Transportation
For children riding the school bus, the day begins and ends with their experience on the bus!
Our buses provide service in the regions around our campuses in the morning and two afternoon runs (3:30pm and 5:30pm) of Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. We also provide a shuttle service between campuses and 3 park & bus locations.
Our buses provide transportation to students going and coming from school including field trips. Designing and implementing optimal bus routes, coordinating shuttle buses and meeting numerous field trip requests for transportation is a complex task. We always strive to optimize our service to reduce the travel time for our students.
Busing is required for all students ages 5+ on the Maplewood Primary school campus (maternelle and elementary). To alleviate traffic, busing is recommended but not required on the Forest Road campus.
Bus Service Area
Bus and shuttle routes and schedules (current parents - portal password protected)
Contact:
Department of Transportation
transportation@rochambeau.org
Tel: 301-530-8260 EXT: 241 & 409
Transportation options
Rochambeau provides 3 types of bus service depending upon the age of your child and their needs:
>>Bus Pick-Up points
Starting at age 4, Rochambeau offers a bus service from pick-up/drop-off points in the surrounding area. These routes are designed to reduce the travel time on the bus and are subject to change.
>>Park & Bus locations
3 specific pick-up points on bus routes in close proximity to the our campuses for students ages 4+. The park & bus serves the Maplewood campus.
>> Intercampus shuttle*
Bus between Forest and Maplewood campuses. This shuttle is restricted to students with siblings on both campuses, or students living in walking distance from Forest campus and arriving by foot or bike. For students as of 2 y.o. and 9 months minimum
*Special restrictions apply to the intercampus shuttle.
Bus and shuttle routes and schedules (current parents - portal password protected)
PARK AND BUS Locations
3 pick up points on the bus lines in close proximity to Maplewood campus. These lines serve the Maplewood campus. Student going to Forest will transfer to the intercampus shuttle from Maplewood.
Lynnbrook Center (intersection of Highland Avenue and Lynnbrook Drive)
Registration & Fees
BUS REGISTRATION
Please log into your enrollment account. The transportation forms can be found under each student's checklist.
Change of TRANSPORATION
To request a change of bus line or stop due to a move or another reason, please notify our transportation department by email.
For an address move, please be sure to update your address on the parent portal and inform admissions@rochambeau.org
TEMPORARY DISMISSAL CHANGES
All changes need to be communicated before 1pm
Maplewood Primary school campus
- Late arrivals or early departures: communicate information via Schoolpass. When driving into the campus, please see Campus access times to ensure compliance with the Maplewood Special exception.
- Change of bus stop or route : an email needs to be sent to both:
- Transportation@rochambeau.org
- Maplewood@rochmbeau.org.
If the student is to take a bus with another student, parents of both students and the teacher must be copied on the email. Please indicate the name of the student and grade in the subject of the email.
Forest Secondary School Campus
- Late arrival or early departures: inform student services: viescolaire@rochambeau.org
- Change of bus stop or route: inform both:
If the student is to take a bus with another student, the parents of both students and the professeur principal must be copied on the email. Please indicate the name of the student and grade in the subject of the email.
FAQ & Guidelines
RULES AND REGULATIONS - COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOL BUS SERVICE
All changes need to be communicated before 1pm
Maplewood Primary school campus
- Late arrivals or early departures: communicate information via Schoolpass. When driving into the campus, please see Campus access times to ensure compliance with the Maplewood Special exception.
- Change of bus stop or route : an email needs to be sent to both:
If the student is to take a bus with another student, parents of both students and the teacher must be copied on the email. Please indicate the name of the student and grade in the subject of the email.
Forest Secondary School Campus
- Late arrival or early departures: inform student services: viescolaire@rochambeau.org
- Change of bus stop or route: inform both:
If the student is to take a bus with another student, the parents of both students and the professeur principal must be copied on the email. Please indicate the name of the student and grade in the subject of the email.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I enroll my child to ride the school bus?
- How are the locations of bus stops determined?
- Could the bus stop change?
- What if I need help to locate my child's bus stop?
- When will I be notified about the bus stop?
- We live very far from the school. How do I arrange transportation?
- At what time should my child be at the bus stop in the morning? At what time should I meet the bus in the afternoon?
- How will I be informed if there is a delay in my child's bus route?
- I need to change my child's bus plan for today, or they want to go home with a friend. What do I need to do?
- What should I do if there is a transportation-related problem after office hours?
- What is the capacity for my child's bus?
- How much time per day can I expect my child’s commute to be on the bus to and from school?
- My child left an item (coat, glasses, instrument, etc.) on the bus. How can we get it back?
- What safety measures are available on school buses? Are seat belts used?
- Are there bus monitors on every route?
- GPS tracking
How do I enroll my child to ride the school bus?
Please log into your enrollment account. Transportation forms can be found under each student's checklist. All students ages 5+ to CM2/5th grade must register for transportation according the the special exception.
How are the locations of bus stops determined?
Bus service and stops are determined by the geographic perimeter of where the majority of our families live and the bus travel time. Our objective is to minimize the bus travel time for the student.
Stops will be common for several students. We encourage you to accompany your child to the bus stop or arrange a neighborhood buddy to walk with your child.
Could the bus stop change?
What if I need help to locate my child's bus stop?
Our Transportation office will provide families with route information including bus stop location and times.
If you need assistance in identifying your bus stop, please communicate with our department. Emails can be sent to transportation@rochambeau.org.
When will I be notified about the bus stop?
Parents of students registered for bus services will receive their first notification confirmation on or around the third week of July. Final confirmations will be made by mid-August.
In the event you have not received any communication from the Transportation Office please email transportation@rochambeau.org immediately. If you have relocated after you have originally requested bus service you must also notify the Transportation Office of the new address as soon as possible. This may result in your child being placed on another school bus route closer to your area.
We live very far from the school. How do I arrange transportation?
We invite you to complete the transportation request form online or contact our Transportation staff with specific questions. In most cases we can comfortably service ridership within a 10 mile radius from the Maplewood campus. Early bus registration is key to ensure availability on your bus. Buses traveling the longest distances will have route start times earliest in the morning. We try not to start any bus routes before 7am.
At what time should my child be at the bus stop in the morning? At what time should I meet the bus in the afternoon?
Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before the estimated arrival time of the bus. Please wait 10 minutes after the scheduled pick-up and then contact the Transportation Office via phone at 301-530-8260 x 241 or x 264. In the event the bus is having delays, parents will be notified via text/email notification.
How will I be informed if there is a delay in my child's bus route?
School buses encounter the same challenges as any commuter, i.e. traffic delays, weather conditions, accidents, or illness. Additionally, drivers may be delayed if parents or caregivers are not at a bus stop to meet an arriving student. In the event of a significant bus delay, families are notified via email and text alert (e2Campus system). Please keep in mind that the times given for pickup and drop off are estimates and should allow a 10 minute window in both cases before contacting the Transportation Office.
I need to change my child's bus plan for today, or they want to go home with a friend. What do I need to do?
Maplewood Primary school campus
- Late arrivals or early departures: communicate information via Schoolpass. When driving into the campus, please see Campus access times to ensure compliance with the Maplewood Special exception.
- Change of bus stop or route : an email needs to be sent to both:
- Transportation@rochambeau.org
- Maplewood@rochmbeau.org.
If the student is to take a bus with another student, parents of both students and the teacher must be copied on the email. Please indicate the name of the student and grade in the subject of the email.
Forest Secondary School Campus
- Late arrival or early departures: inform student services: viescolaire@rochambeau.org
- Change of bus stop or route: inform both:
- transportation@rochambeau.org
- viescolaire@rochambeau.org
If the student is to take a bus with another student, the parents of both students and the professeur principal must be copied on the email. Please indicate the name of the student and grade in the subject of the email.
All changes need to be communicated before 1pm
What should I do if there is a transportation-related problem after office hours?
The Transportation office is open from 7am to 7pm Monday through Friday from the first day of school to the last day of school in June. We can be reached at 301-530-8260 x 264 or x241 during those hours. The Transportation Office may be closed during weather related snow days. The office is closed for all major holidays and many of the vacation breaks throughout the year.
What is the capacity for my child's bus?
The capacity for each bus can vary based on the specific model bus being used on that route. All buses can accommodate up to three elementary students or two middle or high students in each seat. Our goal is always to maintain a safe environment for students while accommodating the transportation needs of all families. Depending on the bus route, students should not expect to have a seat to themselves or allowing book bags and personal belongings to occupy a vacant seat.
How much time per day can I expect my child’s commute to be on the bus to and from school?
My child left an item (coat, glasses, instrument, etc.) on the bus. How can we get it back?
Drivers check their buses after each run. During business hours, please call the Transportation Office and we will make an attempt to secure the item in the event you choose to pick it up from the bus lot. Unfortunately, the drivers will not be able to take the item back to the bus stop that day. In many cases the driver will keep the item in the front of the bus near them and return it to the appropriate child on the next school day. Please send an email to transportation@rochambeau.org if it is after hours or the Transportation Office is closed.
What safety measures are available on school buses? Are seat belts used?
Seat belts are not required on school buses because research by the Department of Transportation has determined that "compartmentalization" was a better safety solution. For this reason, bus seats have been designed with specific spacing, full padding on front and back, and increased back height for maximum impact protection. Safety tests show this configuration to be the most effective protection in case of impact.
Our bus fleet is regularly inspected for safety and mechanical integrity. Our drivers are also specially licensed for bus operation. We are committed to compliance with State and Federal safety standards, following the strictest safety standards.