First Student, the industry’s leading provider of student transportation solutions, wants to put the brakes on bullying. The company is proud to join the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) in raising awareness about the importance of creating a “Bully Free Zone” during National School Bus Safety Week, October 17 to 21. NAPT is providing an opportunity for the entire student transportation industry to highlight anti-bullying efforts. First Student has long been an industry leader when it comes to combating bullying on the school bus. Drivers are focused on ensuring children arrive at school feeling safe, respected and ready to learn by setting simple, age-appropriate behavior expectations and providing positive reinforcement for good behavior.
“Creating the best start and finish to the school day for students and their families means a safe and stress-free bus ride,” said First Student President Dennis R. Maple. “We have a responsibility to foster an environment of trust and respect on the school bus. By remaining focused on awareness and collaborating with our school district partners, we work to build a welcoming environment for students at every stop.”
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. 2016 marks the 10th year of the campaign, which was created by the PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Throughout the month, First Student is sharing ways to recognize, monitor and prevent bullying on its social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter.
First Student is also promoting safe bus behavior with the nationwide Safety Dog Bus Tour. Hundreds of students have learned simple safety tips, signed a safety pledge and met Safety Dog, the safety mascot for First Student. The eight-city Tour wraps up during National School Bus Safety Week with stops in San Francisco and Seattle. Visit safetydogbustour.com for more information about the Tour and helpful safety tip sheets.
About First Student, Inc. As the leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. First Student completes six million student journeys each day, moving more passengers than all U.S. airlines combined. With a team of highly-trained drivers and the industry’s strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, route optimization and scheduling, and charter services for 1,200 school district contracts. For more information, please visit firststudentinc.com.
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