Message from the Committee on COVID-19
As fellow parents of students in the IBT program at Allan A. Martin public school, we understand that this pandemic has been challenging and caused uncertainty. We would like to keep you informed of changes, policies and information related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transition to In-School Learning
If you wish to transfer from distance to in-person learning, please contact us at contact@ggam.ca as soon as possible to be added to one of our bus routes.
According to the Peel District School Board, if you wish to change learning modes, you must notify Allan A. Martin school by email at before Oct. 14, 2020 at 12pm, with an effective date of Nov. 18, 2020. For more details, visit the PDSB transition website.
Transition to Distance Learning
If you transition to distance learning and will no longer require the bus, we are unable to provide a refund for the remainder of the school year. However, the situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis and refunds may be provided if the spot on the bus is filled by another student.
Assigned Seating
To aid in physical distancing and to minimize contact between students, seating will be assigned by class cohort as assigned by the school. Buses will be loaded to full capacity, and windows will be opened when possible to increase ventilation. The seat behind the driver will remain empty.
The seating plan will remain in effect for the entire school year, as directed by the school board and Ontario ministry of health.
Masks Required
All students are required to wear a face mask at all times while on board the bus, unless a medical condition prevents the use of a mask. Students are required to be wearing masks before boarding and are not permitted to remove masks until fully disembarked from the bus. Students not wearing masks will not be allowed to board the bus.
COVID Self-Assessment
Prior to leaving home for the bus stop, all students are required to complete the Government of Ontario’s COVID self-assessment. If the self-assessment directs a student to stay at home and monitor health, or to get tested for COVID-19, they must not come to the bus stop and stay home.
Waiting at Bus Stops
Peel Public Health’s physical distancing guidelines must be followed at all times, and students are required to leave space between each other while waiting at the bus stop.
Additional Precautions and Sanitization
In accordance with Provincial and School Board requirements, our school bus service provider, First Student, will:
Require drivers to complete a wellness check prior to each bus run
Provide masks for drivers to be worn while on the bus
Provide a face shield for driver use during loading and unloading, as required
Provide hand-sanitizer for drivers and students as needed
Sanitize buses twice per day, using a disinfectant spray
Notification of COVID-19 Infection
We ask parents/guardians to notify us in the event of suspected COVID-19 infection as soon as possible by email at contact@ggam.ca or by phone at 647-490-3155 (leave a message.)
When we receive notification (from a parent/guardian, the school, the school bus provider, or any other source) that a student on our bus routes is suspected of a COVID-19 infection, we will notify all bus riders of the infection by email and/or SMS. Where possible, we will also notify students seated in close proximity to the infected student. Note that we will not share the name or any other personal information. We will also work closely with the school to share information about suspected COVID-19 cases, which we will pass on to our riders.
Unwell Students
If a student is feeling unwell while on the bus, the driver will notify the school, bus provider and committee as soon as possible, who will contact the student’s parent/guardian. The bus driver will complete an incident form to capture the date and the names of students that traveled on that route for contact tracing requirements. The bus will also be sanitized before being put back on the road.
In the event that a student is feeling unwell during the school day, the student will not be permitted to ride the school bus. The school will also notify us and our bus service provider for contact tracing purposes.
Absent Students
If a student is required to isolate at home and will not be riding the bus, refunds will not be provided. The bus costs are fixed and we pay the same amount for the bus, regardless of the number of students riding, and as such we are unable to provide refunds.
Refunds for 2019-2020
When buses aren't running, we do not pay full price for bus services. GGAM is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, and any funds remaining at the end of the school year are refunded to parents. We expect there to be significant refunds to parents at the end of the 2019-2020 school year as a result of the COVID-19 school closures.
Refund cheques were mailed to on September 29, 2020. Please allow sufficient time for the mail to reach you.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at contact@ggam.ca .