The Hecht household looks forward to the start of school with an equal mix of fear and cheer.
We're thrilled the kids will be back in the classroom, their bright, young minds eager to absorb knowledge (at least, until the newness of the school year wears off).
But we're also gripped by an annual anxiety: Will the school system lose our progeny again this year - again? Will we get the call from the division saying they put our kids on the wrong bus - again? That they're driving around Norfolk trying to figure out what to do with them- again? Or worse, that they're not sure what bus they put them on - again? Or will we have to call the bus people to find out where the kids are when we get the frantic call from the sitter saying they didn't get off the bus again this year - again?
Only the day will tell.
I love my children's school. The education is superb. The teachers are great. In fact, it's a model for other learning institutions, and there's talk of building more schools in Norfolk following its instructional concept and method of enrollment.
So how, I wonder, can such a wonder school's bus services send my kids goodness knows where year after year after year? I've tried everything: writing their bus number on their hands in permanent marker, giving them notes for their teachers, talking to the teacher before the start of school, talking to transportation.
Apparently, it's a strange concept that a kid might ride one bus in the morning and a different one in the afternoon, getting off at a day care or sitter's since the parents work full time. But I know we're not alone. I've heard that other families do it. And each year I dutifully fill out the required paperwork to do be able to do so. Yet every year my kids get put on the assigned morning bus or else a bus that's neither our assigned morning nor afternoon bus. Really.
And here's the kicker. We've stopped riding the morning bus, period, because 1) two years ago the driver argued she would not stop at our designated stop as printed in the paper; 2) when we went to the stop she told us she wanted us to go to instead, the bus drove right by us; 3) one day the bus bypassed our neighborhood altogether (I could see it turning a block before ours and turning down a street not on the route); and 4) the bus would come either very early or very late, but not within the allotted window we're told to expect.
So I started schlepping the kids to school every day. At least we know they get there OK. Now the question is, will they get home OK, or will we have a repeat performance? I'll update later today on the comments below.
Are we alone? Anyone else have busing woes with their school? I'm eager to hear them.
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the bus...and "assessed" versus "accessed"
It had to happen at some point. Yes, "accessed" versus "assessed" in my Homefront column yesterday. Thanks to the readers who pointed out my word mistake. I'll admit it was a crazy and busy week last week since we had off Monday for Labor Day. Being a Virgo perfectionist, I'm kicking myself for incorrectly typing the word not once, but twice. Thanks, eagle-eye readers. Per the bus, so far...so good. I'm still driving the kids to school every day and guess I will forever, but the school system didn't lose my kids in the afternoon yet again this year. For that I am truly grateful. Thanks, Norfolk Public Schools.
Overcrowded bus
The only problem with my 6th grader's middle school bus is that it is very crowded. Since his is the last stop, he has to scramble for a seat (and he ends up being the third kid in a seat designed for two). At least on the way home the 6th graders are loaded on the bus first.
I may end up driving him to school often. That will allow him about an extra 25-30 minutes at home. I've been showering, breakfasting and doing a few chores after he leaves for the bus in the mornings before heading off to work, but if I organize myself better in the mornings, I can drop him off at school and then head to my (very close!) office.
Something unrelated -- in your Saturday column in the paper's Home section, "accessed" instead of "aSSessed" appeared twice. Yikes!, considering it is the real estate/home section of the newspaper!
yay!
they made it!
school bus woes
As the mom of two kids, I know how you must be feeling. We've been quite fortunate through the years that we've never experienced what you have, but I certainly worry when they go off to school and before they return home. Hopefully this will be the year they get it right and deliver your precious cargo safely home!
Late
Well a certain Chesapeake school(s) only had both my children get home 50 mins after they were released from school. We live 5 mins a way so I guess it could be worse oh wait their buses were not at the school until 35 mins after dismissal no worries there. I mean are they new??? No my kids have had the same bus drivers for 2 years but yet they still cant get it right. Glad to hear it isnt just us!! Never had these many problems when we lived in Virginia Beach.
kids got home...finally
Good news to report from the homefront. The kids' schoolbus pulled up at the sitter's a little before 5 - about 45 minutes behind schedule, but there nonetheless. And with both children aboard. Yeah! I hear you, stacid, on the big yellow monsters. I've never understood why we must wear seatbelts in cars, yet children don't have to on buses. I thought kids were "precious cargo?"
Bus Mania
I am not sure if I had kids that I would feel good enough about sending them off on a bus. Each year we hear about accidents, crashes or near misses. With no seat belts, no supervision and confused or scared children, I tremble at the thought I ever stepped foot on one.
Remember the days when the first day of school was exciting and finding the coolest seat on the bus was something to look forward to? Smile and wave at the big yellow school bus... but today... it's run and hide, here comes the yellow beast!
God speed to the kids today and this year - going to school and coming home!