Over the course of the winter, conditions for safe vehicle travel are, at times, compromised.  The following guidelines will be used when these conditions arise:

• Bus service will be cancelled when the temperature/wind-chill at 6:30 AM is -45^oC or below.  The decision regarding bus service will be made through consultation with Hertz Northern Bus and the Principal.  In all other circumstances, bus drivers have been advised to drive their route only if they feel it is safe to do so.  If they cancel the route for the day, bus drivers will call all families on their route to inform them of the cancellation.
• Please check the school website (www.saskatoonchristianschool.ca) and/or listen to radio station CKOM AM 650 and Global TV in the morning for severe weather updates and bus cancellations. Once a decision has been made to cancel bus routes due to inclement weather, it will be posted on our website (by 6:45 AM) and the media will be contacted and information announced.  Drivers will phone parents to make sure they are aware of the cancelled service.  If parents are in doubt or can provide travel advisory’s, please contact our bus contractor; Hertz Northern Bus information line is 374-5161.
• If buses are delayed because of the weather, please contact Hertz (374-5161) for information regarding new pick-up/drop-off times.
• When the decision is made not to drive the morning route, the route is considered to be cancelled for the complete day, and no afternoon route will occur.   Any students who may have used an alternate means to arrive at school must arrange individual transportation home.
• Please ensure your children are dressed for winter weather conditions in case the bus becomes stranded or encounters mechanical problems.  If a bus breakdown occurs, it may be some time before another bus or alternate arrangements can be made to transport students.
• Parents should ensure their children have a plan in the event the bus is delayed or does not arrive to pick them up.  Children must be aware of how long to wait at their stop before returning home or going to an alternate location (if the streets are blocked with snow or stranded vehicles).
• Parents should use their radio/TV to receive information about school bus cancellations.  Listen to radio station CKOM AM 650 and Global TV between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM for information regarding such cancellations.  Unless it is presented in the media, Saskatoon Christian School will remain open to take in anyone who is need of assistance or shelter all schools in Saskatoon Public are designated as a “shelter in place”.  It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to wisely choose the safety of travel for themselves and their children on any given day.  Parents are not required to send their children to school if, in their judgment, weather conditions/road conditions are detrimental to the safety or well-being of their families. We would ask parents to contact the school to make us aware of their decision.
• Rural parents should have a billet arranged in Saskatoon with whom their children will stay in the event that children are unable to return home from school.
• Once at school, buses will not normally depart until regular dismissal time:
  • In the event that return service from the school is advanced or delayed pending a change in conditions (normally one hour), SCS will telephone all parents to inform them.  The driver will accept on board the bus only those students whose family was contacted and who accept the advanced or delayed service.  The bus will leave SCS at the determined time and operate drop-offs according to the return routing.  Bus riders left at the school will remain the responsibility of the Principal.  In the event the bus driver cannot deliver all students to their drop off location, the driver will return them to the school where they will be the responsibility of the Principal.
  • In the event the afternoon run is cancelled completely, SCS will telephone all parents to inform them.  Students left at the school will remain the responsibility of the Principal.

Please feel welcome to call if you have questions.