The process of transporting our students to and from school in an efficient and safe manner is an important part of the school’s continuing efforts to improve Bus Safety. As part of this evolving process, the School conducts regular reviews of student transportation via the bus and implements safer and more efficient ways of making bus transportation comfortable to parents, students and the School alike.
St Edward Catholic School has adopted the following practices to ensure that School Bus Transportation to and from the school is efficient, effective and alleviates any safety concerns or anxieties of parents and students.
The School utilizes a Safe Arrival Program where students are greeted and directed into the school on arrival of the bus in the morning. Attendance is taken and parents are notified if a child is found to be missing without prior notice from the parent/guardian.
The School sends alerts via email for any major bus delays beyond ten (10) minutes. A parent/caregiver can call the school to be added to the list at any time.
The School works closely with parents/caregivers, students and the TDSB to ensure that students get to and from school safely.
At the end of the school day, students who use Bus Transportation are placed in queues according to an Attendance List and taken to the relevant bus. Attendance is verified as the bus is boarded. If a student is on the list but not on the bus, the attendants will contact the teacher to locate the student and verify a reason for lack of attendance on the bus. The youngest students are placed at the front of the bus.
The School’s bus service suppliers are Stock Transportation (routes 1, 2, 3 & 5) and Sharp Transportation (route 4). Parents/Caregivers can call Stock/Sharp Transportation directly if there are any questions regarding the Bus Service.
The contact number for Stock Transportation is 416-757-0565.
The contact number for Sharp Transportation is 416-477-4809.
The School uses the Purple Equals Parent Program. This is a system implemented by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to assist bus drivers in identifying those students who must be met by a parent/caregiver at the drop off stop. This program is designed for the youngest users of the bus. Students are tagged by the school with a purple band (attached to the school bag). It is important to note that the program has many roles and responsibilities and parents/caregivers must be at the drop-off stop to receive the child.
Younger students who do not take the bus, from Kindergarten to Grade 1, are directly handed over to parents/caregivers.