Bus Information

School Bus Information

Children are eligible to travel on the bus if they are more than 3.2km from school and bus travel is free if Otewa School is your closest school. We currently have 3 predetermined routes for our bus run. The MOE has a contract with Go bus to service the school routes. 

Suzanne Wright is the bus controller and will liaise with bus drivers to discuss any issues with children’s behaviour.  In the event of bus route changes due to flooding, school will ring families to inform them of the bus change.

Safety actions for caregivers

To help make a school bus trip safe, caregivers who are dropping off / picking up students at the bus stop should:

•      when dropping students off at the bus, get out of the car and go with them to the bus stop

•      when collecting students, get out of the car and meet them as they get off the bus, on the same side of the road that the bus has stopped, and go with them to the car.

This will help to stop students running across the road to or from the bus into the path of passing traffic.

Caregivers should also spend time with students to help them understand how they can keep themselves safe and how they are expected to behave on the bus.

Safety actions for students

Students who are given a place on a school bus can do a number of things to keep themselves and other students on the bus safe:

Getting on the bus

•      Wait at the designated place – well back from the road.

•      Wait until the bus has stopped before getting on.

•      If there is more than one set of doors, get on through the door by the driver.

•      Put your bag (and anything else you are carrying) under the seat or on your lap.

•      If there are no free seats, fill the bus from the back, put your bag on the floor, and hold onto a handrail or seat-back.

Getting off the bus

•      Wait until the bus has stopped.

•      Get off the bus (through the front door if possible) carefully without pushing.

•      Wait well back from the road until the bus has moved away. Then, if you need to cross, find a safe place where you can see clearly up and down the road.

General 

•      Carry your school bag in front of you when getting on and off the bus so it doesn’t get caught in the door.

•      Stand well clear of the bus if it is turning or reversing.

•      Don’t leave the bus between home and school (and vice versa) unless you have permission from the Principal.

•      Behave in an appropriate and safe way while on the bus, Please sign the Code of conduct for using the bus.