way to get your children to school?
HOW WE CALCULATED THE LIKELY SAVINGS
CAR COST OF CAR Distance to the College (from Tugun) 10kms 5 two-way trips per week 100kms 37 school weeks 3700kms Cost per kilometre of common mid-sized SUV* $0.79 Cost per annum $2923
TIME COST Travel time to College (one way from Tugun) 15mins Travel time - 2 return trips per day 60mins Daily car park delays (morning and afternoon) 20mins Time expended - weekly 6h 40min
COLLEGE BUS COST OF BUS AM & PM Pass, one child pass cost per term $260 Cost per annum for one child (four Terms) $1040 AM & PM Pass, family pass cost per term $455 Cost per annum for one family (four Terms) $1820
TIME SAVING - more time for the parent No travel time for the parent Since the child now travels by bus, the parent now has an additional 6 hours and 40 minutes each week; time they can now use for other pursuits.
Time expended - weekly 0
COMPARISON CAR vs COLLEGE BUS To assist with this comparison, we have created a sample College family. The family lives in Tugun, 10 kilometres from the College with one child attending. Each day, a parent drives their child to school in a mid-sized SUV. If they opt for the College bus, their likely savings are as follows.
* Source: https://www.racq.com.au/cars-and-driving/cars/owning-and-maintaining-a-car/car-running-costs
COST SAVINGS $1883
per annum Car costs $2923 | Bus fares $1040 1,986 tonnes - 172kg
TIME SAVED 6h 40min
per annum
$
Hillcrest Christian College Bus Travel Options and Contacts For all information regarding our College Scheduled Bus Service, please go to the Hillcrest website. Click on ‘Our College’ then click on ‘Bus Service’. Bus route locations direct mobile telephone number: Bus 1 Burleigh, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Tugun & Tweed Heads M: 0430 857 949 Bus 2 Currumbin Waters, Tallebudgera & Elanora M: 0417 637 853 Bus 3 Reedy Creek, The Observatory, Bonogin, Tallai, Worongary & Gilston M: 0417 821 402 Bus 4 Robina, Mermaid Waters, Burleigh Waters, Miami & Varsity Lakes M: 0417 637 783 Bus 5 Carrara, Southport, Benowa, Biggera Waters, Runaway Bay & Robina Town Centre M: 0417 637 926 Bus 6 Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Arundel & Pacific Pines M: 0438 164 857 Bus 7 Kingscliff (express), Cassuarina Beach South Tweed Heads & Banora Point M: 0417 107 291 Travel Options- Term Pass: Term passes offer great value for money. You can purchase either a one-way or return pass. A family pass allows all students in a family to travel at a discounted price. Even if your children do not need to travel on the bus every day, a term pass will often prove to be a great financial option. Once a bus reaches its term pass seat limit no more passes will be issued and a waiting list will start for the following term on that bus. Term passes are recorded electronically by our online payment platform. Students are not issued with a physical card. Prices for term passes: 1 child pass: $275.00 return (1 way pass $165.00, either AM or PM) Family pass: $475.00 return (1 way pass $260.00, either AM or PM) Term passes are calculated on an annual basis and divided by 4 terms, the same way tuition fees are calculated. The number of weeks in each term does not impact on the term bus charge. You can register and pay securely by going to the Hillcrest website at https://www.hillcrest.qld.edu.au/ - click on “OUR COLLEGE” tab, click “BUS SERVICE”, then click on the “BUS APPLICATION FORM & BUS PASS PAYMENTS” box to complete your registration and bus pass payment. This is the only registration and payment option available, any payments made via any other means (e.g. direct deposit into our bank account, Payway, Bpay, etc.) will be automatically allocated to general school fees and cannot be reallocated. 10 Trip Flexi-Card: You can purchase a 10 trip Flexi-Card at a cost of $80.00. Each Flexi-Card allows a student 10 single one-way bus trips. Registration and payment is made the same way as buying a term pass described above. Once paid, a Flexi-Card will be issued and can be collected from the Main Reception the following day. Buses that reach their seating limit of Term Pass holders will be unable take Flexi-Card holding students. Varsity Station Pass: Trips to and from the Varsity Lakes Train Station are available free of charge. AM Pickup – 1st bus arrives 7.55am. 2nd bus arrives 8.05am PM Drop off – Buses leave Chocolate Drive at 3.05pm. Please note only spare seats on selected buses are available for complementary station drop off. * A Term or Flexipass must be purchased before travel can commence. Students without either will be sent to their community reception to contact parents or carers for collection. ** Lost Flexi-Cards cannot be replaced. Damaged Flexi-Cards can be returned to Accounts for replacing.
Booking a Hillcrest Bus online guide This guide has been produced to help you select and apply for bus travel from the Hillcrest web site.
From the Hillcrest Website Home Page Click on the ‘Our College’ tab. You will see ‘Services’. Click on the ‘Bus Service’ tab. This will open the Bus service page.
Once in the Bus Service page you can explore the different bus routes for both Am
and PM services.
You can also apply and pay for travel from the ‘Bus Application Form & Bus Pass Payments’ tab. Before applying and finalizing payment you must read with your travelling children the ‘BUS USER CODE OF CONDUCT‘.
Please take care when completing this form as it also serves as your registration form. Select the right bus route and choose the service you require. Payment will be required at the end of the application.
New families to our bus services- o After you have paid and submitted the application form one of our bus drivers
will contact you regarding best pickup, drop off locations and times. Existing families to our bus service-
o After completion and payment of the application form. Your traveling students will be marked as paid. Travel will continue as usual.
Only Flexicard purchases are issued a physical card. Once purchased, Students can collect their card from main reception. Term pass holders are recorded. No physical card is issued.
Hillcrest Bus Travel FAQ Hillcrest Christian College is proud to offer a first class bus service for its students. We understand you may have questions regarding this bus service. These Frequently Asked Questions are to be read in conjunction with the schools ‘Bus User Code of Conduct and Procedures’.
1. Can my child / children travel on a bus once every so often? A: Yes, providing there are seats available. You can purchase a Flexi-Card online. Once you’ve made your online payment, you can collect your Flexi-Card from Main Reception the following day. Your Flexi-Card is valid for the whole calendar year and can be used for either the AM or PM bus routes.
2. What happens if the bus has reached its maximum seat capacity with Term Pass Holders? A: Both AM and PM routes have a seating capacity depending on the bus size. Once all the seats on a route are booked with Term Pass holders, new applicants will be placed on a waiting list.
3. What Happens if the bus is full for the PM route departing from Hillcrest? A: Term Pass holders will always have a seat on their bus. Spare seats will be filled with Flexi- Card holders on a first in basis until the bus is full. Once the bus is full, Students must return to their community’s reception to arrange alternative collection.
4. My Child has a PM Term Pass. Can they travel on another bus on special occasions? A: Yes. But even though there is no extra fee they will be regarded a Flexi-Card holder, so they can only board that bus if it is not full.
5. Can my child / children be dropped off in front of our house? A: Yes. But only if your home is on the bus route and there is a safe stopping zone.
6. Does having a Flexi-Card guarantee my child a seat on a bus? A: No. As noted in point 3. They can only travel if there are spare seats on that bus.
7. Can more than one of my children use the same Flexi-Card? A: Yes. Any child from your family can travel using the same Flexi-Card. If two or more are travelling on the same bus the card will be clipped once for each child.
8. What will happen if my child is waiting for pick up to school and does not have their Flexi-Card with them? A: We will always pickup waiting students on the way into school. The driver will notify accounts and a travel fee of $8.00 plus a processing fee of $2.50 per child will be added to your students account. A Flexi-Card cannot be clipped at a later date for that travel.
9. What will happen if my child is wanting to board the bus at school for home and does not have their Flexi-Card with them? A: Students must return to their community’s reception to arrange alternative collection.
10. What happens if I’m not able to meet my JLC child at my PM drop off? A: When you apply for your child to travel on a bus you must click the ‘I grant permission’ check box on the online payment link. If permission is not given the bus driver will attempt to contact your mobile. If that is unsuccessful the JLC student will return to Hillcrest’s Library and the costs incurred will be passed on to you.
HILLCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE College Handbook 2018
Section: B. Policies | Bus User Code of Conduct and Procedures
Ref: B235
Bus User Code and Conduct and Procedures B235
BUS USER CODE OF CONDUCT & PROCEDURES PURPOSE The purpose of the Bus Code of Conduct and Procedures that is to outline what is expected from each student during bus travel and is a key element in ensuring the comfort of passengers and the safe operation of the College buses at all times. Its purpose is also to prevent the unnecessary distraction of bus drivers whose attention must be on the traffic and road conditions to ensure your child/children’s safety. The College’s buses are now fitted with CCTV Event Recorder technology that are used for the safety of the bus passengers and the driver. SCOPE All staff including bus drivers, volunteers, students and parents are to be aware of the Bus User Code of Conduct and Procedures. REFERENCE Bus Behaviour Report Staff Code of Conduct,B201 Student Code of Behaviour BUS USER EXPECTATIONS Show respect for the driver by listening to and following his/her instructions.
Get onto a bus only if there is a teacher or driver present and with permission from the bus driver in a quiet and orderly manner.
Store bags directly under your seat, or in front of your feet – not in the aisle.
Keep your feet on the floor; never on the seats.
No standing/kneeling/lying down or unnecessary swapping of seats during bus trips.
Keep buses clean and tidy and no litter allowed on the bus.
Be polite and considerate to all on the bus and talk quietly and not shout or call out.
No windows to be opened unless instructed by the bus driver.
Stay seated with seat belts fastened at all times while in the bus.
No food/drink/chewing gum is to be consumed at any time on the bus.
Teasing between students will not be tolerated, students must respect other fellow students at all times.
No throwing of any objects in buses or out of College buses.
No music to be played out loud.
Damage to any College bus interiors must be reported to the driver at the end of the trip.
PENALTY GUIDELINES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF BUS USER EXPECTATIONS
1st Infringement: Incident report issued – warning by driver/Bus Coordinator. If the student is in the Junior Learning Community them the Bus Coordinator is to contact the parent/carer to inform them of this reported behaviour and the need for it to stop immediately.
2nd Infringement: Incident report issued – If the student is in the Junior Learning Community or Senior Learning Community then the Behaviour is reported to the relevant Deputy of the Learning Community and the relevant Deputy Learning Community is to provide an infringement notice to the parent/carer.
HILLCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE College Handbook 2018
Section: B. Policies | Bus User Code of Conduct and Procedures
Ref: B235
Bus User Code and Conduct and Procedures B235
Should there be continued behaviour after the 2nd infringement, then at the discretion of the College, the student may lose bus privileges. Serious cases of infringement will result in total loss of bus privileges. Any vandalism of seats, trims, signs, window tint film etc. by any method will not be tolerated. Swearing, fighting or spitting will not be tolerated and infringement of these rules will result in immediate loss of bus privileges and restitution for any damage. In all cases the parents/carer will be notified of their child’s infringement. In matters not specifically covered by this policy, College students will abide by the College Student Code of Behaviour. BUS USER PICK UP AND DROP OFF PROCEDURES
Students are to be at their designated bus stop on time prior to the scheduled bus arrival time. Should the student not be at the designated pick up point on time, then the bus driver will wait until the designated time and if the student fails to arrive then the bus will continue on the normal bus route. The College recommends calling the bus driver directly should the parent/carer be running late.
Parents should provide a means of communicating with them should the bus be delayed. If the bus is delayed more than 20 minutes later than the scheduled designated time, please contact the bus driver directly on the bus mobile. In the case of a bus breakdown or unexpected delay the bus run will still be completed.
Parents are advised not to leave their child to wait on their own. Parents/carers must contact the College by phone, email or in writing regarding any changes to pick up/set down arrangements of their child, this includes where a parent/carer does not accompany the child to the bus stop or the parent/carer allows the child to be dropped off at the bus stop on their own. In the situation where there is a Junior Learning Community (JLC) student, then with the parents/carer approval and with the prior agreement of the College then the older JLC student is allowed to accompany the younger JLC family sibling at the bus stop to wait for the arriving bus. With the agreement of all parties, this arrangement of the older JLC students accompanying the younger JLC family sibling could also apply when bus drops off the particular JLC family members at their designated bus drop off point.
Parents are advised that Junior Learning Community students should be met at designated stops other than residential addresses. Where a parent/carer has arranged to meet a child at a stop and is unexpectedly delayed, the bus will wait up to 3 minutes and try and contact the parent/carer. If this is unsuccessful, then the bus will continue with its run returning the child to the College for collection. The child will be returned to College library and a fee will be incurred by the parent/carer and charged to the student’s account.
When you apply for your child to travel on a bus you must click that give permission for Hillcrest Christian College and their Bus Driver to drop the JLC student at the designated drop off/pickup locations on the occasion that the parents/carer are unable to meet the child’s bus. If permission is not given by the parent/carer then the bus driver will attempt to contact the parents/carer mobile phone and if that is unsuccessful then the JLC student will return to the College library and costs will be incurred and charged to the student’s account
Children will not be allowed to get off the bus at a location different to the pre-arranged location with parents/carer, unless the College has been notified of that change by phone, email or in writing.
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