I’m in school mode.

So are administrators, other parents, and, well, students.

Ahead of the big start to public schools in the area, I just wanted to pass along some reminders.

Buses will be on the roads early in the mornings, then return for mid-afternoon.

So, here’s the rundown of what to expect, locality by locality.

In Virginia Beach, you can expect buses to be on the road in the a.m. between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  They head back out between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Some busy spots at the Beach include Virginia Beach Boulevard, especially in front of Princess Anne High School as well as Princess Anne Road around Landstown High School.

In Chesapeake, buses are out between 6:55 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  In the afternoon, look for them between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Hot spots in Chesapeake include Battlefield Boulevard where you’ll find students getting dropped off at Hickory High School and Hickory Middle School.  Also, watch out for heavy traffic along Great Bridge Boulevard near Oscar Smith High School.

In Suffolk, heads up.  Buses will be out between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  They’re back out between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Watch out for buses and along Bennett’s Pasture Road.  That’s where you’ll find John Yeates Middle School.  Also, Nansemond Parkway is a pretty busy corridor.  Nansemond River High School and Nansemond Parkway Elementary students are on that road.

In Norfolk, buses will be out between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  In the afternoon, look for them between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Plenty of busy spots in Norfolk.  Along Sewells Point Road, watch out for new walkers.  Because of a realignment, more children in this area may be walking to school.  They could be headed to Norview Middle or High School.  Watch out for heavy traffic by buses along Campostella Road.  Students from that area could be headed to Lake Taylor High or Lake Taylor Middle on Kempsville Road.

Portsmouth school buses will be out in force between 6:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.  In the afternoons, you’ll see them between 1:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.  You’ll find busy traffic along Amherst Lane as students head into Wilson High School.  Watch out for busy traffic as well along High St. as students make their way into I.C. Norcom High School.

Hampton Schools are in the middle of a big transition, going from city buses to school buses.  You’ll find the big yellow buses on the road in Hampton between 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.  Then again between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The North Hampton area could be pretty congested.  Watch out for heavy traffic along Big Bethel Road around Bethel High School.

In Newport News, the buses will be out between 5:45 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  Look for them again in the afternoon between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.  The busiest areas of school traffic are along Warwick Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue.  They connect students on one end of town to magnet, TAG, and regional-type schools on the opposite end of town.

Then, also be careful Downtown.  Below Mercury Boulevard, the areas of Warwick Boulevard, Hungtington Avenue, Jefferson Avenue, Marshall Avenue, Chestnut Avenue, and Roanoke Avenue.  Lots of bus stops here.

These are just places drivers might encounter slow traffic in those peak school travel times.

The experts can’t stress enough, though, how important it is to be careful everywhere, especially in your own neighborhood.  The kids are excited to be back at school, they are reuniting with friends they haven’t seen for months.  They likely won’t be watching as closely as they should.

Be safe and we hope you have a great start to the school year!