Student Transportation Services of Brant Haldimand Norfolk experiencing shortage of school bus drivers
Shortage causing delays in scheduled services, interested individuals encouraged to apply
Student Transportation Services of Brant Haldimand Norfolk (STSBHN) is advising that a shortage of school bus drivers is affecting school bus operations in the Counties of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk as well as the City of Brantford. Similar to many school boards across Ontario, the shortage is impacting some schools and families through delays in scheduled services.
STSBHN is working with the three local bus companies to try to minimize the impact on students by splitting routes and re-assigning stops.
Parents are encouraged to sign up for delay and cancellation notifications on the STSBHN parent portal (transinfobhn.ca) or download the Delays app (supported by Apple and Android devices, visit stsbhn.ca/faqs for “how to” information). A list of bus delays is also posted daily on the STSBHN website.
“We appreciate the close to 400 caring professional school bus drivers who service our community and support the education sector; they are the backbone of the services we provide.” says Philip Kuckyt, Manager of Transportation Services for STSBHN. “We hear from our drivers about how school bus driving is a challenging, rewarding and fulfilling part-time career in protecting the safety of our students and getting them to school ready to learn. Our families appreciate and rely on our school bus drivers to deliver their children to and from school safely.”
Kuckyt acknowledges that he and his staff are aware of the impact this driver shortage is having on families and appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding during this challenging time.
The bus driver shortage is currently impacting all parts of the region, and STSBHN is working to support the recruitment of new drivers. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the following bus companies to see if becoming a professional school bus driver is a good fit for them:
- First Student Canada: 905-648-1386
- Sharp Bus Lines, Brantford: 519-751-3434
- Sharp Bus Lines, Simcoe: 519-426-0050
- Voyago Transportation: 519-787-2202
STSBHN is a transportation consortium providing home to school transportation services to students of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Grand Erie District School Board and Conseil Scholaire Catholique MonAvenir.
For additional information, please contact:
Philip Kuckyt
Manager of Transportation Services
515-751-7532
Get Out / Get Active - Colour House Event at Mohawk Park
The whole school participated in our Get Out/Get Active day on Monday, April 24th at Mohawk Park. Students played together in multi-grade Colour House groups as they rotated through 6 stations (scavenger hunt, parachute games, obstacle course, mural painting, play structure and snack). The weather was perfect for some exercise, team building, and co-operative learning.
Pink Shirt Day - February 22, 2017
The students of Echo Place School participated in several activities last month to educate and inspire our students to stand up against bullying and create a welcome, inclusive and safe school environment. Classes worked together to create posters that are now proudly displayed in our hallways.
They also worked in Colour House groups to create a welcome tree at our front entrance. Each student traced their handprint on coloured paper and wrote how they make this school a safe and kind place for everyone. On February 22, our school participated in Pink Shirt Day and classes presented stories and pledges at our school assembly, to share their understanding of the impact that bullying has, and why we will stand up against it.
The Amazing Math Race
On Tuesday, November 29th several families gathered in the gym to participate in our first Amazing Math Race.
Each family was given a passport and travelled from room to room solving fun math challenges. Each page of the passport was given a stamp when the challenge in that room was completed. When the passports were filled, the families returned to the gym for their prizes.
Everyone enjoyed cake, juice and coffee and all families received valuable resources to support their child's math learning at home. It was a great event.
Echo Place News for October 28, 2016
By Mr. Roberts Grade 6/7 class
Click to View the Echo Place News Report
Missing – Sound system
The sound system we use at assemblies for our microphone and to amplify our slide shows has gone missing from the stage area in our gym. The last time it was used was at our last assembly, on Sept. 30th. We have looked high and low, but have be unable to locate our system. It consists of a large amplifier, with multiple knobs and two large speakers. It is a Fender Passport 150 Pro. We are hopeful that if this system has been take out of the school, someone will spot it and let us know. The staff and students are all very sad that our only system has gone missing.
If you have any information about our sound system, please call 905-753-2931
Let's Chalk!
Echo Place Students participate in Let's Chalk Event
Friendship Bench
Our Friendship Bench is created in memory of Mrs. Linington and Mrs. Kauk, who were friends to everyone at Echo Place. This bench will be placed outside in our school yard, and will be used as a place for children to go when they need a friend. Several students from each classroom helped decorate the bench by supplying their painted handprints.
Golden Dustpan Award
At the end of each month, Ms. Reading (Custodian) will award the cleanest classroom with the Golden Dustpan Award. This month, Ms. Mancini and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class was the winner. They will proudly display their trophy in the classroom for the following month.
At the end of the school year, the classroom that won the Golden Dustpan the most times will win a special surprise.
"We Believe In Clean"
September 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winner: Mrs. Wainwright's Grade 4/5 Class (below)
February 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms Mancini (in for Mrs. Springett) and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK Class (below)
January 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)
December 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Woodley's Grade 2 class (below)
November 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Springett and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class (below)
October 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms. Barrett's JK/SK class (below)
September 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)