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It was a mix of nerves and excitement amongst all the students at Campbell Collegiate and École Connaught School in Regina, however for those entering grade nine — it was their first time entering the high school doors.
Parents watching their children on the playground with their friends had a few thoughts about the big day.
Terri Homeniuk has daughters in grade 11 and grade 9 at Campbell Collegiate.
“It’s great. Now I don’t have any more babies left in elementary, so that is awesome.”
Venkat and Hema Peddeuvenkatraman said it’s an exciting time. They have two kids, one in grade 8 and another in grade 2 at École Connaught School. Their eldest daughter is returning to in-person school after COVID-19, and their youngest is attending a new school.
Hema said her youngest “is very excited because she is going to have a new set of friends. She is missing her old school friends but still, she is very excited.”
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As for their oldest daughter, Hema said “She has not mingled with many people and hasn’t had many friends for the past four years. So, she is saying ‘How am I going to be, how nervous, and how am I going to come out of it?'”
A dad of a grade 7 student told CJME he is eager for the first day back.
“I think I am more excited for him going to school than he is right now. He wants to continue summer holidays, like every kid,” he said.
“But once he started seeing his friends on the playground, he started opening up, telling me everybody’s name that I don’t have a clue who they are,” he joked.
Students gather on the first day of school at Chief Whitecap School to find their teachers and classmates on Sept. 3, 2024. (Payton Zillich/650CKOM)
Saskatoon
In Saskatoon, streets around schools were jammed packed with parents dropping their kids off for their first day.
A particularly congested area was St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School and Chief Whitecap School. The side-by-side schools had over two thousand kids on the front lawn trying to find their teachers.
Officers from the Saskatoon Police Service patrolled the area to remind citizens to slow down in the school zone.
Saskatoon Police Sergeant Ken Kane reminds the public that speeding is dangerous and comes with hefty fines.
“The fines start at 240 dollars and then it goes up by two dollars for every kilometer that you are over. Then eventually if you are double (the limit), then we get into vehicle impoundments and very expensive tickets that can run 700 to 1000 dollars,” said Kane.
Police Sergeant Ken Kane and the City of Saskatoon Parking Services Manager Wayne Sum met in front of Chief Whitecap School to share the importance of school zone speeds on Sept. 3, 2024. (Payton Zillich/650CKOM)
When it comes to getting to work on time, Kane suggests leaving early if there are school zones in one’s commute.
“We are trying to safely unload and load almost 2000 students every day. You can imagine there is lots of traffic congestion, so our best advice is to plan to leave early,” explained Kane.
School zones are active every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers must slow down to 30 kilometres per hour.
The City of Saskatoon Parking Services Manager Wayne Sum asked parents not to drop off their kids in zones that are not designated.
“Don’t stop in bus zones, even if it is convenient to do so. Please don’t stop in accessible stalls that are reserved for accessible users and most importantly, please don’t stop or park in front of crosswalks that are 15 metres approaching and 10 metres departing.” shared Sum.
A welcome sign for the first day of school at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School on Sept. 3, 2024. (Payton Zillich/650CKOM)
—With files from 650 CKOM’s Payton Zillich