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Book Bus Sessions

A giant teddy bear sits beside shelves of colorful children's books inside a bus, with parked cars and trees visible through the windows in the background.

Literacy isn’t just about reading books, its about students finding their voice and sharing their stories. Music is such a powerful way to do that and we’re excited to see what this becomes!

About Our Book Bus

The Book Bus project, which began in the Fall of 2022, is a mobile library designed to foster early literacy. It is uniquely adorned with artwork created by local students in the county.

The Governor's Early Literacy Foundation played a crucial role in this project by providing the seed grant funding to renovate a decommissioned school bus. The Book Bus has already made appearances at several literacy events throughout the district, generating excitement and encouraging reading among young learners!

What is Book Bus Sessions?

Robertson County Schools is excited to explore a new student showcase initiative called “Book Bus Sessions.” This project is designed to celebrate student creativity in our district while continuing to promote early literacy and community engagement through our Book Bus program.

Book Bus Sessions is a video series featuring student musicians from across the district performing original songs in an acoustic-style setting aboard our district Book Bus. Inspired by small, live performance formats, this project highlights student talent in a unique and supportive environment.

The initiative is designed to provide a platform for students to share their original music while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Featured students may be identified through school and staff recommendations, district outreach, and other opportunities to highlight student talent across Robertson County Schools.

Performances are recorded using district audio and video equipment by Robertson County Schools Technology Department staff. All recordings are subject to review and approval by district staff prior to distribution on district social media channels and website.

There is no cost to participate. We are proud of the many talented students in our schools and look forward to providing them with this opportunity to shine.

Book Bus Sessions: District Guidelines

Eligibility & Participation

Participation is open to currently enrolled Robertson County Schools students.
Participants must have parent/guardian consent on file prior to participation.
Participation is voluntary and may be limited based on scheduling, space, and staff availability.
Efforts will be made to include participants from across the district and represent a diverse range of voices, schools, and musical styles.
Due to limited space on the Book Bus, the number of participants may be limited.

Behavior & Expectations

Participants must follow all school rules and demonstrate respectful behavior at all times, in accordance with the Student Handbook and Board Policies.
Participants are expected to:
- Arrive prepared
- Treat staff, equipment, and peers respectfully
- Follow directions from supervising staff
Performances must adhere to previously approved lyrics and musical arrangements. Any significant deviation may result in termination of the performance.
Any behavior that disrupts the session may result in termination of the performance.

Supervision & Safety

All sessions will be supervised by Robertson County Schools staff.
Recording will take place on school campus with prior coordination and approval from building administration and the School Resource Officer (SRO) on duty.
The Book Bus will remain stationary during recording sessions.
All audio and video equipment will be operated by district personnel only.
Participants must follow all school safety protocols and staff directions while participating.
Due to limited space on the Book Bus, attendance is limited to participating students and school staff.

Content Standards

All performances must be school-appropriate and align with Robertson County Schools’ code of conduct.
All lyrics and musical arrangements are subject to review and approval by district staff prior to scheduling a recording session.
Lyrics and spoken content must not include:
- Profanity or explicit language
- References to the use or misuse of drugs (including prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal substances), alcohol, or illegal activity
- Hate speech, discrimination, harassment, or content that targets or demeans any student, staff member, or individual
- Sexual or explicit content
- Violence or threats

Songs should reflect positive expression, storytelling, or personal creativity suitable for a school audience.

Original Work & Copyright

Participants are strongly encouraged to perform original music.
Participants may perform music that is in the public domain
Cover songs are not permitted due to proper permissions and licensing that must be secured for online distribution.
By participating, participants grant Robertson County Schools permission to record, edit, and publish their performance on district platforms (website, social media, etc.).
Robertson County Schools will use recording for educational and promotional purposes only and will not sell or commercially distribute student performances.

Production & Final Approval

All recordings are subject to review and approval by district staff prior to distribution.
The district reserves the right to edit, withhold, or decline to publish any performance that does not meet guidelines.
Participants are responsible for providing their own instruments and musical equipment (e.g. instruments, amplifiers, and accessories).
Participants are responsible for the transport, care, setup, and supervision of their personal equipment at all times. Robertson County Schools is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items brought to recording sessions.

Past Performances

Resources

Questions about our project?

Jesse Castillo

Titles: Webmaster & Digital Media Developer

Departments: Technology

Email: