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Post by real_mccoy on Jul 15, 2013 14:49:23 GMT
I am in the process of coming to Rakkah camp after being offered a position at sa. Is there a bus service to the Dhahran British Grammar School. How long would it take from camp to school and can a parent travel with a child to on the bus?
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Post by vpainter on Jul 15, 2013 22:25:44 GMT
Aramco has provided bus service to the ISG British School from Dhahran. The bus service will probably be extended to Rakkah. To this British School it will be about 20 to 30 mins, depending on traffic. It is outside the Dhahran Camp.
The British School in Khobar will be closer. I will have to call and find out for you tomorrow.
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mac
Member
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Post by mac on Aug 27, 2013 1:21:59 GMT
Hi vpainter,
We are likely being provided residence in Rakkah. Is there a bus service to high schools from Rakkah? If the child is admitted to ISG Dammam or International Programs School (both Amercian curriculum schools) instead of Dhahran Academy (called Dhahran High School), will they get an Aramco bus service to/from Rakkah?
Thanks
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Post by vpainter on Aug 30, 2013 4:36:54 GMT
You can contact bus information and ask on arrival. Their phone number will be in your assigned home.
I do not know the answer and am traveling at the moment.
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Post by Baker2253 on Aug 31, 2013 4:03:08 GMT
o! With school starting today I was wondering if anyone can provide some insight into how the bus ride is for the kids into Dhahran? How many kids are on the bus? Are moms allowed on the bus? Most importantly, what is the traffic like and how long does it take? We are struggling with the decision to move to Rakkah with two young children, one of which is 5 years old. Thank-you  |
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Post by ak448 on Sept 1, 2013 1:49:07 GMT
Hey Baker2253,
Looks like we are in the same boat - we are Canadian as well (Toronto based) and have 3 kids - 3,5 and 7. Do you want to exchange notes? Please send me a PM. My wife and I like your posts - we have all the same questions and concerns.
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Post by Baker2253 on Sept 1, 2013 14:48:51 GMT
Ak448, I just sent you a pm!
Thanks:)
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Post by coffeecus on Sept 1, 2013 17:21:44 GMT
We will be moving to Rakkah as well and I am very interested in the same information that Baker asked for as well.
What was the experience with school bus to elementary school in DHA and how is the lunch situation?
What was the experience like with pre-K at Rakkah?
We have one kid that will be going to DHA and other to K-4 in Rakkah.
Thanks.
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Sept 2, 2013 4:24:28 GMT
It's still too early to tell. Please check back in 2-3 weeks.
The school is still ironing out the bus scheduling & working out details with food vendor that will provide lunch for Rakkah kids. Rakka K3/K4 won't start til next week.
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Post by Baker2253 on Sept 2, 2013 14:51:54 GMT
Hi revive!
I was wondering if you or anyone else could provide me any information on what the first couple of days have been like? I am sure they are still trying to figure things out but we may have to make a decision this week and I would really appreciate some insight into how it has been for first couple of days! What time does bus leave for school and return home after school? What have the kids been doing at lunch? Approx how many kids are currently on the bus from Rakkah to Dhahran?
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thank-you
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Sept 5, 2013 5:02:55 GMT
The bus leaves Rakkah at 6.30, arrives at the Middle School around 7.10, then at the Hills School (K-5) around 7.25 or so. Kids then hang out at the school's outdoor playground until the school doors open at 7.40.
For lunch break, the school will provide lunch & activities for Rakkah kids.
In the afternoon, the bus leaves the Hills School at 3.10, then stops by at the Middle School, and arrives back at Rakkah around 4 or so.
Currently there are about 20 kids in the bus, mostly K-5. The bus ride is nice although a little long. The bus is a big, luxurious, Mercedes tourist bus. Most kids spend the time chatting. There is a mom assigned as bus monitor who keeps watch on safety stuff.
The schools & teachers are great. My daughter seems to be having a great time. While she doesn't have any complain, we (and many other parents) think that it's a very long day overall for young kids. With the bus leaving at 6.30, kids have to wake up at 5.30. So we are currently asking for separate school buses, 1 for the Middle school another for the Hills school, which will cut the commute time a little bit. I think it will happen later this year once Rakkah has more kids.
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sss
Member
Posts: 41
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Post by sss on Sept 6, 2013 0:52:58 GMT
Thanks revive,
The info that you provided is really helpful! Our daughter will be going to grade 5. Seems like getting up at 5:30 am would be really tough for these kids.
We were wondering if my husband takes his own car then he could drop her in the morning on his way to work. Is that an option or is the school far from where the offices are?
Also, would you know how many sections there are in each grade and what's the student teacher ratio there?
Thanks.
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Post by Hadia on Sept 6, 2013 6:41:58 GMT
Nothing's terribly far from anything once you're inside DH camp. But in terms of dropping off, I imagine your husband would have to be at work at 7:00 a.m., whereas the security gate into the elementary school grounds doesn't open for kids to enter until 7:25. The kids who get there early sit in a line on the sidewalk until the guard lets them into the schoolyard. This is a safety rule, in terms of supervision of kids.
Kids make strong friend alliances and connections on the school buses. I'm sure yours would be fine.
There are eight 5th grade sections. With the influx of new hires, there has been a lot of expansion and reconfiguration of classes throughout the school, with more changes to come over the upcoming years. Class sizes in the school usually range from 16-22 or so students. Kindergarten and 1st grade have a teacher's aide in addition to the classroom teacher, but not for grades 2+.I don't know the exact current ratio of teacher to students in 5th grade, but I think you can anticipate it to be around 20 or so.
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Post by Trustrameve on Sept 6, 2013 19:12:54 GMT
I am living in Rakkah and my son has just finished his first week at the Dhahran British Grammar School in year 6. The bus is working fine both ways and the mothers are taking turns to act as bus monitor although apparently at some stage Aramco will formalise this arrangement. I don't think it is a brilliant idea to publish exact school bus times on a forum which is open to the internet, suffice to say the bus service is comfortable and is working well. The compound at Rakkah is lovely and DGBS is exceeding expectations, but it is also full so you'll need to put your child on the waiting list, however there are 2 other lively looking schools on the same compound, although they teach the US curriculum.
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Sept 6, 2013 19:30:01 GMT
I agree with Hadia.
Honestly, We parents (including me!) are probably too worried about our kids. Let me reiterate that my daughter does not have any complaint. She is loving her school, friends, teacher, even the bus ride. She gets up at 5.30am, but now she goes to bed at 7.30pm. That's gonna be a change but it's fine.
Nonetheless, we still want separate buses for the middle school & K-5, respectively, to cut down the commute time.
I have positive impressions about the school. It's basically equal to a good private school
In the US. The pace is approx. 1 year more advanced than typical public school in the US.
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