Repulse Bay - All-busing - Frequently Asked Questions
Just below is a range of questions that you may be asking, or thinking of, as a result of our announcement to go to all-busing for the Repulse Bay campus. This will come into effect in the fall of 2013.
We have made every effort to be as comprehensive as possible, but we may have missed a question that you have, in which case, please feel free to contact us directly at newlowerprimary@hkis.edu.hk and we will be happy to respond to you as quickly as possible.
General Questions
1. What triggered the change to compulsory busing for all students currently in Repulse Bay?
2. Is HKIS the only international school requiring compulsory busing?
3. I have children in different HKIS schools on different campuses. Will compulsory busing be applied to all? Will they need to take different buses?
4. In what special situations might HKIS make an exception for my child’s need for direct private car access for pick-ups and drop-offs, for example doctor’s appointments?
5. What happens if my child is sick and I need to pick him/her up from school?
6. How will compulsory busing be enforced?
7. What if I need to go to school between drop-off and pick-up times?
8. What procedures will be in place to provide further updates on the busing situation?
Bus Routes/Schedules
9. What will the average travel times be?
10. Will bus rides be any longer than they currently are because of increased distances to routes or the addition of passengers?
11. My child’s current bus pick-up time is too early. Can HKIS implement later pick-up times?
12. What are you doing about families that live outside of areas currently served bus routes? How will children arrive at school from Clearwater Bay or Sai Kung?
13. Can the routes be shortened by adding more buses to cover existing routes?
14. Is busing mandatory for the 4:00 pm ASA dismissal?
15. Are R1 students required to take the bus?
16. How many additional bus routes will be added?
Bus Fees
17. How much are bus fees?
18. Will the fee for buses decrease since HKIS is increasing services with the bus company?
19. Will the bus fees be built into the overall tuition costs?
20. Is there an option for either roundtrip or one-way bus transportation?
21. Could HKIS buy buses and use Kwoon Chung drivers?
Logistics
22. How many children will ride each bus?
23. How many buses will be added?
24. Some buses appear to be empty. Can HKIS switch to smaller buses?
25. Will there be exceptions for students who walk to school to ride the bus when it rains?
26. Can I ride with my child at first while he/she gets used to riding the bus to school?
27. How can the campus accommodate the increased number of buses?
28. What is being done to streamline busing?
29. Can my Upper Primary child change buses every day?
30. What happens to students who miss the bus?
31. How will this impact HKIS high school students on days when their first class is second period?
32. Can parents drive to school for parent/teacher conferences?
33. How will HKIS address inappropriate behavior on the bus?
34. Can my child have an assigned seat on the bus?
35. Are there seat belts on the buses?
36. What happens if there is a delay and I am waiting at the bus stop?
Health & Safety
37. Do you have any information available about the bus company’s safety record?
38. I would like to learn more about the bus company’s safety record and how they select drivers. Where can I find that?
39. What level of supervision will be on the bus since most of the drivers do not speak English?
40. In case of emergency, how will we communicate with the drivers?
41. The first few weeks of school are scary for my child. What can we do to help with that on the bus?
42. Can HKIS use high school students as bus monitors?
Environment
43. Will compulsory busing really have an impact on the local environment?
After School Activities
44. My child is involved in after-school activities (ASAs). Will there be busing to accommodate ASAs, or, will parents be permitted to pick-up children following ASAs?
45. Can HKIS accommodate tutors on-campus since children will no longer have access to private vehicle transportation to attend these after-school activities?
Taxis
46. Can my child be dropped off or picked up by a taxi?
Transportation to the Lower Primary Chai Wan Campus
47. Will busing be mandatory for Lower Primary students in Chai Wan in 2013/2014?
48. Will R1 students be required to take the bus?
49. Will busing take longer to Chai Wan?
50. Will there be seats on the buses for parents to accompany children to Chai Wan?
51. Can my Lower Primary child who is attending school in Chai Wan change buses every day?
52. Will the buses to Chai Wan be small or large buses?
Parents, Parking and School Access
53. Can parents of R2-G2 students drive to the Chai Wan campus during the 2013/2014 school year?
54. Can you offer a school bus stop at a location where there is satellite parking available?
55. What happens if my child is ill or has a special appointment and I need to pick them up during the school day?
General Questions
1. What triggered the change to compulsory busing for all students currently in Repulse Bay?
The heavy traffic at both our Repulse Bay and Tai Tam campuses has been an ongoing issue for many years. The situation presents environmental and safety concerns as well as difficulty for our neighbors. The volume of traffic during daily dismissal brings traffic on South Bay Close to a near stand still for nearly an hour, making access to the school and residents’ homes extremely difficult. Currently more than 20 HKIS faculty and staff are required to manage the arrival and dismissal to ensure safety for the students. This results in 30-45 minutes daily of faculty time that could otherwise devoted to academic-related activities – that equates to almost 15 hours per day.Going to mandatory busing has been something that we have been considering for a number of years to address these issues. As the Lower Primary redevelopment moved forward, one thing became clear: the school's leadership, our neighbors, the police and the Hong Kong transportation departments all want a solution. We believe that mandatory busing is the best option for our Repulse Bay campus to ensure safety and efficiency for getting our students to and from school.
2. Is HKIS the only international school requiring compulsory busing?
While the traffic situation for each international school is unique, they are generally distinguished by the negative impact on their surrounding neighborhoods. HKIS is not alone in requiring compulsory busing: the Pokfulam campus of German Swiss International School also requires compulsory busing. Other international schools, such as the French International School in Chai Wan, strongly endorse a busing only policy for its students. HKIS is opting to take a proactive stance to improve not only the safety of our students, parents, neighbors and faculty, but also to promote the low carbon lifestyle that we strive to teach our students.
3. I have children in different HKIS schools on different campuses. Will compulsory busing be applied to all? Will they need to take different buses?
Busing will be compulsory for the Repulse Bay campus starting August 2013. The school bus option is recommended for all other campuses, including the temporary Lower Primary campus in Chai Wan. Buses will serve only one campus, so your children may be on different buses if they are in both Lower and Upper Primary.
4. In what special situations might HKIS make an exception for my child’s need for direct private car access for pick-ups and drop-offs, for example doctor’s appointments?
We are willing to look at extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. This can be discussed, and applied for, through the building Principal. Our school nurse calls parents when a child needs to go home. In those circumstances, private vehicles will be permitted to pick up that child.
5. What happens if my child is sick and I need to pick him/her up from school?
Our school nurse calls parents when a child needs to go home. In those circumstances, private vehicles will be permitted to pick up that child.
6. How will compulsory busing be enforced?
HKIS will issue busing guidelines and agreements regarding compulsory busing. The agreements will need to be signed by all parents and household members. This ‘letter of understanding, which will be drafted with parental input, will hold all family members accountable to HKIS policies regarding busing and private vehicle access to the campuses. We will also be publishing detailed information and maps that indicate on which roads it is illegal to stop (double yellow lines) to pick-up or drop-off students. These rules are set in place by the Hong Kong Transportation Department to improve the safety of our students and other people. We anticipate that all HKIS families will respect these traffic boundaries and recognize that these rules are being enforced due to legal and safety issues.
7. What if I need to go to school between drop-off and pick-up times?
For Upper Primary, we encourage the HKIS community to use public transport wherever possible, however, it is possible to arrive by taxi or private vehicle. Parents visiting the Lower Primary in Chai Wan are encouraged to take public transportation. Taxis and private vehicles are not permitted to stop in front of the school. However, there are a number of hourly-rate paid parking lots near the school, which you are welcome to use.
8. What procedures will be in place to provide further updates on the busing situation?
We understand the HKIS community wants to be informed of school news and decisions. We have multiple ways of communicating with parents are and committed to keep parents informed and updated. A new microsite has been launched, which includes an improved FAQ, ‘opt-in’ communications, video diaries and weekly updates. Through this site and our RSS feed, parents are able to tailor how they receive information. In general, anyone can email newlowerprimary@hkis.edu.hk for a response. HKIS maintains an open-door policy for conversations with the HKIS community, and we are always willing to listen to your concerns and work with you on them.
Bus Routes/Schedules
9. What will the average travel times be?
The longest bus trip is now between the Kowloon Tong station and Repulse Bay. It starts at 6:40 am and ends at 7:15 am – a total of 35 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The shortest bus trip is 5 minutes from 109 and 127 Repulse Bay. Our goal is that no student will spend any longer than the 35-minutes spent by those children who are now traveling from the Kowloon Tong station.
10. Will bus rides be any longer than they currently are because of increased distances to routes or the addition of passengers?
We will be adding in new buses and routes as necessary in order to make sure that no children are on the bus longer than 35-minutes.
11. My child’s current bus pick-up time is too early. Can HKIS implement later pick-up times?
HKIS will aim to adhere to a bus schedule system where no buses pick-up students before 7:00 am on Hong Kong island. Due to traffic and distance, this is unlikely to apply to pick-ups in Kowloon.
12. What are you doing about families that live outside of areas currently served bus routes? How will children arrive at school from Clearwater Bay or Sai Kung?
HKIS student who live in areas not served by bus routes may opt to be driven or carpool to a centralized pick-up location. Choosing to board the school bus at the last Kowloon stop or the very last stop before Repulse Bay will save them time, versus joining a bus at an earlier Kowloon stop. HKIS may consider adding a bus stop in Lam Tin.
13. Can the routes be shortened by adding more buses to cover existing routes?
HKIS is working with our long-standing transportation partner, Kwoon Chung Motors, to minimize time on buses and to ensure that all routes are the most direct for each child. Our goal is to strike a balance between minimizing each child’s time on the bus and minimizing the number of buses dropping-off and picking-up students for safety concerns.
14. Will busing be mandatory for the 4:00 pm ASA dismissal?
Yes. HKIS is switching to compulsory busing for all school-sponsored activities ending at 4:00 p.m.
15. Are R1 students required to take the bus?
No. As R1 students will be schooled on the Tai Tam campus, they may arrive by private car. They may also arrive by bus, if preferred.
16. How many additional bus routes will be added?
The HKIS bus routes are already very comprehensive with 35 routes. However, we will be adding in new routes to ensure that no journeys are longer than they are today.
Bus Fees
17. How much are bus fees?
Current round-trip bus fares range from HK$7,560 to HK$14,220 per year, depending on your place of residence. Rates will not increase with the move to compulsory busing.
18. Will the fee for buses decrease since HKIS is increasing services with the bus company?
HKIS works with our transportation partner to provide the most economical fee structure. It is likely that the HKIS bus fees will remain the same as the fee structure is based on the location of the departure/pick-up points.
19. Will the bus fees be built into the overall tuition costs?
HKIS must charge bus fees separately from tuition since some children will walk to school or take the bus one-way – one size does not fit all in this situation.
20. Is there an option for either roundtrip or one-way bus transportation?
Yes. Parents will be able to select either roundtrip or one-way bus service for their children. For example, a student who walks to school may buy a one-way ticket to Tai Tam for ASAs.
21. Could HKIS buy buses and use Kwoon Chung drivers?
HKIS has been working with Kwoon Chung for over 46 years – they are the experts in transportation within Hong Kong and we feel it is right to defer to their expert knowledge and skills. HKIS will be keeping a firm focus on education.
Logistics
22. How many children will ride each bus?
Some larger buses can hold between 45-65 children while smaller buses will accommodate up to 28 children. However, because of the different activities each day, it is not always possible to accurately predict how many children will be on a particular bus on a given day. We are working with our partner, Kwoon Chung Motors, to maximize the occupancy of each bus, and to ensure that we have the appropriately sized bus for the route.
23. How many buses will be added?
With the switch to compulsory busing, we anticipate adding in buses to fit with demand, including at least one additional bus for Kowloon.
24. Some buses appear to be empty. Can HKIS switch to smaller buses?
Ensuring an efficient and convenient transportation network for students and faculty is of utmost importance to us. HKIS bus riders fluctuate on a daily basis due to ASAs and individual student schedules, so it is difficult to ascertain the number of riders on a particular route on a given day. We are considering options to better match buses to the number of riders.
25. Will there be exceptions for students who walk to school to ride the bus when it rains?
We are looking to implement a system where students who walk to school will be issued one-way bus passes to use on days with inclement weather or to access ASAs in Tai Tam.
26. Can I ride with my child at first while he/she gets used to riding the bus to school?
The buses will usually have some free seats to accommodate parents or faculty on a daily basis, but these may not be guaranteed as students take priority.
27. How can the campus accommodate the increased number of buses?
As we do now, HKIS is planning to stagger pick-up and drop-off times at the LP and UP campuses to avoid further traffic congestion. This may result in later pick-up times for students.
28. What is being done to streamline busing?
Ensuring a safe, efficient and convenient transportation network for students and faculty is of utmost importance to us. We are working to make sure that children will be placed on the bus route that best suits their home.
29. Can my Upper Primary child change buses every day?
For Upper Primary students we will continue with the current standard practice of allowing them to change buses with written permission.
30. What happens to students who miss the bus?
Students who miss the bus will need to find an alternative means of public transportation (bus or minibus – drop-off by taxi is not permitted), in the company of a responsible adult, to reach HKIS. Please know that a pattern of missing the bus and arriving by private vehicle is not acceptable. Parents of a student who repeatedly misses the bus and arrives by private vehicle may require a discussion with administrators to see how best they can help and improve the situation.
31. How will this impact HKIS high school students on days when their first class is second period?
High School students will not be impacted by compulsory busing at the LP and UP campuses, nor will Middle School students.
32. Can parents drive to school for parent/teacher conferences?
Private vehicles will be permitted to drop-off parents and students for special HKIS events and parent/teacher conferences. We will continue to make buses available for special events, such as Back-to-School nights.
33. How will HKIS address inappropriate behavior on the bus?
Issues of discipline will be addressed appropriately by the Lower and Upper Primary administration in consultation with the relevant parties.
34. Can my child have an assigned seat on the bus?
At times, we have students who need to sit in the front section of the bus for various reasons which include motion sickness or sitting near the bus mother. We always try to accommodate in the best interest and safety of individual and all students.
35. Are there seat belts on the buses?
Yes. All buses have seat belts and students must put them on before the bus can depart.
36. What happens if there is a delay and I am waiting at the bus stop?
The bus company, Kwoon Chung, has an SMS system in which they can send a text to parents. This system has been in place for the last year and has helped us communicate information to parents as needed.
Health & Safety
37. Do you have any information available about the bus company’s safety record?
The safety of our students is our top priority. Our long-standing transportation partner, Kwoon Chung Motors, has an excellent safety record. The bus company has been a partner of HKIS since the school opened in Repulse Bay in 1968. They are always open to working with HKIS to improve bus routes and to guarantee the safety of our students. Their drivers take refresher courses during the summer holidays to ensure they stay on top of the latest driving skills and techniques.
38. I would like to learn more about the bus company’s safety record and how they select drivers. Where can I find that?
The safety of our students is our top priority. Our transportation partner, Kwoon Chung Motors, has an excellent safety record. The bus company has been our partner since 1968. They are always open to working with HKIS to improve bus routes and to guarantee the safety of our students. You can find out more about them on their website: www.kcm.com.hk
39. What level of supervision will be on the bus since most of the drivers do not speak English?
An English-speaking onboard bus monitor, or ‘Bus Mother’, staffs each bus and oversees the safe boarding and disembarking and travel conduct of each student. The Bus Mother can also be alerted of a child’s special needs or if the child is to be met at the bus stop by a particular individual. The Bus Mother’s primary task is to secure the safety and comfort of all passengers on the bus and this has been a successful system for many years.
40. In case of emergency, how will we communicate with the drivers?
All bus monitors and bus drivers have cell phones to serve as a direct link to Kwoon Chung Motors and the HKIS transportation team. In the case of an emergency, you would contact HKIS Bus Supervisor Kenny Chu at HKIS 2812 5419 and he would immediately contact your child’s bus monitor with any details or instructions.
41. The first few weeks of school are scary for my child. What can we do to help with that on the bus?
Administration and counselors in both LP and UP will work with individual families to help ease the transition. Bus Mothers are there to make sure that your child is comfortable and safe on the bus. There may also be circumstances where parents are permitted to ride the buses or even serve as an additional bus monitor.
42. Can HKIS use high school students as bus monitors?
HKIS is currently looking at models from other school around Asia Pacific where international schools work with high school students as additional bus monitors. We are still looking at how this can work for HKIS and will follow up with information on this at a later date.
Environment
43. Will compulsory busing really have an impact on the local environment?
Yes. The Hong Kong Government has a campaign to decrease idling of vehicles, in particular in the vicinity of schools. We strive for and attain the highest standards of academic excellence and provide students with a well-rounded education supported by a clear Mission statement and six Student Learning Results (SLRs). One of the SLRs is “Contributing to Society.” HKIS wants students to develop the skills they need to form genuine relationships in our diverse society and to make contributions to our community. This includes awareness and respect for the environment and the HKIS community. The current daily traffic created by private vehicles picking up and dropping off students causes environmental pollution, safety concerns and hardship for not only the HKIS student body but also our neighbors. Moving to compulsory busing will help greatly ease the strain on the HKIS environs.
After School Activities
44. My child is involved in after-school activities (ASAs). Will there be busing to accommodate ASAs, or, will parents be permitted to pick-up children following ASAs?
Ensuring an efficient and convenient transportation network for students and faculty is of utmost importance to us. We are working with parents, after-school organizations and partners to create a suitable after-school busing plan. Students will be required to take the bus for activities that end prior to the 4:00 pm bus.
45. Can HKIS accommodate tutors on-campus since children will no longer have access to private vehicle transportation to attend these after-school activities?
HKIS is unable to open its campus to private tutors due to security concerns and the private vetting that would have to occur to allow these individuals access to a facility for children.
Taxis
46. Can my child be dropped off or picked up by a taxi?
Under the new policy, only HKIS buses will be allowed to drop-off or pick-up students at the campus unless there is a special circumstance with pre-approved permission granted. You can arrive by public bus and walk to the school or you can have a taxi drop you off at an appropriate distance from the school and then walk.
Transportation to the Lower Primary Chai Wan Campus
A working-group of parents and school personnel continues to develop plans for Chai Wan transportation.
47. Will busing be mandatory for Lower Primary students in Chai Wan in 2013/2014?
The preferred option for R2 to Grade 2 students attending the Chai Wan campus is the bus. Parents will have the option of parking legally in nearby hourly-rate parking lots and walking students onto the campus.
48. Will R1 students be required to take the bus?
No. As R1 students will be on the Tai Tam campus, they may arrive by private car as previously announced. They may also arrive by bus, if preferred.
49. Will busing take longer to Chai Wan?
This will depend on your place of residence. Many buses will take the Eastern Corridor, which may reduce the time currently being spent on the bus.
50. Will there be seats on the buses for parents to accompany children to Chai Wan?
Yes. HKIS will try to have seats available on the buses to Chai Wan for parents who wish to accompany their children. The number of seats and availability is dependent on each bus and the neighborhood it picks up from.
51. Can my Lower Primary child who is attending school in Chai Wan change buses every day?
Children may change buses for routine school-sponsored afterschool activities. However, given the developmental stage of children of this age, they may not change buses for play-dates or private lessons. Parents have the option to park nearby in various hourly-rate public parking lots and collect their children from the Chai Wan campus after school should they choose.
52. Will the buses to Chai Wan be small or large buses?
We will try to have only small buses for transportation to and from Chai Wan.
Parents, Parking and School Access
53. Can parents of R2-G2 students drive to the Chai Wan campus during the 2013/2014 school year?
Parents of R2-G2 students will be able to drive to the Chai Wan neighborhood where they can safely and legally park nearby in various hourly-rate public parking lots and walk their children to the Chai Wan campus.
54. Can you offer a school bus stop at a location where there is satellite parking available?
We are working with our transportation partner and a parent transportation working-group to identify a ‘satellite’ pick-up and drop-off location for those that would like to drive to and from that location. HKIS is happy hear any suggestions from our parent community for school bus pick-up and drop-off points.
55. What happens if my child is ill or has a special appointment and I need to pick them up during the school day?
Our school nurse calls parents when a child needs to go home. In those circumstances, private vehicles will be permitted to pick up that child.
