Ralston Middle School students and administrators discussed transportation during a virtual sixth-grade orientation, with students describing bus travel times, pickup congestion and tips for incoming families, and administrators clarifying the school's morning bus sign-up procedure.

The discussion matters because many incoming sixth-graders live farther from campus than in elementary school and families raised concerns about safety, wait times and finding parents after dismissal.

Students who ride buses described longer morning departure times and crowded afternoon trips. "Taking the bus, I have to leave home 30 minutes early," said Jaden, a sixth-grader. He added that he "definitely prefer[s] taking the bus over being picked up," because staff on duty guide students to buses while after-school pickup can involve searching for cars in heavy traffic. Another student who lives in Redwood Shores said his bus ride typically "takes around 30 to 40 minutes" and leaves as early as 7:23 a.m.

Administrators explained how the morning sign-up works to reduce chaos at dismissal. "Think of it like Southwest Airlines. So you sign up and you get a number so that in the courtyard where you're lined up, it keeps things safe," said Sabrina Adler, principal at Ralston. Adler said the school paints numbered zones on the ground; families who do not fill out the form simply go to the back of the line and can still board the bus.

Students offered practical tips for families planning transit. One recommended getting a Clipper card to avoid carrying change and noted San Francisco Station closes at 5 p.m., recommending parents obtain cards during the summer. Walkers advised watching for fast-moving cars on residential streets and avoiding jaywalking.

The school also reiterated operational details: families must sign up each morning for afternoon bus pickup (there is no single weekly form), and many Redwood Shores students reported regular bus usage and mixing with friends on the ride home.

Looking ahead, administrators said they will continue providing school tours and outreach at feeder elementary schools to answer transportation questions and that families can email the school for specifics about routes and timing.