Walking School Bus

Dear Harrison Families of Canterbury,

I am writing to you with important information regarding transportation for the 2022-2023 school year.  Due to changes with bus transportation this year, Harrison Elementary students from the Canterbury neighborhood will not have bus transportation to and from school.  However, all Harrison students from the Canterbury neighborhood will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a “walking bus” for the 2022-23 school year in lieu of traditional school bus transportation to and from school each day.  Students may ride their bicycles or walk on their own (or with you), but may also participate in our “walking bus” as an option. 

How Does the “Walking Bus” Work?

Morning Student Pick Up: 

  • A designated staff member of Harrison Elementary School will meet your student at the Canterbury Office at:  Monday  (9:25 a.m.), Tuesday-Friday (8:35 a.m.), 2-Hour Delay (10:35 a.m.)

  • The designated Harrison staff member will depart the Canterbury Office  promptly at the designated time and safely walk the group of students from Canterbury to Harrison Elementary School.  The walk is approximately .4 miles (9 minutes).

  • Students will be expected to be on time to the meeting location at the Canterbury Office each day. Students who arrive after the “walking bus” has departed from the Canterbury Office will be the responsibility of families to get to school. 

  • Importantly, students will walk on the sidewalk from Canterbury and Harrison Elementary at all times until reaching the designated crosswalk in front of the school. At that time, we will have a crossing guard assist our “walking bus” cross the street at the designated crosswalk and enter the building through Harrison’s front doors. 

After School Student Drop Off: 

  • At student dismissal at 3:50 p.m., students from Canterbury will be dismissed from their classrooms to the front foyer. 

  • A designated staff member of Harrison Elementary will convene all students from Canterbury at approximately 3:50-3:55 p.m.

  • The designated Harrison staff member will depart Harrison Elementary at approximately 3:55 p.m. and walk the group of students from Harrison Elementary to the Canterbury Office. Again, the walk is approximately .4 miles (9 minutes).

  • We will have a crossing guard assist the “walking bus” cross the street at the designated crosswalk. Thereafter, students will remain on the sidewalk between Canterbury and Harrison Elementary at all times until reaching the central meeting location at the Canterbury Office.

  • Once the walking bus has reached the central location at the Canterbury Office, parents of students can meet the walking bus at approximately 4:05 p.m. to walk your student(s) the rest of the way home. 

Will School Bus Transportation Still be an Option?

Due to the proximity of the Canterbury neighborhood to Harrison Elementary, bus transportation will not be provided to students who live in the Canterbury neighborhood for the 2022-23 school year. 

However, school bus transportation will be provided to students who live in the Canterbury neighborhood when conditions are such that it is deemed not safe for students to walk to school, as determined by Warsaw Community Schools in consultation, as necessary, with the transportation department. For example, when it is heavily raining, thunderstorming, sidewalks covered in ice, or windchill reaches subzero temperatures, a bus will be sent to the Canterbury meeting location (Canterbury Office) to pick up students. 

In these situations, a parent communication (Remind App) will go out as soon as possible but ideally no later than 8:15 a.m. the morning of the inclement weather to inform parents that a bus will be picking up students. To sign up for notifications, please go to remind.com/join/6hkec8In the limited situations when conditions warrant that a bus be sent to pick up students from Canterbury Office, student pick up will take place at approximately 9:50 a.m. on Monday and 9:00 a.m. Tuesday-Friday at the Canterbury Office. 

Warsaw Community Schools is deeply committed to the safety and education of all of our students, and we are confident that the Canterbury neighborhood “walking bus” will provide a safe alternative to traditional bus transportation.

In Partnership,

Matt Deeds