Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • August 25, 2010 �������������� School buses are essential modes of transportation, taking thousands of students to and from school every day. While school bus accidents are rare, riders should still practice safety aboard and around the bus. ����������������������������� In the early days of education, students were educated in local schools within walking distance. If they needed to ������������ travel, it was by horse-drawn wagon. As the nation’s road�������������������� ways began to evolve, so did the methods of getting children to school. Eventually school buses became the norm. In an effort to prevent injuries, representatives from 48 states met in 1939 to establish safety ������������������ standards for school buses. Since then, several meetings, known as the National Conferences on School Transportation, have taken place to modify safety procedures and standards. In addition to safety procedures regarding ridership, school buses are built with certain standards in mind. Mirrors, lights, braking systems, and the like are regulated to provide the utmost safety to passengers. However, maintaining school bus safety is a team effort. Students need to do their part while riding the bus. Here are some safety precautions that should be followed. Walk to the bus stop, don’t run. Always use caution when crossing roadways. Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible. If no sidewalk is present, walk in the opposite direction of traffic to be aware of oncoming traffic. Don’t fool around at the bus stop. Accidents can happen when individuals are distracted or unaware of their surroundings. Stand at the bus stop in a safe location. Do not enter the street. Arrive at the bus stop early so there is no need to rush and be distracted. Wait for the school bus to come to a complete stop and for other traffic to halt before approaching the bus. Promptly take a seat, and remain seated throughout the entire ride. If there are safety belts present, use them. Do not distract the bus driver with loud yelling, music, Be smart this fall: Stay school bus safe etc. Don’t throw anything around the bus. Keep the aisle clear to avoid tripping hazards. Follow the driver’s instructions in the event of an emergency. Remain seated until the bus has stopped at a particular drop-off location. When exiting the bus, take three steps away from the bus so that visibility of the driver is improved. Watch for traffic when crossing the street. Always cross in front of the bus. If something is forgotten on the bus, don’t try to run back and retrieve it. The driver may not expect a student to be returning to the bus. Back to school shopping tips for parents Parents often feel as if the signs for “back-to-school” sales appear the moment summer vacation begins. Thanks to high prices and long lines, many parents dread shopping for school clothes. But shopping for school clothes doesn’t have to be a laborious task. With a little advice, parents can find the deals they desire and be in and out of the stores with plenty of time for summer fun. Establish a budget. Have a set amount of money in mind for each child. He or she likely has plenty of staple items in good condition already in the closet, such as jeans and sweatshirts. School shopping should be used as a chance to add a few new items to the wardrobe to freshen it up, not to completely overhaul it. Start early. Most schools begin classes in late August or early September, when temperatures are still likely to be warm. Make the most of end-of-summer sales on shortsleeved shirts by shopping early for school clothes. Add a few long-sleeved items to be used when the weather starts to cool. Don’t be a slave to the trends. A few accessories that pick up on today’s trends can enhance a wardrobe but should not eat up much of the budget. Wardrobe staples that can be mixed and matched into a number of possibilities should be a top priority. Steer clear of shirts that offer graphic images or potentially offensive messages. Some schools have a zero-tolerance policy on clothing that makes a “statement.” Think comfort. Don’t buy outfits based on what the mannequins are wearing. They may look good because they were dressed by a stylist. However, kids are more interested in what fits and is comfortable. Also, clothing may get a little beat-up when worn every day. So don’t spend too much on any one item. Establish a time limit. Kids won’t want to go out shopping if it is going to be an all-day affair. Set a strict time limit for shopping that allows enough time to get the basics. Allow older kids to shop for themselves. When allowing older kids to shop on their own, be sure to establish a budget and emphasize the importance of adhering to that budget. ����������������������������������������������������������� Infants, Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten, Grades 1-6, Ages 6 weeks to 12 years ������������������������������������� �������������� You don’t have to do any homework to know where to advertise your back to school specials... The Villadom TIMES is publishing three great issues to help you start the fall selling season off right. Timely editorial featuring pertinent articles and back to school tips will be included to ensure readership. Your advertisement in each of these special sections will reach 56,300 residences in your market area. CORE A Truly Unique Montessori School • Unique Phonics Reading Program • Computers • Music • Foreign Language • 3 or 5 Half Days • Full Days 7am - 6pm • Fastrackids • Character Education • Parenting Seminars • Dance Academy of the A PPLE ���������������������� ������� �������������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������� ������������� ������������������� ������������ ��������������� Call, visit and compare the advantages gained for your child... • Daily Swimmming Lessons, Heated Pool designed for safety of young children • Sports/Organized Games • Arts & Crafts • Field Trips • Music/Dance • In House Events • Nature & Science • Computers • Cooking Summer Camp PUBLICATION DATES: Wednesday, September 1 ADVERTISING DEADLINES: Wednesday, August 25 www.applemontessorischools.com 192 Ramapo Valley Rd. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER OAKLAND 201-337-0183 Please call for our other locations 973-696-9750 Nevins Rd. WAYNE 75 East Ramapo Valley Rd. MAHWAH Call today to place your advertisement. 201-512-1141 201-652-0744 ZONE 1: Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Midland Park • ZONE 2: Glen Rock, Ridgewood ZONE 3: Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River • ZONE 4: Ramsey, Mahwah 8-25-10 Karen/Janine