Kindergarten Bus Tags

All Kindergarten students taking the bus home from school will have a “Kindergarten” tag, as issued by your school at the beginning of the school year.

This tag includes your student’s pertinent transportation information, helping the driver ensure your student gets off the bus at the correct location.

To ensure your student’s safe delivery, please contact your school immediately to replace a lost tag or if your student’s tag requires an information change.

Opting out of busing for your student?

If you reside in the bus zone but do not require transportation, please fill out a “Do Not Ride Form” to ensure your student is not assigned to a bus and inadvertently put on a bus at the end of the day.

You may opt-out of all busing, or morning or afternoon busing only. The form lets your school and driver know that your student will not be taking the bus in one or both directions.

You can reverse this change at any time throughout the school year by completing the same form.

Tips for Parents

• A parent, caregiver, or appropriately-aged sibling is required to come to the bus door to collect the Kindergartner by name in order to promote safe dismissal
• Assist your student in securing belongings before leaving home
• Remove all long drawstrings from outer clothing to prevent these from being caught in handrails and d
  oors
• Ensure your student’s safety while getting to and from the bus stop
• Support the enforcement of school bus safety rules and procedures
• Please walk to the bus stop. If you have to drive, park a distance away to prevent congestion
• Please arrive at your bus stop 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled pick up time to avoid missing the bus.
• Click here to view the Kindergarten School Bus brochure.

Kindergarten Students are expected to:

• Sit in the first few rows of the bus
• Remain seated, facing forward at all times
• Remain seated until ready to leave the school bus
• Keep backpacks on lap and keep aisles clear
• Avoid distracting or disturbing the driver
• Open windows only with driver’s permission
• Keep hands, feet, arms, and head inside the school bus at all times
• Never throw objects inside the school bus or out the windows
• Never eat or drink on the bus
• Promptly obey directions given by the driver or the school safety patrol (if present)
• Use emergency equipment or exits only in the case of genuine emergency

At the Bus Stop

• Wait in an orderly fashion well back from the side of the road in the safe zone
• Respect the private property at the bus stop
• Recognize that a danger zone exists in the immediate vicinity around the bus
• If students need to cross the road to board the bus, wait until the bus arrives with lights flashing, then continue to wait until the driver signals that it is safe to cross, then safely proceed across the road

Getting On/Off the Bus

• Secure and organize belongings before getting on the bus, and keep belongings packed while aboard
• Wait until the bus is completely stopped before approaching the door
• Enter or exit the bus in single file
• Never push or shove
• Get on and off the bus only at the designated stop
• Stay out of the danger zone: if you can touch the bus, you’re too close—use 10 giant steps to move out of the danger zone and into the safe zone
• When crossing the road, make eye contact with the driver, wait for the driver to signal, check traffic in both directions, then cross the road in front of the school bus
• Never stop to pick up anything that drops in the danger zone—ask an adult or bus driver for help
• Walk, never run across the road

First Rider Program

This program prepares JK students to ride the bus in September and is offered the first week of June each year at various schools around the tri-cities.

JK students and their parents/guardians will receive important safety information and ride a real school bus to help familiarize JK students with the bus and to make it safe and comfortable for them to ride the bus to school.

If your JK student resides in the bus zone, you will receive an email or letter with a flyer in April/May with information on how to register for this program.

Bus Patrols

Many elementary school buses are monitored by safety patrollers. These students assist younger students when entering/exiting the bus and they provide support to the bus driver in the event of an emergency situation.

Patrollers receive safety training each fall in sessions conducted by the Waterloo Region Police Service, Municipal Fire Departments and Region of Waterloo Paramedics.

Walking and Cycling to School

Your board supports walking and cycling to school as the preferred method of transportation because it:

• Makes students alert and ready to learn
• Increases engagement in the classroom
• Provides additional physical activity
• Breaks up sedentary time
• Reduces dangerous traffic near schools

Questions?

Other information on our site includes:

• Tool to determine your student’s eligibility for walk or bus zone
• Walking and cycling programs and opportunities
• STSWR safety programs
• Subscription for delays and cancellations
• STSWR, WCDSB and WRDSB policies and procedures