RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT

Students using the school bus must remember they are responsible for their behaviour and must follow the instructions from the bus driver and chaperone at all times.

1. The driver and chaperone are in full charge of the bus and his/her directions must be obeyed.
2. The driver will report any misconduct to the Principal of the school.
3. The chaperone may assign specific seats to students at any time.
4. All students must secure their seat belts as soon as they sit down. All students must be seated and belted when the bus is moving.
5. Students must not throw paper or other material on the floor or out of the bus windows.
6. Students must not eat on the bus or hand out any food to other students.
7. While on the bus, students must conduct themselves in a quiet and courteous manner, showing consideration for the comfort and safety of others.

8. Students causing willful damage to the bus will be held fully accountable.
9. When leaving the bus, students must observe the chaperone’s instructions. 

Bus drivers and chaperones are responsible for the safety and conduct of the students while they are on the bus.

Students using the school bus are expected to give the bus driver and chaperone respect, consideration and cooperation, and always and immediately carry out his/her instructions.

If a student chooses to break a rule, the following processes may be applied:

1. i) Student warned by chaperone or driver
2. ii) Student assigned designated seat, parents called

iii) Principal, parent, student, conference

(v) For minor incidents of a continuing nature, chaperones are encouraged to contact the School’s Coordinator prior to referring to the principal.

RESPONSIBLITIES OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVER

The school believes that the bus should be operated in a safe and courteous

manner.

The bus driver shall:

• Be properly licensed for operating a school bus
• Be familiar with and adhere to the requirement of the Highway Traffic Act and related sections of other Acts of Qatar
• Must not exceed the speed limit and drive at no more than 60 kilometers an hour
• Must not undertake
• Must not take unnecessary risks
• Must not drive away before the students have their seat belts on
• Must regularly check for any faults in the belts and immediately refer to the School Administration Team
• Must not use their mobile phones whilst driving 
• Conduct a bus evacuation drill with the students during the first week of school and one other time during the school year, and advise the School Administration Team of the dates on which drills were conducted
• Ensure that the bus interior is clean and that the exterior lights are free of any obstacles. 
• Visually check each and every seat once children have disembarked to ensure no child or their belongings are left behind.

SCHOOL BUS COLLISION

The driver of the school bus must first contact the school immediately and relay the following information:

1) Location

2) Number of students on the bus

3) Are there any injuries?

4) Number of vehicles involved

The school will – 

1) Call 999 and ambulance services if required

2) Send a relief bus to the scene of the accident. 

3) All parents will be notified by telephone by the School Administration Team

RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUS CHAPERONES

• Be familiar with and adhere to this policy.
• Must ensure students have their seat belts on
• Must regularly check for any faults in the belts and immediately refer to the School Administration Team
• Ensure that the bus register is completed and submitted to the Administration Team daily.
• Be available to answer the phone should parents try to contact them during the journey to or from school.
• Ensure decorum and good behaviour is maintained at all times
• Report any behavioural issues to the Administration Team, or the Principal if the issue is of a serious nature.
• Visually check each and every seat once children have disembarked to ensure no child or their belongings are left behind.

In the event that a child is not there for collection when the bus arrives, the chaperone will make a single phone call to the number that was provided by the parents of that child.  If, after 5 minutes, the child is not there, the bus is to carry on its journey.

If a child is not collected in the morning, this is to be verbally passed on the Administration Team, as well as being marked on the bus register when it is submitted daily.

It is the responsibility of the chaperone to know of any planned or unplanned absences or changes made to the bus route or pick up times.  They should check daily with the Administration Team for any such changes.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TEAM

General

The School Administration Team is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the bus

system at the school level. 

Dissemination of Information

The School Administration Team shall:

a) Ensure that the regulations, responsibilities and disciplinary channels are made known to staff and students at the beginning of each school year and throughout the year as required.

b) Make available a copy of this handbook for the parents.

c) Institute a year-round follow-up program to encourage a continuing safety consciousness on the part of all students and teachers.

d) Make every effort to inform parents of younger children of their responsibility for their children, in respect to bus safety, expected behaviour and disciplinary measures which will be taken for breach of regulations.

e) Where it is deemed necessary, coordinate meetings with drivers, students, teachers, parents and the Principal.

f) Consider the bus driver as an extension of school staff and ensure that any problems are discussed with the driver immediately.

g)  Contact parents and class teachers to confirm any absences on the bus

Bus Cancellations Due to Bad Weather or Road Conditions:

The Principal may cancel buses when weather/road conditions constitute a safety risk to the students being transported. The School Administration Team will contact parents in the event of cancellations.