The wheels on the bus: First Ride gives Regina kids a sneak peak

A number of Regina students went for their First Ride on Wednesday.

The First Ride program offers incoming kindergarten students at Regina Catholic and public schools a chance to climb aboard a school bus for the first time before the school year begins.

“It eases some anxiety from their first day of school,” Josh Kramer, the chief financial officer of the Regina Catholic School Division, said during the event in the Conexus Arts Centre parking lot.

“Usually, leaving the parents on the very first day and going on a school bus creates a lot of anxiety. On this day, we have about 500 students and taking that first bus ride here creates a lot of excitement and it’s a very fun day.”

Bus, crosswalk and cycling safety also were addressed during the fifth annual version of the event. As well, bus drivers coached kids on how to get out of the vehicle in an emergency.

John Desjarlais was at the event with his wife and two daughters, the youngest of whom is starting kindergarten this year.

“(First Ride) is a great idea, a great way to orient our little one in terms of safety and what’s appropriate,” Desjarlais said. “It best prepares us to make sure that she has a successful school year.”

Aldaine Balgrove and his family moved to Regina in December from Jamaica. His son, Jahdaine, is going into kindergarten and Balgrove thought First Ride would be a good thing for the boy to experience.

“I wanted him to get familiarized with the bus,” Balgrove said. “It’s his first time being picked up by the bus, so I want him to have some familiarity before his first (time) going out in September.”

Kendra Kimber-Dietrick is a veteran of two First Ride events; this time, her daughter Roen was learning the ropes.

Even with other kids already in school, Kimber-Dietrick knows what’s coming when school’s in.

“I cry every first day — Grade 1, kindergarten, Grade 3, it doesn’t matter — but it’s very exciting to see all of their changes and everything they learn,” she said.

Lauren Toppings, who was at the event with her son, also knows the first day of a new school year means her kids are growing up.

“It’s hard to believe,” she said. “It just flies by. He’s my youngest — I have three kids — so my youngest will be in school.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie