Primary Girls using Public Transport

This year, we have seen a rise in the number of Primary students utilising public transport to travel to and from school. This is a pleasing trend, particularly from an environmental perspective, reducing the numbers of cars on the road and traffic during drop off and pick time.

To help parents make an informed decision on whether your Primary aged daughter is ready to catch the bus independently, I have outlined some keys points below that indicate what the School does to support the girls at the end of the day, and some things you may wish to consider and discuss with your daughter before she travels home by herself.

• At the end of the day Staff will accompany Primary girls catching the bus to the 2 most frequently used routes. This includes William St (in both directions) and Bourke St (389 towards Bondi).
• Primary girls travelling by bus meet staff at the Bourke St gates and must arrive promptly for a 3.10 pm departure. Should they arrive after that point, they will need to walk to the bus stop independently.
• Staff will remain at the William St and Bourke St bus stops, supervising the girls until 3.25 pm. After this point in time, they will then return to school. Your daughter is welcome to return to school with the staff member if the bus has not arrived, or they can wait on their own, until the next bus arrives. (Please note, the teacher on duty will remain on the side of William St, travelling towards the city, and does not wait with the girls travelling towards the East.)
• In addition, students from the Secondary school travel on most major bus routes and there are two Secondary staff members also on duty at the William St bus stop, ensuring the girls get safely on the bus.

Some things to discuss with your daughter:

• Over the past few months, a range of factors including reported driver shortages have resulted in more disruption, including buses being late or cancelled. Chat to your daughter about what her plan of action should be in case of a network disruption or if a series of buses do not arrive. For example, she might return to the Primary Office (which is open until 6.00pm).
• Ensure your daughter is fully versed on what she does at the other end of her journey. Does she know which stop to get off at? Will you meet her at the bus stop, or will she make her own way home from there? What will she do if she accidentally misses her stop or if the bus is diverted to another route?
• Can your daughter travel with a friend who lives locally, or perhaps an older student from the Secondary school? However, it’s also important to know what to do if that friend or older student is absent from school or not catching the bus too!
• Make a plan with your daughter as to what she might do if she ever feels worried or uncomfortable whilst travelling on public transport. Who might she approach on the bus/ in public is she is worried or unsure?

Helen Dempsey
Head of Primary School