LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - When the big yellow school bus came down Cinnamon Woods Drive on Monday, it wasn't the students hanging out the windows or urging the driver to beep the horn a good two blocks before the bus stopped.

        It was 30 Heritage Elementary School teachers, staff members and administrators who spent the morning riding Lakota's Bus 25, a new Blue Bird. Armed with 700 ice pops and seven bags of goodies to hand out, the bus made about 20 stops during its four-hour route.

        “It's a chance to see my kids and hopefully meet some of them,” said second-grade teacher Amy Smith, who taught in the Middletown Schools last year. “I think this is wonderful. I get to meet my staff and it's a good way to get kids excited about coming to school.”

        The route was mapped out and donations collected by Assistant Principal Carrie Corder, along with office staff members Kandi Singer and Cathy Knauer.

        “They were so excited, they set up their alarm clocks,” said parent Teri Wheatley, as she took pictures. “This was a great idea.”

        Mrs. Wheatley's son, Sam, 9, said he waited about a half-hour before the bus pulled up shortly after 9:35 a.m. His sister, Lizzie, 7, kept jumping up and down as the staff came over to greet the dozen or so students and parents who were waiting for the bus.

        “It's cool,” said Sam, who will start fourth grade when classes resume Sept. 3. “They never did this before. I wanted to see my third- and second-grade teachers.”

        Dressed in T-shirts, polo shirts, shorts and khakis - many with the Heritage logo - the staff poured out of the bus, greeting students, giving hugs and passing out ice pops kept cold in coolers on the bus.

        Principal Marco Pangallo handed each child a baggie containing pencil, magnet and window cling.

        “We get a chance to see their world. It's a role reversal,” said art teacher Linda Hanson.

        Ron and Cindy Kariofiles of Somerset Drive came out to meet the bus with their fifth-grader and 7-week-old infant in arms.

        “We had to bring him out to see all the teachers,” said Mrs. Kariofiles. “It's a wonderful way to get in the mood for school.”

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