Bus drivers go extra mile

Parents and students from El Morro Elementary School gave a pat on

the back April 26 to the men and women who get the children safely to

school each day.

Bus Driver Appreciation Day started early in the morning when

buses were greeted along some of the morning routes by parents giving

their thanks in the form of cards, pats on the back and gifts for a

job well done.

The El Morro community went the extra mile to thank all the

drivers -- Sergio Villa, Raul Marquez, Leemann Smith, Aidee Liborio,

Bertha Arvizu, Cecilia Camerena, Francisco Popoca, Ken Peterson and

Sandra Kruger.

At the South Laguna Village Green Park 7:15 a.m. bus stop, driver

Raul Marquez was greeted by dads and kids holding “Raulie Rocks!”

signs.

Known for the great music Marquez plays on the bus and his

thoughtful and fun personality, 8-year-old El Morro veteran “Raulie”

got out of the bus to shake hands and pose for a photo.

Matt Hunter, father of kindergartner Ray and second-grader Rachel,

said Raulie deserves his “rock star” status.

“Again and again, he goes the extra mile for our kids. I don’t

know how he does it, but we are so grateful to have our kids in his

charge,” Hunter said.

Everyone did their part to make the day special. At El Morro, the

buses were welcomed with happy bus driver banners, including two huge

ones with pictures and notes from El Morro kids, under the

supervision of Kathleen Marlow of the Reading Club.

Principal Chris Duddy and Paula Bray organized an afternoon

assembly to honor the bus drivers. The highlight for some teary-eyed

parents was the spontaneous applause that erupted when five of the

bus drivers entered the assembly.

The warmth and love that the El Morro students have for their bus

drivers was almost too loud to bear, one parent observed.

PTA president Melanie Lewis read a poem entitled “Heroes,”

dedicated to the bus drivers, and thanked them on behalf of all the

parents who entrust their children to them.

Principal Duddy acknowledged what a tough job the drivers have,

and thanked them for doing it so well. On behalf of the students, two

of El Morro student body co-presidents, Cristian Menes and Heather

Rosen, also expressed their appreciation and thanks.

At Duddy’s request, Raul Marquez spoke on behalf of the El Morro

bus drivers. He was greeted with a roar of applause and chants of

“Raulie! Raulie!” from students.

He responded by telling the students, “I love you like you were my

own.”

After the assembly, El Morro’s bus drivers accepted gift bags

filled with gift certificates and goodies prepared and funded by the

PTA, and then returned to their duties. The day was still not quite

business as usual. As each child boarded the bus, he handed his bus

driver a note and drawing he had made in class.