Walking school bus

Coordinators' guide

Full print version: The walking school bus (PDF, 636 KB, 24 pages)

5. Keeping the walking school bus network going

Generally, it isn't a problem to keep a network going – once walking school buses start rolling, parents and children seem keen to continue using them. However, there are some things that may help keep interest high and let new families know the walking school bus is available to them.

Have theme days

Have theme days for the children, eg:

• dress up at Easter and Christmas
• wear hearts or red on Valentine's Day
• wear or carry yellow daffodils on Daffodil Day
• dress up for Halloween
• support your favourite sports team when they're playing
• have gumboot days
• have sneaker days
• have yellow days (where everyone wears yellow).

Advertise in the school newsletter

About once a term, remind the school community the walking school buses are there for them to use. They will have seen them around the neighbourhood, but it is helpful to remind them of the diff erent routes, and list contact names and phone numbers. This will give any new families in the school the opportunity to join a bus. Put a poster from the resource kit on the school noticeboard with the coordinator's contact details.

Name your bus

Find a local promotional tool that works for your community or school – something the children identify with either at school or in their area. In Auckland, for example, walking school buses have been given an identity and named after animals, such as Gladstone School's zippy (zebra), the Cornwall Park crocodile and the Edendale centipede.

The idea is to develop strong local ownership of the bus by the school community to ensure it keeps going. Schools are encouraged to run competitions for students to come up with unique walking school bus names and mascot ideas.

Network with other schools

You might want to contact other schools and parents who have successfully set up walking school buses. Contact your local road safety coordinator for details of other schools operating a walking school bus in your area.

Acknowledge your volunteers

Finally, don't forget the vital role parent volunteers play. Without them, no walking school bus could get off the ground. Remember, recognition helps motivate participants in any volunteer group. Think about acknowledging your volunteers through the school newsletter or at other school events. You might also be able to get a local business to donate occasional gifts to volunteers and/or children, or hold a morning tea for all volunteers.

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Page created: 8 July 2008