004 – Responsibilities of Students

Students who are granted the privilege of travelling to and from school by school bus must behave in a safe and appropriate manner while they are aboard the vehicle. Those who behave in an unsafe or inappropriate manner will lose this privilege, in accordance with (026) Progressive Discipline for Infractions on a School Bus. Students are accountable to the school principal for their behaviour while on the school bus and must obey the instructions of the bus driver, who represents the school principal.

1. Be at the bus stop not earlier than ten minutes and not later than five minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus, the bus will not wait for late students.
2. Always keep a safe distance from the road or the street while waiting for the bus.
3. Respect other people’s property and belongings while waiting for the school bus.
4. Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before moving forward to board the bus.
5. Only board the bus to which he/she has been assigned. Elementary students may only disembark at their assigned bus stop. Secondary students may disembark at an existing bus stop other than assigned with advance approval of parent/guardian.

1. Take a seat of their choosing or, if applicable, go to the seat that has been assigned to them.
2. Remain seated at all times, facing forward, with their back against the seat back cushion and their legs facing toward the front of the bus.
3. Avoid distracting or speaking to the bus driver, except in the case of an emergency.
4. Refrain from speaking loudly, being noisy, fighting, swearing or using abusive language.
5. Refrain from getting into fights, annoying, hitting or biting other students on the bus or the bus driver.
6. Refrain from eating, spitting, or dirtying the inside of the bus.
7. Refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs.
8. Refrain from throwing objects inside or outside the vehicle.
9. Keep their hands, legs and head inside the bus.
10. Keep their books, school bags and any other objects on their lap and keep the aisle clear.
11. Bring skates on the bus only if the blades are covered with guards and the skates are kept inside a special carrying bag until the destination is reached.
12. Refrain from bringing items on the bus that are overly large, cumbersome, dangerous or offensive. Animals, firearms, explosives, water guns and others dangerous or cumbersome items are forbidden on school buses. In the event of a conflict, the bus driver and the school principal will decide whether an object is authorized on the bus or not, in accordance with the procedures of STWDSTS.
13. Be liable for any damage done deliberately to the bus.
14. Help keep the bus safe and clean.
15. Take all their personal belongings with them when leaving the bus.
16. Follow all of the bus driver’s instructions in the event of an emergency.
17. Never bully other students or the bus driver while aboard the vehicle.

1. If required to cross the road, immediately move three (3) meters away from the front of the vehicle and wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street.
2. Always watch for traffic before crossing the street.