School Bus

Zethan started his new adventure of riding the school bus to and from school on 9th May 2013. It is going to be a very new experience for him since I am the one driving him to school or walking to school when he is still at PCF.

He was so hyped and excited since the beginning of the week since I thought it would be good to prepare him in advance thus spoke to him about it. So excited he is that he began asking "mummy, why are I still taking private car", a term adopted from school. I had to explain that he will be taking school bus eventually when the day arrives. I was uncertain if he understood that it will be a long term arrangement and not a one off event.

I am totally worry free on the first day as I am very sure he will enjoyed it big time. However for assurance purposes and to get him accustomed to the new change, I followed him on the bus to and from school. He was all smiles while waiting at the void deck for the bus. As we are 5minutes early, he asked for hundred times "where is the school bus? Is it coming?"

It was a very short journey to school, we boarded the school bus at 10.45am and reached home in less than 10 minutes. I was really impressed at how systematic it is for the various buses to drop the children in order before they wait back in queue to pick up the morning session children. Afternoon session wasn't due to start till 11.45am thus he was 45 minutes early. The afternoon session will wait at the assembly area while the morning class vacate the classroom at 11.15am. Subsequently when the teacher is ready, they will lead the afternoon class back to the classroom and engaged them with activities while waiting for assembly.

As this is the first time for Zethan and being over excited once he alight from the school bus, he ran all the way to his classroom when it is still occupied. Well, can't blame him for that since all this while upon reaching school, it's heading straight to the classroom. I knew about the above arrangement only at this very moment so had to explain to him why he need to join his friends at the assembly area to wait. He looked confused for a moment but was quick to regain his usual self.

The dismissal part was equally systematic with the assistant auntie inside the school compound and lining the respective children ready for the bus. No fear of missing out on any child since both the form teacher and auntie will checked to ensure that the child get on the right bus. Once the respective bus drive to the entrance, the auntie will assist the children up the bus alongside with the help of the teachers. The younger children will be seated nearer to the front and the older children towards the rear. For those children especially the younger ones, auntie will help them to buckle up. The journey back home was slightly a little longer but still we managed to reach home at 3.05pm (dismissal at 2.45pm), faster and earlier than before.

While we were strolling home, Zethan started telling me he enjoyed riding on the school bus. He continued to tell me that tomorrow I do not have to follow him on the bus, he can take the school bus himself. Gosh, my little man is all grown up, ready to gain his 'independence'. He even asked why did he had to take private transport previously, never take school earlier and expressed that he like the school bus more than mummy's car!