Fort McMurray students find normalcy on first day of school
'It's good to be back into a routine'
For families uprooted by a massive wildfire just months ago, the first day of school was a big step towards a return to normalcy.
"It's good to be back into a routine because when we left it was abrupt," Candice Pilgrim said as she walked her two sons to school on Tuesday.
As many as 10,000 students returned to Fort McMurray schools on Tuesday, but the doors remain closed at four of city's 26 public and Catholic schools.
Three of those schools sit in Fort McMurray's wildfire disaster zones and couldn't be cleaned in time. The other school is still under construction.
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Fort McMurray's Francophone school, L'École Boréal, also remains closed after a section of the building's wall caught fire.
Almost 500 workers have raced to get schools ready over the last few months, said Doug Nicholls, Superintendent of Fort McMurray's Public Schools.
"It's really a sign of the community's rebuild and re-entry," Nicholls said. "People have been waiting for this day just as they were when they were re-entering Wood Buffalo.
"To have the kids back in school means the town is working again through another step of recovery."
Schools and teachers took to social media to mark the occasion.
Successful 1st day with students <a href="https://twitter.com/EcoleMcTavish">@EcoleMcTavish</a> , we love the energy here! <a href="https://twitter.com/FMPSD">@FMPSD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DougNicholls2">@DougNicholls2</a> <a href="https://t.co/3jGjYr1lr5">pic.twitter.com/3jGjYr1lr5</a>
—@TammyCadeganMost of the posts captured ordinary scenes from the day.
It's a great day to be a Raven <a href="https://twitter.com/FMPSD">@fmpsd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WGHRaven?src=hash">#WGHRaven</a> <a href="https://t.co/tNpTc6nQN6">pic.twitter.com/tNpTc6nQN6</a>
—@WGHillElemSome students and staff took first day selfies.
Reunited and it feels so good! 🎶🎶🎶 Welcome Back! <a href="https://twitter.com/FMPSD">@FMPSD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/westwood?src=hash">#westwood</a> <a href="https://t.co/8KIZ6maNf6">pic.twitter.com/8KIZ6maNf6</a>
—@WWhighschoolMinister of Education David Eggen said he visited four Fort McMurray schools to understand what teachers and schools need in the long term as they continue to recover after the wildfire.
Eggen said his ministry has been partnering with school boards to ensure all teachers are trained to spot the warning signs that students are having a hard time coping in the aftermath of the fire.
It has also worked to place counsellors in schools.
Beyond that, Eggen said he's listening to teachers and principals to determine what the next steps are.
"Now the work just begins," he said.
Follow David Thurton, CBC's Fort McMurray correspondent, on Facebook, Twitter or contact him via email.