For Additional Information Policy References. The following policies are available at

Transcription

1 The Louis Riel School Division transports more than 2,000 students from urban and rural neighborhoods to our community of schools. Safe and efficient student transportation is an outcome of respectful partnerships between students, staff and parents. We are all responsible to promote safety procedures based on care, caution, and consideration for others. For Additional Information Policy References The following policies are available at EEA EEAE EEAEEA Transportation of Students Bus Transportation of Students: Safety Procedures to Prepare for Field Trips Student Transportation: Weather-related Cancellation of School Buses Page 1 of 7

2 Parents and guardians who accompany their Grade K-4 children to and from their neighborhood bus stops can reduce the risk of school bus-related accidents. Commit to your child (Grade K - 4) that you or another responsible adult will accompany him or her every day to and from the school bus. Please note that a parent or guardian must meet and accompany kindergarten bus students at noon. Practice looking left, right and left again with your child before crossing all intersections and driveways. Talk to your child regularly about school bus Danger Zones. Dress your child in bright coloured clothing and attach retro-reflective material to his or her backpack so they are easily seen. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Best to remove any drawstrings that exceed a length of six inches and ensure that they are tied to prevent your child s clothing from snagging on the bus. Store everything in your child s backpack and ensure it is securely closed to prevent items from being dropped near or under a bus. Avoid Backpacks with wheels and metal handles. Remove draw strings. Regularly remind your child never to pick up anything near or under a bus. If something falls underneath the bus, your child should LEAVE IT DON T RETRIEVE IT step away from the bus, and ask the driver for assistance. Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes prior to pickup to avoid last-minute dashes that cause accidents, especially during inclement weather. Teach your child to tell and be responsible with time. Wait for your child on the same side of the street as the bus stop. DO NOT MAKE YOUR CHILD CROSS THE STREET TO GET TO YOU. Support school bus discipline. Teach your child that his or her bus driver is the leader of the school bus safety team. Work with the school and driver to resolve discipline matters. A Student s Day on the School Bus Bus Stops The LRSD Transportation Department pre-assigns students to specific bus stops. Please ensure that your child is familiar with the bus stop location prior to the first trip. The route number is posted on the loading side of the bus, beside the door. Page 2 of 7

3 Arrival at Pick-Up Point Be on time. Serious accidents can occur when children run towards departing buses. Try to leave home so that you and your child will arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes prior to pick-up. Always wait for the bus in a safe place away from the street, at least three metres (10 feet) from the curb to create space between you and the passing cars. Stand quietly in an orderly fashion and if other students are waiting at the bus stop, line up without pushing or jostling. Respect all private property walking to, from and at the bus stop. Stay away from snow banks. The school bus is unable to wait for late passengers. Drivers have been instructed not to board any students arriving after the bus door has closed. Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder of the road and always on the left side facing on-coming traffic. Cross only at intersections. Boarding the School Bus Line up in single file in front of the bus door, at least three metres from the curb. Wait until the driver stops the bus and opens the door before approaching the bus. Only students may board the bus this procedure ensures that the bus completes the route on time. Parents are not allowed on the bus under any circumstances. If there is a school bus patrol, wait until the patrol is beside the door before approaching the bus. Wait your turn, stay in line and quickly board the bus in single file without crowding or pushing. Always use the handrail and watch your step. A seating plan applies at all times. The bus driver will inform students of their seat assignments on the first day of school. Drivers have the authority to reassign seating. Conduct on the School Bus Follow the driver s directions and safety procedures. Behaviour that distracts the driver risks all passengers safety. When you have boarded the bus, go directly to your assigned seat and sit down immediately. Sit properly facing forward. Keep your books, parcels and musical instruments on your lap or under your bus seat. Laws require the aisle to be clear at all times. When you travel on the bus, talk quietly. When the bus approaches a railroad crossing, students must be silent. Always keep your hands, arms, head or feet inside the windows. Do not touch the emergency door or exits or any bus equipment. Students are not to eat on the school bus to prevent choking hazard. Keep your school bus tidy and use the garbage can when necessary. Carry-On Items on the School Bus All carry-on items (including musical instruments) must fit inside a standard schoolbag or back pack no larger than 60 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm. (2 ft. x 1 ft. x 1 ft.). Students should place their school bags below their seats to respect space. Skates must be enclosed in proper skate guards and stored in a carry-bag. Page 3 of 7

4 All balls must be carried in bags. All musical instruments should be stored in their cases and placed in the student s back pack or stowed safely under the seat. The following larger musical instruments are not permitted on school buses: contra bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, tuba, bass trombone. Music teachers are asked to consider this when assigning instruments to transported students. Restricted Items For safety reasons, some items are not allowed on the bus science fair backboards, hockey sticks, curling brooms, skis, skate boards, snow boards, toboggans and other similar items. Departing from the School Bus Remain seated until the bus reaches its destination and completely stops. Let your classmates at the front of the bus leave first and always use the handrail. A supervisor will meet you when you arrive at the school. Walking Away from the School Bus If you are not crossing the street, step directly away from the bus. Never walk beside the bus. Crossing the Street Wait at the curb, at least three metres in front of the bus so the driver can always see you. Always cross the road in front of the bus and at right angles to it, not diagonally. If no school bus patrol is present, wait for the driver s instructions before crossing. The driver will use a loud seaker to tell students when it is safe to cross. When school bus patrols are available, wait until the patrol signals you before crossing. The patrol will walk part way into the street, communicate with the driver, check traffic in both directions, and signal when crossing is safe, by extending the flag and dropping his or her left arm. When you see this signal, leave your curbside position to cross the street. When proceeding onto the roadway, always look left, right, and left again. Walk promptly across the road. Page 4 of 7

5 Important safety reminders If something falls underneath or in front of the bus, LEAVE IT DON T RETRIEVE IT step away from the bus, and ask the driver for assistance. Children may forget pedestrian safety rules when they see their parents. Wait for your child on the same side of the street as the bus stop. When accompanying your child, support our safety team by following all driver and bus patrol instructions. Expectations for Student Behaviour The Louis Riel School Division emphasizes student responsibility, self-discipline and respect for others. The Division can implement effective measures to address inappropriate behaviour. Students who ride the buses are subject to rules and regulations designed to provide safe transportation to and from school. Please reinforce with your child that their driver is the leader of the school bus safety team Expectations Demonstrate respect for the rights, roles and responsibilities of others Demonstrate respect for personal and public property Demonstrate respect for people in authority Follow all directions and safety procedures Stay in your seat. Keep hands and feet to yourself. Speak in low tones Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus Keep the bus free of litter, graffiti and damage Support guidelines, policies and protocols for interventions when disciplinary action is deemed necessary Interventions to Guide Behaviour Page 5 of 7

6 Interventions, including disciplinary consequences, strive to preserve the dignity and self-worth of all involved in the intervention. Occasionally, students require interventions for behaviours that prevent a safe and pleasant ride on the bus. The interventions listed below are not all-inclusive and others may be considered, depending on the circumstances. Range of possible interventions 1. Driver will speak to the student and forward report to the Principal. 2. Driver will forward report to the Principal for follow up with the student and parent. 3. Report forwarded to the Principal for investigation. Upon confirmation, the Principal may suspend bus privileges for a period of up to five (5) days with a verbal and written confirmation to the parent. 4. Report forwarded to the Principal for investigation. Upon confirmation, the Principal may suspend bus privileges for a period of up to ten (10) days with a verbal and a written confirmation to the parent. 5. Report forwarded to the Principal for investigation. Upon confirmation, the Principal may suspend bus privileges for an extended period which may include the balance of the school year, with a verbal and a written confirmation to the parent. 6. The Division may forego warnings and implement an immediate bus suspension when serious incidents occur. A suspension s length is based on the seriousness of the circumstance it may include withdrawal of the bus riding privilege for the remainder of the school year or permanent suspension. 7. If a serious infraction occurs while the bus is on the school grounds, the driver will ask the student to report to the school office immediately for a parent pick-up that day. Advance warning cannot be provided for such incidents. Other Important Information During Extreme Weather Conditions 1. The Superintendent of Schools & CEO makes any decision to close schools and/or cancel transportation in consultation with the Supervisor of Transportation. 2. An announcement will be posted on the LRSD website: 3. The decision will also be communicated to CBC 990 AM & CJOB 680 AM. 4. All parents and staff are asked to listen to the media for announcements about school closing and/or cancellation of transportation. 5. If the Division must close schools, or bus students home early during the school day, the Superintendent s Department will contact schools. 6. If bus transportation is cancelled in the morning, the cancellation applies for the entire day. Extreme Wind Chill Severe weather can affect the safe operation of school buses. The LRSD Transportation Department monitors wind chill at 6:00 a.m. using Environment Canada weather readings from Page 6 of 7

7 the Forks. At that time, if the wind chill makes the temperature -45 C or colder, the Division cancels school bus transportation. Driving Students to school On occasion parents will drive students to school and we ask that you use safe practices when doing so. - Do not park/stop in school bus loading area. - Do not back up a vehicle in a school zone ever. - Do not let a passenger out on the driver s side curb side only. - Do not double park on the street. - Do not pass a school bus when the stop sign is out. - Always park further back from the school in order to relieve traffic congestion - Always observe and obey traffic signs. - Always comply with the request of a Loading Supervisor/Principal or School Patrol to move your vehicle. Page 7 of 7