Transportation
JKCS offers five bus routes to and from the school.
The fee for families requiring bus transportation is $2,700.
We try to ensure ride times are less than one hour per trip. JKCS offers door-to-door bus service for Kindergarten students, and for students with physical needs.
To learn more about our bussing service, or to arrange for bussing for your child(ren), please contact Vice Principal Alta Van Niekerk at:
avanniekerk@jkcs-oakville.ca
905-829-8048 Ext. 225.
Bus Code of Conduct
BUS CODE OF CONDUCT
PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING RULES & PROCEDURES WITH YOUR CHILD(REN)
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Students should be at their bus stop a minimum of 5 minutes before their established stop time. The bus will not wait for late arrivals.
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Parents meeting their child(ren) at the end of the day need to be at the stop a minimum of 5 minutes before the set drop off time. The bus will not wait for you (it will return your child to the school once the route has been completed. You will be responsible for picking up your child from Before and After School Care).
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Students must wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before boarding the bus in a safe and orderly fashion.
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Students must remain seated until the bus reaches its destination. Moving from seat-to-seat and standing are not permitted. Students may stand to disembark only after the bus has stopped completely.
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A seating plan may be put in place.
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Students must obey and demonstrate respect for the bus driver and the rules in place to provide a safe trip for the bus driver, students, and others driving on the road.
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Students must demonstrate respectful, Christian behaviour while riding the bus. Gossip, spitting, throwing objects, foul language, yelling, loud talk, name-calling, pushing, hitting, or any other inappropriate and distracting bus riding behaviour will not be tolerated.
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Students must keep all parts of their body inside the bus at all times.
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Students must not throw anything outside of the window.
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The aisle must be kept free of materials at all times.
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Eating, drinking, and chewing gum is not permitted on the bus at any time.
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Students must not litter on the bus.
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Students must not touch the emergency exit controls unless instructed by the bus driver.
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Any time a student wishes to deviate from their normal riding habits (route and stop), the school must be notified in writing with reasonable notice.
Riding the bus is a privilege. Students who do not demonstrate respect for and reasonable adherence to the Bus Code of Conduct risk losing temporary or permanent bus riding privileges.
Transportation Key Facts
Who are my key contacts for transportation?
Alta van Niekerk: Vice-Principal, Operations, JKCS: avanniekerk@jkcs-oakville.ca
First Student (Bus Service Provider): 905-270-0561
JKCS office: 905-829-8048 / office@jkcs-oakville.ca
How many buses transport students to school?
5 buses.
When do buses operate?
The general ride window is between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. Students requesting transportation outside of these travel windows need approval from the school administration.
How much does busing cost?
The cost per family (one or more students) is $2700.
If I cancel busing during the school year are there any costs?
If you provide one month’s notice of cancellation, no fee is applied. If you provide less than one month’s notice, a $270 fee will be applied.
When do I need to inform the school I would like to request busing for my children?
Transportation requests need to be communicated in May/June.
When are the bus routes set?
Bus routes are set during July by our bus service provider First Student.
How are stops determined?
Stops are positioned an average of a 5-minute walk from a student’s front door. The exceptions to this rule are for kindergarten students, students with disabilities, and the first stop on every route. These exceptions receive front door service.
When will I know what my route is and when my stop times are?
An email with route and stop information will be sent to you two weeks prior to the start of school.
What happens when a family requests busing after the routes are set?
A family requesting busing after routes are set will be assigned an existing stop respecting the average 5-minute walk rule.
What if I want to change my stop?
A request needs to be submitted to the vice-principal in charge of transportation Alta van Niekerk avanniekerk@jkcs-oakville.ca. A change can only happen if it respects the guidelines in place for stop placement (see above).
When does my child need to be at his/her stop?
Students need to be at their stop a minimum of 5 minutes before the set stop time. It is important to note the bus will not wait past the set stop time.
If I am meeting my child at the stop at the end of the day, when do I have to be there?
Please be at the stop 5 minutes prior to the set stop drop off time. It is important to note the bus will not wait for you to arrive past the set stop time.
What happens if I am not at the stop to meet my child?
If you have not signed a document (provided by the school) giving permission to the bus company to drop your child off at his/her stop without being met by you (or someone you have designated), and you are not at the stop on time, the bus will complete the route and then return the student to the school. You will be contacted by the bus company or the school and you will be required to pick up your child from the school after-care program.
What do I do if my child will not be taking the bus to school in the morning?
Please call our bus service provider First Student at 905-270-0561.
What do I do if my child will not be taking the bus home in the afternoon?
Please inform the school via the homeroom teacher or the office at 905-829-8048.
What if my child wants to use a different stop on the way home?
A parental written note must be submitted to the vice-principal. The vice-principal will sign the note and return it to the student, who will give it to the bus driver.
Who is responsible for student conduct on the bus?
The bus driver is responsible for maintaining order and providing a safe ride for all students. Students not respecting the rules of riding the bus, as outlined in the student Code of Conduct, will be addressed by the vice-principal. Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right, and this privilege may be suspended should the student demonstrate continued disregard for the stated rules.
What happens in the case of an emergency on the bus?
The bus driver will contact the appropriate authorities. Individual health concerns, with permission from you, will be provided to the bus company.
What happens if the buses are cancelled or delayed?
You will be contacted by the school if the bus is significantly delayed (longer than 20 minutes) or if school has been cancelled for the day.