Fort Saskatchewan Transportation Information 

To register your child for transportation services, please fill out our online transportation registration form.
 

Eligibility

Alberta Education only provides Transportation Funding for students who reside more than 2.4 km (walking distance) from their designated school.  Bussing to and from school for these students is free and they are automatically assigned to a bus route from their home address.  For students who reside inside the 2.4 km walk zone, pay ride bussing is available for a fee. 

Please Note - there is no Noon Bussing available for Kindergarten students.  Parents must make their own arrangements.

2010-2011 Transportation Fees (for students residing less than 2.4 km walking distance from school)

Rural Students Residing East of Fort Saskatchewan

If you reside East of Fort Saskatchewan, transportation is provided under a cooperative transportation agreement with Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS).  EIPS will transport your child into Fort Saskatchewan High School where they will transfer onto another bus, which will then transport them to the Catholic school they are attending.

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) School of Choice Fee

Catholic students who receive transportation from EIPS are subject to a School of Choice Fee that is charged to our Division by EIPS.  Parents are responsible to pay $275 /student to a maximum of $725.  For more information about this fee, please contact our office at 780-449-6480.

How to Request Bussing

Be sure to complete a Transportation Request Form when registering your child at the school.  If you are required to pay a fee for transportation, you will be sent an invoice in the mail.  Payment for students registered for the upcoming school year must be made by the middle of July to ensure bussing is setup for the beginning of the school year.

Bus Stop Information - Please Allow 3 to 5 Business Days For Bussing To Be Setup

Your childs bus driver will contact you with the stop location and pickup and drop-off times.  Bussing will not commence until the driver has contacted you.  For students registered for the upcoming school year, parents will be contacted before the September long weekend. 

Whenever possible, we try to ensure that no student has to walk more than 300m to their bus stop.  If you have a concern with a stop location, please contact the Transportation Department at 780-449-6480.  Drivers are not allowed to change stops without authorization from the office.  Please be aware that we are using 66 passenger buses and it is not possible to go into cul de sac's to pick up or drop off students.

Transportation to a Sitter or Dayhome - Maximum 2 Drop-off Locations per Student

Be sure to indicate on your Transportation Request Form if your child will require transportation to or from a sitter or dayhome provider, even if you are eligible for bussing from your resident address.  These arrangements cannot be made with the driver.

Bus Passes and Driver Brochure

If you require bussing, your child will be issued a bus pass during the first week of school.  Also, the bus driver will handout a brochure with their Name and Route # along with further information regarding Transportation Policies and Rules that apply on all of our school buses.

Parent Responsibility

Please understand that as a parent you have a responsibility to make sure that your child knows how to proceed safely home when the bus drops them off after school.  The driver is not responsible for making sure that there is someone at the stop to meet your child when they are being dropped off.

Contact Information

Once your child has been assigned to a bus route, please feel free to contact your bus driver if you have a concern or call the Transportation Department directly - Ph #:  780-449-6480, Fax #:  780-449-6481.

OTHER INFORMATION

1.       Bus Passes

Urban students riding the bus must have an appropriate bus pass.  Any student without a bus pass will not be allowed to ride the school bus.  Fees, if applicable, must be paid prior to issuance of a bus pass.  Your child's school will distribute bus passes during the first few days of school.

2.       Address Changes / Special Requests

Be sure to contact our office if you are moving or making a permanent change to your child's transportation needs.  These changes cannot be made with the driver.  Please allow 5 business days for your request to be implemented.  One time only requests (bringing friends home, bringing special items on board, drop off at a different location) require a note from the parents and may be arranged with the driver.

3.       No Eating, Drinking or Chewing Gum on the Bus

Due to allergy concerns and the risk of choking, students are not allowed to eat, drink or chew gum on the bus.  If your child needs to eat on the bus for medical reasons, please contact the office to make special arrangements.

4.       Items which cannot be transported on Yellow Buses

Toboggans, skateboards, snowboards, skis, hockey sticks, glass containers, animals, skates without blade protection, non-folding scooters or anything that the driver feels will endanger students while riding the bus or inhibit students from entering or exiting the bus will be prohibited.

5.       Extreme Weather Conditions

In the case of extreme weather conditions (ie. cold weather or freezing rain), Board Policy determines whether or not the buses will operate that day.  If bus service is cancelled for the day, this information will be broadcast on local radio stations beginning at 6:30 AM.  Parents may also obtain this information from our website at www.eics.ab.ca or by calling the Transportation Office at the number listed above.

Please Note - If bus service is cancelled in the morning, the buses will not operate in the afternoon even if weather conditions improve.

If the buses are running during extreme weather conditions, parents are not obligated to send their child on the bus if they would rather make alternate arrangements to transport their child to school.  All students must be suitably dressed for the weather conditions or the bus driver may not allow them to ride the bus.  Your child should know what to do if the bus is running late in the morning and have a place to go in the event that the bus does not arrive.  They should also know what to do if a parent is not able to meet the bus after school or if there is no one home when they arrive.  It is not the drivers responsibility to ensure that there is someone to meet your child at the stop after school.

6.       Mechanical Problems

RURAL - In the case of a breakdown, a spare bus will be sent out immediately to meet your child's bus and the driver will then continue on their route as necessary.  If your child's bus is running more than 15 minutes late, the driver will ask the office to initiate the emergency phone out list so that parents can be notified that the bus is running late.  These lists are used to notify parents of AM delays only and may also be used to notify rural parents if the buses are not running.

URBAN - In the case of a breakdown, a spare bus will be sent out immediately to meet your child's bus and the driver will then continue on their route as necessary.  This will usually only result in 10 or 15 minute delay in the route. Emergency phone out lists are not used in urban centres.

7.       School Bus Parking Zones

Please be aware of the school bus zone at your child's school.  Parking in this zone is illegal during specified hours and presents a serious safety hazard for the loading or unloading of students.   Any vehicles parked in the school bus zone at your child's school during the specified hours may be ticketed.

8.       Flashing Red Lights

When flashing red lights are activated on school buses, vehicles from both directions must stop.  The fine for going through flashing red lights is $402.00 and 6 demerits.  We will prosecute all violators.

9.       Bus Evacuation

For your child's safety, Division policy requires that drivers conduct a minimum of 3 bus evacuation drills per year.  Parents will be notified in advance of when these drills will occur via the school newsletter.

10.   Cell Phones / Cameras / Recording Devices / Electronic Games / Music Players

The use of personal cellular phones, cameras and recording devices are prohibited on school buses.  Electronic games and music players must not emit noise but can be used with headphones.

SCHOOL BUS RULES AND DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES

Elk Island Catholic Schools strives to provide our students with a safe and comfortable journey to and from school.  Students riding on the bus must remember that they are responsible for their conduct toward the driver and other students on the bus.  The school bus is an extension of the school and the same behaviour expectations apply.  Any conduct that jeopardizes the safety of the driver or other students will not be tolerated.

THE BASIC RULES OF CONDUCT FOR ALL OF OUR PASSENGERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.       Be at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the departure time indicated by the driver.

2.       Respect and obey the driver at all times.

3.       Because of allergies and the risk of choking, students are prohibited from eating, drinking or chewing gum while on the bus unless required for medical reasons.

4.       Have respect for one another.  Use proper language.  No poking, hitting, fighting or bullying.

5.       Student shall stay seated and keep aisles free of legs, feet and objects at all times.

6.       Keep voice low so as not to create excessive noise so that the instructions from the driver can be heard.

7.       Show bus pass when asked to do so.

8.       Ask driver's permission to open or adjust window openings.

9.       Prohibited items are not allowed on the bus.

10.   Students may only get off at their designated stops unless they have a note from their parent.

11.   Nothing is to be thrown out the window of the bus.

12.   Students should report problems or concerns to the driver.

13.   The rear door is for emergencies only.

14.   Firearms, knives or other weapons are not allowed on the bus.

15.   Unauthorized students are not allowed to ride unless there is a note from the school or parent authorizing them special permission to ride. 

16.   Have respect for public and private property at the bus stop.

If a student violates any of these basic rules of conduct, the Bus Driver will implement the following steps:

Step 1 - Verbal Warning

        If the driver has a concern with a students behavior, the driver will give the student a verbal warning.

Step 2 - Parent Contact

        If this verbal warning does not correct the situation, the driver will contact the parents to advise them of the concern and attempt to work out a solution.

Step 3 - Written Notice Sent Home

        If contacting the parent has not resolved the problem, the driver will send a Student Misconduct Form to the principal.  The principal will indicate on the form what disciplinary action was taken and this form will then be sent home for parent signature and returned to the school.

Step 4 - Administrative Referral

        If the student's actions continue to be a concern, the driver will complete another Student Misconduct Form and meet with the Principal.  The Principal will determine the appropriate disciplinary action and the parents will be notified.

DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT ANY OR ALL OF THESE STEPS MAY BE OMITTED.  IN SEVERE CASES, THE DRIVER WILL PROCEED DIRECTLY TO STEP 4.