Natalie's Everyday Heroes: South Milwaukee teacher's 'walking bus' makes getting to school fun

 

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- We've all heard the old saying, everybody loves a parade. And that's especially true for kids.

So, one teacher in South Milwaukee came up with an idea to make getting to school fun.

Come along with us on the walking school bus.

The corner of Lakeview and Fifth Avenue isn't your typical bus stop. For one thing, you can hear tambourines and cowbells.

Elementary school students are busy grabbing instruments.

"Layla, you are leading up front with me," calls teacher Erica Bugalski.

The excited kids get in line.

"It's the happiest," Bugalski said. "They love it."

Bugalski leads the way.

"We sing. We chant. We play instruments," she said.

The only bus you'll see is the colorful painted sign.

"Lakeview! Lions," the kids chant.

This is the Lakeview Lions walking school bus.

"I like walking with my class and my teacher," one student said.

Students and teachers make getting to school fun and pick up kids along the way.

"All right, come on in guys," Bugalski said to students waiting on the sidewalk.

Bugalski teaches 4th grade.

But her history at the school goes way back.

"Well, I was born and raised in South Milwaukee, just up the road from here. This was my school," she explained.

So, getting kids excited to come to school became a big focus.

"Attendance has been one of our main, top priorities that we've been working on," she said.

Chris Sepersky is the principal at Lakeview.

He's happy to see people celebrating education.

"This is new thinking. This is the kind of thinking we actually need," he said. "Here we are actually developing community, family and just joy and pride in being together."

"Way to go, Lakeview Lions," a woman yells, watching from the sidewalk.

People are lining the route with words of encouragement.

"Oh, this is the greatest thing. These kids are really, really excited over this," one man said.

Bugalski is excited, too.

"High five! Good job, girlfriend," she said as they get to school.

Arriving to school with kids who can't wait to get there.

"Every time we pull up and we see more and more people waiting, my heart, it just beats really fast, and I get really teary eyed," she said.

Lakeview has almost 300 students. They started the walking school bus in November and try to do it at least once or twice a month.

South Milwaukee's superintendent was out there walking when we joined them.

If you know an everyday hero in your life, send Natalie a message at [email protected].