Well, it’s that time of year again.

Alarms will be set, large yellow buses will take over the roads and bedtimes will be enforced.

With a new school year now in session, I want to take a moment to wish all the teachers and students a successful year.

For the teachers, a lot of work goes into helping these students learn and grow throughout the year.

My dad is a teacher and my mom is a bus driver and educational assistant and I’ve seen over the years how much work goes into what they do.

The amount of dedication and commitment they have to their work is impressive.

Whether it’s my mom getting up before sun ever does to driver her bus or that she spends her days teaching students with disabilities or my dad who now teaches at a smaller school and has multiple grades and subjects, they love what they do and the students they interact with are all the better for it.

I hope we all take some time to thank the teachers, principals and all staff of the schools the students attend because their work is helping to shape these kids into who they are.

Let’s not forget the students themselves either.

The work they put in over the course of the year can be taxing on them.

Whether it’s a student scared of entering kindergarten, or a grade 12 student beginning to contemplate what they will do after this year, there are so many distractions and worries that can affect their years.

I hope that all students are able to seek out the help they may need and are able to enjoy another school year with friends.

Good luck and happy learning to all the students in the Crowsnest Pass and good luck and happy teaching to all the teachers this year.