Safety at South - getting to and from campus

At the end of the school day, South's campus becomes a remarkably busy place for about 20 minutes. In the morning, it's hectic for slightly longer as everyone rushes to get into school and start their day. It's busy, there's traffic, and it's absolutely essential to remember that everyone's going to get through it with a little patience and consideration, especially for the unpredictable adolescents all around us.With so many people moving in every direction with their own plans and priorities in mind, it is a daily source of worry. Last week, there was a very frightening experience at South during dismissal when a student on an electric scooter had a collision with a school bus. The incident fortunately resolved with injuries that will heal, but it brought these daily anxieties to stark reality. We have rules for arrival and dismissal and I send periodic reminders, but it is only in a moment of crisis that a lot of people will stop and think about how important it is to follow the rules.

• Students are allowed to ride bikes, rollerblades, scooters, etc. to school but must wear a helmet, properly fastened.
• Students who walk or ride to school should be told by every adult in their lives (and their friends!): Pay Attention To Your Surroundings. Using your cell phone, scrolling on social media, even listening to music, can all create distractions that put you at risk. 
• Students walking to school should use crosswalks, look both ways, and cross with the crossing guard when possible.
• Every day, students cross the lawn and run across the old South parking lot as they walk home or get into waiting cars. Cars and buses are arriving and leaving, and the crossing traffic is exceedingly dangerous. Stop, look both ways, and never assume a driver sees you or will stop for you.

Kids will be kids. The adults need to tell them these expectations and hold them accountable for following the rules.

Adults driving kids to school must keep in mind: kids don't pay attention to safety rules like adults do. 

• Kids don't often look both ways; drivers need to slow down.
• Kids have their own priorities; drivers need to slow down.
• Kids do unexpected things; drivers need to slow down.
• Kids can't imagine what you're about to do; drivers need to slow down.
• Kids' growing bodies can make erratic movements; drivers need to slow down.
• Kids are in their own world; drivers need to slow down.

A number of carpoolers/drivers have been trying to "beat the system" by dropping off on Celia Rd., Richard Rd., and other residential neighborhoods. Please be considerate of our neighbors. There is no reason to drive a child to someone else's driveway to drop them off. 

Students on the bus need to remember that the driver's primary responsibility is to get them home safely. The bus drivers are the "teachers" and the bus is their "classroom," so students need to do what they're told by the adult in charge, just like they would in the classroom. This is even more urgent on the bus because there are so many dangers on the road in addition to whatever is happening inside the bus "classroom."

Learning to drive as a proper Boston Driver, I was always told to drive defensively: "Act like everyone else on the road is an idiot and could do  any crazy thing without warning; they probably are, and they definitely could." Walking to school or home, riding a bike, or driving, please be aware of your surroundings and take every precaution to keep yourself--and everyone else--safe and whole.