BEE SAFE. STAY OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE.
Meet Roxanne Bocyck and Frank Whaley
Every school day, millions of children ride the school bus, the safest form of transportation to and from school. Yet many preventable injuries occur outside the bus when children are boarding, exiting, or entering the Danger Zone.
Respect the Bus is an interactive school bus safety education program designed to help children develop safe habits that can last a lifetime. Through storytelling, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, students learn how to ride safely, respect others, and become School Bus Safety Heroes.
About the Program
Created by retired New York State School Bus Driver Author Roxanne Bocyck, Respect the Bus combines over 20 years of transportation experience and teaching with engaging lessons based on the children’s book, Tuffy the School Bus Safety Hero.
Tuffy Rhinoceros loves to ride the school bus, but the behaviors of his animal friends keep Buzz Bee from driving the bus safely, it is only when Tuffy magically becomes a School Bus Safety Hero and saves Paige Possum from the Danger Zone that he convinces his friends about the importance of school bus safety.
Designed specifically for students in Kindergarten through Grade 2, the program teaches life-saving safety lessons in a fun and memorable way.
What Students Learn
BEE Ready for the Bus
- Arrive on time
- Wait safely away from the road
BEE Careful on the Bus
- Hold the handrail
- Walk, don’t run
BEE Quiet on the Bus
- Use inside voices
- Help the driver stay focused
BEE Seated on the Bus
- Stay seated facing forward
- Keep aisles clear
BEE Kind on the Bus
- Respect others
- Treat everyone with kindness
BEE Safe
- Stay out of the Danger Zone
- Never retrieve dropped items without telling the driver
The Danger Zone
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE AROUND THE SCHOOL BUS is the area close to the wheels and surrounding the bus.
Remember:
If you can touch the bus, you are in the Danger Zone.
CHILDREN LEARN:
- How to safely ride the bus
- Why they should never go underneath the bus
- What to do if something falls near the bus
- How to help keep friends safe
Meet the Characters
Tuffy the Rhinoceros
Tuffy wants to be a School Bus Safety Hero and teach kids about the Danger Zone! His goal is to educate his friends about school bus safety.
Buzz the Bee
Buzz the School Bus Driver is yellow and black just like the school bus. He wants children to be safe on and off the bus.
Zebra Twins Zack and Zoey
Even though they look alike they are different. Zack likes to follow the rules while Zoey is more of a free spirit, she does not always think about the consequences.
Freddy the Frog
Freddy the Frog is all about nature and being outside. He has lots of energy which makes it difficult for him to stay seated on the bus. He also likes to eat on the bus, which is not safe.
AL the Aligator
Al is part old-school tough guy and part rebel. Sometimes he comes across as a bully, but AL learns it is important to be nice to everyone who rides the school bus.
Paige Possum
Paige represents a child with a disability who is visually impairment. She is shy and uses her tail to make-up for times she needs to hold onto things (such as holding the rail when getting on or off the school bus).
