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Lackawanna Trail unveils program to improve bus-riding etiquette
Around Town
Cultivating Creativity
January 29, 2015
‘All About the Bus’
ON THE INSIDE See what’s happening in our area Page 4
SUBURBAN
by Stephanie Longo
ABINGTON SUBURBAN EDITOR
“Because it’s all about the bus, about the bus — no trouble.” When the popular song, “All About the Bass” by Meghan Trainor took center stage on last year’s music charts, it helped inspire administrators at Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center in their quest to create a program to positively enforce good behavior on the school’s 12 daily bus routes. “One of the bad trends that we were seeing was the increase in bus referrals for bad behavior,” said principal Brian Kelly. “Obviously, that was a concern from a behavioral standpoint but also from a safety standpoint. We are in the process of developing a schoolwide positive behavior system and I felt that the buses should be first on that list. I had discussions with students, teachers and bus drivers and learned from each of them. Ultimately, we decided to do a ‘Bus of the Month’ program and came up with great ideas to get students to behave.” The Bus of the Month program was unveiled at the beginning of January, featuring a school commercial, produced by digital media students from Lackawanna Trail High School, with student actors from kindergarten and sixth grade who would model both correct and incorrect bus-riding behaviors, including keeping clean, being kind and courteous, using inside voices and not jumping on seats. “All About the Bus” was sung during each scene. “It has been really positive,” said elementary teacher Sarah Haus. “I’ve heard in the community that people are glad we’re taking a proactive, positive approach. I think it is neat that we aren’t drilling the rules in a boring old manner, the video was unique and highlights our students’ talents.” The Elementary Center will decide on the January “Bus of the Month” this week, following a daily tally where bus drivers would signal a “thumbs up” for good behavior or a “thumbs down” for bad behavior. The winning bus will
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Students, teachers and administrators participating in the Lackawanna Trail Elementary School Bus of the Month program are pictured holding the “Bus of the Month” magnet to be displayed on the winning bus. From left, front row: elementary teacher Sarah Haus, Gibson O’Mealy, Avery Ronchi, Nadia Kuckak, Noelann Polkowski, Ryan Horutz and elementary teacher Jessica Witinski. Second row: Kaya Koflanovich, Emma Thomas, Gavin Jagoe and Noah Schlegel. Third Row: Mackenzie Newhart, Emma Fowler, Logan Dixon, Sophie Haus, Bradyn Genello, Mason Grella, Celia Fortney, Leah Levan, Ray Melnikoff and Kyle Austin. Back row: bus driver/owner Mary Smarkuski, Lackawanna Trail High School digital media adviser Jon Hickok, Beth Cosminski, Katie Nealon, Jordan Hannon, Addison Hoffman and Lackawanna Trail Elementary School principal Brian Kelly. Connor McCarthy also participated.
get to display a magnet, designed by fourthgrade student Emma Fowler, and the student riders will receive and extra recess as well as a breakfast with their driver. As of press time, 10 out of 12 buses have had a “thumbs up” every day since the program’s beginning. “I can really see a difference in the kids and their attitude,” said Bus 11 driver Mary
Smarkuski. “They want to win.” “The primary job of a bus driver is to keep their eyes on the road,” Kelly said. “I am trying to do everything I can as a building principal to make their experience a lot better and safer. This is the least I could do to support their very, very difficult job. Hopefully this brings more structure and less chaos to their jobs.”