Regina kindergarteners take a bus ride before starting school

Lots of small, excited faces were mixed with a few concerned ones surrounded school buses Tuesday morning for the First Ride program at Sacred Heart School.

Dozens of sets of parents and kids gathered in the parking lot to learn about school buses.

Some kids were excited about the prospect of taking the big yellow bus for the first time, like little Mateo.

“Opening the doors and sitting down!” was Mateo’s answer to what his favourite part is going to be, while other kids started to look a little panicked when they were asked to line up without Mom and Dad by their sides.

This is the third year of the program. It’s put on by the public and Catholic school boards in Regina to help first-time bus riders — kids and their parents — learn about the rules and procedures around taking the school bus.

Deneah was jumping up and down and chatting with her mom Candice about the bus ahead of the presentation.

Candice said she brought Deneah to the First Ride program because she thought it would be good for her.

“We’ve ridden on the city buses a few times, but I think this will be something for her to know what to do — and for me to know what to do — because I mean, the first year, right?”

Chris sat on the curb in the parking lot with his daughter, Annabelle, before getting on the bus.

“It’s a hard transition for all kids in a way, and for parents,” explained Chris when asked why he was taking part in the program.

“So I thought it would just kind of make both of us feel more comfortable with the whole school process.”