going and what date(s) he/she will be riding that bus. If a child is riding the bus home with a friend, we must have a note from the patents of both children giving permission for the visit. In an emergency, please plan ahead and send in a note.

If a parent wishes for their child to make a permanent bus or bus stop change, they must send a written rquest to the school and complete the appropriate transpotation form. The written request is subject to approval of the school principal and the transportation department. Bus drivers must receive notification by the school office when approval is given to a student to make a change of this type.

BUS LOADING AREAS

The bus loading area for Ferry Farm Elementary is located directly in front of the school. The area is clearly marked bus traffic only. This is done for the safety of our students. Please adhere to this policy and park in one of the designated parking areas if you visit our school.

WAITING FOR THE BUS

Students are to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the regular pickup time, but no earlier than ten minutes before this time. Students are to wait quietly in a safe, designated place well off the traveled portion of the roadway until the bus has come to a complete stop. Most bus problems either occur or start at the bus stop. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to and from the bus stop. Parent supervision during the time that the students wait for their bus to arrive could prevent a serious accident.

APPROPRIATE BUS BEHAVIOR

Students are expected to follow the bus driver’s instructions. They are to board the bus in an orderly manner and should be seated immediately. Students are to remain seated at all times when the bus is moving. Students are required to share seats equally and to be courteous and respectful of others’ property. A student is not allowed to put hands or head outside of the bus window. The aisles of the bus must be kept clear at all times. Good conduct on the bus is critical to safe transportation. Students are not allowed to bring large items such as food, animals, drinks, sound systems or glass items onto the school bus.

Daycare van riders:

Parents please remember to inform your child’s daycare facility when your child is absent or is picked up early due to illness or an appointment.

CAR RIDER REMINDERS

PLEASE REMEMBER

All Car riders are to be dropped off at the back of the school.

Cars are to line up single file in the morning when dropping off children.

Children are to exit the vehicle on the right hand side and quickly enter the building.

Vehicles are to be unloaded under the direction of parking lot supervisors.

Double lanes are used in the afternoon.

Make sure your children are secured safely in their seats before leaving.

Please make sure all persons have cleared the area before you pull away.

Please be sure to stop at the stop sign and yield to the cars driving on Mercer Lane.

School Hours

The elementary instructional day begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. for children in grades K – 5. Since teachers are not required to be at school until 8:30 a.m. we ask parents who choose to transport their child to school not to drop them off before 8:45 a.m. We want to make sure that we have adequate supervision for our students at all times. In the afternoon, we encourage parents not to routinely pick up their children early.

All instructional time is valued.

Early Dismissals

There are times when parents will need to pick up their children early during the school day. When this is necessary, parents should send a note to the teacher that morning. For the safety and well being of each of our students, please adhere to the following procedure when an early dismissal is required. When arriving to pick up your child, report directly to the school office to sign your child out. Parents are NOT to go to their child’s classroom prior to reporting to the office. After you have signed your child out, office personnel will call the student via the intercom to report to the office. No student is to be released early from the classroom without this notification from the office.

If a parent wishes to have someone else pick up his or her child, we must have a signed note from the parent indicating that we can release the child. Early dismissals should not occur habitually, as all time spent within the classroom is important.

Seat belt law info:

Children younger than eight must be in an appropriate child safety seat. All family members must wear seatbelts while riding in the car.

Remember your child must have a note if he/she is riding home to a different place than usual. If your child is riding home with another child, both children need notes from their parents giving them permission.