First Student's "Safety Dog" to Start 2024-25 Tour

For the 10th time, First Student is heading to various school districts in the 2024-25 school year to promote safe bus behavior through its Safety Dog Bus Tour. At each stop, elementary school students can expect fun and interactive activities as they learn bus riding basics to feel confident and safe riding to and from school.

The Safety Dog Bus Tour starts Wednesday, Sept. 25 in Norristown, Pa., and will travel across North America. Planned visits include:

• Calgary Catholic School District in Calgary, Alberta
• Corona-Norco Unified School District in Corona, Calif.
• KIPP Texas in Austin, Texas
• Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison, Wis.
• Norristown Area School District in Norristown, Pa.
• Palm Springs Unified School District in Palm Springs, Calif.
• Stamford Public Schools in Stamford, Conn.
• The Point College Prep and Leadership Academy in Jamestown, N.C.
• Toronto Catholic School District Board, in Toronto, Ontario
• Waterloo Community Schools in Waterloo, Iowa

“At First Student, we understand the significant role school bus safety plays in ensuring the well-being of the students we transport,” First Student's SVP of Safety and Security Darryl Hill said. “We are proud to expand the Safety Dog Bus Tour this school year, helping even more students feel comfortable and secure on our buses, which is especially important for young riders who may be on the bus for the first time. By partnering with school districts to teach these effective safety tips in a memorable way, we hope to instill safe bus-riding behavior for this school year and beyond.”

Throughout the tour, students will learn how to be a safe bus rider through hands-on activities. They will receive a safety demonstration on the school bus, sign a safety pledge, have a photo taken with Safety Dog, and leave with a special gift bag to remember the information.

There have been more than 50 stops on the Safety Dog Bus Tour to date. Nearly 16,000 students have signed the safety pledge.