TSBVI Weekends Home - Program Handbook

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TSBVI
2009 – 2010
Weekends Home Program

Anita Lewis Weekends Home Coordinator
Weekends Home Travel Dates
Weekends Home FAQs
Weekends Home Reports
Weekends Home Vehicle Rules
Weekends Home Route Information for Houston
Weekends Home Route Information for Dallas
Weekends Home Route Information for Fort Worth
Weekends Home Route Information for San Antonio
Weekends Home Route Information for San Antonio
Weekends Home Route Information for College Station
Weekends Home Route Information for Abilene

QUESTIONS?

Contact:Anita Lewis Weekends Home Coordinator
(512)206-9231 – Office
(512) 844-9362 – Cell
anitalewis@tsbvi.edu

If you have any questions about these dates, Please call Anita Lewis, the weekends home coordinator, at 512-206-9231.

Weekends Home Travel Dates

School Closings – All student\ travel home on these dates. TSBVI is closed for the indicated long weekends, holidays or end of year travel, which is June 4.
'A' weekend home –All A weekend home students travel home and back to TSBVI on the indicated dates
'B' weekend home – All B weekend home students travel home and back to TSBVI on the indicated dates

**Weekends Home Travel Dates**
Week	Depart (Students Traveling Home)	Return (Students Traveling to TSBVI)	A/B/Closure
1	August 28^th - Friday	August 30 – Sunday	A
2	September 4^th - Friday	September 7^th – Monday	Closure
3	September 11^th - Friday	September 13^th – Sunday	B
4	September 18^th - Friday	September 20^th – Sunday	A
5	September 25^th – Friday	September 27^th – Sunday	B
6	October 2^nd – Friday	October 4^th – Sunday	A
7	October 9^th - Friday	October 11^th - Sunday	B
8	October 14^th - Wednesday	October 19^th – Monday	Closure
9	October 23^rd - Friday	October 25^th – Sunday	A
10	October 30^th - Friday	November 1^st – Sunday	B
11	November 6^th - Friday	November 8^th – Sunday	A
12	November 13^th - Friday	November 15^th – Sunday	B
13	November 20^{th –} Friday	November 29^{th -} Sunday	Closure
14	December 4^th - Friday	December 6^th – Sunday	A
15	December 11^th - Friday	December 13^th – Sunday	B
16	December 17^th - Thursday	January 4^{th –} Monday	Closure
17	January 8^th - Friday	January 10^th – Sunday	A
18	January 15^th - Friday	January 17^th – Sunday	B
19	January 22^nd - Friday	January 24^th – Sunday	A
20	January 29^th - Friday	January 31^st – Sunday	B
21	February 5^th - Friday	February 7^th – Sunday	A
22	February 12^{th -} Friday	February 15^th - Monday	Closure
23	February 19^th - Friday	February 21^st – Sunday	B
24	February 26^th - Friday	February 28^th - Sunday	A
25	March 5^th - Friday	March 7^th – Sunday	B
26	March 12^th - Friday	March 21^st - Sunday	Closure
27	March 26^th - Friday	March 28^th – Sunday	A
28	April 1^st - Thursday	April 5^th – Monday	Closure
29	April 9^th - Friday	April 11^th - Sunday	B
30	April 16^th - Friday	April 18^th – Sunday	A
31	April 23^rd - Friday	April 25^th – Sunday	B
32	April 30^th - Friday	May 2^nd – Sunday	A
33	May 6^th – Thursday	May 9^th - Sunday	Closure
34	May 14^th - Friday	May 16^th – Sunday	B
35	May 21^st - Friday	May 23^rd – Sunday	A
36	May 28^th - Friday	May 30^th – Sunday	B

Weekends Home FAQs

How often does the Weekends Home Program run?

The Weekends Home Program runs every weekend, including school closures (also called long weekends), Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break and Spring Break. The Weekends Home routes will not run during registration weekend or on the last day of school.

What areas does the program serve?

The program provides escorted transportation between TSBVI and the following cities in Texas: Dallas, Houston, Columbus, Fort Worth, Waco, Belton, San Antonio, San Marcos, College Station, Abilene, Eden, Brady and Liberty Hill.

How does the program work?

Students leave TSBVI campus Friday afternoons, unless otherwise noted on the travel calendar. You must be at the designated pick-up point each Friday and Sunday to pick up or drop off your children. If you would like to arrange for someone other than yourself or somebody on the student’s visitor permission list to pick up your child, you must submit a written statement to Garner Vogt or Shelly Allen so that staff will know that they have permission to release the student to the person you designate.

Estimated times for arrival are noted for each route in the Routes section of this handbook. Parents will be notified of any changes in drop off or pick up times.

When you arrive at the drop-off point, please get out of your car with your child and make contact with a TSBVI staff member. You must be at the drop-off point on time. The bus or van will leave each stop promptly on schedule. The driver is not allowed to stop at any point other than the designated drop-off point without permission from the Weekends Home Coordinator. If you know that you will be late to the drop-off point, you may call the school and ask for permission to “catch up” with the bus or van at another designated point. We will try to work with you to make another stop if it is safe and convenient for the bus to do so.

If you miss the bus or van entirely, it is your responsibility to arrange for your child’s transportation back to TSBVI. Garner Vogt and Shelly Allen will assist you with this, if necessary.

How is my child’s medication transported?

Weekends Home staff picks up student medications directly from the Health Center prior to departure. Medications are given directly to parents when they pick up their child. If a child came home with medications on Friday, then they MUST return the medication on Sunday. You must check with the TSBVI staff member who is the medication sponsor before leaving the drop-off point. If the medication is not returned, a TSBVI staff member at the drop-off point will notify the TSBVI Health Center and ask permission for the child to return on the bus or van without the medication. The staff member will then tell you whether your child may return without the medication.

What items must my child pack?

Residential and/or instructional staff are responsible for ensuring that their students pack clothes, personal items, music players and other items that the student may need for the weekend. Please contact residential or day staff if you have specific items that you would like for your child to bring home on weekends. Also, for those students that need it, please provide between one to three changes of clothes and at least three diapers/pull-ups, if appropriate. These actions will help preserve your child’s dignity and comfort throughout the trip. Thanks for your help!

Do buses make a restroom stop?

Buses make one scheduled stop each way. The bus makes additional stops as needed, however we ask that you please take your child to the toilet prior to boarding the bus.

Is food provided for my child?

We will provide snacks for each student for the Friday trip. We do not provide snacks for the Sunday trip and will expect parents to pack a convenient snack for their children. Water and juice are available for students on all trips.

Can my child purchase snacks at the restroom stop?

Due to time constraints, students may not buy snacks or other items at stores during the bus trips. Please plan ahead by providing snacks for return trips.

What if my child has a special diet?

Snacks are provided by the TSBVI Food Service department in accordance with dietary restrictions and allergy information provided to the Health Center. Please keep all information current so that we may provide a safe and healthy meal for your child.

Can I make changes to my child’s travel schedule?

We will not be able to change the weekends home schedule assigned to your child except in emergency or critical situations. If you believe that you have an emergency or critical situation and would like to request a change in your child’s schedule, this must be done no later than 4:00pm on the day before travel will occur. You must call either:

Garner Vogt
Residential Director
Comprehensive Residential B
(512) 206-9115

Shelly Allen, Residential Director
Comprehensive Residential A
(512) 206-9179

Also, if your child will not be returning on Sunday, as soon as possible, please notify:

Anita Lewis, Weekends Home Coordinator
(512) 206-9231
(512) 844-9362

What happens during bad weather?

We will notify you of any cancellations or significant delays of travel due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.

Can my child ride the bus if they are feeling ill?

Students experiencing a temperature above 100 degrees, diarrhea or vomiting will not be allowed to return on the bus or van. If a staff member observes a student with any type of medical or health problem indicating that the child may not be healthy enough to return on the bus or van, the staff member may contact the TSBVI Health Center and describe the problem to the nurse on duty. The nurse will determine whether the student will be allowed to return on the bus or van. The staff member will inform you of the nurse's determination.

Can I send money for my child with Weekends Home staff?

Please remember that we will not be responsible for any money or valuables you send back with your child. We are not able to assume responsibility for any money sent with your child. Our staff is not allowed to accept money, and we strongly discourage parents from sending any money or valuables with the students’ luggage.

What kind of training do Weekends Home staff members have?

TSBVI provides CPR training, bus evacuation procedures, emergency procedures and MANDT training for staff. Staff is also given professional development opportunities to increase the quality of care that your child receives.

Weekends Home Reports

Required Reports of Child Neglect and Abuse:

Texas State law requires all persons who have reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected to make a report of abuse or neglect to a law enforcement authority such as a police department or the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Reporting abuse and neglect is required.
Therefore, any TSBVI staff member who believes that a TSBVI student has been abused or neglected will make a report of such abuse or neglect to an appropriate authority. Types of conduct that may be reported include: striking a child and driving a child while intoxicated.

Prohibition against releasing students to persons who appear to be under the influence of alcohol.

TSBVI prohibits Weekends Home drivers and escorts from releasing any student to a person who appears to be either legally intoxicated or incapable of safely operating a vehicle because of alcohol use. At any time a driver or an escort believes that the person to whom the student is to be released is legally under the influence of alcohol or cannot safely operate a vehicle, the driver or escort will notify the local law enforcement authorities to come to the pick-up or drop-off location. The law enforcement authority will determine whether the student may be released to the person picking up the student.

Student incident reporting:

All incidents (including disrespectful talk to peers or staff) will be reported on an incident report or on a student’s behavior checklist. The same expectations that apply in the classroom and dorm apply on the bus. Following the rules on weekends home is a safety issue. Repeated failure to follow the bus rules may result in a student losing the ability to participate in the Weekends Home program.

Weekends Home Vehicle Rules

**The rules of the Student Code of Conduct apply at all times on the Weekends Home vehicles.**

Be Safe ♦ Be Responsible ♦ Be a Participant ♦ Be Respectful

Respect Others' Rights. Students must respect the rights and privileges of other students and Weekends Home staff.
Respect Others' Property. Students must respect the property of others.
Cooperate with Staff. Students must cooperate with or assist the Weekends Home staff in maintaining safety, order, and discipline.
Seatbelts. Students are to remain seated and buckled in their seats as long as the vehicle is in route.
Entertainment. Your child is likely to enjoy a smoother bus trip if they carry preferred music, toys, etc. Please remember to provide spare batteries for the four-hour trips. We are happy to work with the team in establishing a supportive bus routine for your child.
Headsets Required! All radios, CD players, keyboards, electronic toys, etc. must be used with a headset unless Weekends Home staff has given permission otherwise.
SHH! Students must keep all noise levels as low as possible.
Rest Stops. Students must cooperate to make each rest stop as safe and efficient as possible. Students will not be able to purchase snacks or drinks at rest stops. All students must be under supervision of a Weekends Home staff person at all times during the rest stop.
Glass Prohibited. Students may not bring glass objects onto the vehicle unless they are stored in their luggage.
No Aerosols or Sprays. Students may not bring aerosols or sprays (such as perfumes, colognes, etc.) into the seating area of the vehicle.
No Hanging Out the Window. Students must not throw or hang anything out of the window of the vehicle.

The rules of the student code of conduct apply at all times on the Weekends Home vehicles.

Weekends Home Trip Schedule
Friday	Sunday
Dallas 2:45 p.m. Depart TSBVI 6:30 p.m. Arrive Bear Creek 6:45 p.m. Leave Bear Creek 7:15 p.m. Arrive Balch Springs 7:30 p.m. Depart Balch Springs 11:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI	Dallas 9:05 a.m. Depart TSBVI 1:45 p.m. Arrive Balch Springs 2:00 p.m. Depart Balch Springs 2:30 p.m. Arrive Bear Creek 2:45 p.m. Depart Bear Creek 6:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI
Belton/Waco/ Ft. Worth 2:45 p.m. Depart TSBVI 3:45 p.m. Arrive Belton 4:00 p.m. Depart Belton 4:45 p.m. Arrive Waco 5:00 p.m. Depart Waco 6:15 pm Arrive Alvarado 6:25 pm Depart Alvarado 6:45 p.m. Arrive Ft. Worth 7:00 p.m. Depart Ft. Worth 11:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI	Belton/Waco/ Ft. Worth 9:05 a.m. Depart TSBVI 1:45 p.m. Arrive Ft. Worth 2:00 p.m. Depart Ft. Worth 2:30 p.m. Arrive Alvarado 2:45 pm Depart Alvarado 3:45 p.m. Arrive Waco 4:00 pm Depart Waco 4:45 p.m. Arrive Belton 5:00 pm Depart Belton 6:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI
Houston 2:45 p.m. Depart TSBVI 4:00 p.m. Arrive Columbus 4:30 p.m. Leave Columbus 6:30 p.m. Arrive Houston 7:00 p.m. Leave Houston 11:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI	Houston 9:15 a.m. Depart TSBVI 1:30 p.m. Arrive Houston 1:45 p.m. Leave Houston 3:00 p.m. Arrive Columbus 3:30 p.m. Leave Columbus 6:15 p.m. Arrive TSBVI
San Antonio 3:15 p.m. Depart TSBVI 4:30 p.m. Arrive San Marcos 4:40 p.m. Depart San Marcos 5:30 p.m. Arrive San Antonio 5:45 p.m. Depart San Antonio 7:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI	San Antonio 2:30 p.m. Depart TSBVI 4:30 p.m. Arrive San Antonio 4:45 p.m. Depart San Antonio 5:30 p.m. Arrive San Marcos 5:40 p.m. Depart San Marcos 6:30 p.m. Arrive TSBVI
Liberty Hill/Brady/Eden/Abilene 1:30pm Depart TSBVI 2:00pm Arrive Liberty Hill 2:10pm Depart Liberty Hill 4:10pm Arrive Brady 4:30pm Depart Brady 5:15pm Arrive Eden 5:20pm Depart Eden 7:00pm Arrive Abilene 7:15pm Depart Abilene	Abilene/Eden/Brady/Liberty Hill 1:45pm Arrive Abilene 2:00pm Depart Abilene 3:40pm Arrive Eden 3:45pm Depart Eden 4:30pm Arrive Brady 4:45pm Departs Brady 6:45pm Arrive Liberty Hill 7:00pm Depart Liberty Hill 7:00pm Arrive TSBVI
College Station 2:45 pm Depart TSBVI TBA Lincoln 5:00pm Arrive Bryan 5:10pm Leave Bryan 5:20pm Arrive College Station 5:30pm Leave College Station 7:30pm Arrive TSBVI	College Station 1:30pm Depart TSBVI 3:45pm Arrive College Station 4:00pm Depart College Station 4:15pm Arrive Bryan 4:30pm Depart Bryan TBA Lincoln 6:30pm Arrive TSBVI

Weekends Home Route Information for Houston

Houston Route: Austin – Columbus – Houston

The Houston route consists of two buses traveling between Austin and Houston. Buses travel from Austin on highway 71 heading east to IH-10 east into Houston. The Houston route stops in Columbus, Texas at the Columbus Travel Center Shell Station for a restroom break and designated stop. Below are detailed directions and maps.

Columbus – Columbus Travel Center

Columbus Travel Center, Shell 4800 IH 10 -- Exit #698 Alleyton Rd. Look for the Shell station with a Taco Bell attached.
map: Columbus pick up

Houston--Lighthouse for the Blind of Houston

If traveling north or south on Rt. 59, take the Greenbriar-Sheppard exit. Go north on Sheppard to West Dallas. Turn right and go to 3602 West Dallas to the Lighthouse for the Blind.
If traveling east or west on IH-10, take the Durham-Sheppard exit. Turn right (if eastbound) or left (if westbound) onto Durham to West Dallas. Turn left to 3602 West Dallas at the Lighthouse for the Blind.
If traveling north or south on IH-45, take Allen Pkwy. Exit to Terrell. Turn left on Terrell. Turn right on West Dallas and go to 3602 at the Lighthouse for the Blind.

map: Houston Lighhouse

Map of Houston Lighthouse for the Blind location: 3602 West Dallas.
map: detail Houston Lighthouse

Weekends Home Route Information for Dallas

Dallas Route: Austin – Bear Creek – Balch Springs

The Dallas bus travels north from Austin on IH-35. The bus makes a restroom stop in Robinson, Texas and continues to Bear Creek then on to Balch Springs.

Bear Creek –

Highway exit

Take exit 412 / Bear Creek from IH-35 East. Go west on Bear Creek. Go past the Shell / Whataburger a quarter mile to the meeting place.

Meeting place

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) – Glenn Heights Park & Ride # 206

Address: 1200 E. Bear Creek Rd. at 1700 Gateway Blvd., Red Oak, Texas 75154.

Please park in the automobile parking section only—not in the bus-loading zone.

map: Dallas - Bear Creek

Balch Springs –

Highway exit

From IH-635 take exit 1 B / Elam Rd. (5600 IH-635 and 12100 Elam Rd.), Balch Springs, Texas. From the access road--go west on Elam Rd. (If traveling south on IH-635, take a right on Elam Rd. If traveling north on IH-635 take a left on Elam Rd.)

Meeting place

Once on Elam Rd., get in the right-hand lane; turn right on Glenshire Dr. Follow this past the Grandy’s and McDonald’s and around the right side of the Home Depot. Park your car in the automobile parking spaces across from Home Depot’s Nursery / Garden Center. Address: Home Depot #555, 12005 Elam Rd., Balch Springs, TX 75180.

map: Dallas - Balch Springs

Weekends Home Route Information for Fort Worth

Fort Worth Route: Austin – Belton – Waco – Ft. Worth

The Ft. Worth bus travels north from Austin on IH-35 to Belton, Waco then Fort Worth.

map: Fort Worth Route: Austin – Belton – Waco – Ft. Worth

Belton

Take IH-35 to 6^th Avenue. Exit in Belton. Meet in the McDonald's parking lot. 1601 East 6^th Avenue.

Waco

Take IH-35 to Loop 340 / Lake Shore exit. Meet at the Shell parking lot on the I-35 service road. The address is 1520 IH 35

Ft. Worth

(1) From I-35 exit 1-20 West.
(2) Go about two and a half to three miles and
(3) take Exit 433, S. Hulen St.
(4) Turn left at the light (S. Hulen St.);
(5) Get in the right-hand lane and turn right at the light on Overton Ridge at Service Merchandise.
(6) Turn right at Sears -- meet the bus at the back end corner of the Sears parking lot at Hulen Mall (4800 S. Hulen St.).

map: Ft. Worth detail

Weekends Home Route Information for San Antonio

San Antonio Route: Austin – San Marcos – San Antonio

The San Antonio bus travels south on IH-35 to San Marcos then San Antonio.

San Marcos

Friday: Dairy Queen, 1202 South IH-35 & Guadalupe St.
Sunday: Whataburger, 1004 North Hwy. 123.

map: San Marcos - drop off and pick up detail

San Antonio

Take IH-35 south to the Walzem exit. Turn left into the middle lane under IH-35 bridge. Turn right into Windsor Park Mall where you will see the mall sign that reads "Windsor Park Mall Santikos Theaters." Meet at this sign. Appleby's restaurant will be directly across from you.

map: San Antonio overview

Map: San Antonio detail

Weekends Home Route Information for College Station

College Station Route: Austin – Lincoln – Bryan – College Station

The College Station van travels east on 290 then 21 toward College Station.

Chevron Station South of Licoln on 1624 and Hwy 21.

2909 Highway 21 W

College Station– Stops in College Station – Citgo, 101 Southwest Parkway

Weekends Home Route Information for Abilene

Abilene Route: Austin – Liberty Hill – Brady Eden – Abilene

The Abilene route travels from Austin to Liberty Hill to Brady to Eden and on to Abilene.