Bus Cancellations & School Closures
During the winter months, inclement weather may disrupt school bus transportation and regular school operations. Families are encouraged to review the following information to prepare for these situations.
Decision Timing & Reporting Absences
By 6:30 a.m., a decision is made to either cancel transportation and/or close schools.
Parents/guardians always have the final say in whether to send their child to school on days with poor weather. If schools are open but your child is staying home, you must report the absence using one of the following options before the school day begins:
- Call toll-free: 1-877-409-6310
- Online: go.schoolmessenger.ca
- HDSB Mobile App (App Store and Google Play – search: Halton District School Board)
Methods of Communication
We use a variety of methods to inform families about school operations and bus cancellations:
- Alert message on the HDSB website
- Social media:
- HDSB Mobile App (Free download from the App Store and Google Play)
- Email notification through SchoolMessenger
- Halton Student Transportation Services website
- School board office phone: 905-335-3665 or toll-free: 1-877-618-3456
- TV: CHCH, CITY TV, CP24
- AM Radio: CFRB 1010, CJOY 1460, CKOC 1150, CHWO 740, AM680 NEWS, CHAM 820
- FM Radio: CHFI 98.1, WAVE 94.7, Y108/107.9, CING 95.3, KLITE 102.9, CBC 99.1, CIMJ 106.1
Important Inclement Weather Information for Families
When schools are closed due to inclement weather, both in-person and e-learning support will not be provided. If buses are cancelled but schools remain open, in-person and e-learning courses will continue as scheduled.
When buses are cancelled but schools are open, parents/guardians who keep their children at home, MUST report this absence before the school day starts at: Toll free 1-877-409-6310, online at go.schoolmessenger.ca or the HDSB Mobile App.
When the temperature (with or without) wind chill reaches -20 degrees Celsius, students will enter the school immediately upon arrival in the morning and remain indoors during nutrition breaks.
It is a parent/guardian's decision whether or not they send their child to school on inclement weather days.
Inclement Weather Transportation Zone Map
Reminders for Bus Riders
- When bus transportation is cancelled, it is cancelled for the entire day. Parents who bring their children to school when buses are cancelled must make arrangements to pick them up at dismissal time.
- Review the Transportation Zone map to ensure you know which zone you live in. Bus cancellation announcements refer to those zones.
- Pay careful attention to the bus cancellation message if your child travels from one zone to another for a specialized program. If your child travels into or through a zone where the transportation is cancelled, then there will be NO transportation provided for your child that day.
- Dress warmly on cold weather days as school buses may be delayed and your child may be waiting for the bus longer than usual.
- Create a Parent Portal account on the Halton Student Transportation Services (HSTS) website to receive updates on bus delays or weather related cancellations (www.haltonbus.ca).
