Not starting off on the right foot!! Sorry for the rant!
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**Colexis Mom** · 09-01-2004, 01:39 PM

Well today is DD's first day of kindergarten. She was thrilled to go and was very excited. I had mixed emotions (she's my first born), but she's been in daycare since she was 4 months old, so that really helped to ease in the transition.

Well, things first started going wrong on Friday, when we got a letter from the bus company, saying her pickup was at 7:50 AM

She was assigned PM kindergarten

So Monday morning was spent leaving a message for the bus company to verify her pickup time, which they promptly never returned. By lunch we finally called the school to find out what was going on, they called the bus company, and a few hours later we were contacted with the correct pick up time.

Monday nite was also orientation, and a quick bus ride for the kids. Alexa has been on field trips thru daycare, so she's been on a bus before and didn't have any problems. The bus company said they'd try to minimize having them to cross in front of the bus and do whatever they can to pick them up on the right side of the bus (remember this for later)! They also said that the bus would arrive at school at 12:10 (most times I'm going to drop her off as it's easier to go from daycare to school versus daycare to home for the bus, and daycare is in a different town), so I needed to know what time I had to have her to school. Her practice run was fine, and orientation was good as she got to meet other kids in the neighborhood that she doesn't know since she's been in daycare, and most of the Mom's in the neighborhood are stay at home.

Matt stayed home today so he could see her big day, and I went home about 11:30 so I could make sure she was all set and to see her get on the bus. The bus was now supposed to be picking her up at 11:55. So we went outside at 11:40, since I didn't want to miss anything. Then it's 11:55, no bus. Okay, they're a little late, it's the first day. Then it's 12:05. Now I'm getting very nervous. 12:10 comes and goes (the bus is now supposed to be at school) and I finally run inside to get the phone and call the school. They have no idea what's going on, they'll have to put me on hold and call the bus company. Finally at 12:15, the bus shows up! 20 minutes late!! And guess what, she has to cross in front of the bus to get on. The bus goes past our house and down 2 houses, and backs up into a road, turns around, and comes right back by our house

And why couldn't she get on then??? We don't live on a busy street, but why should she cross in front when she doesn't have to? And guess what?? They were supposed to pick up a little girl down that street that they turned around on, yet she didn't stop. I came back to work, and Matt had taken Colin out for a walk, and left me a message that he saw one of the bus vans going down the street (presumably to get Catherine who they forgot)!

Please tell me it's going to get easier, because my faith in these people transporting my child is gone! My neighbor said it takes a few days to work the kinks out, but how can you forget a child (on her first day of kindergarten no less), and be late so badly (5 or 10 minutes I can understand)!

I didn't even have time to cry or enjoy her getting on the bus because I was so frazzled that it was so late! Argh!!! Thanks for letting me vent guys

Belle* · 09-01-2004, 01:47 PM

Oh no! Sounds like a pretty rotten day.

on the way that they will work out all the kinks quickly!

loobyoxlip · 09-01-2004, 01:51 PM

Oh, no, Marnie. Sadly, I can sympathize with you. On Kylor's first day of K I sent him to school w/ a HUGE blue note attached to his shirt with a safety pin saying he was to go to his daycare after school. I put the bus name (they are bear, frog, etc. up here), address of daycare, everything.

Of course later that day I got a phone call from daycare that Kylor had not gotten off the bus there. Yep, they sent him home. Nobody there. Luckily there was a 2nd grader he knew who ALSO got sent home to an empty house and they went to a daycare aide's house who lived around the corner from us and she brought him to daycare for me. Yikes! Scary, and I was MAD! When I picked him up from daycare later, he still had that huge note stuck to his shirt!

I hope things smooth out for you guys. I think this is why a lot of parents choose to just drive their children! I am so thankful Jalen will have Kylor with him this year

Grammy Grumpy · 09-01-2004, 02:04 PM

You would think that they would do some practice runs in the summer or something. The person who does my hair told me her daughter was on the bus coming home the first day for over 2 hours! Then they forgot to stop at her house and let her off. The mom had to jump in her car (she has a daytime daycare) and go after the bus honking her horn! What a mess.

Hope things get better soon. Keep on the bus company and keep the school informed about the problems.

-- Barb

**chezp** · 09-01-2004, 02:05 PM

I sure hope it gets easier for you (and Alexa!) Marnie.

Here's some

that things do improve - sounds like they're doing a good job of making something simple very difficult.

my2girls · 09-01-2004, 02:19 PM

What a horrible way to start off the school year. I do have one question for you Marnie? Does Alexa still go to daycare? Don't they provide a bussing option from daycare to school and back? I know that when we had our oldest in daycare and she started kindergarten (am 2 1/2 hours), we would drop her off at daycare and they would bus her back and forth on the daycare bus. Is this an option for you?

Kristine

**Colexis Mom** · 09-01-2004, 03:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
What a horrible way to start off the school year. I do have one question for you Marnie? Does Alexa still go to daycare? Don't they provide a bussing option from daycare to school and back? I know that when we had our oldest in daycare and she started kindergarten (am 2 1/2 hours), we would drop her off at daycare and they would bus her back and forth on the daycare bus. Is this an option for you?

Kristine

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Kristine, no it isn't an option, unless I wanted to pay for a special driver. The daycare I use is in a different town that her school (closer to where I work, and only one town over) so they will only transport to schools in town. There is only one major daycare in our town, and if you use that one, they have to go to a completely different school, they won't bus to this one. Since that daycare and school is about a 20 minute drive in the opposite direction, I chose to keep her at the school she is supposed to go to, and then I'll just have to transport her myself.

I'm off to see how the drop off at home goes. Hopefully much smoother! Thanks for the thoughts everyone! I'm sorry to hear that lots of you have had similar experiences as well

my2girls · 09-01-2004, 03:08 PM

Marnie - sorry to hear that the bussing from daycare is not an option for you - keep us posted on the home drop off. Hopefully things will go much smoother.

Kristine

Linda K · 09-01-2004, 02:35 PM

We live in a small town and I remember the first days of school were always kind of crazy. The kids aren't quite sure what they're to do, and the buses have to work out their schedule (not sure why this can't be done ahead of time, but it never seemed to be that way). The first day is almost like a trial run. It really will get better. Keep on the bus company and the school.

Hopefully her first day there was wonderful and she'll come home full of great stories to tell.

Hang in there, it definitely has to get better!

Linda

Nick and Ryans Mom · 09-01-2004, 02:36 PM

Busing is always a problem in the beginning of the year in most districts. I hear many horror stories from the other moms in our PTA. DS#1 refuses to ride the bus so I drive him to and from school, luckily being a stay at home mom I have that option. Good Luck Marnie, I hope things get better

krisk11 · 09-01-2004, 02:38 PM

Marnie
I'd love to say it gets better but last year I happen to come home at lunch and listened to a message on my home answering machine stating that my daughter was absent from school. My dd had gotten a ride that day from my neighbor & when I looked out the window her car wasn't in her driveway so I couldn't call her and find out what was going on. Mind you her father and I had never gotten a call at work asking why our dd wasn't in school. I called school & they checked with her teacher and got back on the phone and said "oh yea she's here". I flipped out. As it turns out the teacher took attendance before school even started and marked her absent even though she got to school before 8:50. It doesn't get any better. School starts for us a week from today. Then a break from school in Oct for a wonderful week in WDW.
Kris

buckysmom · 09-01-2004, 03:41 PM

I'm so sorry. I've long wondered why the people we trust with our most precious resources (our children) are often the lowest paid, least respected.

that this improves quickly!

**2princessmom** · 09-01-2004, 03:49 PM

I hope the afternoon dropoff goes much better!!!

snoozy · 09-01-2004, 04:17 PM

Take a deep breath mom, its going to be ok. If it does not get better within the first week, you and the rest of your neighbors should complain about it.

Generally bus drivers are very good at what they do and always want the kids safety to come first. May-be this bus driver is new to your route and needs to get use to where all the kids are. May-be it would help to have one or two spots where the kids all wait for the bus instead of the bus stopping at everyones house. There is no rule saying that you as parents can't make suggestions to those who are responsible for you children when they are in their care.

Its always nerve racking when your babies start school for the first time. Don't feel bad about ranting, alot of us have already been there and done that, so we can definatly relate.

graygables · 09-01-2004, 04:37 PM

Awww!

Here's some

that it improves! I don't think I could ever put mine on a bus again...I'm too paranoid! 16yo DDs *former* school sent me her bus schedule and I called to tell them she wasn't enrolled there anymore. Guess what happened the 1st day of school? The bus stopped at our drive and honked and honked. Oy. I certainly hope it improves for you, and, if not, make sure you stay on the school/bus company until they get it right!