The St. James-Assiniboia School Division (SJASD) is prepared to address weather-related emergencies or extreme circumstances to keep students safe over the cold winter months or during early spring winter storms. In the event of an emergency, the  Acting Superintendent may decide to close all, or specific schools, and/or discontinue bus service in whole or in part due to: 

• Severe weather;
• Snowstorms;
  
• Adverse road conditions; and/or 
• Other emergencies. ​
  

Actions taken are done so in the best interest of student safety.​

Bus Cancellations

When the weather is too cold for buses to be running (ambient -35°C, or a wind chill hazard of -45°C or greater), the Metro Superintendents may decide to cancel buses. The message is then relayed to transportation departments and administrations. This decision is determined based on the weather conditions at 6:00 a.m. taken by Environment Canada at The Forks. 

If buses are cancelled, schools may still be open. Students will need alternate transportation as morning cancellations will remain in effect for the remainder of the day. In the event of inclement weather circumstances occurring during the day, routes may be cancelled throughout the school day. Please be advised that students should not be heading out to the bus nodes during extreme cold weather/snowstorms and families are advised to check the SJASD website for bus cancellation updates in the morning. 

The Division website, www.sjasd.ca, will be updated with cold-weather announcements found at the top of the home page. The Division will also contact parents via School Messenger (automated information service) to advise them of bus cancellations. A Metro Superintendent representative will also ensure the news media is alerted to cancellations with information available on CJOB radio and the CJOB website at www.cjob.com. If you have any concerns about your child getting safely to and from school, please keep them at home.

School Closures

In the event of extremely adverse circumstances, including severe snowstorms, the Acting Superintendent may decide to close all or specific SJASD schools. The decision to close schools is a coordinated process involving all Metro School Divisions. This decision is based on several factors, including emergency vehicles access to schools. In the event a school is closed due to extreme weather conditions, school principals will communicate this message to all families via School Messenger.

Exceptions for Phoenix School

As Phoenix School is the only school in St. James-Assiniboia School Division located outside the city limits, there are specific guidelines in place to determine school closure. When Environment Canada determines that there are blizzard conditions and the TransCanada West Highway is closed at the Headingley weigh station, the decision to close Phoenix School will be at the discretion of the Acting Superintendent.

Staying Warm During Cold Weather

Students and caregivers are reminded to dress warmly during cold weather. Environment Canada advises the following:

• Wear layers of clothing with a wind-resistant outer layer. Remove layers if you get to warm, before you start sweating, or add a layer if you get cold.
• Wear warm socks, mittens, a hat and cover your face.
• In extreme cold, cover as much skin as possible.
• If you get wet, change into dry clothing.
• Be alert for signs of frostbite. Check for numbness/white areas on your face, ears, nose, cheeks, hands and feet.
• If you notice signs of confusion, slurred speech, stiff muscles or uncontrollable shivering, these are signs of hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition. Seek medical assistance immediately.
• Check the weather forecast before you go outside and watch out for wind chill or extremely cold temperatures.
  
  

Additional Cold Weather Information

For detailed information on cold weather procedures for Early Years Schools, please visit policy JLIAB-R Outdoor Recess Guidelines.

For more details, please visit our Cold Weather Policies: EBCD Procedures for storm closures, bus cancellations and other emergencies (PDF).

For the most current busing information, see @sjasd.transportation on Instagram.