Manassas Park Transportation News
2017/18 School Year –Issue #7 – April 2018
Nearing the End
As we come into the last weeks of school, I would like to thank my team for their ongoing contributions to our department, the students, their families and the community. Your dedication is the difference between us getting the students to and from school on schedule or them arriving late. As you all know, traffic has been a bear the last several weeks and with all the roadwork that is planned for our area, I don’t see any relief for some time.
Continue to be the professionals you are and drive cautiously. Be aware of your surroundings and remember SIPDE, the motto we live by. Thanks for all you do!
Patricia Hurley-Ritenour, MPCS Transportation Director
Trainer’s Corner
Congratulations go out to Branden Ross-Rucker for clompleting his classroom and behind-the-wheel training to become Manassas Park's youngest driver (move over Vickki!)
Congratulations go out to Justin O’Malley as well, who received his CDL this month and is finishing up his behind-the-wheel. Justin came to us because a driver mentioned the opportunity to him and the same day, his friend and our school board chair, Rachel Kirkland, also mentioned it to him.
Paula Tanis and Christina Reyes are still in behind-the-wheel training, but we are confident they will be in OJT soon and transporting students soon after that. Keep up the good work!
Intersession Wrap-Up
During the week of April 23, Manassas Park hosted it sixth and final Intersession. Besides lengthening our contracts, the last three years of working in a balanced calendar system has allowed drivers and attendants the chance to take some interesting daytime field trips.
Spring 2018 trips included Volleyball Camp, Golf Camp, Life Guard training and hiking at Signal Hill Park, Prince William Forest Park and the Manassas National Battlefield. Eighth graders visited the Holocaust Museum and the African American Civil War Museum. The Medical Club got a close-up look at medicine in action during a visit to Fairfax Hospital. And a group of Life Skills students enjoyed a tour of Petco and Plato’s Closet.
In addition, MPCS hosted the Special Olympics and students from other districts also competed. Unfortunately, due to the weather, the event had to be moved forward one day which prevented some schools from participating.
Alexandria Walking Tour
Aaron Tennant, Bus 15, has been around for all six intersessions and said he has enjoyed them all. This time, Aaron transported a group of 8th graders to Old Town Alexandria for a historical walking tour.
“I dropped them off Barrett Library. Then I used the map on my phone to look for a place to park. I found a park where I thought I could park, but on the way there, I came across a 2-hour parking spot. Luckily, I was able to park the bus on the tight street. Then I located an eatery that served pita’s and had a good lunch.
“When the students got back on the bus, they had mixed feelings about the tour, but the chaperones all loved it. “We headed back to school, but I missed the turn to get onto 495 south and ended up on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge heading into Maryland. Luckily, a chaperone knew the area and we got turned around quickly and back to the school just in time for dismissal.”
Ticonderoga
Felix Dianderas, Bus 1, took the second graders on a field trip to Ticonderoga Farms.
“It was nice,” he said. “They had a huge moon bounce and all the kids went in. They had a hay ride and I went on it. It went through the water and all the kids screamed! They were so happy! They have a 75-foot swinging rope bridge over the water, and the kids had a great time crossing it. They made it swing back and forth and back and forth. They loved it. And the weather was perfect for the trip – 60 degrees.
They also had a lot of slides around the property and a nice picnic area. The park was very clean. “The students brought their own lunch or the school provided a bag lunch. There was one chaperone for every four students. It was very well controlled.
The drive down there was easy – no problems. We didn’t run into any traffic or other issues. There were five buses. We stayed together and communicated by radio. I was first on the way there and Ronda was first on the way back. The parking was easy to find, but the trees were low so we had to be careful that the top of our buses did not get scratched.
Leesburg Animal Park
Joanne Brathwaite, Bus 7, was one of buses that traveled to Leesburg Animal Park.
“The drive out there seemed very long,” she said. “I do not do a lot of field trips and I kept thinking, Are we there yet???
“Because of the rain, it was a little muddy, so we had to park on the gravel and the grass. But it was no problem and the hosts of the Animal Park were kind and accommodating to the drivers. They even gave us our own party room so we could eat our lunch while we waited for the students!
“We had a great time visiting with each other and lots of laughter,” she said. “Everyone brought something for lunch and we shared. We even had leftovers. “The kids really seemed to enjoy the trip, too, although some of the teachers think next year maybe we should start a little earlier so the kids will have a little more time.”
Silver Lake Regional Park
Betty Barrett, Bus 3, took a group of 6th graders to Silver Lake Regional Park for a fishing trip. “It was raining, but the kids went fishing anyway. They didn’t say if they caught anything, but they did see a lot of turtles.”
Once upon a time, the 23-acre lake didn’t exist. Historians estimate that between 1952 and 1962, the landowner dammed the Bull Run Creek, which wound through the property, to create Silver Lake. After that, it became a privately-owned campground and then changed hands several times before the Prince William County Government adopted it. In 2009, it received an award for its restoration efforts.
Betty said she has enjoyed the daytime trips that intersession provided. “It has been nice to be able to make a little extra money during the day,” she said. “I am going to miss that, and I’m going to miss having a week off in October.”
Lift Me Up!
Julia Rubio was a School Bus Attendant for the SPED field trip to the Life Me Up Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program in Great Falls.
According to its website, Lift Me Up! is “dedicated to providing safe and effective instruction for children and adults who have varying disabilities.” They teach riding skills “adapted to each rider’s cognitive and physical needs.” “We went with the students and watched as the therapists worked with them,” said Julia. “The way they work with them and then lift them up onto the horse is incredible, and the care they take with each student. I was tearing up watching them.”
Julia said it was special because Lift Me Up! caters to people with disabilities only. “I didn’t even know there were places like that,” she said. “The kids had fun. They were so excited, especially our student who uses a wheelchair. All the children’s smiles were just priceless, and I was so glad to be able to be there. I would be very happy if I could go back again.”
Safety Patrol Program Prelim
During the month of April, a focus group made up of about a dozen drivers, attendants and crossing guards, met over a period of three weeks to discuss the pros and cons of a School Bus Safety Patrol Program, and to brainstorm how such a program might work at Manassas Park City Schools.
“At first, we could only see the negatives to implementing a School Bus Safety Patrol Program,” said Susan Casoni, acting as secretary for the group. Some of the concerns expressed by the group included:
- Wouldn't a School Bus Safety Patrol be doing the job that probably should be reserved for the driver, such as handing out necklaces, counting the students and dealing with disciplinary issues? Some drivers have discovered that having a "helper" on board creates more problems than it solves. Other drivers depend on helpers to count or hand out necklaces, as it allows the driver to focus on other issues, including seating charts.
- What if the School Bus Safety Patrols thinks the rules apply to everyone except them?
- What if the School Bus Safety Patrols allow their friends to violate the rules?
- Why put a School Bus Safety Patrol on a bus that is already running smoothly? Won't it add work for the driver?
- What if the School Bus Safety Patrol turns into a "tattletale," and forces the driver to respond to trivial issues that might otherwise be ignored?
- What if other students do not listen to or respect the School Bus Safety Patrol?
- What if the other students ostracize the School Bus Safety Patrols or call them names?
After making a list of the “cons,” the group turned their focus to the “pros” of such a program. Some of the pros include:
- Studies show having a School Bus Safety Patrol program in places decreases the risk of student injury or fatality which can occur while loading or unloading
- If the School Bus Safety Patrols are properly trained, they could be helpful to the driver
- It would give the drivers a chance to positively influence the lives of the students who are chosen to be School Bus Safety Patrols, and encourage them towards a lifetime of leadership.
Other questions which the group grappled with include:
So what would the duties of a School Bus Safety Patrol be? Mostly, to set a good example. Buses would typically have two patrols on board, one in the back and one in the front. In the morning, the front patrol would be first to get off at the school and help the kindergarteners down the steps if they need it. The back patrol would be last to get off and check for sleeping children. (Of course, the driver will still have to check the bus as usual!) In the afternoon, the front patrol would get on the bus first to count and greet the students as they get on; the back patrol would stand at the curb holding a sign with the bus number.
How would patrols be chosen? After the school year has begun, the driver will hand out applications to any interested 5th graders. The application will be simple: Why do you want to be a School Bus Safety Patrol? It will also include a teacher recommendation and parent signature. Once all applications are in, the driver will select two patrols to start the year.
What if there are multiple interested students? Patrols can be swapped halfway through the year, at the driver’s discretion.
So why would anyone want to serve? What are the incentives?
- Get to leave class early
- Receive positive attention
- Recognition and praise
- Wear a belt and badge
- Be admired by others
- Get to use the counter
- Get to help others
- Have a pizza party
Who will pay for the belts and badges? Belts, badges and pins will be provided at no cost by the American Automobile Association (“AAA”). The first Safety Patrol Program was formed in 1916. In the 1930’s, three organizations – AAA, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, and the National Safety Council – worked together to come up with some guidelines for how a Safety Patrol program should operate. More than 50,000 schools have Safety Patrol programs, and AAA sponsors most of them. A number of presidents were once Safety Patrols, as well as Supreme Court justices, astronauts and Olympic medalists. Our own trusted leader, Miss Patty, was once a Safety Patrol, as well as Crossing Guard Crystal Moore.
Benefits to students participating in the program include:
- Safety awareness
- Leadership development
- Sense of pride
- Citizenship in action
- Respect for rules and law
- Character building
On Monday, April 30, Leah Scully, Traffic Safety Community Educator for AAA, addressed some of the concerns of the focus group and explained more about how AAA can help with the program. “With any new program there is always a learning curve,” said Leah. “And there is always some pushback, especially from veteran drivers whose buses are already under control. Change is hard. But with the Safety Patrol Program, the positives outweigh the negatives.” Leah said she will assist with the training. School Resource Officer Brann will also be involved, along with the two crossing guards, two drivers and the program coordinator. Some of the members of the focus group are shown above, along with Ms. Scully.
“In my opinion, a safety patrol program is one more way to educate our younger students about safety,” said Patty. “The program in design is not about empowering those selected students to boss around the other students. It is about setting a good example. Those students selected to become School Bus Patrols will follow the rules, properly sit in their seat and speak in an ‘inside voice.’
“The guidelines for the selection and the training we will provide will set the tone and the expectations for the patrols. Kids are in school all day so by the time they get to the bus they are super-charged which can create safety issues; however, with proper oversight, I believe a safety patrol program could benefit everyone.”
A Special Thank You
“As the year winds down, I wanted to take a moment and thank Dr. McDade’s assistant (and my sister) Pam Blake for stepping in to help us with our afternoon dispatch this year,” said Patty. “With Susan and I both driving, manning both the phones and the radios has been a challenge, but with Pam’s help, we have been able to cover both, which has helped to reduce the number of additional elementary doubles we have in the afternoon.”
“Doing the radios is a lot of fun,” said Pam. “I get to talk to people, help parents and help the drivers. It makes for an enjoyable afternoon.”
Pam started her career with Manassas Park City Schools in 1999 as an Administrative Assistant to former Superintendent Dr. DeBolt. “It was a time of rebuilding,” said Pam. “From the toilet paper dispensers in the bathrooms to the trash cans in the parking lots, we rebuilt the entire infrastructure. I came in as they were starting the high school addition.
“It was very challenging, but also very rewarding. The most challenging part was trying to find the resources to do the rebuilding. We had to work through the school board and the governing body to have it approved, and then find funding. I assisted Dr. DeBolt with the logistical operational part of each building. We had to work with the architects and coordinate all the phases, included buying the furniture.
“It was very exciting to see all of it come together, the beautiful buildings, and the hard work and dedication of the many people involved.“I think the rebuilding of the infrastructure helped to establish that we weren’t just a small-town player but a real contender in the Virginia Public School System. And as the years have passed, as we have grown, everyone from our closest neighbors to the folks in Richmond have come to see that from academics to athletics, Manassas Park offers its students an excellent, well-rounded education.
When Dr. DeBolt retired and Dr. McDade took the reins, Pam’s role changed a little.
“Not only did I assist with day-to-day operations, but I have also had the opportunity to learn new things. It has been challenging at times but has also been professionally rewarding.
Pam grew up in Manassas Park so she knows firsthand the changes the City has experienced over the past two decades, between the expansion of the city into new neighborhoods and the large immigrant population. “For some people, the change has been difficult,” she said. “The growth in the area over the past few years has been exponential. We have more residents and more students in our schools than we ever anticipated. But as a school system, we have risen to, met and even exceeded expectations.
“Every school system has an impact on the children and families it serves,” said Pam, “and Manassas Park is no exception. From the elementary backpack program to MPCS Connects (digital conversion and learning program) and the Family Market, our teachers, administrators and staff go above and beyond. Transportation too. The drivers and attendants are so kind and generous. They care about the kids and they care about Manassas Park.”
For the past 19 years, Pam has also been an integral part of the BELL Foundation, acting as its secretary and treasurer. “I have really enjoyed working with the Foundation,” said Pam. “I am not a fundraiser, but I enjoy keeping the books, taking minutes and interacting with the board.”
Unfortunately for us, Pam is retiring this year, but she has an open invitation to come back and work the radios during dismissal. What could be more fun???
Traveling, apparently, gardening and cooking, and spending time with her husband of 45 years and their three children and eight grandchildren. She said they have a house at Colonial Beach and, among other things, she hopes to work with an educational foundation like BELL.
“I have made so many good friends here and have shared so much,” she said. “I will really miss the people.”