Maitland City Talk

School supplies, bus schedules and medical forms

To assist you during this busy back-to-school time of the year, here's a helpful, easy-to-print checklist of things to remember for your child's new school year. This information is provided courtesy of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• Call your child's school to make sure all registration requirements have been taken care of, including emergency and medical forms. This is also a good time to verify the date and time that school begins, inquire about school lunches, and get a schedule of important dates.

• Call your child's pediatrician to make sure all vaccinations are up to date. If your child has any chronic medical conditions, be sure to contact the school with this information. It is also a good idea to take your child for an eye examination before school starts, in case there is a need for glasses.

• Get a supplies list from the school or your child's teacher before you buy more than the essentials, as some teachers have very specific requests. If you don't want to wait until the shopping rush, try to touch base with your child's teacher a few days before school starts. Teachers are generally setting up their classrooms at that time and will probably be reachable

• Be sure that your child knows their phone number and address, as well as your work phone or the number of another trusted adult. If too young to memorize these facts, place a contact card in their backpack to be shared with a teacher or another school official in an emergency.

• Figure out where your child will catch the school bus before school starts. This is also a good time to reinforce safety behaviors with your child, such as waiting at the bus stop after school with a friend and never accepting rides from strangers.

• Plan for what your child will be doing after school. If you will not be there, make sure they know what the rules are and how to get help in an emergency.

Riding the bus

• Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.

• Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.

• When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.

• Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.

• Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's OK to approach.

• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses; however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!

Walking and biking to school

• Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard – never cross the street against a light, even if you don't see any traffic coming.

• Walk your bike through intersections.

• Walk with a buddy.

• Wear reflective material – it makes you more visible to street traffic.

Riding in a car

• You might have heard before that most traffic crashes occur close to home, and they do.

• Seat belts are the best form of protection that passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45 percent.

• You are four times more likely to be seriously injured if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.

• Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats, and little kids in child safety seats.

Our Maitland youth are important. Take time to stop, look and listen!