Back to School: Bend-La Pine Schools launch new app that can help your kids catch the bus on time

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- There's a new app being used by Bend-La Pine Schools called My Ride K-12, and it gives parents up-to-date time and route information for their kids' bus. 

This new app will replace their old one, which only gave general messages about delays.

Now you can see the bus moving toward your house in real time.

Bend-La Pine Schools Executive Director of Transportation Kim Crabtree told KTVZ News, “You know, on a morning that’s pretty cold, they can see - 'Oops, it’s coming up the hill! I'd better get my kids out there!'

"While we ask kids to be out five minutes before the bus stop time, we understand there’s mornings that are really cold, and you know, you’re running a  little behind." With the new app, she said, "You can see, 'I’ve got a little bit of time to get there.'”

This app tracks buses, not individual students. But there's a way that you can track your kids, using a card linked to your student.

If you sign up for the card, you get notifications whenever your child gets on or off the bus.

To register, you can download the app or reach out to the school district for assistance.

The district asks that you register your kids this week, in order to make sure they are is ready to take the bus to and from home on their fast-approaching first day of school.