Back to School in Ottawa
Ottawa's hallways are buzzing again. Students across the city returned to class on September 1 as the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) officially kicked off the new school year.
For families in neighbourhoods from Barrhaven to Orleans, the first day of school means early alarms, packed lunches, and that familiar mix of excitement and nerves, especially for kids starting kindergarten or a new school altogether.
What the Morning Looked Like
CBC's Jodie Applewaithe caught up with Ottawa families before the morning bell rang, capturing the energy of the city's back-to-school rush. From nervous first-timers clutching new backpacks to older students reconnecting with friends after the summer break, the scenes played out at schools across both boards.
The OCDSB and OCSB together serve tens of thousands of students throughout the city, making the first day of school one of the biggest annual logistics operations Ottawa families take part in. Between school supply runs, new class assignments, and figuring out bus schedules or carpool routes, the lead-up to September 1 keeps parents just as busy as their kids.
An Ottawa Tradition
The first day back is something of a ritual in this city. Local parks and school front steps fill up with families snapping photos, a moment that gets shared across social media every year as a marker of summer officially ending and routine returning.
For many Ottawa households, it also means adjusting to new commute patterns as school buses and extra foot traffic return to residential streets. Drivers around the city should expect slower mornings near schools as students settle back into their routines over the coming weeks.
While the first day is mostly about reunions and fresh starts, it also sets the tone for the school year ahead, one that will bring the usual mix of local school board decisions, extracurricular kickoffs, and community events tied to the academic calendar.
Ottawa's school boards haven't flagged any major disruptions for the start of this year, meaning the focus for now is simply on getting kids settled back into their desks, lockers, and classrooms.
Source: CBC Ottawa
