Back-to-school road safety / Students Return to Class with Expanded Lunch Program, New Literacy Curriculum

**** HRM Release

Back-to-school road safety

As students return to classrooms across the Halifax region beginning Sept. 3, the Halifax Regional Municipality is reminding residents to take extra care on the road. September brings increased traffic as students, parents, educators and university communities return to their regular routines.

Whether you're driving, walking, rolling, cycling or taking transit, we all share a responsibility to help keep our roads safe.

School bus safety

Drivers and cyclists must stop when approaching a school bus with flashing red lights. This applies regardless of the direction of travel or the number of lanes. It is illegal to pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing. These signals ensure students can safely board or exit the bus and cross the road if needed.

Be prepared to stop and watch for children crossing the road near school buses.

School zones

School zone speed limits are in effect whenever children are present, not just during school hours. Drivers are reminded to slow down, stay alert and watch for children, crossing guards and other road users.

Learn more about school zone safety.

Intersections and crosswalks

All road users should remember:

• Crosswalks exist at all intersections, whether marked or unmarked.
• Drivers must stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Drivers, cyclists, e-scooter users and other vehicle operators must stop and remain stopped while a crossing guard is in the intersection.
• Pedestrians should wait for the "walk" signal where one is provided and only enter a crosswalk when it is safe to do so.
• Cyclists and e-scooter users should dismount and walk when choosing to cross the street using a pedestrian crosswalk.

Did you know almost half of all fatal and injury-causing traffic collisions in the municipality occur at intersections? Following the rules of the road, avoiding distractions and staying aware of your surroundings can help keep everyone safe.

Learn more about road safety at: halifax.ca/roadsafety

Parking enforcement

With schools and universities back in session, the municipality will increase parking enforcement efforts throughout September, particularly in and around school zones.

Drivers are reminded to obey all posted traffic and parking signs. Avoid stopping or parking in no-parking areas, and plan ahead for drop-offs and pick-ups to help improve safety and traffic flow around schools.

For parking resources, permits, maps and mobile payment options, visit: halifax.ca/parking

- **** NS Gov Release Students Return to Class with Expanded Lunch Program, New Literacy Curriculum ---------------------------------------------------------- Students across Nova Scotia are getting ready to return to classrooms for the 2026-27 school year, with new opportunities to learn, grow and succeed. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Nova Scotia’s students and our dedicated teachers, principals and support staff back to school this September,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “This is an exciting year as our government has expanded the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program to all grade levels, so every student has the option of a healthy, affordable lunch to fuel their day.” This year, students and families will see several important changes and investments. The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is expanding again this school year to include all high schools across the province. This expansion means more students will have access to nutritious, affordable meals during the school day. The program has continued to grow since its launch, providing students with healthy meals while helping families with the cost of groceries. A new English language arts curriculum for grades 3 to 6 is rolling out this September. It builds on the strong literacy foundation students develop from primary to Grade 2. The curriculum places a strong focus on foundational skills and reflects research on the science of reading. It aligns with a structured literacy approach, providing students with clear, direct instruction on how to read and write. New curriculum resources will support teachers as they implement the updated learning expectations in classrooms this fall. As students return to school, families are encouraged to connect with their local school or regional centre for education, or Conseil scolaire acadien provincial for information about school schedules, transportation and other back-to-school details. Quick Facts: - the 2026-27 school year begins on Thursday, September 3, for students across Nova Scotia Additional Resources: Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: https://www.novascotia.ca/government/education-and-early-childhood-development