過海校車服務 (PM routes confirmed)

iantsang

For SHCK parents who live outside of HK island, I guess you may have read my thread last year trying to organize nanny buses from across the harbour.

From time to time, I receive emails from current parents hoping to arrange school bus (official ones) from outside of HK island and I would love to help since I also live in N.T.  However, very few of us have used the latest opportunity to make this request on the school bus questionnaire as distributed by the PTA.  So, there are very little I can do to help since there are simply no numbers to support such request.

I am not sure if parents are happy with current nanny bus arrangement or just didn't recognize the last questionnaire serve the purpose of making such request.  However, as the PTA will have meeting with the bus company very soon so it is important to understand more of the current experience from parents who live in Kowloon and N.T.

Please kindly share here, whether we can have it arrange this year or not, it still serve as a good mean to share our experience, and see if there are any way to improve it.

For the current parents or upcoming NC parents who do wanna be counted so we can have a concrete case, please PM me and provide me (1) your child's name (2) class and (3) pickup area so I can put this together quickly.  If you know other parents who don't use bk, I will pass you my contacts thru PM  so we can facilitate the communication quickly.  I must have everything by end of next week (March 26, 2010).

If you are not comfortable sending me the children's details directly, I suggest you to send to the PTA contact email directly thru their website, which will be more official.

Please help to spread this message across.

Ian

[ 本帖最後由 iantsang 於 10-6-25 11:32 編輯 ]

iantsang

Hi AirPaul,

I strongly suggest you to remove your mobile no. here to protect your own privacy.  I am sorry that I didn't make such reminder on my post.  I have already written it down so may be you can remove it anytime.  You can use the PM (Private Message) function to reach someone privately and exchange contact if needed.

Will update you with further progress.  Just to be clear at the moment there are no OFFICIAL school bus services organized for students in Kowloon side by SHCK.  There are nanny bus arranged by private companies only.

Ian

原帖由 AirPaul 於 10-3-23 19:33 發表
Hi Ian,

We live in San Po Kong area and will be K1 PM class in the coming school year. Just want to ask more about the school bus service and feel free to call me at XXXXXXXX Paul , Thanks !

Paul ...

iantsang

There are quite a few of SHCK nanny bus arranged by number of people like Uncle Kwong, Uncle Tam, Mrs. Cheung and James Wong.  Some of them is for SHCK only so they don't mix students from others.

Let's see how we can do this year and it is too early to check the nanny bus company now.  They won't confirm until close to school starts.

Ian

原帖由 AirPaul 於 10-3-24 01:21 發表
Thanks Ian. I know there is no official and trying to find a private one. After reading your post, i know you're helping to group the kowloon & N.T. areas so just want to get some further details.

Ke ...

iantsang

Dear all SHCK parents,

Would like to give you an update concerning the possibility of cross-harbour school bus services after meeting with management of Kwoon Chung before the Easter holiday.

The main concern where such school bus services cannot be arranged is due to the fact that (1) less number of parents living in Kowloon/ N.T. side and (2) the locations are highly scattered.   (3) A certain minimum of students will be required on each route so that the bus route can be operate every year, if such minimum cannot be reached, then that route will need to be suspended.

In order to handle the above concerns, the following were suggested:

(1) Basically there can only be maximum of 3 bus routes from Kowloon side (a) Kln West (b) Kln Central and (c) Kln East.

(2) The Kowloon school bus services will not be a door to door services, i.e., based on the areas with higher students population, the company will set certain pickup/drop-off points.

(3) This service can be operated every year with the condition where minimum number of students will be required on each route, so, am and pm routes are independent.

(4) With the concern of traffic jam in the early morning, some special arrangements may be required for pickup time for am routes (earlier time to avoid to jam on major harbour tunnels).

Your inputs are welcomed here.  Meanwhile, I am arranging with the kindergarten to distribute a new questionnaire to all parents so we can collect more precise information for such arrangement.

Please note that this is NOT CONFIRMED yet.  The final decision on whether to operate the Kowloon bus route is still under discussion and the inputs from parents are very important on affecting such decision.

Finally, just wanna express my appreciation to a few parents like kiteli and sarahmama on helping me on collecting some of the existing students' information.

Hope there will be good news soon!

Ian

iantsang

Hi Bobowong,

No, the specific number wasn't being mentioned.  I guess the minimum is based on the minimum costs they calculated to run each route.

Ian

原帖由 bobo_wong2006 於 10-4-9 16:43 發表
Dear Ian,

Thanks indeed for your update and liasion on behalf of parents.

Did Kwoon Chung mention the estimated minimum no. of students for each route?

Bobowong

iantsang

Here is another update concerning possibility of Kowloon Bus routes.

The questionnaire for the current NC and LK students have been prepared and will be distributed tomorrow.  I assume it will also be available thru iParents.  Please give us your views and ideas.  Even if you may not consider to try it in the coming year, it will be a good idea to let us know your current location so that we can have better understanding of students' geographic location so it will be useful for future planning.

For upcoming NC parents, some of you have already provided me with your email address and I will need to follow-up with you individually.  Of course I can understand some of you may not have made up your mind on whether to attend this kindergarten yet, so please also tell me how certain your cases are.  So far I have received only 4 parents all from coming NC pm classes and if you haven't done so, please contact me thru PM with your contact information by April 29th (Thursday).

Ian

[ 本帖最後由 iantsang 於 10-4-22 18:14 編輯 ]

iantsang

Hi bobo_wong2006,

Thanks for the support!

However, it seems there are very few replied questionnaires so I urge any parents to raise any comments through this questionnaire.  The deadline has passed (yesterday) but Monday is still not too late.

Ian

原帖由 bobo_wong2006 於 10-4-24 12:07 發表
Hi Ian,

Got the questionaire and also read the minutes of the PTA. Thanks for raising it up in PTA meeting and sending the questionaire to us. I also urge needed parents to support the action and so  ...

iantsang

In the past two weeks, I have worked very hard and closely with the kindergarten and the school bus company after organized the statistics based on the questionnaires collected.

Details related to the statistics will probably be included in our next PTA's minutes so please refer to it for details.

In sum, the replies comeback which needed such services are not very high and it was a bit disappointed to me, frankly.  Particularly, in some of the areas in the middle part of Kowloon, the numbers are very low so it never come close to establish significant needs.

Fortunately, the expectation of the school bus company are properly managed and with a minimum number of replies reached from Kowloon West and Kowloon East area, we are in the process of coming very close to have Kowloon school bus offered by Kwoon Chung on a ONE-YEAR TRIAL BASIS in coming academic year.  I must express my deepest apology to parents living in areas which eventually cannot be covered with the routes proposed since a minimum requirement to try to organize such services must assure (1) minimal stops per route  and (2) regional coverage to avoid long travel time.  So, again, I am very sorry to those parents who have given your inputs but we don't have enough students in the nearby region to propose the third route which use the "central"(old) harbour tunnel.

This implies that the new trial school bus services (if available) in the coming school year will be using either Western or Eastern harbour tunnels.  This are proposed by many parents and agreed by the school bus company.

More official details will be send ONLY to those parents who indicated interests to use such services on the questionnaire from Kwoon Chung next week.  Please PM me or email to PTA if you didn't indicate such interest but are changing your mind so we can include you, by Monday the latest.

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY:
This is just an update of the progress so there are still details to be finalized.  Obviously it is a very difficult and complicated matters so this probably explains why we never have Kowloon school bus in the past.  The trial school bus services serving Kowloon side is not official yet until Kwoon Chung finally release the full details.  Most importantly, this arrangement is being offered by Kwoon Chung now so please don't make inquiry to the kindergarten on this particular matter.  All inquiries related to this trial offer should be made directly to Kwoon Chung (or me at this point).



Just a personal note, I sincerely hope my efforts spent on this task can eventually benefit many of the parents who currently are having trouble or difficulty to find the best and safe way to take your children to kindergarten right now.  I truly believe all SHCK parents are very considerate and for those that we are unable to offer the services to your current location, please understand I have really tried my best and spent many many nights scratching my head try to make it more perfect so everyone can be benefited.  On the other hand, for those parents who are fortunate to have your area covered, please do consider using this service since it took huge amount of time and energy to have us come down to so close of having such arrangement provided to us and hope you can appreciate it and consider using it.  If the support is not enough, the trial service will not become a more regular service and it will be almost impossible in the future to ever think about this again.

Thank you all for your support and hope you can enjoy it (if it eventually come true!)

Ian

[ 本帖最後由 iantsang 於 10-5-15 00:30 編輯 ]

iantsang

Thank you so much to have support from fellow parents, particular from someone who doesn't benefited from this new service!

Thanks again!  This is exactly what I need, thanks!

Ian

原帖由 Yiuyiubee 於 10-5-15 17:30 發表
Ian, you have done your best!

I'm very appreciate your effort!

iantsang

You are welcome.  The letter from Kwoon Chung will be distributed in the next day or two.  So I guess it is already a giant step forward and hope it does become real eventually.

Ian

原帖由 rebeccaloky 於 10-5-17 13:03 發表
Ian,

雖然咪知結果係點樣, 但真係好多謝你!

iantsang

  The letter from Kwoon Chung has been prepared and will be distributed later today.

I just feel both mentally and physically exhausted now......  will pass it back to Kwoon Chung now

Now need to turn my focus on my young daughter, to prepare for coming K1 interviews later this year.

btw, start planning for courses in summer holiday yet?

原帖由 bobo_wong2006 於 10-5-17 22:33 發表
Dear Ian,

May we show great respect for your help to cooridinate the Kowloon nanny bus? I also hope Kowloon parents will support it for the sake of our kids and future SHCK kids. Million thanks.

Reg ...

iantsang

Friendly reminder (update)

There may be delays on distributing the letters so don't be too nervous if you don't receive it today!

iantsang

Hi yamiyami,

Oh I did call you last week, right?  (I called the wrong name since can't read your handwriting!  haha)  Now I realize one of them is you!  I was wondering if will come across you but I guess my head was a mess already after calling so many parents.

Is the young one small B again?  Hope not 'coz it just seems competition get so keen now.  Let's work hard together!

For summer courses, I have applied to three plus 2 regular ones so Shannon will be occupied!  Luckily, I manage to have no courses on Sat and Sun!

Finally, thank you for you support!

Ian

原帖由 yamiyami 於 10-5-18 16:27 發表
Ian

真係好多謝你對我們作出既努力, I really appreciate it!!!

我又係要準備細囡出年既interview...

至於暑期班, 有d 資料係手啦, 不過仲未報

iantsang

Now I am getting embarrassed.  

No, I must admit that you are not the only one I called the wrong name!  I guess you understand now why I keep typing BK posts in English!

I remember 嵐嵐 is also small B (September, right?) so that's why I asked.  Then little one is even tougher!  Do apply some more for backups learning from the situation this year.  The only good thing is, next year there are 60 more places available at SHCK (total 8 classes).  Do you know about that?

You are right, we also booked classes during weekdays so Shannon would still need to attend classes daily so it's like no holidays!  haha

Ian

原帖由 yamiyami 於 10-5-19 11:58 發表


係呀...咪就係我lor...係咪即係我d 字寫得太衰呀?..哈...不過真係好感激你熱心既幫忙呀...

我細囡10月出世, 又係細b 呀, 而家都未識講野...無法啦...不過都希望可以同家姐一齊上課...

嵐嵐暫時而家星期六學英文a ...

iantsang

Actually it is 3-3-4 (because total allowed use of classrooms are 10), so we are lucky for our young ones.  Actually I consider this when I decide to attend SHCK so the young one would have better chance.

Yes do remember when 嵐嵐 was born because we all worked hard together last year mar!  I was afraid how come everyone in bk are younger than Shannon, who was born in August.  If 嵐嵐 and Shannon are classmate next year in LK, then they will have birthday party together!  ;)

Ian

原帖由 yamiyami 於 10-5-19 15:40 發表


唔使尷尬既, 我daddy 一直以為嵐嵐叫蘭蘭, 咁咪仲搞笑...哈..

我知呀, 學校好似係行344 制, 嵐嵐個年係3, 所以競爭都好大下...佢仲要係9月出世, 你都幾好記性bor...哈... ...

iantsang

Like to apologize to those parents expecting to receive the letters from Kwoon Chung concerning the school bus.

I followed up today with both parties and found out although we have confirmed the routes to be proposed, however, Kwoon Chung still need time to prepare the application forms for coming school year so they need to be sent out together.  So, probably another 1-2 weeks before it can come out.

iantsang

I guess I chased too many time so the letter from Kwoon Chung has been distributed to all existing parents who stated interested previously.

Good luck to us all and hope all routes can have enough students and we can have our first year with Kowloon school bus!!!

iantsang

Hi Ursula,

You are welcome.  And it is because parents like you who we walk through the path last year so I become determine to make this happen.

There are still many follow-ups with Kwoon Chung I believe since I have heard concerns about early pickup time and one or two routes may not have enough students yet to form the route.  Let's pray and hope there are more coming NC students to join.

Ian

原帖由 Ursula 於 10-5-27 10:38 發表
Hi Ian,

Thanks so much for your effort to make it really happen!  

I was so excited to find the notice last night and returned to 校車姨姨 this morning already.

iantsang

Hope 嵐嵐 will recover soon!

原帖由 yamiyami 於 10-5-27 11:04 發表
嵐嵐病左幾日...希望張通告唔好miss la...
:D

iantsang

Hi sarahmama,

It was a requirement added at the very last minute as we finalized (that part is out of my control already).  Kwoon Chung will require 14 students per bus to operate that particular line.  So, for example, if Kln East AM route cannot have 14 students, then this bus cannot operate.  The four routes now (am & pm combined) are independent.

For your case, I think there are enough students since Kwoon Chung is thinking to add 1-2 more students per adding 1-2 more stops if not enough students.

Ian

原帖由 sarahmama 於 10-5-27 11:09 發表
Hi Ian,

Thank you so much for your assistance and devotion into this matter.

After reading the memo from Kwoon Chung, they stated each route must have at least 14 students, do they mean AM+PM togeth ...