In Buncombe County, an innovative approach to school bus safety has taken root, thanks to Buncombe County Schools Transportation Director Jeremy Stowe.
Mr. Stowe has a passion for big yellow buses, children’s safety, and education. Recognizing the mixture of excitement and apprehensions that preschoolers feel towards riding a school bus, Mr. Stowe visited Weaverville Methodist Preschool with a mission: to introduce these bright young learners to the concept of bus safety in an immersively educational way. He was filled with hope that after the visit the students felt more confident about taking the next step in becoming the next Buncombe County Schools kindergarteners.
Armed with his infectious personality and a bright yellow school bus, Mr. Stowe set out to make this educational experience a fun adventure for the children. Upon his arrival at Weaverville Methodist Preschool, Mr. Stowe was greeted with a crowd of curious children.
Mr. Stowe led the eager group of children on a tour around the bus, pointing out and explaining its features, including the emergency exits, the importance of the stop sign arm that extends when children are entering and exiting the bus, and where the fuel tank was located for one inquisitive young man. This hands-on approach helped the children become familiar with the vehicle many of them will be riding to kindergarten.
To further enrich the experience, Mr. Stowe taught the students the importance of bus driver hand signals. With enthusiasm, he demonstrated the signals used by bus drivers to indicate when it is safe to cross the street or board the bus. The preschoolers spent time practicing their correct response to each signal.
This lesson not only educated the children on how to stay safe on the bus, but also highlighted the importance of communication and cooperation between the bus driver and passengers. The morning’s activities culminated in a delightful performance of “The Wheels on the Bus.”
Mr. Stowe’s visit to Weaverville Methodist Preschool is a testament to Buncombe County Schools’ initiative of community engagement in education.