Willoughby Elementary student Danica Hamilton was walking hand-in-hand with mom Deeanndra outside the school at 208 Street and 80 Avenue Tuesday morning as students began returning to classes.
The five-year-old was looking forward to school, but would have to wait until Wednesday, when her classes were set to start.
Danica, 5, was one of 20,000 students returning to the 50 schools and other educational facilities this week.
The School district has added 118 teachers to bring the pupil-to-teacher ratio in line with a recent court ruling.
A Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2016 forced the provincial government to restore staffing to 2002 levels after it ruled a former Liberal government improperly took away the union鈥檚 right to bargain class size and the composition of those classes.
91原创 RCMP plan to be out in force this week, keeping an eye out for speeders in school zones.
Police detachments around the province are teaming up with Insurance Corp. of B.C. for the 鈥淭hink of Me鈥� campaign, which asks drivers to pay attention in school zones and be cautious of kids near school buses.
Our goal is to educate and enforce school zone violations with a particular focus on distracted driving,鈥� said Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughling.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e tired of hearing that message from police officers, perhaps you鈥檒l be more receptive to hand-drawn 鈥楾hink of Me鈥� cards that have been made by the students themselves.鈥�
The British Columbia Automobile Association is warning drivers to be especially watchful in the first few weeks of school.
ICBC statistics show that 51 kids in the Lower Mainland are injured each year while in school and playground zones.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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