School bus operations across the nation will hold events during February to honor their drivers as part of the annual “Love the Bus” program.

The celebration, which was founded in 2007 and is coordinated by the American School Bus Council (ASBC), aims to recognize the hundreds of thousands of school bus drivers who safely shuttle children to and from school each day.

Events are typically held on or around Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, but all of February is designated as Love the Bus month.

“School bus drivers play a critical role in the lives and educations of the nation’s students, and the Love the Bus program is a fun way for us to recognize their dedication,” Florida state pupil transportation director Charlie Hood said. “While nationwide, communities will participate in a variety of activities and events that honor school bus drivers, we also encourage parents and students simply to take the time to say ‘thank you’ to their drivers during this celebratory month.”

Throughout February, ASBC and its members will hold a series of local events across the U.S. to educate parents and children about school bus safety.

ASBC offers resources — including a toolkit for teachers and administrators and a tool for making valentines for bus drivers — on the Love the Bus website, www.lovethebus.com.

For examples of the types of celebrations that school bus operations hold, see the North Carolina School Bus Safety website.