ALLENTOWN, Pa. -Many school districts in our area are “cruising” back in session from summertime, and that can mean a lot of new movement for students.
69 News Reporter Rose Itzcovitz was at the bus depot serving the Allentown School District, with more.
Heading to school
School buses prepared to head out and pick up kids on their first day of school.
Andrew Krahulik-Knapp, the district’s Director of Transportation, said it takes some training and practicing with drivers to get them ready for the new school year.
The bus drivers meet on Aug. 4 for a Back-to School meeting, then it leads from there, he said.
Matt Wright, General Manager of Student Transportation of America, said it’s his company’s third year serving the district. He said its partnership with Allentown School District is one of its largest.
Krahulik-Knapp said school buses will make about 170 runs across the district, transporting 5400 students.
He said some things change year to year, such as students moving to new schools, and route and time changes.
He says for parents and kids to make sure they are at the bus stop five to 10 minutes early. Kids should make sure they get on the bus, get seated, and to always listen to the driver.
“That driver is the captain of the ship,” he said.
Drivers are asked to stop if they see the bus’s red and yellow lights on.
“If you are uncertain, just stop,” he said. “It’s not worth it.”
New year, new tech
In the Allentown School District, the new school year means thousands of high school students will see an upgrade in their learning tools.
“We’re very excited to be back,” Dieruff High School Principal Geoffrey Schmidt said.
He said the school has a lot of seasoned educators who all have the right priority of delivering powerful learning to students.
“It’s a great day to be a Husky,” he said, referring to the school’s mascot.
Hanan Attiyah, Dieruff High School’s Supervisor of Instructional Technology, said that a student tech team will take the lead on helping students as part of the Verizon Innovative Learning School program.
The program had already been implemented at the middle school but is now expanding to the high school.
She said students are getting “2-to-1”: using laptops as well as iPads, which are constantly connected, even at home.
Kids can have “powerful learning,” even at home, she said.
Students can “unleash their creativity through innovative processes” through the iPad on different programs at their fingertips.
How do students feel on their first day of school? We talked to one freshman, who said she’s excited to hang out with friends and trying new things. She said she’s looking forward to cheering on the football team.