Information for First-Time Bus Riders

1. New to Kindergarten Emails/Letters

• Families of students who are new to school will receive an email or letter with their student’s bus stop location and times. “New to school” means students who have never attended a WRDSB or WCDSB school before.
• If there is no contact email on the student’s school record, a letter will be mailed in mid-August to the address listed on the student’s file.
• Students who attended a WRDSB or WCDSB school last year will not receive an email or letter and must log in or create a Parent Portal account at www.stswr.ca to view their bus information. This includes SK students who were in JK last year.
• Please check your Spam or Junk folders for any emails from STSWR.
• An email or direct mail will also be sent in August to families of students with special needs who will be transported in September.

1. Safety around the bus stops

We encourage all students to walk to their bus stop. If parents need to drive to the bus stop, please do not park near the bus stop. There is a danger zone around the bus that is talked about in the video. Your child is very safe on the bus, injuries happen outside of the bus.

3. How will my JK/SK student know which bus to take? Will school staff know too?

• In the afternoon, Kindergarten students riding the bus home will receive a coloured ‘Kindie Tag’ from their teacher. This tag, attached to their backpack, shows the student’s bus number and stop information.
  • Colours (including white) help students quickly identify their bus.
  • The information on the tag is for drop off only. Morning bus only students will not have a Kindie Tag.
• Teachers use the tag to ensure students board the correct bus in the afternoon, and drivers use it to confirm each student is on the right route.
• Bus route numbers are posted on the front and/or side of the bus, and drivers also have a list of students expected on their route.

4. Who needs to meet my JK/SK student at the stop? What if no one is there?

• Kindergarten students MUST ALWAYS have a parent, caregiver, or responsible older sibling at the stop in the morning and afternoon.
  • It is up to the parents/caregivers decide if/when a sibling is responsible enough to meet the kindergarten sibling at the bus stop. Please let the driver know ahead of time who will be picking up the student.
• In the afternoon, a parent, caregiver, or responsible older sibling must go to the bus door and ask for the student by name. This helps the driver make sure the student is leaving with the right person.
• If no one is at the stop, the student must tell the driver immediately. STSWR & the bus company will call the contacts on file, and if no one can be reached, the student will be returned to school and met by staff.

6. Where will my kindergarten students bus stop be?

• Students may be required to walk up to 0.5 kilometres to a common bus stop, as time does not permit stopping at each home.
• Students living on crescents or courts may be asked to walk to the nearest intersection.
• All stops are curbside. Buses will not enter apartment or townhouse complexes.

7. Can my child be picked up or dropped off at a daycare or babysitter?

• Transportation to daycare centres and babysitters is available under the following conditions:
  • The daycare or babysitter is located in the school’s attendance area and in an area eligible for transportation; and
  • The student is transported to the same location each day.

8. How can I see bus details online or sign up for delay alerts?

• Families can find the transportation details for their student by visiting www.stswr.ca and selecting ‘Parent Portal’ on the home page and creating an account.
• The email you use to create the account MUST be attached to your student’s student record in Aspen at the school. If you need to update your email, please contact the school directly.

9. The information I receieved is wrong for my student. How do I change it?

• Any information changes must be made at the students school. This includes adress changes, name changes, contact changes, email changes, etc. Please contact your student school directly. STSWR cannot make any changes to student school records.

5. Ask for Your Child by Name

• Parents/caregivers are asked to approach the door and ask for their child by name.
• This process will ensure children are matched safely with parents, caregivers, an older sibling or a responsible adult.
• If your child does not see the person picking them up, please ask them to notify the bus driver immediately.
• Arrive 5 minutes early

6. Arrive 5 minutes early

Traffic can vary from day to day, so to ensure you don’t miss the bus we ask that you show up 5 minutes before your pickup time.

7. Subscriptions

• You can subscribe to your child’s bus route to get delays and cancellations notifications by creating a Parent Portal account on www.stswr.ca.
• You must use the email listed on your students school records (Aspen) under ‘contacts’ to view transportation or receive notifications.