Author Archives: Snap360 Support
Register for the Walking School Bus – Starting May 1,2018
- Wednesday, 25 April 2018 13:00
- Snap360 Support
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If your child walks to school, they can now join up with some friends and a trained leader to accompany them to school. The Walking School Bus (WSB) is designed to promote active transportation and healthy living. Students walk to school with a group of up to 10 peers and a professional leader, following a specific route and schedule. OSTA’s Walking School Bus (WSB) program will be offered in eleven (11) Ottawa schools starting in September 2018. Find out if your school is participating and sign up today!
Variable Transportation for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement and Having Two Homes & Renewal Process
- Monday, 03 April 2017 11:26
- Snap360 Support
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OSTA has updated the procedure section of the Variable Transportation for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement and Having Two Homes. Families that currently receive variable transportation under this policy, will need to renew the following for 2017/2018 school year by June 30th:
– If the access calendar is the same as the original application, only a new calendar will be required for renewal;
– If there are ANY changes to the schedule at all (e.g. address, school. etc.), a new request form and a new calendar is required for submission with signatures from both parents.
Student Active Transportation Policy Approved!
- Wednesday, 27 April 2016 18:58
- Snap360 Support
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The OSTA Board of Directors has approved a School Active Transportation Policy, which is the first of its kind in Ontario. In an unprecedented initiative, the Consortium is adopting an active transportation program that contributes to student success and well-being by encouraging physical activity every day.
Active Transportation refers to any form of human-powered transportation – walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating or skateboarding, for example. The policy ensures that OSTA’s program will address accessibility, cycling, and manage pedestrian and vehicular traffic around busy schools.
With our school board partner, City partners and community partners, OSTA programs include:
- School Active Transportation Charter, signed by OCDSB, OCSB and OSTA Leaders
- Review of walking hazards at over 180 schools
- Preferred walk route to school maps for all elementary schools
- School Travel Planning facilitation with Green Communities Canada
- Walking School Bus routes at 8 schools
- School site traffic safety reviews
- Participation in the Ottawa School Active Transportation Network
- Reducing and/or managing vehicle and pedestrian traffic around school sites
Variable Transportation for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement and Having Two Homes & Renewal Process
- Saturday, 16 April 2016 18:42
- Snap360 Support
- 0 Comments
OSTA has updated the procedure section of the Variable Transportation for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement and Having Two Homes. Families that currently receive variable transportation under this policy, will need to renew the following for 2016/2017 school year by June 30th:
– If the access calendar is the same as the original application, only a new calendar will be required for renewal;
– If there are ANY changes to the schedule at all (e.g. address, school. etc.), a new request form and a new calendar is required for submission with signatures from both parents.
Inclement Weather – Cancellations of Transportation
- Thursday, 12 November 2015 19:00
- Snap360 Support
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The safety of students is always the first consideration when OSTA makes the decision to cancel transportation services. We consult the best forecasted weather information available along with several external sources. Years of experience for those involved also help us make the best decision for the students we serve.
Several times each day and night, OSTA staff receives up-to-date information from The Weather Network and Environment Canada regarding weather and road conditions in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Beginning at 4:00 am, we are in close contact with school bus operators, transportation officials across the city, and municipal roads crews to assist in determining if transportation services should be cancelled for the day. The decision whether or not to cancel transportation services is made by 5:30am and the decision is communicated to the public by 6:15am.
Parents make the decision that’s best for their family
We service a large geographical area, which means that weather and road conditions may differ from one area to another. If services are not cancelled, parents ultimately have the right to keep their child at home if they have concerns about the weather or road conditions in their area. Alternatively, on days when buses are cancelled, parents can also decide to bring their children to school themselves as schools remain open. Cancellation of transportation services apply to the whole day. Parents who drive their children to school days when transportation services are cancelled must also make arrangements to pick them up at the end of the school day.