Keeping students safe is one of the number priorities in Detroit Public Schools. Students riding the bus must follow the same rules in the DPSCD Student Code of Conduct handbook that they follow in school. Some of those guidelines are:
Students have the responsibility to reasonably avoid any behavior that is detrimental to achieving their own or other students’ educational goals. Students must cooperate in taking reasonable care of books, other instructional materials, technology, and encourage a climate where learning is cherished. Most particularly, students must refrain from engaging in behavior that violates the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct.
Respect for staff
Students have the responsibility of showing respect for the knowledge and the authority of school staff. Students must obey reasonable directions; use only acceptable and courteous language; avoid actions that show contempt and appeal decisions through the channels as described in this code. Assaults on school staff will not be tolerated.
Respect for fellow students
Students have the responsibility of showing respect for the rights and human dignity of fellow students. For example, students must refrain from name-calling, fighting, harassment, belittling or engaging in deliberate attempts to embarrass or harm another student.
Bus Safety Tips
Students should follow certain tips to stay safe on and around school buses. Some of those are:
- Leave plenty of time to get to the bus stop. When you rush, you may not follow traffic safety rules.
- Walk on the sidewalks, where available.
- Remain alert at all times; don’t listen to your MP3 players, text, talk on your cell phone or play handheld video games because you won’t be aware of what’s happening around you.
- Also be careful when wearing your hood up; it makes it difficult for you to see.
- When waiting for the bus, stay away from the street. And don’t play around—so you are aware of traffic and can follow safety rules.
- Make sure the driver can see you at all times by staying ten giant steps away from the outside of the bus.
- Wait for the bus to stop completely before you approach it to get on or before you stand up to get off.
- Clothes or backpacks should not have drawstrings, toggles or key chains. They can get caught on bus handrails and doors.
- Hold the handrail so you don’t trip on the stairs.
- Find a seat and sit down immediately.
- Know your driver’s name and bus number to be sure you are boarding the right bus.
- Be courteous and respectful to your driver.
- Talk and laugh quietly with friends, but do not scream, it distracts the driver.
- Do not put your head, arms, papers or anything out the window.
- If you drop something near the bus, don’t pick it up. The driver may not see you. Instead, ask the driver for help.
- If you have to cross the street, wait until the driver lets you know it’s OK.
- Stay away from the bus wheels at all times – especially the back wheels where it’s hard for the driver to see you.