Ready or not, the new school year begins Monday.

More than 35,800 students, many of whom ride those familiar big yellow buses, will return to class after summer vacation.

With the additional traffic in mind, authorities are stressing safety and patience for those traveling to and from school, as well as those attempting to navigate the traffic.

Motorists should be aware of school bus stops and stop when buses are loading or unloading students.

Bus riders and drivers should take the same care as the motorists around them, said Garry Puetz, the school system's director of transportation.

"What we want is safe, orderly and respectful transportation," he said. "We want to provide that as drivers and we want our students to ride that way."

First-time riders should also know that the drivers are there to help them, he said.

Bus routes often change from year to year, so Puetz advised parents to check the school transportation's Web site, www.gotsoar.com, for updates.

For more on the start of the 2010-11 school year, visit forsythnews.com and click on "back to school."