Buses

90% of our students bus to and from school.  Physical and emotional safety is paramount.  BOT policies Safe Bus and Town Bus govern bus procedures. Drivers are valued de facto members of staff, they have daily contact with Senior Managers and office staff, and are included in our VIP morning teas.  Ritchies  have  the  right  to  ban  students  from  a  bus  run  if  student  behaviour  is unacceptable. 
The students on each bus run meet each term as a vertical whanau group known as Bus Whānau.  All teachers are assigned to Bus Whānau as pastoral supporters.  The Deans convene Bus Whānau meetings twice each term to promote good behaviour, hear student voice, and monitor progress. Students who walk to school have a separate travel group.  Students who travel by car join the whānau of their local bus run.

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EVERY STUDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL SAFELY TO AND FROM SCHOOL.  

 

• STUDENTS WHO DENY OTHERS OF THAT RIGHT ARE NOT WELCOME AT MANGAKAHIA AREA SCHOOL 

• SCHOOL BUSES ARE AN EXTENSION OF THE SCHOOL. THE SAME CONDITIONS APPLY REGARDING STUDENT BEHAVIOUR, UNIFORM, ALONG WITH ADDED SAFETY RESTRICTIONS.

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We fully support our drivers - they are an integral, important part of our school team:
 

• Senior Managers work closely with them - daily contact, support, newsletters    

• We run Bus Whānau meetings  where bus groups learn how to keep each other safe

• The bus controller is the first point of contact for any concerns

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The driver has complete authority - passengers must behave safely at all times :

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• The driver judges when behaviour that distracts his/her attention becomes unsafe

• Distracting behavior calling out, talking loudly, throwing things, moving about, eating, drinking, making silly noises, bullying, attracting attention of other road users.

• The driver can stop the bus, ring the school, and wait for Senior Managers to arrive

• Two Senior Managers will drive to the bus and remove the offending student(s)

• The Deans will contact parents and a stand-down or suspension is likely

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A driver feeling unsafe can refuse to transport a particular student and request a ban:

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• The bus owner has the sole right to ban any offender from using the bus again    

• This could well risk a student’s ability to attend school if there is no other transport

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Bus Timetable