Bus Transport
The College is serviced by school buses which cover the entire catchment. School buses travel to the College through Devon Meadows, Grantville, Blind Bight, Warneet, Tooradin, Clyde, Cardinia, Lang Lang, Catani, Bayles, Caldermeade and Nar Nar Goon. The only students who live outside our bus zone who will be allocated seats are SEAL students and children who have been given exemptions from the Region. Other students will have to make their own way to the college.
EXEMPTIONS. In special circumstances, out of zone parents may apply for an exemption to the Department of Education and Training to gain permission for their child to travel on the school’s buses. Such applications need to be supported by appropriate documentation.
Exemptions may be granted on:
- Curriculum grounds for Year 11 and 12 students
- Compassionate grounds for Year 7 to 12 students
If seeking an exemption, please contact:
Southern Metropolitan Regional Office
Fax: 9794 3500
VACC Building Level 1
33 Princes Highway, Dandenong, 3175
If an exemption is granted, the Department will also decide whether travel will be free or payment will be required.
Note:
- Out of zone students who are allocated a bus seat are required to make their own arrangements to get to the school bus stops.
- Where an exemption is granted and payment is required, payment must be made one term in advance. Students will lose their seat if payment is not made by the due date.
THE SWAMP BUS SYSTEM POLICY
All students who travel on the school bus network have to abide by the following policy. Parents/guardians are required to sign a form indicating that they and their children understand it.
The Swamp Bus System Policy:
Safety Measures:
1. Bus rules
a) Bus travel is a privilege not a right. Students who are repeatedly a safety hazard will not travel on the system.
b) Students must: follow the bus driver's and bus captain's instructions the first time they are given, get on and off safely, wait for the bus to drive on at least 100 metres before crossing the road (cause of most recent fatality in the area in 1992); while at the bus stop, stay off the road and wait quietly and sensibly; while travelling behave safely and remain in their allocated seat. Students must NOT: eat/drink on the bus, put any part of their body out of the bus, shout/scream, use bad language, throw anything from the bus, fight.
c) Regulations state that students are only allowed to go on their allocated bus. Students attempting to travel on any other bus will be put off the bus system for a week.
2. Bus Captains are appointed from reliable senior students and will be trained early in term one.
3. Bus Seating Plan - each student is allocated a seat for the year.
4. Bus Drivers and/or Bus Captains are to report misbehaviour on the bus.
5. Misbehaviour: Students will be dealt with by their schools for misbehaviour at bus stops, bus parks and on the bus. A serious incident (eg: endangering others, distracting the driver) will result in suspension from bus travel for 5 days. The first minor incident reported will result in a verbal warning and the parents being contacted. Second and subsequent minor incidents in a school year will result in suspension from bus travel.
6. All parents to be contacted about the bus policy.
The Swamp Bus System Policy is developed and supported by the schools’ Principals and Councils, Department of Transport and local Bus Proprietors.
This is the agreed policy of the following schools and bus companies.
Bayles P.S., KWR P.S., KWR S.C., Lang Lang P.S.
St. John's P.S., Tooradin P.S., Berwick Bus Lines, Westernport Bus Lines
A reminder to parents that students are not allowed to travel on any other bus than the one to which they have been allocated. It makes no difference if they have a note – they will not be allowed on. This includes notes about travelling to friends’ places or part time work.
Mrs Jane Clay, Bus Coordinator