STS Highlights: March 2024

This month I stumbled on a Farmer’s Almanac post about “March” which shared some fascinating fun facts, folklore, and holidays. I’m passing some of it along:

• March is named for the Roman God of War, Mars.
• We have International Women’s Day, the start of Daylight Savings Time, Ramadan, St. Patrick’s Day, the Spring equinox, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter this month.
• March’s full moon, the Worm Moon, reaches peak illumination on the morning of March 25.
• March is typically the time to start a vegetable garden.
• Folklore: A wet spring, a dry harvest.
• Folklore: Thunder in spring, Cold will bring.

You might be wondering what any of this has to do with training, and that answer is, “Nothing.” But it is important to take breaks and relax every once in a while, and sometimes tidbits of information like these can inspire.

With the coming of Spring, I’ve pulled together resources to help clean and start fresh. The goal with these monthly resources is always to convey a few public service announcements (PSAs) and to help elevate your career, department, or organization. As always, we take pride in helping you meet your training needs and goals.

Patrick

School Bus (S) Endorsement – ELDT – Theory Curriculum

Do you want to drive a school bus? Adding the appropriate endorsement to your CDL means taking training, passing a knowledge test, and fulfilling certain age/medical/fingerprint requirements. We offer the THEORY training!

School Bus

ELDT Theory

Pick 6 Hours – Defensive Driver Training

Satisfy your district’s defensive driving requirement with affordable online courses from School Training Solutions. STS offers a defensive driving theory curriculum ($45 per person) that is intended for any driver operating a school owned vehicle.

See the Options

Contact Us

Streamlining New Employee & Annual Training

Most jobs begin with on-boarding training and require annual in-service. Our employee readiness training includes a broad selection of topics to facilitate communication, refresh knowledge, and expand productivity & performance.

Focus on Employees

2024 Iowa Conference & Trade Show

The Historic 60th Annual IPTA Summer Conference and Trade Show is July 15-17, at the Airport Holiday Inn & Conference Center. The IPTA has an outstanding lineup of presenters and companies ready to provide valuable transportation information.

Join Us

Cleaning & Disinfecting a School Bus

Consistently and correctly cleaning and disinfecting minimizes the spread of germs, bacteria, and viruses that cause illnesses from the common cold to COVID-19.

Cleaning & Disinfecting Tips

Just for Fun: How to be a Success at Everything

Be yourself and follow your heart is BS career advice. This one thing can help you succeed, according to science. Debunk the platitudes and approach life (and work) as a balancing act between rational long-term self-management.

Read Article

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse

Next month, April, is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. When was the last time your employees took training to aid in the identifying and reporting of possible abuse?

Identify Child Abuse

NAPT Certification

Become certified and proudly use your designation to advance your career AND show your commitment to the pupil transportation profession.

NAPT Certification

It is still LOVE the BUS Month!

February marks the month-long celebration of Love the Bus, a time to show gratitude towards the dedicated professionals who ensure the safety of students on their journey to and from school. This initiative is a meaningful way to recognize the diverse group of individuals who make the yellow school bus experience possible for students.

NAPT created a new digital resource toolkit and guide complete with everything you need to provide recognition, praise, and appreciation for everyone on your transportation team. Join school districts across the country and spend this month celebrating pupil transportation.

In line with the NAPT Mission, the Love the Bus Campaign helps bring national attention to the importance of pupil transportation and the dedicated work individuals, schools, and partnering organizations play in keeping school buses the safest mode of transportation for children traveling to and from school.

Celebrate pupil transportation and those that continually strive to keep children safe!

Love the Bus Resources

About NAPT

STS Highlights: February 2024

If you don’t already know, Each month I sit down, comb through articles, research initiatives, identify themes, read posts, and explore message boards to see what everyone is doing. February is consistently the busiest month, and I haven’t figured out how so much can be stuffed into the shortest month. This year is a Leap Year so at least we have an extra day to work with 😉

We are currently in the middle of: Black History Month & Love the Bus Month. Some lesser known “February Themes” are Random Acts of Kindness Month and Canned Food Month. I talked about those last year so I skipped them in this edition. They are pretty self-explanatory: be kind and donate food to your local food bank.

If you aren’t already participating, the Love the Bus campaign is in full swing and helps draw national attention for your transportation team. Black History Month provides an applicable back-drop to discuss diversity, communication, tolerance, and respect. Valentine’s Day also provides a great marker for your annual discussions surrounding sexual harassment awareness and related training.

The goal with these monthly resources is always to convey a few public service announcements (PSAs) and to help elevate your career, department, or organization. As always, we take pride in helping you meet your training needs and goals.

Be kind and considerate,
Patrick

Embrace Love the Bus MONTH

February marks a month-long celebration of Love the Bus to express gratitude towards dedicated professionals who ensure the safety of children to & from school!

Love the Bus Resources

The difference between good and great… is training.

Cultivate great employees. Our Employee Readiness training proudly includes a broad selection of topics that facilitate skills, refresh knowledge, and expand traits associated with growth, productivity, and performance.

Unlock Excellence

Diversity Matters

This is a perfect time to cultivate diversity & inclusivity, communication, tolerance, and respect. Consider our 3-hour online diversity training package.

Make Diversity a Priority

Sexual Harassment Awareness Training

Learn how to fight sexual harassment in the workplace with our 4-hour online Sexual Harassment Awareness training package.

Enroll

NAPT Certification

Become certified and proudly use your designation to advance your career AND show your commitment to the pupil transportation profession.

NAPT Certification

OAPT Conference & Trade Show 2024

Registration is open! OAPT facilitates quality education by disseminating knowledge and assisting those responsible for safe pupil transportation AND our Conference is one of the BEST in the industry.

Join Us

Hazmat – ELDT – Theory Curriculum

Want to drive a truck carrying hazardous materials? Adding the appropriate endorsement to your CDL means taking training, passing a knowledge test, and fulfilling certain age/medical/fingerprint requirements. We offer the TRAINING!

Hazmat

ELDT Theory

Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month remains a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans. This year’s theme is: African Americans and the Arts

Celebrate Black History

Just for Fun: The Science of Leap Year

Almost everyone is familiar with the concept of leap year, but the reasoning behind it is a little complicated. The article is from 2020, but the science hasn’t changed.

Hello, Science

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” The Black History Month 2024 theme is: African Americans and the Arts.

For departments, this is a perfect time to cultivate diversity and inclusivity, communication, tolerance, and respect. Consider this online diversity training package:

• Diversity in the Workplace
• Communication and Diversity
• Tolerance and Respect

Have a great day!
Patrick

Enroll Now

African Americans and the Arts

STS Highlights: January 2024

If you don’t already know, January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It’s a hard topic to broach, but it is one that EVERYONE should take the time to learn about. Our friends at Busing On the Lookout and Truckers Against Trafficking provide the training resources you need to make a difference. We’ve also curated some important safety reminders and resources for the new year.

The goal with these monthly resources is always to convey a few public service announcements (PSAs) and to help elevate your career, department, or organization. As always, we take pride in helping you meet your training requirements and goals.

All the best,
Patrick

Make a Difference During Human Trafficking Month with Training

Frontline employees in the transportation industry may be coming into contact with victims of human trafficking in the course of their everyday jobs. Learn how to help.

Busing on the Lookout (BOTL)

Class A & Class B – ELDT – Theory Curriculum

Any driver seeking a Class A or B CDL is required to complete THEORY training. Smart Horizons online training satisfies the THEORY training requirement with completions reported to the National Registry.

Class A

Class B

ELDT Theory

Inclement Weather & Adverse Conditions

This course describes adverse driving conditions and discusses techniques bus operators should use during these conditions to ensure students are transported safely.

Enroll in Course

Disinfect During Flu Season

Like it or not, it is Flu Season. Periodically disinfecting a school bus can help stop the spread of ANY contagion. This infographic details best practices.

Download Best Practices

NAPT Certification

Become certified and proudly use your designation to advance your career AND show your commitment to the pupil transportation profession.

NAPT Certification

Online Option for Annual School Bus Driver In-Service

School Training Solutions is proud to offer an affordable and effective online option for annual school bus driver in-service training.

Immediate Enrollment

Just for Fun: 8 Simple Ways to Fit Stretching Into Your Day

You know you should stretch consistently for better health and mobility. Get started with these tips.

Stretch!