One of the most challenging issues for parents who seek a private school education is transportation. After months of planning, The Independent Day School in Middlefield is excited to announce that, beginning this fall, they will be partnering with Xavier and Mercy High Schools in Middletown to offer morning bus transportation to Cheshire families.
Laura Jalinskas, director of advancement and enrollment management at IDS, says that parents routinely inquire about transportation options.
“We are so grateful to Mercy and Xavier for working with us so that we can offer this option to our families. Not only will this make mornings less hectic for our families, it will also allow us to extend our footprint and make the IDS experience more accessible to communities further away,” she stated.
The transportation program will serve children in kindergarten through grade eight.
The service will only be available in the morning for the time being, as afternoon dismissal times, activities, and sports make the after-school run difficult to schedule. Furthermore, after-school care and enrichment programs allow parents to be more creative in structuring their day in a way that works best for their child and family.
With elementary school students riding the bus with high school students, all three schools have met to discuss any issues that may arise concerning safety. IDS students will sit in the first three rows and will be paired with a buddy from Mercy or Xavier. This will ensure a positive experience for the younger children as well as provide an opportunity for the older students to serve as mentors and develop leadership skills.
For more information, visit www.independentdayschool.org/transportation.