Parents, teach your children the following safety tips…

• Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings. If possible, choose intersections with crossing guards. Walk the route with your child beforehand.
• Stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields and other places where there are not many people around.
• Never to talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from strangers.
• Walk to school with a sibling, friend or neighbour.
• Obey all traffic signals, signs and traffic officers whether walking, biking or riding the bus to school.
• Stay off the street while waiting for a bus and wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before entering or exiting. Watch out for cars when getting on and off the bus, exit out of the front door while using the handrails and cross the street at least 10 giant steps in front of the bus so the bus driver can see you.
• Stay seated at all times when riding the bus and keep your head and arms inside the windows at all times.
• Do not bend down in front of the bus to tie shoes or pick-up objects as the bus driver may not be able to see you.
• Know your home phone number and address, your mom or dad’s work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 in case of an emergency.
• No pushing, shoving or crowding on the playground – remember it’s Cool 2Be Kind.

Tips for Parents…

• When driving your children to and from school drop them off and pick them up as close to the school as possible and watch for them to enter the schoolyard or building before leaving.
• Check the school’s playground equipment and report any safety hazards such as rust, sharp edges or surfaces, or broken equipment.
• Avoid drawstrings on the hood or around the neck of jackets and sweatshirts. Drawstrings around the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than three inches to prevent catching on car or school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment.
• Make sure the school’s soccer goal posts are anchored into the ground and will not tip over.
• Help your children with strategies for coping with bullies. Do not give in to the demands of a bully and tell the bully to STOP. If bulling persists, talk to the teacher.