Pursuant to the Education Act, school boards may provide transportation to their students. Transportation is a privilege, not a right. School bus rules and regulations are set to maintain a safe and reliable mode of transportation. Failure to abide by the rules may result in the loss of transportation privileges. All policies, procedures, and information regarding student transportation are available on the BusKids website at https://buskids.ca/. Parents/guardians must review the Policies RR-01, Responsibility of Students, and RR-02, Responsibility of Parents/Guardians. The WESTS Policies are located under the Policies section of our website at https://buskids.ca/wests-policies/.
Per policy, students and parents/designates must be at the bus stop 10 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up and drop-off times.
Is my child eligible for bus transportation?
To determine if your child is eligible for bus transportation to their new school, please visit the BusKids website,
scroll down and click on the “Am I Eligible for Transportation” icon (as shown). Enter your address and the system will tell you if your child is eligible for transportation.
Yes, my child is eligible for transportation, but they attend daycare or are with a babysitter. What should I do?
If your child is in daycare or with a sitter and that location falls within the school’s transportable boundary and is eligible for transportation, your child can be transported to/from that address. To check whether the daycare or sitter qualifies, you can enter the address using the “Am I Eligible for Transportation” link. WESTS does not provide multiple pick-up or drop-off points, as outlined in WESTS Policies and Procedures.
I live outside the school boundary, but the daycare my children attend is within the school boundary. Can they attend the school and get transportation?
Transportation eligibility is determined by your primary residential address. Even if the Board permits your child to attend a school outside of your designated boundary, transportation services will NOT be provided to any address (including an in-boundary alternate address for daycare/sitter).
Will my child be picked up in front of my house?
Door-to-door service is not offered except in large rural areas where there are no appropriate community stop locations. The absence of sidewalks is not regarded as a hazard or a reason to provide door-to-door service. Bus stops are placed at community locations whenever possible and align with all four school boards in the area.
Do I need to take the bus every day?
School bus transportation must be used consistently for a minimum of three (3) days per week. You may choose pick-up-only or drop-off-only transportation, provided it remains consistent (three days) and you meet the eligibility criteria.
How do I create a student transportation account?
All parents/guardians must have a parent portal account to review their child’s transportation details annually and to view any transportation changes during the school year. Having an account allows you to sign up to receive notifications if your child’s bus route is delayed or transportation is cancelled. To create an account, visit https://buskids.ca/ and click on the “My Bus Information” icon (as shown).
Note: When creating your parent portal account, you MUST use the same email address you provided to your child’s school for your contact information. If you change your email address, you must update it with your school.
How can I request that my child in Grade one or above be required to have an adult or a designated person meet them at the bus stop in the afternoon?
The school must submit a “Designate Form” for that child. This form must be completed and submitted by the school the child attends. This information must flow from the school, so the school is also aware that the child requires a designate at the bus stop and receives a purple “Met At Bus Stop” tag for their backpack. The student must sit at the front of the bus with other students who are required to be met. Students who do not have a designate meet them at their bus stop are subject to the consequences section of Policy SS-02 Accompaniment Of Students At Bus Stops, which may result in the loss of transportation privileges.
What happens if inclement weather is expected?
Parents, guardians, and students should listen to local radio stations, subscribe to email alerts, and/or download the BusPlanner delays app for iPhone or Android devices to check whether buses are operating. N.B. It is up to parents or guardians to decide whether to send their child to school by bus during bad weather.
General information and reminders:
Some school buses have cameras for video and audio recording. The collection of personal information is permitted by the Education Act to enhance safety, ensure appropriate student behaviour, and support incident investigations. Only recordings relevant to investigations, student conduct, or other inquiries will be viewed. All recordings will be handled following MFIPPA regulations, including collection, use, disclosure, retention, security, and disposal. Signs inside and outside the bus will clearly inform that video surveillance is in operation.
Record your child’s school bus transportation information so it is easily accessible. Your child’s transportation information is available in the Parent Portal, as noted on page 2. Ensure you record the bus route number, the bus company name and phone number, and the stop location and times.
KINDERGARTEN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
All Junior and Senior Kindergarten students MUST BE MET at the bus stop by a listed designate. The bus driver is not permitted to drop off a JK/SK student unless there is a listed designate at the bus stop to meet them. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to ensure they are present at the bus stop from Grade one onward, unless they have contacted the school to submit a “Designate Form” for their child in Grade 1 and above.
What are designates?
Designates are individuals listed by the parent or guardian who are authorized to pick up a kindergarten student from the bus in the afternoon. Each student may have up to four (4) designates listed (only parents can be combined to count as one designate name).
Who can be a designate?
It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to select who they want to list as designates, while following the guidelines below:
- First and last names must be provided on the designate list.
- Parents are NOT automatically added to the designate list. If a parent(s) will be a designate, please ensure they are listed as one of the four designates.
- Siblings can be a designate as long as they are at least ten (10) years old.
- All other designates must be at least twelve (12) years old.
What if a designate is NOT at the bus stop to meet my child?
If a listed designate is not at the stop, the driver must return the child to the school after completing the bus route. Please note: If your child is returned to school more than once, transportation privileges will be suspended.
How do I review and update my child’s designate list?
To review your child’s designate list, log in to your Parent Portal on the BusKids website at https://buskids.ca/ (the designate list is located in the “Instructions” section). If you need to update the designate list, please contact the school. All updates require two (2) business days to process.
What is the Purple Bus tag program?
All JK/SK students are identified with a purple tag that must be attached to their backpacks. Parents/guardians must ensure that their child’s tag is on their bag each day, as this helps the driver and spare drivers identify students who require a designate. The school your child attends will distribute these tags.
What should my child do at the bus stop?
Your child should arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes early and wait in a safe spot away from the road. They should only approach the bus when:
- The bus has come to a full stop.
- The stop arm is out, and red lights are flashing.
- All traffic has stopped in all directions.
- Wait for the driver to signal that it is safe to cross in front of the bus if required.
- Look in all directions to ensure all traffic has stopped.
What should my child do on the bus?
Your child should quickly find a seat and sit facing forward. They should keep the aisle clear and keep their arms and head inside the bus at all times. They should listen to the bus driver and avoid loud noises or distractions during the ride. Younger students and students who must be met at the bus by a designated person must sit at the front of the school bus.
How does my child safely get off the bus?
When the bus stops, your child should exit in single file, without pushing or running.
If they need to cross the road, they should:
- take 10 big steps away from the bus so the driver can see them clearly
- wait for the driver’s signal
- walk in front of the bus (never behind)
- look all ways before crossing
- If something is dropped near the bus, children should never pick it up themselves.
They should ask the driver or another adult for help.
Helping your child feel ready
- Practice walking safely to the bus stop together.
- Talk about the steps to take when getting on or off the bus.
- Help your child remember their bus number and stop location.
- Remind your child to speak up if they ever feel unsure or unsafe.
