Young children in Lambton-Kent preparing to take the school bus for the first time next month can get some practice this weekend.
The First Time Rider Orientation Day will be held on Saturday, August 17, from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
Chatham-Kent Lambton Administrative School Services (CLASS) Transportation Coordinator Patty Authier said it's a good opportunity for students and parents to learn about the process in a small group setting as opposed to being rushed on the first day of school.
"We show them [an animated] video and it's a lot of information for the parents as well. It just talks about basic safety rules," Authier said. "They go for an actual ride on the bus with their parents so their first ride on the bus isn't scary, all alone."
Authier said the videos are about 20 minutes long and will be played on a loop so families can drop in anytime between the three-hour time frame. Sessions, including a school bus ride around the block, will take approximately 30 minutes.
The annual free event has proven to be very popular.
"Every year our numbers are growing. We see probably 500 families coming through within those three hours so it's a really good turnout," Authier said.
Two separate, but simultaneous, orientation events will be held at Great Lakes Secondary School in Sarnia at 340 Murphy Rd., and at Ursuline College in Chatham at 85 Grand Ave. W.
Authier said each location will have four large buses on site and one wheelchair-accessible bus.
-With files from Stephanie Chaves