PREPARING YOUR CHILD TO RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS
Riding the school bus is a new experience for kindergarten children. The bus is a very safe way for your child to travel to and from school. In fact, school buses are the safest vehicles on the road. Most mishaps take place outside the bus. This fact sheet will provide you with practical tips to help you prepare your child to safely ride the school bus.
FIRST RIDER PROGRAM
Each August the Association of Grey-Bruce Bus Operators offers the First Rider Program for young students throughout Bruce and Grey counties. The dates are usually June and August each year and the program is offered at several locations through Bruce and Grey counties.
Click here to see this year's schedule.
The First Rider Program is a School Bus Safety Program that introduces young children and their parents to school buses and school bus safety. The program is intended to be a fun learning experience. While open to all young students who ride a school bus on a regular basis, it is especially designed for children who will be riding the school bus for the first time in September. The program reviews bus safety rules and allows parents and children an opportunity to ask questions about school bus safety. As part of the program, parents and their children will also be invited to take a ride on a school bus.
WHICH SCHOOL IS MY CHILD ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND?
To determine which school your child should attend or to get transportation eligibility information go to: BPWeb website.
This site provides three helpful options:
- School Information (address, grades offered and boundary map)
- Which School do I Attend? (find your home school)
- Transportation Eligibility (find out if you qualify for transportation)
To learn about transportation eligibility Click here
To use the web-site to determine "Which School do I Attend" or "Transportation Eligibility", you will need a street name and house number.
NOTE: BPWeb Website is unavailable between 12:45 and 1:00 pm each day as it refreshes its database.
WHO MAY RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS?
Students who live further than the minimum walking distance, and live within the school's catchment area, qualify for transportation. Please read the policies for more information about who is eligible for transportation.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Because central pick-up and drop-off locations are used, children have to walk from their home to the school bus stop.
Your child's school or bus company will inform you of bus times and bus stop locations. Schedules are approximate, so students should be at bus stops at least five minutes before the designated time and not more than ten minutes before pick up.
Most buses transport elementary, as well as high school students, for both the Bluewater and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Boards.
During inclement weather days, parents should listen to the local radio station serving their area, in order to be aware of announcements regarding school bus cancellations and school closures.
All students must obey the rules of conduct on school buses. Riding on a bus is a privilege, not a right.
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM AN ALTERNATE ADDRESS
The usual service level definition for school bus transportation is one child - one seat - one bus. However students may be permitted to travel on an alternate bus route for child care purposes (for an elementary school student) or to accommodate a joint custody arrangement.
Please refer to one of the following procedures for details.
Transportation to/from Child Care Provider (Procedure TCP-A007)
Transportation for Joint Custody (Procedure TCP-A008)
If your child requires transportation either to or from an address other than your home address, please check with the school to confirm that the address is eligible.
SUPERVISION AT THE BUS STOP
Parents are encouraged to accompany their child/children to the bus stop and to meet them in the afternoon. Parents/Guardiansare responsible for their children before they step on the bus and once they get off the bus.
PREPARING YOUR CHILD TO RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS
Click here to view a Parent Fact Sheet with more information.
Also see School Bus Safety - Ontario Ministry of Transportation