Sometimes, it is safest to have your child stay home due to the possibility of snow or poor road conditions.  Your local area conditions should be taken into consideration as decisions are made centrally where road and snow conditions may be different than yours.  Please sign up to receive CRD Emergency Notifications to help you make good decisions for your area:  https://www.ermsadvantage.com/register/crd/ssi 

If the District school buses are not running or are operating on “Main Roads Only,” it is a decision made for the safety of your child by Transportation Services.  If we are notified by Transportation Services about any changes to bus service we will send notification to parent emails, update the school news website http://fernwood.sd64.bc.ca/school-news, and/or Facebook. The school phone 250-537-9932 voicemail message will also be changed.  Notification can also be found on the homepage for the whole district at https://sd64.bc.ca/   

CHANGE TO BUS SCHEDULES: 

If your child is a bus rider, please familiarize yourself with what is called the "MAIN ROADS ONLY SCHEDULE" routes here: https://sd64.bc.ca/transportation/  

THE MAIN ROADS SCHEDULES FOR THE TWO FERNWOOD BUSES #4 AND #5 ARE LIMITED FOR SAFETY REASONS AND DRIVERS MAY PICK UP ALL ALONG THE WAY.  SOME STREETS ARE NOT ON THE ROUTE.  

IF IT SNOWS AFTER STUDENTS HAVE ARRIVED AT SCHOOL:  

Sometimes students come to school, and the weather changes, forcing buses to leave early and schools to close early. 

We will notify parents through email, the website, updated school voicemail, Facebook and we will attempt to call all families we have not heard from.   

• It is IMPORTANT that parents have updated their contact information in the office 

• It is important that names of alternate contacts have been given to the office. If a student is going to be picked up by an adult other than a parent, the adult picking up must be on the release form– otherwise, we cannot allow that student to leave the school. If parents arrive at school to pick up their children, they are required to let their teacher know. 

• If we can’t contact a parent or alternate, the student will remain at school until we hear from parents.

• Please understand that staff, for safety reasons, may also be needing to leave the school as well so if you notice snow outside, please call to inquire - we don't mind! 

DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: 

“Buses running on Main Roads Only Schedule” 

Schools are open as normal. 

Please see the “main roads only” bus schedule on the district website https://sd64.bc.ca/transportation/  

“Buses not running, but schools open” 

Most students will likely not attend, but school is open. 

Staff are expected to attempt to come to work.  If impossible or unsafe, staff report to the school nearest to them that they can reach safely, and call dispatch to notify. 

“Schools Closed” 

In extreme cases, schools can be closed due to snow and staff and students are not expected to come to school.