2019 marks the Year of Tolerance for the UAE and in order to show their support, STS drivers and bus guardians came together to make a human mosaic at their annual Staff Appreciation Day.
This activity was organised to encourage peace and stability amongst employees and highlight the importance of people from all backgrounds and beliefs. The STS team is made up of an incredible 15 nationalities and 5 religions whom all came together to share and celebrate happiness.
Scholars International Academy, provide a rich learning environment to unlock your child’s full potential. Scholars International Academy follows an interdisciplinary British Curriculum that educates students from 60 different nationalities. SIA has an excellent childhood development programme that helps create a strong foundation for the students which leads to higher education. Majority of our teachers are UK nationals that are highly qualified and have immense teaching experience. SIA is one of only 2 schools in Sharjah that is accredited by British Schools Overseas (BSO). SIA is a full member of British Schools Middle East (BSME).
Dreams come true this Ramadan as ‘Stuff the Bus ‘ makes a surprise stop at the Special Family Support Grup Iftar
School Transport Services (STS) has made dreams come true as we hosted an Iftar for families and friends of the Special Family Support Group (SFS) and gave life-changing gifts to the children as part of our annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ program during the holy month of Ramadan.
SFS a support group who bring families together to help each other in raising their children were invited to the Iftar and took part in activities including painting the school bus before the children were surprised with much-needed gifts to support fulfilling their future dreams and aspirations.
STS in advance of the Iftar visited the homes of some of the families to understand how they could help and support them and identified that essential equipment including hearing aids, wheelchairs and leg braces could make an enormous difference to the children and their families. We stuffed the bus with these gifts for the children which were presented at the Iftar.
Please find the below few links covered by the media.
The French International School Georges Pompidou was established in 1973 in the Emirate of Sharjah. During its first 10 years the LFIGP, the corporate school has less than 100 students at all levels.
In the 90s, an annexe is opened in the emirate of Dubai in Oud Metha to be closer to family in Dubai who are more numerous. In 1993-1994, after 20 years, LFIGP has 362 students.
Over the past 10 years, the number of students doubled again to over 2400 children in September 2013, due to the opening of a fourth site adjacent to Secondary School in Academic City. The new elementary school will host approximately 750 students in September 2014 (already over 600 in September 2013). The school Oud Metha has refurbished and now welcomes students from kindergarten of Dubai (375 children).
The pressure resulting from registration applications is very large and directly related to the increase in the French population in Dubai (+10% in 2012). In September 2014, the LFIGP hosts more than 2,600 students.
Amity Private School will open in April 2018. With an ideal location, situated in the Muwailih School Zone, our school will be an approved co-ed CBSE School supported by strong and proven Amity Education ideologies of fostering talent. Built on a large 8-acre site with modern buildings and state-of-the-art facilities, our school is owned and operated by the highly regarded Amity Foundation, home of the CBSE Global Topper 2017.
For over 25 years, Amity Education has been a leading not-for-profit education group that offers globally benchmarked education right from pre-schools to Ph.D. level, with over 150,000 students worldwide.
In the UAE, we currently have a University campus spread across 700,000 sq. ft. offering Under Graduate & Post Graduate programs, a Band-A British-curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, a newly opened CBSE school in Al Qusais and British curriculum Preschools in Jumeirah Islands and Jebel Ali.
Wesgreen International School was founded in 1991 in Sharjah, and in the years since it has grown to become one of the most successful schools in the area. The School has been advancing excellence in education for more than two decades and has been recognized by the Council of International Schools as an accredited school.
The School is divided into four separate sections. The Early Years School from Nursery to Grade 1 is based at the Al Qarain Campus. The Primary School accommodates students from Grade 2 to Grade 4. At the end of Grade 4, students move to either the Boys’ or Girls’ Secondary School. The Boys’ and Girls’ Secondary Schools cater for Grade 5 to Grade 13. The Administration Department is housed on the Secondary Boys’ Campus.
Based in Dubai Academic City, Lycee Georges Pompidou High School serves the French-speaking community within the UAE. It is one of two secondary schools in Dubai offering a French curriculum, the other being Lycee Libanais Francophone Prive. Classes are conducted en Francaise.
Lycee Georges Pompidou High School serves 1917 students, boys and girls, aged from 6 to 18. The school has its own feeder KG school, Lycee Georges Pompidou Ecole Primaire Dubai, which takes pupils from 3 years of age to 6.
Both the Primary, and now the secondary are rated Outstanding schools by the KHDA, Dubai’s education regulator. It is the first year the post-primary school has achieved the top grade in the UAE, but the second time its junior pre-school, taking children from 3 years of age to 6, has achieved the top rating.
The Arbor School is an ecological school based on the National Curriculum for England, located in Al-Furjan, within easy reach of Jumeirah Village Triangle, Green Community, Victory Heights and the Marina.
The Arbor School offers outstanding resources and facilities to provide innovative education – based on ecoliteracy, sustainability and global environmental justice, using a project-based approach – aligned with the British Curriculum.
The school is specifically designed to inspire and nurture our students’ different learning styles and abilities. The learning areas expand beyond the traditional classroom to include biodomes, a learning garden, a bio farm and a reflection garden.
Offering FS1 – Year 7 (year 8 opening in September 2020), we provide a unique ecological approach to learning within Dubai.
GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar, is the newest additional to GEMS English schools and invites you to join us on our journey of learning!
GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar is an international UK curriculum school, providing students in the Dubai with the high standard of education that GEMS Education embodies.
We are part of the GEMS Education family of international schools. GEMS Education is an international body that pursues excellence in education, ensuring that it is accessible for every child, everywhere. This pursuit of excellence has seen GEMS Education set new standards across the world with the four core concepts of learning: learning through innovation, pursuing excellence, growing by learning and global citizenship.
STS is one of the supporting sponsors of MENA UITP Congress Exhibition.
The theme of the 2018 edition was ‘pioneering for customer happiness’, recognizing the customer as the core of public transport service and incorporating happiness along with satisfaction.
The agenda of the program as well as the theme echoes with the goals of STS, where we want to ensure the safety, satisfaction as well as the happiness of not just the children that are entrusted us but also of the parents.
Since its launch in 2010, the Dubai Chamber CSR Label has grown in significance to become the highest level of recognition for the CSR efforts of businesses in the Middle East. Developed by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it is the first CSR Label in the region that builds on international standards while ensuring local relevance.
The Dubai Chamber CSR Label serves as a diagnostic framework and a CSR management tool for the participating companies to develop and improve their approach to CSR best practices, and assess their organizations’ social and environmental impact.
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry honoured 37 companies for their corporate social responsibility and sustainability efforts during a recognition ceremony held at its premises. We’re proud to announce that we were one amongst the 37 companies awarded for following sustainability practices and strategies.
We participated in the ‘Marking Sustainability Network Achievements’ organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 20th March 2018. We were held in high regard for the efforts and contribution rendered towards Sustainability Network and for championing responsible and sustainable business practices in UAE.
We received a note of appreciation for our participation and responsible actions through 2017.
“Thank you very much for your overwhelming response and participation in yesterday’s event on ‘Marking Sustainability Network Achievements 2017’. It was a pleasure to have you with us.
We once again congratulate you for your efforts and contribution towards Sustainability Network and championing responsible and sustainable business practices in UAE.”
It’s the time of year again that we welcome the new registered students during the Orientation Day of our schools. The program was held at the Gems New Millennium, Our Own Indian School and Gems Modern School Orientation Day.
It’s aways been a pleasure to welcome new students and parents to be a part of our STS users list.
At the orientation day event our fun marketing team, along with the STS mascot – The Super Driver, enjoyed handing out goody bags to the students and parents who accepted it with smiles on. The parents and students entertained themselves by clicking away at the STS photobooth.
We look forward to having the new STS bus users onboard, as we continue to provide the best services to our existing users!!
STS was a part of fun activities and carnivals in a number of GEMS schools. We participated in the International Day at Gems Founder School and Mirdiff Private School, the Spring Fair at Jumeirah Primary School and Gems Wellington Academy and, the Family Fiesta at Cambridge International School.
We gave away goodie bags and distributed The Journey, our magazine, to parents and children. Our mascot, the Super Driver had fun with the kids and clicked pictures with them using the phot booth. With all the fun around, we also raised awareness about charitable causes that we are a part of.
Finally, as part of STS’s initiative to spread awareness about school buses and rules for riding on them, we initiated games and activities that would make children more careful while riding in buses to and from school.
Ever spare a thought for the people who make sure school kids get around safely? School Transport Services devoted a whole day to appreciate its school bus drivers and support staff.
In the event hosted by City 1016 Radio presenters Sid and Malavika, colleagues participated in cricket, football, volleyball, badminton, tug-of-war and other fun challenges while bhangra dancers and cheerleaders performed. A ‘Got Talent’-style show had drivers and bus attendants singing and dancing for a panel of judges, including company MD Steve Burnell, Thomas Edelman from Road Safety UAE among others.
The winner was awarded AED 4,000. Awards were also handed out to the employees whose hard work and daily contributions have helped ensure that STS remains one of the
best ways to provide safe, timely and smart service.
Please find the below few links covered by the media.
Our CSR-partner Serco, in partnership with RoadSafetyUAE hosted their 2nd ‘Road Safety Awareness Day’ on 10-Oct.
More than 100 delegates from various road-safety committed organizations and the media attended the programme.
The speaker line up included Dubai Police and our CSR partners Serco, MIX Telematics, SafetyMedia, STS, Michelin & Tyreplus and RoadSafetyUAE.
We showcased their latest school bus and staff bus technology.
Tyreplus conducted a free tyre safety check of all attendees’ vehicles with improvement proposals where needed.
We thank our media partners Khaleej Times, Gulf News and The National.
A very big ‘thank-you’ to our hosts of Serco Middle East: David Greer, CEO; Laura Kelly, Safety Assurance Director; Carmine Pereira, Safety and Assurance!
We look forward to welcoming all of you back in 2018!
STS recently joined hands with SmartLife, who are committed to enhancing the lives of blue-collar workers in the city through educational programmes. Our target has been to enhance the English skills of our support staff, therefore providing them with further opportunities, both professionally and personally.
All teachers are volunteers, but Manjula Ramakrishnan, who is in charge of the programme, explains: “The smile on their faces when they see our teachers in their labour accommodation or workplace is motivation enough.”
She goes on to tell us, “Students who walk in full of doubts in Class 1 are the same set of students talking ever so confidently in simple English by session 15. It is something that never ceases to fill us all with complete joy!”
Ms. Renuka Krishnan and CFO of Ingram Micro META, Mr. Krishnan Lakshman are both volunteers in the programme. The drive to give back to society and ensuring upliftment of fellow human beings is the driving force for the couple who spend their free time participating in this good cause.
In keeping with a similar sentiment Shynu Verghese and Retired IT professional and Training Specialist, Ajit Varghese are also enthusiastic teachers who are part of the programme. Ajit says Shynu has always wanted to give back to society by doing something useful instead of simply donating money and things. Ever since she stopped working she has been searching for opportunities to indulge in such activities and offered the perfect platform for them both to feel fulfilled.
The programme continues to gain popularity among more and more support staff who are enrolling in large numbers.
Over the years, authorities have launched various campaigns to ensure school bus drivers, other motorists and pedestrians follow traffic rules around school zones.
At STS, our priority has always been to provide our esteemed customers with safe and reliable transportation services. As part of our goal, we have undertaken various campaigns, in partnership with government authorities as well as private institutions.
Our Managing Director Steve Burnell made an appearance on the segment of a popular radio station 103.8 Dubai Eye’s show Education Matters. The segment titled ‘Drive Live’ goes live on a bus after school, talking to children on the way.
Steve asserted that it is a fact that bus travel is safer than a private car traveling. While speaking about the contribution of STS towards road safety Steve said, “Our drivers are professional seasoned drivers and they’ve received additional drivers licensing tests plus ongoing training and defensive road skills so they can focus on the road and traffic around them”.
At STS, we work with a large number of schools on a daily basis, providing secure transport to over 75,000 students who are all cared for beyond the time they spend in the buses. With state of the art systems in place, we have created a high benchmark in the school bus industry, unlike any other.
STS partnered with Zulekha Hospital as part of PINK IT NOW. This is a breast cancer awareness
campaign between 17th September to 9th November, that intends to inform and impart
education on the deadly disease.
The event at STS was held on 8th and 9th October where participants received a short talk on
symptoms, self-examination and detection of breast cancer by a specialist.
As against popular belief, there are many warning signs to breast cancer however they are
often overlooked by women of all ages. The campaign by Zulekha Hospitals aims to shed light
on these glaring symptoms and prevent the disease at an early stage. To facilitate the same,
they will be providing free specialist consultation and Mammograms at their hospitals in
Sharjah and Dubai.
Following the talk, our beauty partners indulged the audience and pampered them with some
relaxing short beauty treatments that included manicures, pedicures and massages. we are
proud to be a part of the initiative and pledge to continue our efforts in the direction of
awareness and education to prevent breast cancer.
Amity School Dubai opened in April 2017 which is regulated and approved by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai. With an ideal location, situated in the Al Qusais School Zone, the School covers a large 14-acre area featuring modern buildings and state-of-the-art facilities. Amity School Dubai is an approved co-ed CBSE School supported by strong and proven Amity Education ideologies of nurturing talent.
GEMS United Indian School carries on the GEMS Education passion for delivering internationally comparable quality Indian education, built on our belief that the culture of education is to pass on the light of skill and knowledge, helping students expand their physical and intellectual horizons through value-based and value-added educational programmes. Its motto ‘Lead Kindly Light’ encapsulates this belief. And today, the restructured school is regarded as one of the premier educational institutions in Abu Dhabi.
On behalf of all of us at STS and on behalf of all of the children who will benefit from your big-hearted donations, we want to say thank you….
Twenty-three schools took part in the campaign and special thanks go to Dubai Library Distributors who donated a large number of school bags and supplies. All of the donations have been delivered to the Emirates Red Crescent which assists children in need in countries including Syria and Yemen.
Thanking everyone involved in the campaign, Col M L Augustine (Retd), Managing Director of STS said, “We know that this will bring smiles to the faces of many children but also help support them to achieve their future dreams through helping to support their education.”
Thank you to the students, staff, parents and friends of:
From a raft of impressive, colourful and artistic competition entries, the winning posters have been selected…
In May, we launched “Buckle Up” our safety awareness campaign to encourage children and other passengers to wear a seatbelt every time they ride in a car. Our judges were impressed with the creativity and effectiveness of our students’ posters, and it was a tough decision to pick a single winner. In the end, the judges selected three winning entries. They are:
Glynis Sebastian, aged 11, from St. Mary’s Catholic High School
Hanisha Chawla, grade 5, from Our Own English High School, Dubai
Each of the poster creators wins a month’s free travel on STS school buses and received a certificate of appreciation from STS. As new laws are introduced making it obligatory for all car passengers to wear a seatbelt, we will be using the winning posters as a timely reminder.
The new laws, which come into effect on 1 July 2017, will also see the use of age-appropriate car seats for passengers up to age 10 enforced. While the responsibility lies with the driver to ensure that everyone in the car wears a seatbelt, it’s important that buckling up becomes second nature for children so that they take responsibility for their own safety as they get older.
Last week, just before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, two groups of volunteers from STS in Dubai and its sister venture, Bright Bus Transport (BBT), in Sharjah, delivered care packages to hundreds of workers across the two emirates.
As the mercury crept towards the 40 degree mark, 19 of STS’ admin and support staff, and 37 employees from BBT Sharjah, enthusiastically jumped at the chance to show thanks to hard-working labourers of the UAE, giving out a total of 1,000 goodie bags. The care packages, containing water, biscuits and personal care items, we delivered in eco-friendly reusable bags bearing the words “thank you” in multiple languages to spread the message of our gratitude far and wide.
With Ramadan just days away, it was a fitting time to thank the hands that help to build this great country. Also in tune with the environmental care and responsibility encouraged during the holy month, and as part of our efforts as an ISO 14001 certified company, we ensured that our actions had minimal environmental impact by using sustainable bags and avoiding plastic landfill waste.
250 eager STS volunteers registered to be part of our latest blood donation drive on 14 and 15 May.
STS regularly hosts blood donation drives for the Dubai Health Authority to give our staff the opportunity to contribute to this noble and life-giving cause. After screening and approvals, 144 donors from STS and GEMS Education were approved for donation, providing a total in the region of 144 pints (70 litres) of life-saving blood to the blood bank.
The DHA applauded all who were involved and encouraged STS to continue supporting their work through future blood donation drives.
Did you know?
Donating blood takes just 8-10 minutes
Usually around 1 pint or 450ml of blood is taken from each donor
It takes just 24 hours for a donor’s body to replace the donated blood fluid
Each donated pint of blood can help to save 3-5 lives
STS joins Zulekha Hospital’s drive to raise awareness in the UAE for the easily preventable but potentially fatal cervical cancer.
Bus conductors, female operations crew and administration staff at STS HQ, were given the opportunity to have free Pap smears and gynaecological consultations as part of a cervical cancer awareness drive lead by Dubai’s Zulekha Hospital.
Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is easily detectable via smear or pap tests. All women are encouraged to have regular smear tests and vaccines for HPV are also available. When detected early, HPV and cervical cancer can be treated easily and recovery rates are extremely high.
“Cervical cancer can affect as many as 93 women across the UAE every year,” Zanubia Shams, co-chairperson of Zulekha Hospitals said. “The number of fatal cases among these can be as high as 28. For a disease that can be easily prevented and eradicated through regular screening and vaccinations, we have made it our goal to reach as many women in the emirates as possible.”
STS was among a number of businesses and schools to benefit from Zulekha Hospital’s annual health drive, screening women and raising awareness of cervical cancer in the United Arab Emirates. As part of the visit, our hardworking conductors and administration staff were treated to manicures and mini-massages in the office.
STS celebrates the UAE’s best teachers in collaboration with Education Journal Middle East
As proud sponsors of the first ever Education Journal Middle East Awards 2017, STS joined around 250 educators at Grosvenor House Dubai on 3 May 2017, to celebrate the region’s best teachers and school teams.
200 nominations were whittled down to the 15 winners which included categories from teaching assistants and subject specialists to departmental teams. All of the winners received awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education.
STS presented the prestigious Principal of the Year Award to Sasha Crabb of Victory Heights Primary School, and the prize for Secondary Team of the Year, which went to Dubai International Academy.
This was an important occasion celebrating the work of inspiring and dedicated teachers, and STS remains a proud supporter of education in the region.
If you still need convincing that taking the bus to school is a good idea, then read on…
It keeps kids more active
In the UAE, it’s all too easy to go from our homes to our cars to our schools, taking barely a step along the way. While it may not involve strenuous exercise, taking the bus to school at least involves walking to the bus stop — and for children who are going to be sitting down in lessons for most of the day every little helps.
It’s sociable
Riding to school with friends is fun! What’s more, school bus riders have a chance to mix with children of different ages. You’d be surprised how protective the bigger kids are of the little ones, and how much the little ones enjoy the chance to speak to older children. This builds confidence, social skills and self-esteem.
It encourages independence
Getting yourself on the right bus at the right time with all of the bags, snacks and school supplies that you need for the day, teaches children about self-reliance from a young age.
It’s greener
By taking the bus, your contribution to air pollution is dramatically reduced. Buses emit fewer pollutants per kilometre travelled than cars on a per passenger basis, so by taking the bus, you are helping us all breathe cleaner air.
It benefits the community
More children on the bus means fewer cars on the road. This means less traffic, lower emissions, safer roads around the schools at drop-off and pick up. The impact of your choice to use school transportation can touch many others in a positive way.
It’s better for family harmony
For many families, the start to each school day is a race against the clock — a race to get the kids up, dressed, fed and in the car, racing to get on the road before the rush hour traffic really hits, racing to get to school before the drop-off crush, and racing off again to work or whatever other appointments you have. Now, imagine a school day in which all that stress and responsibility lies with someone else. Calmer mornings, less stressed parents, happier families.
Marking International Mother Earth Day 2017, a team of 40 STS volunteers took part in our annual tree planting programme planting seeds for around 250 new trees.
At STS, we take our environmental responsibility very seriously. We aim to adopt sustainable practices wherever possible and seek to reduce the environmental impact of our operations wherever we can. So on 22 April, bus drivers, conductors, operations staff and management came together and gave up their own time to make a difference to the UAE ecosystem. As part of the Give a Ghaf programme, the STS volunteers planted seeds for around 250 Ghaf trees.
The Ghaf is the national tree of the UAE and planting it not only ensures the survival of this national treasure for generations to come, but it also provides a valuable impact for the UAE environment and beyond by:
absorbing CO2 and generating fresh oxygen
providing habitat and food for native wildlife
offering valuable shade in the desert heat
giving ground resistance to prevent against erosion
The United Nations International Mother Earth Day aims to remind us citizens of this planet, that we are entirely reliant on the Earth for our existence and sustenance and, as such, we share a collective responsibility to protect the Earth’s resources and ecosystems.
Laws carrying heavy penalties are passed making it compulsory for drivers to ensure that passengers buckle up in their car.
As part of a raft of new road and traffic rules, the UAE Ministry of Interior has announced a big leap forward in road safety for car passengers.
The laws state:
everyone travelling in the car MUST wear a seatbelt, regardless of their age and whether they are travelling in the front or the back of the car
children under 10 years of age are prohibited from sitting in the front seat
age-appropriate car seats must be used for children under 10
The responsibility for ensuring that all passengers are properly restrained lies with the driver, who risks penalties of a fine of Dhs.400 and 4 black licence points for failing to observe the law.
The new laws are due to come into effect on 1st July 2017.
The move has been hailed by Dubai Police and road safety campaigners, including STS’s child road safety partner, Road Safety UAE.
