Journey Magazine Issue 4

SEPTEMBER 2018

Issue 04

Celebrating Our Past, Inspiring Our Future

Years

LAUNCHING THE

STS SAFETY BUS

WE’LL DRIVE YOU TO SAFETY SEE PAGE 7

LOOK OUT FOR OUR INSTAGRAM COMPETITION SEE PAGE 23

Welcome 03

DEAR

COLLEAGUES,

Marketing & Communications Manager Neetu Deshwal

Issue 04

I

t seems like only a few weeks ago when I was writing my introductory message for this magazine. Now I am one year into my role as Managing Director of STS and I am proud to be part of a company that is evolving, growing, and improving every day, as well as ensuring that we provide the highest quality transport services in the region for all of our education and private hire customers.

The aim of this magazine is to inform our readers that at STS we love receiving feedback, so we can look at making improvements to ensure the best customer satisfaction is achieved. So, please, if you have any feedback or suggestions of what we should include, do not hesitate to share it with us. We always strive for service excellence and we greatly appreciate your feedback to make sure we do.

Welcome to the fourth edition of our Journey magazine - I’m sure that you will enjoy what’s included. We’ve provided an insight into our company and its capability in the region for both education and private hire customers.

Read about The Safety Bus; an initiative developed in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority to educate children on the importance of road safety. Also, read our interview with the new head of service delivery, Joe Khan, to see just what his role involves.

This issue is packed with news, tips, and feature articles – I hope you enjoy the read as we have an amazing team here at STS that work tirelessly to make us who we are. I would like to convey a message of appreciation to everyone at STS who continues to show commitment to our services, and dedication to delivering our core values every single day.

As we enter into the new school year, we often find ourselves reflecting on the year gone by and identifying what we can improve in the year to come. This summer, we have taken some time to reflect on our successes but most importantly, focused on our standards of safety and service delivery to identify areas of improvement for our customers and successfully mobilise all of the new schools coming on board with us.

www.stss.ae

facebook.com@ myschoolbus

twitter.com@sts_global

Please head over to our Health and Wellness section and read our Do’s and Don’ts for going back to school safely to make sure you’re organised and ready to go.

Remember - always be Safe, Timely, Smart.

Steve Burnell Managing Director - STS

linkedin.com@school transport services llc

Marketing Executive Leslie Morelos Bid Manager Laura Dance

PUBLISHER INFORMATION Managing Director Eddie Rayner Publishing Director Laura Wojciechowski Editor in Chief Rod Millington Production Supervisor Dorothy Brigoli Production & Communications Coordinator Vidushi Kewlani Production Coordinator Shabnam Bashiri Design Chalitha Fernando Daniel Murad Accounts info@tpg.media

SWITCHBOARD: +971 4 349 4925

info@tpg.media

instagram.com/sts_ae/

This magazine is published by TPG Publishing LLC. All material is the copyright of TPG Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

This magazine is the property of TPG Publishing LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without written permission of the Managing Director of TPG Publishing LLC. While every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

04 Contents

In This Issue…

CELEBRATING SUCCESS P10 Do you know someone who gets 76,309 students to school every single day? We do!

WE MAKE IT HAPPEN P11 Have you downloaded the STS mobile application yet?

COVER STORY P07 STS introduces the new Safety Bus!

DO’S

SAFETY MATTERS P14 What can Thomas teach you about road safety and child car seats?!

www.stss.ae | September 2018

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT P18 Nothing says thank you to our drivers and support staff like a dedicated annual appreciation day.

DON’TS

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS P33 Do’s and Don’ts: Going back to school.

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06 Cover Story

In June 2018, STS celebrated its 10th birthday and we have taken a look back at where we started and where we are now.

AFTER 10 YEARS OF

SCHOOL TRANSPORT SERVICES, WE HAVE… AREAS COVERED

431

NO. OF SCHOOLS

80+

ROUTES

2,254 DISTANCE COVERED

STUDENTS

325,152 KM/DAY

76,309 BUSES

TOTAL EMPLOYEES

2,704

2,988

LAUNCHED: STS APP LAUNCHED

SAFETY BUS

RFID

MAGAZINE

www.stss.ae | September 2018

SAFETY AMBASSADOR

STS CSR INITIATIVE STUFF THE BUS

INSTALLED: OPERATIONAL CONTROL CENTRE DRIVERS AND SUPPORT STAFF APPRECIATION DAY

Video surveillance:

Sleeping child check button:

8,256

2,497

GPS:

Electronic attendance:

2,497

2,497

Cover Story 07

We’ll Drive You to Safety STS introduces their new Safety Bus and puts in place plans to welcome teachers, parents, and students on board in the new school year to learn about the importance of traveling to school Safely, Timely and Smartly.

STS have a responsibility to educate road safety to all All visitors to the Safety Bus will be briefed by our onboard schools, teachers, parents and children regardless safety specialists, shown videos on safe practices and have of whether or not they are using our services. the opportunity to play on the interactive safety The Safety Bus is a corporate social games. All systems onboard the bus will be solar responsibility initiative developed by powered to highlight the importance of taking STS and supported by the Roads care of the environment. The Safety Bus Neetu Deshwal, and Transport Authority to promote targets all ages ranging from nursery to Marketing and the STS values of ‘Safe, Timely secondary school children and the videos/ Communications Manager: and Smart’. STS has used one of games vary in levels of information and “This is one of my favourite projects at STS. Our team its existing buses to create an difficulty to ensure the bus is relevant to all has put so much hard work interactive platform to help promote the schools that we serve. into this. Can’t wait to get safety on the roads of the UAE. it out on the road in The Safety Bus is set to appear in schools September.”

The Safety Bus will be parked in a from September so keep your eyes peeled safe parking zone at schools with the and see if you spot us on the road. engine switched off.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

08 Celebrating Success

HR Director, Simon Andrews Shares His Views…

After six months with STS, Simon is already well known by his colleagues for his passion and positivity. He has already made a huge impact on the STS family by demonstrating incredible capability within the HR field, but we wanted to get to know him a little better and find out what’s in store for the coming months.

Q: How have you found your first six months working at STS? A: The first six months in STS have been simply amazing; what I have seen in terms of the commitment, dedication and professionalism of our teams has given me confidence that we can rise to any challenge. We have a very special business - how many transport providers around the globe can state that they are involved in transporting 76,309 students daily in a Safe and Timely manner? The people I have met have welcomed me and shared their views and insight into how we continue to improve what we do every day. The HR and PRO teams have responded positively to my challenge to change what, and how we deliver for our customers and employees of STS in a SMART way.

“My philosophy is that we get the best out of each other and create a positive culture by following something called the EACH model. This means treating Employees, as Adults, Consumers, and Human beings.”

Simon Andrews HR Director

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Celebrating Success 09

Q: How would you describe the culture?

A: Evolving. I am a firm believer that ‘We are the culture we create’. There have been significant positive changes in the last 12 months and since my arrival I have been actively challenging people to think differently.

My philosophy is that we get the best out of each other and create a positive culture by following something called the EACH model. This means treating Employees, as Adults, Consumers, and Human Beings. An organisation that relies too much on fixed rules and mind sets stifles creativity and input from employees that drives change. We are working hard across our management team to create an environment that is fair, by instilling trust and mutual respect. I believe that we have a better culture today within the business because of our unwavering management commitment to be authentic and honest with our valued employees. Onwards and Upwards.

transporting safely the most precious thing a parent has, their child. It really does not matter what function you work in, we are all part of that engine room of Safe, Timely and Smart working that drives our services. My commitment is to challenge positively my peers and colleagues to increase our safety on the roads. I also am personally committed to increasing the capability and awareness of our front-line staff through effective training delivery. I am currently working with our new Training Manager, Zahid Gul, to develop more effective inductions for new starters, and we are also building up a library of training interventions that will help our existing employees keep themselves and their passengers safe. I am a firm believer that this commitment is essential to ensure that our STS staff are the best equipped and trained to be confident on the challenging roads of the UAE.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about working for STS? A: Every day is different; we have an entrepreneurial culture within our business that always brings new challenges to your working week. However, the thing I really enjoy within my role is working with teams and individuals to enthuse, motivate and change the way we work, and support the business.

Setting people, the challenge to step up, deliver, and then recognise what they do is incredibly rewarding. It’s been great to be part of growing business and balance the challenge of improving what we do today, versus where we are going tomorrow.

Q: What are your future plans for STS? A: We have many activities planned for the 2018/19 academic year, including: • Employee Opinion Survey; where we gather the views of all in how we can improve the business further.

•

Talent and Succession Planning; we will be looking at the service delivery executives pool to determine the STS leaders of the future.

•

SEA (Service Excellence Academy); we are going to develop our training and learning team to ensure that we have accredited learning taking place for our valued staff.

Q: What is your personal commitment to the core values ‘Safe, Timely, Smart’ A: I think that every employee of STS recognises their huge responsibility of

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

10 Celebrating Success

Do You Know Someone

WHO GETS 76,309 STUDENTS TO SCHOOL SAFELY EVERY SINGLE DAY? WE DO! For this edition, we dug deep into the mind of our Head of Service Delivery, Joe Khan, to understand how his 18 years’ experience, operational expertise and management capability are framing the future for STS. Q: What is the key to operational success?

A: First and foremost, it is important to have very clear objectives that are understood by all the team members.

Planning with effective communications through daily briefings and reliable data ensures that we are always prepared to deliver in line with our vision and values. We have regular team meetings at all levels that ensure that all the up-to-date information is best shared.

Q: How does the Operational Control Centre (OCC) support you and your team day to day?

A: The OCC can be compared to the engine of a car, which drives everything. It is the heart of our business where all the communications and data is filtered through. Not only do we track each vehicle that we have in our business, but equally we are able to drill down exception reports to find out where the trends and patterns are forming. We are always stirring for service excellence in our operations and communication with our schools and parents form a fundamental part of this. Our OCC manages the correspondence with schools and parents to ensure them of our commitment to the safety of the students whilst on board our vehicles.

2) There is so much opportunity to grow your career in the different functions so look forward to a busy, interesting and successful career.

3) You will get the opportunity to meet so many different people both internally and externally so make sure you enjoy communicating.

Q: How will you handle the introduction of more transport operations in the future?

A: By ensuring that we plan robustly and use past experiences where lessons have been learnt, along with deep evaluation of trends and patterns to train our teams better.

The introduction of the route optimisation software will enable us to work on a greater scale with further efficiencies.

Q: How do you plan effectively to ensure that all buses are ready for the new school term?

A: The operations teams have a very close working relationship with the engineering, IT and training departments where all the maintenance of vehicles is preplanned to ensure that works are carried out along with any training requirements during the holiday period and ahead of the commencement of the new academic year.

Q: What are your top three tips to those aspiring to work in operations?

A: 1) Teamwork is key; it is where everyone works collectively, which makes the job so easier, so remember this when exploring for roles in the future.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Joe Khan

Head of Service Delivery

We Make IT Happen 11

HAVE YOU DOWNLOADED IT’S RELIABLE, FAST, INNOVATIVE

the STS App Yet?

and Dependable.

It’s RFID

STS App is getting better and you have to check it out. STS is forever improving the App and adding new features to help you keep track of what’s going on. The App is free to download so don’t waste anymore time!

STS introduces the use of RFID on its school buses to give parents peace of mind.

Identification will be made using the student ID card containing a unique serial number that identifies the student on a microchip which is converted into digital information that is passed straight over to our Operational Control

Centre (OCC) meaning there is constant, real time and accurate data. The RFID means that details are automatically entered and shared with our OCC, which in turn will provide more accurate attendance details activities of children can be quickly notified to the parents to remove any element of uncertainty.

STS looks forward to the full implementation of RFID and showing schools, parents, and students all its benefits.

The STS App allows parents to constantly monitor their child’s whereabouts when they are travelling on our buses.

The App gives parents the ability to change personal information quickly to make sure that our alerts are delivered to the right person at the right time.

The App gives detailed information on our services and the data provided will be uniquely portrayed for each individual student.

The App gives instant access to real time information on their child.

How to set up your STS account: • Open the app on the device and click ‘Register’.

• Enter the registered mobile number.

• Scan your child’s student ID card with the camera or enter the 14-digit Student ID Number manually.

• A four-digit OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number as a text message. Enter the fourdigit code in the box displayed on the screen.

• Press enter, and all other fields will automatically populate.

• Enter a password to complete the registration.

• Agree with the Terms and Conditions and then click ‘Register’.

• Enjoy exploring the STS App.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

Safety Matters 13

SAFETY BY CHOICE, NOT

BY CHANCE. Our Own English School – Al Ain invited STS to participate in their safety week to offer advice to students and teachers on best safety practices and the importance of road safety. STS went along and delivered a fun and interactive presentation to all the students on what safety on the roads looks like and what they can do to make sure they are as safe as possible when travelling in the UAE. STS made sure that school children were fully engaged by playing a number of games throughout the presentation and an entertaining quiz to finish up!

BE A SAFETY HERO AND SCORE AN ACCIDENT ZERO STS Bus Drivers and Bus Guardians are on the lookout for students demonstrating outstanding commitment to safety to be crowned a ‘Bus Safety Ambassador’ in this new initiative launching in September.

This unique initiative was created to motivate students to follow the golden safety rules while they are on the school bus and to help set an example for others about the importance of road safety.

The Golden Rules: 1.

Be ready and on time for your journey.

Safety 2. Do not stand on the road while Ambassador waiting for the school bus.

3. Never talk to strangers.

4. Only travel on your designated bus.

5. Scan your ID card while boarding and leaving the bus.

6. Sit facing forward at all times.

7.

Remain seated on the designated seat.

8. Wear your seatbelt for the entire bus journey.

9. Keep the aisles and walkway clear at all times.

10. Be courteous and follow the bus guardian and driver’s instructions.

11. Avoid the danger zone area that surrounds all sides of the bus. Maintain a distance of at least ten steps from the bus, where the driver can see you.

12. Make sure the road is safe before crossing.

Timely, Sm fe, ar Sa

t

At STS, we always aim to promote safety and good behaviour on our buses in an engaging and interactive manner. One of the ways we will do this in the new academic year is through our ‘School Bus Safety Ambassador‘ award, which will be given to those students who adopt and deliver our golden safety rules. This will be a monthly award and will be presented to one student from primary and secondary years riding on our buses.

The student is rewarded with a badge and house points in collaboration with their respective schools.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

14 Safety Matters

WHAT CAN THOMAS TEACH YOU ABOUT ROAD SAFETY AND CHILD CAR SEATS? The safety of children in cars remains a critical concern and UAE media reported in February 2018 where 64% of fatal injuries of kids are the result of road traffic incidents (Abu Dhabi). The new holistic seat belt law as per 1st July 2017 has seen ongoing education efforts and the introduction of innovative products to be key ingredients to improve the situation. Every STS bus seat has a seatbelt.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Safety Matters 15

The Facts: UAE’s First Airbag Child Car Seat – Cooperation RoadSafetyUAE

• • •

It is the first airbag child car seat in the UAE; It is up to 55% safer than the standard child car seats; There is a constant need for innovation and awareness creation around child safety;

On 10th June 2018, the first ever child car seat with airbags was released. This date also marks the start of the cooperation between Mamas and Papas and RoadSafetyUAE for the important topic of child car seats.

Richard Peace, Senior Vice President at Al Tayer Insignia, explains: “As market leaders, Mamas and Papas are constantly searching for innovations that improve the safety of children in cars. The airbag innovation is a revolutionary step forward in child safety and we are proud to be able to offer this to our customers.”

According to the manufacturers Maxi-Cosi, the airbags located in the two shoulder pads of the harness inflate within 0.05 seconds after a collision. This reduces the forces on a child’s neck up to 55% compared to a standard forward-facing child car seat. The airbags automatically deflate just one second after the collision. This groundbreaking technology enhances the safety of children in forward-facing car seats enormously. Tests prove that this new technology leads to a significant reduction of the forces acting on the neck vertebrae and the head in the case of a frontal collision.

Thomas Edelmann, Managing Director, RoadSafetyUAE, adds: “In a research project we conducted in February

• •

1/3 of UAE parents do not have proper child car seats; 42% of young parents (18-29 years) do not have proper child car seats.

2017 we found out that 34% of UAE parents do not have proper child seats or booster cushions. The numbers are even more alarming in the segment of young parents (1829 years) with 42% and in the segment of Emiratis with 47% not having the needed devices! The 1st of July 2017 marked the introduction of the holistic seat belt law in the UAE and we sincerely hoped that parents would have started using child car seats and booster cushions more by now. We will soon repeat the 2017 research project to find out, if this actually has happened!”

About RoadSafetyUAE: RoadSafetyUAE’s vision is to contribute to reducing the number of road traffic fatalities, injuries, and accidents in the UAE. The mission is to raise the awareness for proper conduct on our roads, in an engaging manner and on a broadly communicated and permanent basis. RoadSafetyUAE’s awardwinning platform engages with the stakeholders traffic participants, governmental entities, the media, and more than 30 corporate social responsibility minded partners.

‘Tips and Tricks’ are the content backbone, providing for more than 60 topics of road safety, all specifically relevant to the UAE. More information can be found on www.RoadSafetyUAE.com

For further information, please contact: THOMAS EDELMANN, Founder and Managing Director, RoadSafetyUAE Thomas@RoadSafetyUAE.com, Mob: +971 (50) 55 19 216

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

16 Safety Matters

Under the Safety Spotlight

IT’S A HOT TOPIC!

We speak to the Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) team about the procedures STS have in place to safeguard children when being transported to and from school in our buses. The QHSE team have been working to truly define what safety means to STS. Q: How do you ensure that STS is fully committed to health and safety?

A: We are fully committed to ensuring that our approach to QHSE management system is an integral part of the way we do business. We regularly engage with the workforce and listen to what they want to say. Commitment from all sides is vital for employee involvement to be effective and successful in improving health and safety.

Q: What are STS toolbox talks and what are their benefits?

A: An ‘STS Toolbox Talk’ is brief, interactive discussions that raise awareness of workplace safety and reinforce a positive safety message.

It reminds employees of the safety protocol.

This has helped employees understand their job responsibilities, ensure employees are prepared to perform their jobs safely and reduce incidents and accidents.

Q: In this ever-changing market, how do you stay up to date with new safety regulations?

A: We follow all the news and events in our industry, which helps us keep up to date with new policies and procedures that are introduced by the government. We have excellent working relationships with all regulatory authorities who often communicate any changes prior to implementation.

Q: What checks do STS carry out on the buses before transporting students?

A: All drivers must conduct a pre-trip inspection of their bus at the beginning of each day. The driver checks the vehicle exterior and interior for safety-critical items and they must report any defect found. The team leaders verify the pre-trip inspections that have been carried out by the drivers. In addition, we have a Quality Assurance Team that carries out fleet inspection.

Q: What is most Important in your role?

1.

Ensure a safe workplace environment that identifies and migitates risks.

2.

Carry out risk assessments; considering how incidents can be reduced.

3.

Outline safe operational procedures, which identify and take account of all relevant hazards and warn employees.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Safety Matters 17

WEARING OUR BANKSMAN BADGE WITH PRIDE It is now mandatory for all STS employees that support bus reversing to undergo Banksman training to ensure safe movement of vehicles on the road. All Banksman trained employees will now proudly wear their ‘Banksman approved’ uniquely designed badge when on duty.

Q: What is a Banksman?

A: With training provided through our partnership with Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSpA), the Banksman is a designated person whose tasks are to keep the reversing area free of pedestrians as well as guiding the drivers through safe vehicle manoeuvres. To do this safely, STS relies on a set of clearly defined signals. Banksmen should only be used when there are no safer available methods to control reversing or manoeuvring of vehicles.

Q: When do you need a Banksman?

A: A Banksman will be used when a driver’s view is obstructed so they cannot see to do the job safely on their own, this could be in situations such as: • Reversing or manoeuvring a vehicle into a confined space or close to an edge. The Banksman raises awareness of the dangers caused when large vehicles reverse. It introduces practical techniques and hand signals to assist drivers with this manoeuvre.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

18 Employee Engagement

Nothing Says Thank You to Our Drivers and Support Services to appreciate their hard work and dedication to the company, the schools and the children.

Over 2,750 employees of STS took over GEMS Modern Academy - Nad Al Sheba for a celebration of their commitment. The company hosted a spectacular day full of fun to thank everyone for their contribution to the company, which included sports matches, challenges and live entertainment.

Notable highlights from the Appreciation Day, reported from HR Director Simon Andrews, were the energetic and very talented cheerleaders, traditional bhangra dancers and the ultimate tug of war.

Whereas, the highlights for Sailesh Kalia was the incredibly tasty food and being able to ‘Dunk the MD’.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Notable highlights from the Appreciation Day included the energetic and very talented cheerleaders, traditional bhangra dancers, and the ultimate tug of war.

Employee Engagement 19

Highlights included a chance to take on their colleagues in cricket, football, volleyball, badminton, tug-of-war, and other fun challenges.

For the artistic ones, an ‘STS Got Talent’ show had bus drivers and guardians singing, dancing, and performing magic for a panel of judges, including company Managing Director Steve Burnell, Thomas Edelman from RoadSafetyUAE, Ajit Kumar from Swaidan Trading, PMA Mohamed from Kings Long Buses, and Celine Ribeiro from Gems Modern Academy.

School Transport Services Managing Director, Steve Burnell said ‘It was a fantastic day, I enjoyed getting to know the team more and meeting the whole STS family. I am already looking forward to next years event.

Awards were also handed out to the employees whose hard work and daily contributions have helped to ensure that STS school buses remain one of the best ways to provide safe, timely, smart services.

The Appreciation Day will be an annual event for the STS family so stay tuned to hear what the 2019 event has in store.

Our Team is the Key to Our Success that teamwork really does make the dream work and what better way to bring the team all together than inviting everyone for a slice of birthday cake or a free hearty breakfast. STS regularly plans our family together to share our success.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

20 Employee Engagement

GET BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH OUR BUS DRIVER We took a detour to GEMS Our Own English School – Al Warqa’a 3 to visit Nabeel Hussain, a transport foreman, and Zahid Hasan, a school bus driver, to get behind the wheel and see what being a bus driver and guardian really means.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Employee Engagement 21

Q: What are your responsibilities?

Zahid: There are 185 buses in Our Own English School. My responsibility is to pick up and drop off students and teachers safely to and from school. Before starting the engine, I make sure that my bus is ready for the journey by doing mandatory internal and external inspections.

Outside my vehicle, I must check the tyres, water level, oil level, and the stop sign, and inside the vehicle I check that seatbelts and all the features are working, and the bus is clean and free from litter. I have to also make sure that all relevant documentation is kept up to date including the attendance book, fire extinguisher check, first aid box check, bus permit, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) permit and bus maintenance reports.

Q: How do you make sure that your bus is Safe, Timely and Smart?

Nabeel: We have been trained by experts in the delivery of transport services.

SAFE: We have female bus guardians to take care of children when they’re on-board. For safety there is new technology available in all buses including CCTV cameras, GPS, ID scanner, panic button, and a child check button. We have all made a safety pledge at STS, to wear seatbelts at all times, commit to not exceeding an 80km limit, and have random drugs and alcohol testing.

TIMELY: STS uses a route planning software, which creates the most efficient routes. Each bus has its own route map with the child name, pickup time, and location to make sure that everyone is picked up and dropped at school on time. STS has drivers and bus on standby in case there are any maintenance issues or accidents.

SMART: We all receive RTA and STS training that is renewed regularly. We all have a uniform that we wear with pride to represent STS. We invest a lot of time and money into researching and implementing new technologies that benefit our customers.

Q: What do you like the most about your job?

Zahid: I like getting to know all the parents and students that I carry on my bus – it’s great to hear stories from their weekends or days at school. I also really like the Driver Appreciation Day that STS hosts every year to make us all feel valued for our work.

Q: What are the benefits for parents and students using STS buses?

Nabeel: There are lots of benefits for using STS but the most important are: • Students and parents know they are safe when using STS school buses.

• We are helping reduce traffic and pollution on the roads.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

22 Fit and Fun Zone

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WORD SEARCH Can you find all the words in the School Bus Safety Word Search below?

Aeroplane Beach Beachball Bucket Family Friends Fun Heat

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Holiday Sandcastle Suitcase Summer Sun cream Sunhat Water

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Fit and Fun Zone 23

Quiz Time!

Have you been paying attention?

1.

What is the name of the talent contest STS held on the Appreciation Day? ____________________________________________

2. What is the name of the new STS HR Director?

4. What colour is The Safety Bus? ____________________________________________ 5. Which group did Stuff the Bus help this year? ____________________________________________

____________________________________________ 3. How many children does STS transport to school every day? ____________________________________________

It’s Competition Time FOR A CHANCE TO

win head over to instagram and tag us in a photo of you enjoying your summer holidays, with the hashtag #STSContest.

Our Instagram is @sts_ae

Click, upload and tag it’s that simple.

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Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

24 School Insiders

A CATCH UP IN

THE CANTEEN Paul Asir Joseph Principal, St. Mary’s Catholic School

We managed to catch up with the Principal of St. Mary’s School to find out how STS have helped support them in this academic year and what’s in store for next year.

Q: Do you think it is a positive thing that more and more children are now coming by school bus rather than their own private transportation?

A: Yes, it is positive in many ways.

Students have a sense of responsibility when using school buses to get to school on time with all their belongings.

Q: How do you feel that STS has benefitted the school?

A: STS is a great help in all matters but particularly when the monitoring of students became centralised, so we can now track the location and whereabouts of students more easily.

Q: Do you feel that safety initiatives taken by STS help to give peace of mind to both staff and parents?

A: Of course, STS invest huge amounts of time and effort into delivering some excellent safety initiatives. These have been helpful in reassuring our parents

www.stss.ae | September 2018

that STS offers the safest mode of transport to and from school.

Q: In general, what is the type of feedback received from parents/ students on STS? A: We regularly receive extremely positive feedback from our parents on our levels of customer service, quality and most importantly, safety.

Q: Is there anything you would advise parents when it comes to deciding what school transport to use?

A: I would advise them to consider using STS services for two reasons; the first is because they can be assured of the safety of their children and secondly, so they can positively contribute to the environment by reducing the number of vehicles on the roads.

School Insiders 25

NEW ROUTE MAPS

FOR EVERY SCHOOL

Have you ever wondered where your children’s school bus does pickups?

In the new academic year, STS will be providing all schools with maps for each bus route to strengthen confidence in our service amongst our parents.

STS encourage information sharing amongst our schools and parents and like to be as open and transparent as possible. STS is committed to providing relevant and up-todate information always to our customers.

The aim of these route maps is to provide a visual representation of what STS can offer. These maps will always be on show inside the school but will be used for new joiners and orientation

days to provide a very easy presentation of where our buses currently collect students.

STS tries to accommodate all requests, so any location not shown on the maps will be dealt with on a one on one basis.

Visit the dedicated Service Delivery Executive at the STS counter in your school to look at your school’s route map in the new academic year.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

26 All Aboard for Events & Entertainment

STS LOVES JOINING IN

ALL THE FESTIVITIES In the past academic year, STS has been privileged to attend numerous spring and winter festivals through our schools in the region.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

STS never leaves behind our Super Driver mascot and makes sure our STS bus attends all school events packed full of games, promotions and goodie bags for our customers. STS is on-site to advise all on road safety through interactive workshops, videos, and question and answer sessions.

STS loves meeting and getting to know all our parents and students personally – this is a great platform to interact with everyone and obtain useful feedback of what service excellence looks like for all of you.

Please swing by our stand during the 2018/2019 festivals and say hi to our team.

All Aboard for Events & Entertainment 27

IT’S THAT TIME OF

THE YEAR AGAIN! We welcomed new registered students during the Orientation Day at GEMS New Millennium School, Our Own Indian School, GEMS Modern School and GEMS Heritage School.

We were excited and ecstatic to welcome a new batch of students and parents, who are now part of our STS family.

At the Orientation Day, our fun marketing team, along with the Super Driver mascot enjoyed

handing out our goodie bags to the students and parents, who also clicked away at the photo booths.

Look out for STS at your next Orientation Day!

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

28 Other Services

STS OFFERS MUCH MORE THAN JUST SCHOOL TRANSPORT STS provided transport services for a number of prestigious events throughout the region recently.

We ensured that all guests attending both the Dubai World Cup and Dubai Desert Classic arrived at their event feeling Safe, on Time and in a vehicle full of Smart technology. STS provided 100 buses for a shuttle service between the parking lots and the event site for Dubai World Cup, along with 30 vehicles for staff transportation between the site and multiple locations around the UAE. STS was responsible for the transportation of all Emirates Aluminium to and from the Dubai Desert Classic event.

STS provide transport solutions in the private hire sector in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Hand in Hand 29

IT’S A STRIKE! Emirates NBD invited STS support staff to an organised bowling event to thank and motivate their employees and subcontractors. STS staff were welcomed by a great team of Emirates NBD employees, who encouraged involvement in numerous activities, a round of bowling and a delicious spread of international cuisines.

Marking Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future STS was honoured with the CSR Label and congratulated for their efforts and contribution towards sustainability and championing responsible and sustainable business practices in the UAE.

STS was delighted to be awarded with the CSR Label 2017 for sustainability.

The Dubai Chamber CSR Label has been designed to provide a Diagnostic Model, as well as a learning and development tool that will help companies of all sizes, sectors, and operations to define and improve their Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility strategy, related policies, and management practices.

The assessment covers the main impact areas of Sustainability and CSR: Environment, Community, Workplace, and Marketplace, and it provides recognition for companies implementing outstanding CSR and Sustainability practices in the GCC region.

STS has also been recognised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its Significant Contribution towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

30 Hand in Hand

DREAMS COME TRUE THIS RAMADAN AS ‘STUFF THE BUS’ MAKES A SURPRISE STOP AT THE SPECIAL FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP IFTAR This year, STS selected Special Family Support Group which is a support group that focuses on raising children with extra needs, together. STS visited the homes of some of the families to understand how they could help and support the group. STS managed to ‘Stuff the Bus’ with life changing gifts such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and leg braces. The STS bus stopped by at their annual Iftar to deliver all the gifts and let the children participate in a number of activities including painting the bus.

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.

STS ‘Stuff the Bus’ was an initiative initially created by STS under the umbrella of Emirates Red Crescent to help less privileged children. This initiative was introduced to try give back to members of our community in need of support. STS selects a specific group, charity or community each year and carries out considerable research into how and what could benefit them.

STS will then reach out to various suppliers to ‘Stuff the Bus’ full of items to gift. An event will be arranged where our bus and team will attend to distribute all the items collected.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Hand in Hand 31

Little Things Can Go A Long Way Ramadan is a time of reflection and appreciation, which marks an opportunity to thank those that help to build this great country. STS is a socially responsible organisation and has successfully executed the ‘Smart Distribution Campaign 2018’ at various camps throughout the UAE. Have you ever taken a moment to consider how difficult it must be for those working outdoors performing physical labour every single day in this heat? STS understands that working in this harsh Arabian heat increases the risk of dehydration and heat stroke, and wanted to show their gratitude to all workers that do this every day for our country.

STS created a gift bag of necessities to hand out to over 1,000 workers in the UAE and personally thanks each of

them for the hard work they put in to shape the nation. STS gave each worker a reusable branded fabric bag containing a steel lunch box, packet of rice, packet of lentils, ghee, laban, packet of biscuit, deodorant, hand wash, detergent powder, soap, and a pair of socks.

STS would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who came forward and supported us whilst executing this community welfare event.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

32 Health and Wellbeing

STAYING HEALTHY TIPS MADE SIMPLE EVEN YOUR KIDS CAN DO IT! We have given you some top tips to make sure everyone is keeping healthy in the new academic year.

1 2 3 4

Tip #1: Drink plenty of water Make sure that you always have water available especially when you’re outside. The best way to drink water is to sip regularly to make sure you are properly hydrated at all times.

Tip #2: Stay active Make sure you do 30 minutes of exercise each day.

Try to get outside and moving around as much as possible, it’s great for a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Tip #3: Pick a healthier alternative Healthy snacks help us meet our daily nutritional needs so try snack on fruit, vegetables, reduced fat dairy products and whole grain foods.

Tip #4: Eat your 5 a day Eat five servings of fruit or vegetables every day.

Eating fruit and vegetables every day helps growth and development, boosts vitality and can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

www.stss.ae | September 2018

*SUPER TIP Avoid snacks that are high in sugar or saturated fats such as chips, cakes and chocolate as these are what make us put on excess weight.

School Bus Safety Tips 33

Do’s and Don’ts: Going Back to School

And so, the new school year is beginning! Find a list of our top do’s and don’ts to get yourself and your children ready for going back to school.

DO’S 1.

Start introducing your child to the school schedule before the first week of school by ensuring a consistent bed and wake up time.

2. Set a homework schedule and help your child manage their time appropriately.

3. Plan in advance the after-school activities offered and what is feasible for your schedule.

4. Identify any problems you had last year and put a plan in place to avoid them reoccurring.

5. Have a “dry run” of your daily routine to make sure your child knows exactly what to do – this will avoid any uncertainty on the first day back.

6. Make a list of clothes and supplies your child needs and buy in advance so everything is ready for the first day.

7. Use the school bus.

DON’TS

1.

Wait until your child’s parentteacher day to see how they’re doing/adjusting – regularly check up with their teachers and them to find out how they’re getting on.

2. Assume that your maid or nanny knows the school routine if you haven’t told them.

3. Fill your children’s school back with unnecessary items, making it too heavy to carry.

4. Make returning to school overwhelming if your child seems anxious or nervous.

5. Rush in the mornings, set a daily routine and make sure everyone sticks to it.

6. Forget about making time for your children to relax after school, it is important to help them stay fresh and motivated.

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04

34 Birthday Bus

HAPPY BIRTHDAYFROM STS!

A birthday is a momentous occasion; it’s not every day that you get to celebrate you! And birthday wishes certainly add cheer to the big day, which is why at STS we like to celebrate with the youngsters, presenting each student who travels by school bus with a unique birthday card and other goodies.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS Mshai Mzenge 10, Johan Jomy John 14, Diya Ravikant Borane 7, Devadath Krishna 3, Afsa Tassnim 7, Ameya Chandran 7, Ananya Naveen 3, Aisha Shadbash 8, Jai Gupta 12, Jazlynn Lobo 15, Abdul Fazith.Y 3, Vaishnav Suresh 9, Nikhil S Mathew 12, Elby Elizabeth Joson 3, Advaith Srikumar 3, Advaith Srikumar 3, Shoshaana 13, Atharv Bhagnari 11, Aira Atif 7, Zoha Maryam 8, Aarnav Shetty 7, Neer Jain 9, Yash Kaushik 7, Shazin Ahmed 9, Muhammad Husnain 7, Kasinadh Sudeep 9, Jason Fernandes 17, Rishit Banerjee 16, Mabel Mary Binu 9, Amaan Muljiani 3, Shawn Ben Leitao 9, Samihah Mehek 11, Advika Joshi 3, Dia Lalwani 3, Dayn Lalwani 3, Manjjari Sivagnanam 3, Aparna Vadhana KS 11, Anam Divekar 3, Avi Handa 8, Gajesh Thakur 3, Akram Fadi Essam 12, Rashi Vimal Bhavsar 10, Simone Alphonso 10, Subhang Sanjeev Menon 3, Aliasgar K D 11, Kyle Reyneke 9, Kesiya Rose Job 8, Roselin Iniya 8, Abdul Haadi Saheed 8, Mohd Furqan Pasha 16, Anmol Midha 3, Angie Liza Santhosh 14, Lalith Adithiya 11, Hana Rayan 3, Ashlyn Sandra Crasta 10, Anjana Sivadas 3, Satviki Shukla 13, Sahar Fidaasghar 14, Gretel Ann Lijo 3, Shravyashri 8, Ashwin Sunil Kambil 10, Dhvani Thaker 3, Simran Sandeep Ghalwadkar 3, Clevin Manoj 9, Ayisha Sharmin 13, Yusra Aslam Hussain 7, Kaniska Dinesh 7, Zuhaiyrr Hussain 16, Zarnaab Khan Lodhi 10, Shelesh Jonan Sunil Christopher 3, Ramith Vaid 3, Jovita Terez Joychan 3, Lima Saj 9, Vrinda Goradia 11, Firas Khan 8, Siddhani Sanju Pillai 7, Reyansh Lalwani 10, Ronan Kotian 16, Faadil Muhammed 8, Jesby Joseph 11, Rishal Andriya Mendonca 8, Riddhi Joshi 9, Nikki Mojica 7, Abigail Pais 3, Muhsin Hussain 7, Gaurav Jangla 16, Aahil Navas 10, Ruksana Sonaimuthu 3, Shaun Jose Anoop 7, Rafan Ahamad Sheik 13, Syed Aelia Hassan Rizvi 8, Pranavi Bharadwaj 17, Muhammed Noul 3, Annam Bihas 3, Kalainesan Natarajan 10, Umesh Chandra Naidu 10, Nihal Biju 7, Ana Castellanos 7, Anish Pai 12, Abdul Izz 7, Zohya Shahid 3, Johan Waghdhare 3, Sai Sarmishta Aratikatla 3, Joan Dsilva 15, Nathan Jacob Jaison 3, Pranav Girish 9, Eliza Crasta 8, Jeet Patel 8, Abigail Mary Mathew 9, Ahil Ahmed 7, Ardhra Govind Menon 3, Rushil Raj Mehta 9, Rana Galal 3, Aman Ashkar 13, Khale Gabriel 3, Vianna Maeryn Canceko 9, Venuja Ranmika 3, Mohammed Naushad Ali 14, Kasinadh Sudeep 3, Rowan De Silva 3, Krish Dhople 3, Aasha Bhaskaran 10, Saisha Bhaskaran 10, Arjun Rajagopal 3, Seina Sijo 8, Savio Roy 9, Shreyansh Gadia 3, Syed Ahmed 10, Ashmiit Singh 3, Diya Sharma 3, Shamma Bukhater 7, Jiya Mistry 3, Krishna Sai 13, Chris David Devasia 11, Emaan Fatima 3, Johan W 3, Ayra Faheem Marufi 3, Mysha Saud Siddiqui 3, Mysha Saud Siddiqui 3, Gabriel Joaquin B. Borre 13, Angela Sajee 16, Shyon K Sable 8, Adam Wael 9, Tia Ramy Amin 8, Harshini Krishnan Prabhu 3, Ali Saeed Mansoori 11, Meghan David 12, Reefat Zehra A. Vasaya 11, Cherish Cheriyan Roby 13, Afsheen Fatima 8, Caleb Anthony Abao 6, Alec Menezes 9, Faris Khan 8, Andre Joachim Patal 8, Yarshini Sozharajan 9, Nihaal Shamjith 3, Natalie Florence Hosking 13, Lena Muttath 10, Husaina Aliasgar Kalaiwala 3, John Daenielle T. Villarta 3, Muhammed Safwan Farook 12, Maitha Alfalasi 3, Bilal Khalid Khan 3, Rian Ajeeth 10, Maitha Alfalasi 3, Uday and Udit Singh Bist 14, Nikin Noronha 12, Melron Noronha 9, Sharon Viju 3, Kamakshi Bali 3, Viyati Parwani 3, Lito Ninan Joji 10, Yash Shah 14, Sheik Rafan 13, Aliasgar Kaidezoher Dhanerawala Log onto 11, Richelle Ann Joseph 7, Miqdad Sevwala 6, Adrian Nazareth 3, Eman Sherif 10, Eshal Shahzad 8, Charles Stocks 9, Ashwin Kumar 3, Ammar Mustafa Mithaiwala 8, Nisheli Jayarathna 10, Navid Muradi 11, Sara Noorain 13, Haya Danish 10, Monish Biju 3, WWW.STSS.AE Simra Zuberi 12, Darren Eastaugh 3, Ashish S. Kannan 12, Sara Shinde 11, Jaden Simon Crasto 3, Ahmed Abdel Fattah Yousef 3, to receive birthday Kaitlyn 7, Muhammad Hamza Muzzamil 3, Nour Mohamed Hassan 3, Shane Saldanha 3, Fatima Rida 3, Lee David Anoba 3, Apsara Sivaprazad 7, Haniya Sana Tareen 3, Abhinav Balamurugan 7, Atalia Angela Faria 3, Arshdeep Singh Mehta 12, Salwa Ahmed 12, goodies from us.

Jewell Ann George 3, Devansh Vohra 7, Pooja Balasubramaniam 10, Abdeali Husain Patel 8, Sheikh Zunairah Ali 9, Jenessa D’Silva 15, Kenneth Monteiro 12, Hanan Fazal 11, Sumantak Sudesh 7, Nalin Tiwary 14, Jairaj Chirag Challa 8, Ashton Carr 7, Manza Ali 3, Aryan Gupta 11, Laksh Daryani 8, Shashank Nambiar 12, Srinivasan Venkatesh 7, Chris Monteiro 11, Derek Ynigo Mendoza 9, Remza Saleeq Khan 9, Faaz Ahmed 6, Taha Painter 7, Muhammad Haseeb Ashfaq 9, Fizan Saffar 8, Hannah Gail Viterbo 7, Jewel Maria Vinod 7, Naman Sharma 11, Samantha Adelaine Cruz 10, Chhavi 14, Tarif Al Tarazi 5, Jewel Maria Vinod 7, Saya Ann Manoj 10, Chris David Devasia 11

Register your childs birthday with STS today! www.stss.ae

www.stss.ae | September 2018

Fit and Fun Zone Answers 35

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Quiz Time!

Have you been paying attention?

1.

What is the name of the talent contest STS held on the Appreciation Day? STS Got Talent

2. What is the name of the new STS HR Director?

4. What colour is The Safety Bus? Yellow 5. Which group did Stuff the Bus help this year?

Special Family Support Group

Simon Andrews 3. How many children does STS transport to school every day?

76,309

Journey an STS Publication - Issue 04