Classes resuming in Humboldt after weekend tragedy

On Wednesday, Dayna Brons died, bringing the death toll to 16. Read the latest here.

Students heading back to class in Humboldt, Sask., on Tuesday are taking the first steps back to normalcy after the collision involving the Humboldt Broncos team bus on Friday, which left 15 people dead.

Classes for Humboldt Public School and Humboldt Collegiate Institute were cancelled on Monday so students could spend some time with their families.

"We recognize that the whole of our country is wrapping its arms around Humboldt," said Kevin Garinger, director of education for the Horizon School Division.

"I think that is critical for our students, and our parents and our community members. That outpouring of support has been vital in terms of beginning the processes, albeit very slow, toward healing."

Garinger spoke at press conference on Tuesday morning, where he and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schoolsdirector of education Greg Chatlain addressed the media about supports available to students and community members.

A bus carrying members of the Humboldt Broncos and staffers collided with a semi-trailer unit on Friday. The team was on its way to aSaskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game in Nipawin when the collision occurred.

Ten members of the Broncos were killed in the collision, as well as a statistician, a play-by-play announcer, the driver of the bus, and the team's coach and assistant coach. Fourteen others were injured.

"Getting back to normal a new normal is something very critical for our children, for our families, for all of us but that's going to take time," Garinger said.

He said more than 50counsellorsand more than 90 other staffers on hand to provide supportto school staff and studentsin the aftermath of the incident.

"The biggest reminder I want to share is that none of us are alone," he added.

It's unclear how long the supports will be available, but officials recognize they may be needed "for quite some time," Chatlain said.

Of the staff and athletes who died in Friday's collision, five were students at Humboldt Collegiate Institute this year. Three others attended the school in prior years.