Parents in Bowmanville with children who will ride the school bus for the first time this fall are being encouraged to attend free safety sessions hosted by the Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO).
What the sessions offer
The short, practical events are designed to introduce new riders and their families to school-bus routines and safety rules. Sessions run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., start every half hour, and last roughly 30 minutes. Each session includes a safety video and a roughly 10-minute ride on a bus. A standard school bus and a wheelchair-accessible bus will be on site at every location.
If you have a little one heading off to school in September and riding the bus for the first time, this program is for you.
The sessions are free and are open to families registered with the two public boards served by STSCO in this area: the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB).
Local dates and locations
For Bowmanville residents, STSCO has scheduled two sessions at Harold Longworth Public School, located at 350 Longworth Avenue. Dates and other nearby locations are listed below.
| Date | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Wed., Aug. 12 | Harold Longworth PS | 350 Longworth Avenue, Bowmanville |
| Thurs., Aug. 13 | Harold Longworth PS | 350 Longworth Avenue, Bowmanville |
| Mon., Aug. 17 | St. Mary Catholic SS | 1050 Birchwood Trail, Cobourg |
| Tues., Aug. 18 | Brighton Public School | 24 Elizabeth St., Brighton |
| Wed., Aug. 19 & Aug. 26 | Hillcrest Public School | 55 Elmore St., Campbellford |
Practical notes for families
Sessions begin every half hour during the three-hour window, so families can choose a time that fits their schedule. While registration is available in advance, organizers say walk-ins are welcome. For further information, families are directed to contact STSCO by phone at 1-800-757-0307.
- Duration: About 30 minutes, with a 10-minute bus ride.
- Accessibility: A wheelchair-accessible bus will be available.
- Cost: Free of charge.
These early-August sessions are timed to give children and parents a chance to practise boarding, seating and exiting the bus ahead of the school year. For many families, the first bus ride is a milestone that raises questions about behaviour on the bus, stop routines and the role of the bus driver in ensuring safety. STSCO’s programme is one of the region’s primary ways to standardize messaging about those routines across two school boards that serve this part of Durham and Northumberland counties.
Bowmanville parents whose children will be boarding school buses for the first time will find the sessions particularly useful for learning the expected procedures and for allowing children to experience a real bus in a controlled setting before the September rush.
For those unable to attend in person, local schools and boards typically publish safety information on their websites and in orientation packages. Families with specific accessibility questions or concerns about routing should contact STSCO directly at the number above.
