Paradise Municipal Enforcement Officers (MEOs) will also increase patrols in all school zones for the back-to-school period.
For Octagon Pond Elementary School, road construction is nearing completion on Topsail Road in the vicinity of the school, the Town of Paradise said. The town is installing pedestrian-activated traffic lights, crosswalks and sidewalks in the area with completion expected in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the town will provide safety crews to help with traffic control for the safe crossing of students Monday to Friday during the opening (morning) and dismissal (afternoon) times.
Tips from the RNC:
• Educate your children on the proper use of crosswalks. Use a marked crosswalk whenever possible and wait for traffic to stop completely before crossing the street.
• Whenever possible walk your children to the bus stop or school and supervise them while they wait for the bus. Encourage your child to walk to and from school or the bus stop with friends.
• While boarding a school bus, line up in single file and wait on the sidewalk until the bus has come to a full complete stop and has opened the doors.
• Motorists are asked to use extra care and caution in school zones.
• Motorists are also reminded that it is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped with its stop sign extended and lights flashing. The fine for passing a school bus is $500 and 6 demerit points.
The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, meanwhile noted there are several new schools opening across the province:
· East Point Elementary (St. John’s)
· Eastside Elementary (Corner Brook)
· Gander Elementary (Gander)
· A new K-7 school in Conception Bay South
· A new grades 5-9 school in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.
The board said it will be releasing a new strategic plan for the next three years in the coming weeks.
