School Transportation

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

UIPS provides school bus services for its students. The school buses are operating throughout the different areas in the emirates of Dubai and Sharjah.

The buses shall pick up and drop off the students from their respective home addresses only.

SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES

In order to ensure the safety of our students, the following rules must be observed:

WHEN MEETING THE BUS, THE STUDENTS MUST:

• be on time or at least five minutes before the regular pick up;

• not be engage in playing or other activities that will endanger themselves or their companions while waiting for the bus;

• board the bus in an orderly manner; and,

• be accompanied by parents or guardians to and from designated waiting area.

WHEN INSIDE THE BUS, THE STUDENTS MUST:

• be courteous and must obey the instructions of the bus driver and the bus assistant;

• go directly to the assigned seat, remain seated and wear their seat-belts(front seat) throughout the bus journey or while the bust is in motion;

• keep the aisles and walkway clear at all times;

• avoid bad/indecent languages and gestures;

• refrain from being extremely noisy;

• avoid aggressive behavior leading to bullying and fighting;

• not mark or deface the bus; obscene writing or drawing is thus prohibited;

• not throw objects, shout or be verbally or physically abusive towards others;

• not bring friends onto the bus;

• not open windows of the bus;

• bot consume food or beverages;

• not use or bring electronic gadgets;

• be aware that no change will be made in the location of the bus route without the approval of the person in authority;

• be seated on designated area; and

• avoid sleeping inside the bus

WHEN LEAVING THE BUS, THE STUDENTS MUST:

• remain seated until the bus comes to a full stop.

• get off the bus in an orderly manner.

• always cross in front of the bus.

PICK UP AND DROP OFF

• The bus bulletin board will be on display starting from the first day of classes. Any concerns about the list should be coordinated with the Bus Service Department immediately.

• To facilitate the schedule of pick up and drop off of students, the parents must provide the bus coordinator with their address, location map, telephone, fax numbers and e-mails thru letter address to the Transportation Department.

• For Kindergartens 1, 2, and Grade 1 pupils, only one parent/guardian shall be allowed to accompany the child on the bus during the first day of the classes.

• Parents of the students who are not living along the regular bus route must coordinate with the assigned bus assistant(nanny) and bus coordinator for the designated pick up and drop off, changes in address and telephone numbers should be coordinated immediately to bus assistant/nanny in writing.

• A three-minute waiting period is allotted in every pick up point. After the given time, the driver shall leave the place to avoid delays in the trip. Thus, it is encouraged that child must be in pick-up point at least 5 minutes before the arrival time.

• Drivers are not allowed to answer phone calls as per RTA rules. For any concern regarding the bus please contact the bus assistant/nanny.

• To save time and energy and to administer proper service, special arrangements must be done through the bus nanny ahead of time; (a) if in case a student scheduled for pick up shall be absent or shall not take the school bus, (b) if parents would take their children to school but shall not be able to fetch the child after dismissal.

• In the following cases, the parents must secure a permit from the School Principal and details must be forwarded to the Student Affairs Coordinator and Transportation Department: (a) if the student will be brought and fetched by the parents at a designated place; and (b) if the student wishes to ride another bus (the bus assistant or bus rider has the right to refuse the student to ride the bus if the student fails to show the permit), (c) if the parents themselves pick up student/s instead of riding the school bus.

• In the event that the child is late, it shall be the responsibility of the parents/guardians to bring their child to school. If the parents would like to check their child inside the bus, they should call the bus assistant and not the driver.

• All requests, concerns or complaints concerning the school bus transportation shall be referred to the Transportation Department for appropriate action.

CONSEQUENCES

The school bus rules and regulations are for your information and your child's benefits. The bus drivers and assistants are instructed to report to the Student Affairs Department of any infractions. Any student who failed to comply with the reminders above will be reprimanded and parents will be notified regarding the matter through a phone call or a disciplinary notice served by the Students Affairs Coordinator. For the first offense, the student will receive a verbal warning. If the student violates the rules and regulations again, a written warning shall be issued and/or conference with the parents/guardians shall be requested. Further violations would mean deprivation from riding the bus until the end of the school year.

As per RTA rules a student may be deprived from the school transport service if:

• he/she causes the delay of the trip more that three times in one school year;

• he/she violates any safety rule and endangers the lives of others during the trip;

• he/she refuses to ride the bus from the assembly point previously approved by the school management;

• he/she leaves the bus before reaching his/her designated place without prior permission from the person in authority; and

• he/she continues causing disturbance and more than three written complaints were filed against him/her during one school year.

The school bus assistant(nanny) is not expected to give a call to the student/parent. It is the responsibility of the parents to take their children to the school bus or pick - up point on time.

PRIVATE PICK-UP (FETCHERS)

If a student has a private service, fetchers must be at the waiting area 10 minutes before the dismissal time. Students must be pick up on time. They are given 30 minutes only to stay in the car lift area after the dismissal to avoid inconvenience.

Assigned school personnel shall look after them for a maximum of 30 minutes only, after which, the school shall not be held liable for any untoward incident.

For child's safety, the school imposes the "three strikes policy" for parents who are not fetching their children on the scheduled picked up time. As a consequence, they must avail of the school bus service.