Patricia M

Recent Posts

Why are There 180 School Days in a Traditional School Year?

Posted by Patricia M on Mar 9, 2017 10:36:16 AM
When you’re a kid, the only thing better than a snow day is summer vacation. It means freedom from classes, early mornings, and dreaded homework. It also means long, lazy, warm summer days with friends and family.
 
However, the 180-day school model has been questioned by those who wonder if having summers off from school might be detrimental to learning. After all, the amount of information children are required to absorb has substantially increased over the years. So, what are the pros and cons of year round vs. traditional school calendars?
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Topics: Schools, students

SafeStop Employee Spotlight: Marissa Felitto

Posted by Patricia M on Mar 1, 2017 11:16:00 AM

When our customers ask us, “What is the best part of working at SafeStop?” The answer is of course, our people! Every month we spotlight one of our awesome employees. This employee spotlight will highlight their experiences, accomplishments at SafeStop, and fun facts about what makes them great!

This March, we're featuring Marissa Felitto, our Graphic Designer.

What is your role with the team?
I am working with SafeStop's Marketing Department, as the Graphic Designer.

What is your personal motto?
"The hardest part is getting started"

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Topics: SafeStop Insider, Employee Spotlight

How To Install SafeStop's Live Bus Tracker

Posted by Patricia M on Feb 16, 2017 12:33:38 PM

1.) Register for SafeStop's Bus Tracker Service

Select your child’s school, verify pertinent security information, and complete your registration at SafeStop’s dedicated and secure website. 

  • Enter your home ZIP code and click “Check Availability.” Select your child’s school from the list of active schools and districts in your area.
  • Enter all of the required information on the “Account Activation” registration form. For security purposes, you will be required to enter a School Code or Student Identification Number. If you do not have this information, please contact your school or district’s administration office.
  • If your route information does not appear on the next screen, or if it is incorrect, you can use our Route Lookup function on the right side of the screen to find your child’s appropriate bus route. You also have the ability to add your child(ren) on this screen before clicking the “Complete Registration” button. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully registered.

2.) Download SafeStop to your Phone or Device

Get peace of mind and a new level of convenience right at your fingertips. Download the SafeStop app to your favorite mobile device and stay connected to your child’s bus.

  • Download SafeStop from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
  • Login with the credentials you used during registration.

3.) Customize your App

Add routes, select multiple stops, and view the expected times for your child’s bus.

  • Your SafeStop dashboard will be empty when you first login.
  • Select your child’s route from the available list. To add stops, click or tap the “+” button associated with each stop your child will use. Repeat this process for each stop that you would like to add to your account dashboard.

Please Note: For safety concerns and to prevent abuse of service, additional route/stop selections may be placed under review before becoming active within your account. Additionally, your school may limit the amount of routes available to you based on the routes/stops associated with your child(ren). If you believe this is incorrect, please contact your school/district administration. You may also reach us directly via support@safestopapp.com and we can work with you to approve changes to your account.

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Topics: SafeStop Insider, Schools

Have Fun and Learn at the Same Time with Extracurricular Activities

Posted by Patricia M on Feb 14, 2017 10:23:03 AM

The benefits of extracurricular activities are well-known. Kidshealth.org lists the physical, social, academic, and creative benefits. In addition, students learn time management as they balance their personal schedules.

Extracurricular activities keep students engaged — and parents sane

There is another less obvious benefit to signing your kids up for extracurricular activities: peace of mind. When your child is engaged in their activity of choice, you can rest easy knowing they are happy and doing something productive.

Many schools offer the standard fare of after-school doings sports, cheerleading, choir, band, chess club, language clubs, etc. These classics are always fun, and if your child wants to branch out, you can always check out new and interesting extracurricular activities.

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Topics: Schools

Love the Bus Month: Show Your School Bus Driver They’re Appreciated

Posted by Patricia M on Feb 2, 2017 12:22:00 PM

February is Love the Bus Month! We are grateful year-round for the school bus drivers who safely transport our most precious cargo, and this month is the perfect time to show our gratitude. The American School Bus Councils (ASBC) Love the Bus campaign encourages parents, students, and teachers to take some time to honor the men and women who get our students to and from school every day.

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Topics: bus drivers

SafeStop Employee Spotlight: Brantley Hooks

Posted by Patricia M on Feb 1, 2017 1:40:00 PM


When our customers ask us, “What is the best part of working at SafeStop?” The answer is of course, our people! Every month we spotlight one of our awesome employees. This employee spotlight will highlight their experiences, accomplishments at SafeStop, and fun facts about what makes them great!

This February, we're featuring Brantley Hooks, our new Sales Account Manager.

What is your role with the team?
I  work closely with the Director of Sales as the Sales Account Manager, helping to bring SafeStop to more schools and families.

What is your personal motto?
  "Little by little, we walk far." Most applicable in regarding all things laundry.

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Topics: SafeStop Insider, Employee Spotlight

Inspirational Quotes for Educators

Posted by Patricia M on Jan 31, 2017 11:10:57 AM


A good teacher inspires students, but who inspires teachers? If you’re a teacher looking for some extra encouragement to help you connect with your students and foster their intellectual growth, consider the following inspirational quotes about education:

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Topics: Schools

Why a Student Portal is Important for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Posted by Patricia M on Jan 26, 2017 1:27:54 PM

Remember when you were a kid and you had to call a friend, or wait until the next day if you forgot your homework assignment? Whether you are a school administrator or a millennial parent, you probably didn’t have access to the same information as students have today. If your school had a student portal, chances are it lacked sufficient information, was anything but user-friendly, and was rarely updated.

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Topics: Education Technology, Schools

Picture This! How Educational Infographics Help Teachers and Students

Posted by Patricia M on Jan 24, 2017 10:50:58 AM

A quality infographic is worth a thousand words. Put simply, an infographic is a graphic that lays out information in a visually accessible format. Infographics are a great tool for teachers, school administrators, and transportation directors to quickly learn or teach others about safety tips, teaching methods, and new classroom technology.

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Topics: Bus Safety, Safety, Schools, Student Transportation

Is Tutoring an Effective Way to Educate Children?

Posted by Patricia M on Jan 19, 2017 12:29:22 PM

You want the best education for your son or daughter. But what defines the best education? Is it private schooling? Charter schools? Home schooling? Public schools? Some people believe the best form of education is a combination of traditional schooling and tutoring. Even though it has sometimes been seen as just “extra help” for students with failing grades, tutoring can be effective at bolstering math and reading skills prior to and during high school.

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Topics: Education Technology, Schools