This Friday, the familiar rhythm of the school year returns to Webster Parish.
Alarm clocks will ring earlier. Backpacks will be filled. Lunches will be packed. Buses will once again travel our roads, and school zones will become some of the busiest places in our communities.
For students, the first day brings excitement, nervousness and the chance for a fresh start. For parents, it brings a long list of responsibilities. For the rest of us, it brings an important reminder.
We all have a role in helping our children get to school and return home safely.
Drivers should plan to leave a few minutes earlier than usual. Traffic will be heavier around campuses, buses will make frequent stops and families will still be adjusting to new routines. A little extra time can prevent frustration from becoming impatience.
Slow down in school zones. Put the phone away. Watch for crossing guards, children walking or riding bicycles, and vehicles entering or leaving school parking lots. Children do not always move predictably, especially when they are excited, distracted or hurrying to meet friends.
Pay close attention to school buses. When a bus stops with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, drivers must stop. Do not try to save a few seconds by passing a stopped bus or rushing through before children begin crossing.
Those few seconds are never worth risking a child’s life.
Parents also have an important part to play. Talk with your children about how they will get to and from school. Review where they should wait for the bus, how they should cross the street and who is authorized to pick them up.
Make sure younger children know their full name, their parents’ names and a phone number they can use in an emergency. Older students should be reminded that headphones, phones and conversations can distract them from traffic and other dangers.
Students, begin the year by giving yourself the best opportunity to succeed. Get enough rest. Arrive prepared. Listen to your teachers. Treat classmates with respect, including those who may be nervous or struggling to find their place.
The first day is not only about new schedules and school supplies. It is an opportunity to establish habits that can shape the entire year.
Teachers, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, coaches and support staff have spent weeks preparing for students to return. Their work deserves our patience, appreciation and support. Not every first-day challenge can be prevented, but most can be handled when people extend a little grace to one another.
The truth is, returning to school is a community event. It affects families, businesses, neighborhoods and nearly every road we travel.
Friday morning, let us slow down, pay attention and remember what is at stake. Behind every backpack is a child loved by a family and filled with potential.
Helping that child arrive safely is a responsibility we all share.
David Specht is president of Specht Newspapers, Inc., publisher of the Minden Press-Herald, Bossier Press-Tribune, and BIZ Magazine.