Goodies!!

If you would like to receive some Walking Bus GOODIES then make sure you are on the Walking Bus this Friday the 19th Sept.

Sue Benton and her team have supplied us with some GREAT coloured PE type drawstring bags – stand out from the crowd.

Matt

BTW – The conductors (orange HVJ’s) started on the HX route this morning and were a GREAT hit… so if you are a passenger make sure that you pick up your bus pass and get it stamped every time you get onboard – once you fill your card you’ll get a certificate starting with BRONZE, then. SILVER then GOLD.

Noticeboard is filling up

Please let me know what you think OR what is missing….. if I don’t know it’s broke, I can’t fix it!!!

Matt

So you want to be a CONDUCTOR do you!!!

If you want to be a conductor on either of the Walking Bus routes, please let me know ASAP in order that I can issue you with your NEW ORANGE HVJ, a SMILEY “stamper”….. and your rule book.

The position of CONDUCTOR is open to any year 4, 5 or 6 pupils who already walks regularly as a passengers on the walking bus. As a CONDUCTOR your name will go on the ROTA and you will be responsible for helping the drivers look after younger children and making sure that eveyone else behaves by setting a good example.

If you aren’t yet a passenger on the walking bus BUT would like to become a CONDUCTOR please speak to me (Matt Higginson) in the playground or ring me on 07813268124.

Passenger “bus passes” – for collecting your stamps will be issued later this week and passengers can start collecting stamps as soon as the conductors appear.

Matt

An Empty Rota

The Holy Cross Rota is looking a little empty – if you are able to let me know when you are able to DRIVE the walking bus then please drop me a line.

That way everyone knows whether the WALKING BUS will be running or not.

Cheers

Matt

Road Safety Messages

Have you visited the Road Safety Messges page??

The safety message changes every month – the topics are seasonal and are there to help you and your family stay safe by following some easly to remember tips from experts.

Please take time to read through the messages with the whole family and help them adopt the safe practices that the Road Safety Team (and other agencies) believe can make a real difference to your childs safety.

If you have your own idea for a “seasonal” Safety Message why not let me know what it is and you could see it on the BLOG in the future.

Keep on walking!

 

Matt

Walking Bus Meeting

How do everyone and welcome back?

Before I mention anything about the meeting today a BIG thankyou to everyone involved with the Walking Bus for all of your help and support during the last 10 months – at present we are one of the most popular walking buses in Lichfield AND as such keep an eye out for the next walking bus magazine where St Josephs features quite heavily!!

Following the meeting today a few points to note;

1 - CONDUCTORS – For those children in years 4,5 or 6 who have already walked on the bus for the last year the CONDUCTORS will hopefully be up and running by the end of September… please be patient it will be worth the wait.

2 – NOTICEBOARD – In case you haven’t seen the NEW walking bus noticeboard in the corner of the playground – it will very soon be adorned with everything you need to know to start taking advantage of the walking bus as a passenger or driver.

3 – NEW ROUTE PLANNED – the ball is in YOUR court we have risk assessed a NEW route from Tesco’s to St Joseph’s…. IF you are interested in joining this walking bus route please let me know ASAP.

4 - EARLY YEARS PASSENGERS - we have greatly enjoyed having the Early Years children on the walking bus during the last year HOWEVER due to Health and Safety reasons Early Years children should ONLY use the Walking Bus IF accompanied by a parent or guardian. We aplogise if this causes you any difficulties, for further information please speak to me in the playground or ring me on 07813268124.

5 – HELP WE NEED MORE SUPPORT – The Walking Bus needs desperately needs YOUR support – Now that there are 7 potential walking buses to St Josephs operating every week it is vital that IF your child uses the walking bus that you are doing YOUR bit to help by driving the bus at least TWICE a month, training with Sue Benton ONLY takes 1 hour and will be done at a time to suit you. The reason we have had to increase the commitment hours is to alleviate some of the pressure on the regular drivers.  If you are not able to commit to this then please don’t be offended when we ask you NOT to put your child on the walking bus as OTHER parents / guardians are working their socks off to make the Walking Bus work.

6 – WALKING BUS – FUN DAY PLANNED – We have nearly been operating OUR Walking Bus for ONE whole year – as such it is planned to have some form of celebration in the near future for all of those children who regularly use the walking bus. Details have not been finalised YET so I can’t say much more just yet, SO watch this space for more details…. invitations to the event will be given out on the walking bus SO make sure you are keeping an eye on the BLOG to find out WHEN!!!!

Lets hope that the weather improves soon!!!

Matt Higginson

Meeting for ALL parents and Guardians

How do all?

Just a quick note to let you know that there will be a meeting in school on Tuesday 9th Sept to discuss the Walking Bus…  at approx 14.30 hrs.

The AGENDA will include establishing;

Guidelines for parents (we need you to commit to drive the bus at least one session every month).

Guidelines for children (ALL children MUST be able to walk the distance to school with minimal supervision – this particularly applies to ALL Early Years children).

Introduction of Walking Bus Conductors (HVJ – what do you need to know).

Information for NEW PARENTS – and how do we keep the children WALKING?

Noticeboard (hopefully this will be installed in the very near future!!)

Future FUN DAY – help needed!!!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch – I am always at the end of the phone 07813268124.

Matt Higginson

Thanks for ALL your help!!!

As the end of the school year draws near I would like to say a BIG thankyou to Colin and Bridget Evans on behalf of ALL of the children, parents and carers who have benefitted from their commitment to the Walking Bus Scheme during its infancy here at St Josephs primary School.

Both of them have proved a driving force on the Boley Park walking bus route throughout the last 8 months and will be missed by the passengers and drivers.

We wish you all the best….. and look forward to hearing about how St Michaels walking Bus compares to OURS.

Thanks again and God Bless.

 

The Walking Bus Gang!!!!

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NEW “CONDUCTOR” HVJ’s ARRIVE

I have just taken delivery of the NEW CONDUCTOR HVJ’s which can be worn by any year 4 / 5 or 6 pupils that use the walking bus on a regular basis from September onwards.

The role of the CONDUCTOR will be to assist the DRIVERS in looking after the younger children on the bus AND to STAMP / STICKER passengers log books (coming soon) at the start of each journey.

We will need at least ONE CONDUCTOR on every walking bus journey therefore if YOU would like to put YOUR name onto the ROTA (check with mum or dad first) send an email to mmkf-lichfield@tiscali.co.uk with your prefered dates.

The passenger log books will be issued at the start of each new year to all regular walking bus users AND passengers will get a stamp / sticker EVERY time they use the WALKING BUS. Once they have filled a book with walking bus “stamps / stickers” they will receive a WALKING BUS certificate…. NEW books will be issued once the old ones are full so that passengers can earn all three certificates, BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD, the certificates will hopefully be presented during assemblies.

IF you want to find out more about the walking bus OR the NEW conductor scheme give me a ring on 07813268124.

Matt Higginson

FREE HOME FIRE RISK CHECK

Do you have working smoke alarms on each floor of your house??

Do you know how to test them??

Do YOU and YOUR children know wat to do in the event of a fire??

Maybe you have an ELDERLY RELATIVE or NEIGHBOUR who could benefit from a visit from their local fire service personnel.

To help make your house safer from the risk of fire ring LICHFIELD FIRE STATION on 01785-898040 NOW!!

Alternatively give your name and contact details to me, Matt Higginson, at anytime in the playground.

Matt