Download the STSWR Kindergarten brochure to print.
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 child’s pertinent transportation information, helping the driver ensure your child gets off the bus at the correct location.
To ensure your child’s safe delivery, please contact your school immediately to replace a lost tag or if your child’s tag requires an information change.
Opting out of busing for your child?
If you reside in the bus zone but do not require transportation, please fill out a “Do Not Ride Form” to ensure your child 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 child will not be taking the bus in one or both directions.
You can reverse this change at any time throughout the school year by contacting your child’s school.
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 child in securing belongings before leaving home
- Remove all long drawstrings from outer clothing to prevent these from being caught in handrails and doors
- Ensure your child’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.
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
Students must:
- 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 children 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
Students Must:
- 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 and SK students to ride the bus in September and is offered the last Sunday of August each year at various locations around the tri-cities.
Children and their parents/guardians will receive important safety information and ride a real school bus to help familiarize children with the bus and to make it safe and comfortable for them to ride the bus to school.
If your child resides in the bus zone, you will receive a flyer at the beginning of August 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
Subscriptions for Delays and Cancellations
To receive alerts regarding delays and cancellations to your email address or via text message find instructions to enroll online. Subscribers receive notice of late buses and cancellations due to inclement weather.
Questions?
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