It Takes TEAM WORK To Make The DREAM WORK

I'd like to tell you all, a little about the kids on my bus and how very proud I am of them for what they all did, concerning a new student on the bus and how they welcomed him with open arms.

Last Thursday was our first day together, and like any other endeavor in life, there is a bit of an adjustment, or learning curve, between students and bus driver. They've never met me and I've never met them. They don't know what I expect, as far as how to behave on a bus, and I don't know how they have behaved on the bus in the past. We all start out with a clean slate, so to speak.

Well, Day One went about 50/50 in my book.

I have a bus with a great sound system (FINALLY) and I'm taking full advantage of it. I recorded my own "Child appropriate" CD's. We listen to classical music on the way to school. This has worked out fantastic. I feel it's both culturally refining and helps the kids ease into their long school day. It's very soothing. In the afternoon, I like to reward the kids with music they all know and love. I made a "Kidz Bop" CD with songs like "Shake It Off", "Can't Stop The Feeling" and "Party in the USA". Well, the kids did love that part and at first it was working well as all the kids new the lyrics and happily sang along. BUT THEN..... they got the mistaken impression that standing up while the bus was moving, changing seats and turning around in their seats was perfectly okay. It is not. A couple times, I had to stop the music to correct such behavior. Remember, learning curve.

The next morning, we had a new passenger. An adorable young kindergartner who was very timid. He hadn't ridden the bus the day before, but he saw his big sister ride so he wanted to as well. I had him take a seat just a couple rows back and to my right. Probably the best place on a school bus for the driver to see what's going on. I picked up the rest of the kids (about 10 that morning) and they all sit in the last 4 rows. When we got to the school, I made the kids hold up. After securing my bus, I stood up and walked back to where the kindergartner was sitting. I had him stand and told all the other kids (ages 3rd and 4th grade) that we had a new student today. I told them his name and then I appointed a 4th grade girl to be my bus big sister for the day. I asked her to walk the new child into school and to make sure he got where he needed to be. She happily did so. You see I could have asked a boy, but boys tend to do things about half at that age. They would have ditched him the minute they got inside. Young ladies, on the other hand, are pleasers. They want to be the one erasing the chalk board. They want to be the one to show you their art project. They are the ones that will follow through with a task an adult ask them to.

On the way home that afternoon, I went over to where the new student was seated, made sure to ask him about his day, then offered him the chance to go back and sit with the bigger kids. Like I said, he was very timid. He chose to stay in the front of the bus. As I made my way back to the driver's seat, one of my 4th grade boys called the new child by name and asked him if he wanted to come back and sit with the rest of them. WOW! So very proud. I like to preach teamwork and friendship on my bus and these kids are already expressing it. He still chose to stay... timid.

When the "Kidz Bop" songs came on, he was delighted. As soon as a song came on that he knew (and he knew them all) he proudly stuck his little face around the seat in front of him just to let me know, "Hey, I know this song!" He smiled the whole way home. Then, when there where only two children left, the new kid and a 3rd grader. The 3rd grader requested to come up and sit with the kindergartner.

Let me repeat that. A 3rd grade boy... requested with out prompting... to sit next to a kindergartner.

It takes team work, to make the dream work.
Bus #80 is off to a great start!

Poetic Justice

Onest ‘pon a time, as we know from the rhyme
Lived a Bus Driver Named, Mr. Pat
A Jolly Old Man, with a fresh summer tan
And a Hair Line that called for a Hat

Bald, some would say, at the end of the day
But a kind hearted soul to his core
Quick with a joke, whenever he spoke
His demeanor was never a bore

But enough of this gent, and his charms heaven sent
It’s the kids on his bus that we ponder
A mischievous crew, from their heads to their shoes
And a gaze ‘pon their face full of wonder

Now don’t get me wrong, this aint no sad song
At the end, t’will be perfectly clear
That kids are the same, no matter their name
No matter the month or the year

It started out well, this tale that I tell
The children behaved like they ought’a
The morning commute, was a bit of a hoot
And they willingly went ‘cause they got’a

But by afternoon’s trip, they were rowdy a bit
It was so clear for all that could see
That the school day was taxing, and they wanted relaxing
It was Time for a Bus Mutiny!

Standing in aisles, with ear to ear smiles
Paper airplanes, all flying through out
They would not retreat, or stay in their seats
Through the bus they were walking about

So over the mic, came a tone they don’t like
I’M TELLING YOU KIDS TO SIT DOWN!
The children all shuddered, not a sound did they utter
Their smiles now had turned into frowns

DON’T TRY ME OR TEST ME
DON’T YOU DARE TRY TO BEST ME
ON THIS BUS, I’M THE BOSS, DON’T YOU DOUBT IT!
The morale you see, to stop a Bus Mutiny
Is the Lesson that’s learned when you shout it!

My First Day of School... The Sequel

Today was my first day back driving, "The Future of America", to their appointed school. The gravity of it all weighed heavily upon me the night before, as I tossed and turned, seeking that unreachable respite of slumber I so desperately needed. One Thousand and One thoughts ran through my weary mind, chasing away all hope of a restful eve, as hour followed hour of torturous insomnia.

Would the kids like me?
Will the parents accept me?
What is that green stuff stuck in my teeth?
What can I do this year to build upon last year's success?

And then it hit me... Classical Music ...
What 1st-4th grader doesn't just love Classical Music?
*Boom* *Mic Drop*

I will be the first bus driver in our fleet to play unrelenting, mind numbing, culture inducing Bach, Mozart and Beethoven symphonies during the hour plus ride, my young, captive student passengers are subjugated to endure with me.

Yes! Bus 80 will be the culture Bus.

The first hour long selection was a favorite of mine, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's, Oregano in G minor for Oboe and Cello. Now I know what you're all thinking and I agree. "Wolfie" tends to rely a little too much on piccolo solos in that one but the crescendo of the chord progression of the 5th bar of the 27th movement is totally worth it! And as I like to say... if it aint Baroque... don't fix it!

Where was I? Oh yes, Mozart's Oregano in G minor.
I was shocked, yes shocked I must say at the melodious sounds coming from the back of the school bus. Singing. And to think, all these years I thought Mozart's Oregano in G minor didn't have any lyrics. But it was unmistakable, what I heard emanating from just over my shoulder. My students... my brilliant cultured students, had actually written their very own lyrics.

It started out softly... like a baby's whisper as the boys Bass section began...

DumDumDumDum

Then two girls joined in singing Alto...
DumDumDumDum
Then finally the soprano section began the first verse...

The Bus Driver, the Bus Driver, the Bus Driver is...
Bass and Alto...
DumDumDumDum

I can hardly wait until tomorrow to see what these gifted children do with Beethoven's First, Second and Fifth Movements! It's going to be Epic!!!