Hosmer School Bus Stop List SY2022-2023
Lowell School Bus Stop List SY2022-2023
Middle School Bus Stop List SY2022-2023
Student Transportation Handbook
Student Transportation FAQs
Local Motion of Boston COVID- 19 Protocol Letter
2022-23 Bus Information
2022-2023 Hosmer & Middle School Bus Registration Link
2022-2023 Lowell Temporary Bus Registration Link
Bus Registration Information
School bus transportation is available to the Hosmer School and the Middle School from shared pickup points throughout Watertown. Additionally, transportation will be available to the Lowell Students from shared pickup points throughout Watertown to their temporary schools during construction. Regardless of grade or distance from school, all students must register online for the bus each year. Registrations do not roll over from year to year.
Bus ridership determination is based solely on walking distance (as determined by the business office) to the school that the child attends. Please note that other criteria apply: transportation is not available to students who live less than 0.75 miles' walking distance from their school, or to out-of-neighborhood students (email or call for details).
All registrations received by June 5th will be will be processed by the WPS Business Office to determine the walking distance. Registrations that are received after June 5th will only be considered if space allows. Depending on the number of registrations we receive, we may have a waitlist for seats even if the registration is submitted by June 5th. Bus routes and scheduled pickup times will be determined based on actual ridership.
Fees
For students who attend Hosmer and Watertown Middle school the fee grid is listed below. During the school’s building project busing will be provided to Lowell students free of charge (registration is required).
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Grade
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Fee waived per, School Committee Policy and/or State law.Registration is still required.
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$300 per child, family max $475
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K-5
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All Lowell Students during the school building project.
Families living 1.5 miles’ walking distance from Hosmer, except "out of neighborhood" students residing in another elementary school's district. (Transportation is not available for "out of neighborhood" students, except for students placed at the Hosmer due to capacity issues at the Lowell and Cunniff).
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Families livinga walking distance of less than 1.5 miles but more than 0.75 miles from the Hosmer.
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Grade 6
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Families living more than 2 miles' walking distance from the Middle School.
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Families living a walking distance of less than 2 miles but more than 0.75 miles from the MiddleSchool.
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Grades 7-8
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Families living a walking distance of more than 0.75 miles from the MiddleSchool.
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For families who want to apply, or reapply, for the school year need-based fee waiver please use this link. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service will update the waiver form for the school year in mid-late July. To use the fee waiver for transportation (in addition to the school food program) you must check off the “permission to share with the Business Office” option. Please note that fee waivers do not affect eligibility or take priority over the distance determination. Please contact Brandon Rabbitt, the Director of School Nutrition at [email protected] , with any Free & Reduced lunch questions. There is no “transportation only” waiver – the transportation waiver only applies if Free/Reduced lunch applies.
Families whose students secure a seat will be emailed a confirmation with instructions for payment via check or money order.
Timeline
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June 5
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Registration Deadline
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June 20
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Confirmation of each student’s bus registration will be emailed to the parent/guardian email address provided on the registration form
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July 15
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Full payment is due; if payment is not received by the due date, the seat will be considered open and will be offered to the next person on the waitlist the day after the fee due date has passed.To be fair to all we do not make any exceptions.
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Early August
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Bus stop location and pick-up/drop-off times will be emailed to the email address provided
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School Bus Routes
Only students may board the bus. Parents are never allowed on the bus.
Bus routes and scheduled pickup times are reviewed each year and will be determined based on actual ridership. The routes are posted on the WPS Transportation page: WPS Transportation webpage early August, all families whose child(ren) has a seat on the bus will also be sent the route information.
Additionally, afternoon Late Bus service will be provided to Middle School students who are registered for the regular Transportation Program. The late bus will stop at the bus stops of the students who ride the bus on a given day. The late bus will depart from the Middle School Monday through Thursday at 4:30pm; this bus does not run on early release days. This service does not start the first day of school; the Middle School principal includes the start date for this in the weekly newsletters.
Afternoon bus routes from all 3 elementary schools do not include the Boys & Girls Club. If Watertown Public Schools is able to offer transportation to the Boys & Girls Club a separate online registration form will be sent to all families from their school principal in early September.
MBTA for Students
Middle School and High School students may sign up for reduced-fare Student CharlieCards, valid on MBTA buses and subway. There are two types of Student CharlieCards available:
- Unlimited Pass: This pass offers students unlimited access to the MBTA bus and subway system at a cost of $30 per month. This pass must be paid in two installments: $150 for September through January, then $150 for February through June. Contact the WPS Transportation Office for information on use of this pass during the summer months. If payments are not made when due the card is shut off by the MBTA.
- Pay-As-You-Go Card: This card works like a prepaid charge card balance. Students can load money onto their passes at any MBTA kiosk. Funds are then deducted from the balance at a discounted student rate of 85¢ per bus ride and $1.10 per subway ride. There is no charge for students to obtain a pay-as-you-go card, but it will come loaded with $0 prepaid, so students are responsible for loading money onto their pay-as-you-go cards.
*The MBTA may change their fees at any time – WPS fees will change accordingly
Pay-As-You-Go Cards are available for pickup at both the Middle School and High School main offices. If you would like to purchase the Unlimited Pass please email: [email protected]
Contact
If you have additional questions, please contact Shannon Dixon at [email protected].