On Wednesday, the majority of classes will resume for students across Saskatchewan. The start of another school year brings a level of excitement for those in the teaching field, including Mark Harmon, director of education of Regina Public Schools. “Certainly, our teachers are working hard in classrooms to get them ready for September 2. The first day of school is always a very special day, not just for the adults, but obviously more so for the kids and certainly families and parents as well,” he said. Education does also present its unique challenges, though. Saskatchewan parents and educators have recently been raising concerns about teachers having to perform medical procedures on students without proper training, direction or support. The provincial government says they are in the process of better equipping teachers with the tools to support children with complex needs. “Earlier this year, I was talking to support groups and organizations like the Down’s Syndrome Society of Saskatchewan, and Ability and Me up in Saskatoon about what are some of the things that we can do as a provincial government to help provide those professional learning opportunities for teachers and for educational assistants,” said Minister of Education Everett Hindley. “These discussions are to make sure that they have the tools they need to best support these students that need that little bit of extra help in the classroom.” With every new school year also comes a reminder from the RCMP to follow traffic safety laws when children are out and about after their summer break. The RCMP reminded motorists to obey school zone speed limits and to be hyper aware of their surroundings. “Avoid U-turns and those three point turns within school zones. It’s extremely dangerous and illegal. Children have difficulties in predicting moving vehicles, and certainly when they’re turning around, it’s very, very dangerous,” said Inspector Lee Knelsen of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services. Knelsen told CTV News that drivers who break the rules of the road whilst travelling in school zones will face heavy fines and several demerit points off their licence. “Speeding in a school zone, it starts at $170 and it goes up $4 for every kilometre above the speed limit. Failure to stop for a school bus with its emergency lights flashing, that’s $360. Again, we talked about U-turns, $230.” Above all, Knelsen emphasized that drivers need to slow down in school zones and survey the surroundings, so that a safe and fun school year can be had by all.
