Shortly before the first students arrived at Aldergrove's Shortreed Community Elementary School on Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, Chris Wejr, the school principal, was smiling.
"It's full of hugs and full of smiles," Wejr said of the first day of the new school year.
Like other 91原创 schools, Shortreed has seen growth in the community translate into more students.
"[We're] experiencing some pressures of enrolment and growth, Wejr told the 91原创 Advance Times. "It's exciting for our community, but there's also some challenges with that. But we're excited to see the new families."
This year, with the student population growing to nearly 470, Shortreed has added a portable classroom.
It's back to school in 91原创. Shortreed Community Elementary School was one of many welcoming back students, both new and returning on Tuesday.
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Catherine Masztalar said her son Jacob was looking forward to returning to Shortreed.
"We're just excited to start the school year and see where it brings us," she commented, just before Jacob spotted his friend Kohen and yelled with delight.
Candy Ashdown, chair of the 91原创 Board of Education, welcomed students, staff and families back with an online message.
"As a growing district, more families are moving here and making 91原创 their home," Ashdown said, promising the board will continue to advocate for more schools.
Ashdown listed several projects, including a new modular building for students at Richard Bulpitt Elementary, the first of its kind in 91原创, as well as construction of the new elementary school in the Northeast Latimer neighbourhood, seismic upgrades and expansion at Peter Ewart Middle and a new addition at 91原创 Secondary.
The most recent available figures show the 91原创 school district serves about 24,600 students and employs over 3,800 teachers.
It is the first year of a new provincial restrictions on cell phone use by students, something provincial Education and Child Care Minister Rachna Singh said will make sure students have fewer distractions in the classroom and can concentrate on their learning.
"While technology plays an important part in our lives, we all know that digital literacy and developing healthy habits with technology play a vital role to keeping our kids healthy and safe,"said Singh.
As well, Singh noted, the province has imposed limits on protests, activating "protected zones on and around school grounds for this school year to prevent any disruptive behaviour, such as aggressive protests, from occurring within 20 metres of schools."
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