Buses 2022
From the start of the 2022 school year our school bus operator has changed. Our new school bus operator is Go Bus.
We are working with Go Bus and the Ministry of Education to ensure that the bus service is appropriate and well suited to our student's needs.
Eligibility for school transport assistance
We often get questions about whether students qualify for school transport assistance i.e., a place on a school bus.
To check if your child is eligible for a MOE funded School bus first have a look at the information below and then you can contact David Grieve, Go Bus, phone 07 5432926, to check your eligibility.
If your child is eligible, and you wish to make use of the school bus, you also need to speak to staff in our School Office about completing a bus form. Only once this form is completed can your child travel on the bus - as we then add the student name to our school bus list.
The school bell goes at 2.45pm for bus students. Bus students need to move quickly to the Ranolf Street entrance where a staff member checks students onto the bus. The bus duty teacher does not have time to send for any students who have not turned up for the bus. The bus is on a very tight schedule and the feeder bus needs to get from St Mary's to JPC so it doesn't hold up other buses.
The Ministry of Education has three criteria that students must meet in order to qualify for school transport assistance. They are:
1. The student must attend their closest state or state-integrated school - so if St Michael's is your closest Catholic primary school you are NOT eligible.
2. The student must live more than a certain distance from the school:
o Years 1-8: at least 3.2 km
o Years 9-13: at least 4.8 km
3. There must be no suitable public transport options
School bus routes, timetables, and bus stop information should be the same as in 2021. This should give you a guide on what these are:
St-Marys--School-Bus-Information.pdf
A high standard of behaviour is expected on the bus. Failure to meet this expectation can result in a child no longer being able to travel on the bus.
The Ministry of Education has a handy video on their website that helps explain the eligibility criteria for school transport assistance.
Responsibility of caregivers
To ensure a safe environment for bus loading and unloading, caregivers should:
not park in bus bays
adhere to the speed limit (20 km/h while passing a stationary school bus on either side of
the road)
try to eliminate the need for children to cross the road
ensure that children get to and from the bus stop safely
teach children to not run across the road
Please either stay with your children while they are waiting for their school transport in
the morning or keep in contact with them to make sure that they are picked up safely.
.