Statement

During the fall, winter and spring of the school year, unusual or severe weather conditions can lead to a number of different situations requiring cancellation of some or all student transportation. It is important that School Boards, the schools, the public, the media, vehicle operators and STSWR all initiate or receive the same message. This procedure attempts to simplify this process as it applies to both Boards.

Procedure

For decisions made prior to the start of the school day, every effort will be made to ensure that a media announcement and fan out activation commences prior to 6AM.

Transportation Services Announcements

Once a decision has been made to cancel transportation services (http://www.stswr.ca/wp-content/uploads/STSWR_Inclement_Weather_Cancellation_Evaluation_Process.pdf), one of the following announcements will be communicated to all stakeholders.

A1 – All Buses Cancelled, All Schools Open

  • Due to the current weather conditions, ALL SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board are cancelled. 
  • All Public and Catholic Schools are OPEN.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN.

A2 – Buses Operating in the Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot are Cancelled, All Schools Open

  • Due to current weather conditions, SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES in Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich Townships are cancelled for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board. 
  • All Public and Catholic Schools are OPEN.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN.

A3 – Buses Operating in the Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries are Cancelled, All Schools Open

  • Due to current weather conditions, SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES in Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich and North Dumfries Townships are cancelled for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board. 
  • All Public and Catholic Schools are OPEN.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN.

 A4 – All Schools Closed, All Buses Cancelled

  • Due to current weather conditions ALL SCHOOLS AND SITES ARE CLOSED.
  • All school buses, taxis and special education routes operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board are cancelled. 
  • All evening rental permits are cancelled.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are CLOSED.

A5 – Frigid Temperatures, Buses Cancelled, Schools are Open

  • Due to current frigid temperatures ALL SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board, are CANCELLED.
  • ALL SCHOOLS ARE OPEN and all Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN to those students who can safely arrive to school under the supervision and/or direction of their parents.
  • In the interest of student safety, parents are reminded that today’s frigid temperatures present a risk of frostbite to exposed skin and they must ensure their children are properly dressed for today’s frigid temperatures.
  • Parents must also take into consideration that there may not be crossing guard service as a result of frigid temperatures.

B1 – All Buses Cancelled, All Schools Open, All Secondary School Exams Postponed

  • Due to the current weather conditions, ALL SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board are cancelled. 
  • All Public and Catholic Schools are OPEN.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN.
  • All Public and Catholic Secondary School Exams that are scheduled today will be postponed to the next school day. Today’s cancellation causes all subsequently scheduled exams to be postponed to the next school day.

B2 – Buses Operating in the Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot are Cancelled, All Schools Open, All Secondary School Exams Postponed

  • Due to current weather conditions, SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES in Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich Townships are cancelled for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board.
  • All Public and Catholic Schools are OPEN.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN.
  • All Public and Catholic Secondary School Exams that are scheduled today will be postponed to the next school day. Today’s cancellation causes all subsequently scheduled exams to be postponed to the next school day.

B3 – Buses Operating in the Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries are Cancelled, All Schools Open, All Secondary School Exams Postponed

  • Due to current weather conditions, SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES in Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich and North Dumfries Townships are cancelled for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board. 
  • All Public and Catholic Schools are OPEN.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN.
  • All Public and Catholic Secondary School Exams that are scheduled today will be postponed to the next school day. Today’s cancellation causes all subsequently scheduled exams to be postponed to the next school day.

B4 – All Schools Closed, All Buses Cancelled, All Secondary School Exams Postponed

  • Due to current weather conditions ALL SCHOOLS AND SITES ARE CLOSED.
  • All school buses, taxis and special education routes operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board are cancelled. 
  • All evening rental permits are cancelled.
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs are CLOSED.
  • All Public and Catholic Secondary School Exams that are scheduled today will be postponed to the next school day. Today’s cancellation causes all subsequently scheduled exams to be postponed to the next school day.

B5 – Frigid Temperatures, Buses Cancelled, Schools are Open

  • Due to current frigid temperatures ALL SCHOOL BUSES, TAXIS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board, are CANCELLED.
  • ALL SCHOOLS ARE OPEN and all Extended Day Childcare Programs are OPEN to those students who can safely arrive to school under the supervision and/or direction of their parents.
  • In the interest of student safety, parents are reminded that today’s frigid temperatures present a risk of frostbite to exposed skin and they must ensure their children are properly dressed for today’s frigid temperatures.
  • Parents must also take into consideration that there may not be crossing guard service as a result of frigid temperatures.
  • All Public and Catholic Secondary School Exams that are scheduled today will be postponed to the next school day. Today’s cancellation causes all subsequently scheduled exams to be postponed to the next school day.

C1 – Early Dismissal, Unknown Dismissal, All Schools

  • Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, all school buses, taxis and special education routes operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board will be transporting students home from their schools (to be announced) hours earlier. 
  • Students who walk to school will be sent home at their normal dismissal times; however, parents are encouraged to pick-up their children as soon as possible. 
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs will be CLOSED.
  • The media will read appropriate area and/or list of schools as advised by STSWR.

C2 – Early Dismissal, 4 Hours Early, List of Schools

  • Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, all school buses, taxis and special education routes operated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board will be transporting student’s home from the following schools, four (4) hours earlier. 
  • Students who walk to school will be sent home at their normal dismissal times; however, parents are encouraged to pick-up their children as soon as possible. 
  • All Extended Day Childcare Programs will be CLOSED.
  • The media will read appropriate area and/or list of schools as advised by STSWR.

Before School Begins

One of the notifications listed above will be communicated in the following way:

STSWR:

  1. Cancellations are posted on STSWR’s home page stswr.ca
  2. STSWR’s “Delays and Cancellations” link (https://bpweb.stswr.ca/Cancellations.aspx
  3. Families have the option of receiving automatic notifications via email through our subscription service https://www.stswr.ca/parents/
  4. Follow STSWR on twitter (@STSWR)
  5. Email/Text to media outlets, WCDSB and WRDSB

School Boards

  1. WCDSB and WRDSB websites
  2. WCDSB and WRDSB twitter feeds

Local Media Outlets

  1. All media outlets listed below:

Virgin Radio      FM 105.3        CKWR Kitchener  FM 98.5

MAGIC FM        FM 106.1        CHYM Kitchener   FM 96.7

570 News          AM 570            Dave Rocks             FM 107.5

Country 106.7        FM 106.7   CHUM FM              FM 104.5

Faith FM           FM 94.3           The Beat                  FM 91.5

CBC Radio        FM 89.1

 

CTV Kitchener                           The Record

City News Channel