La Loche teachers return to school following fatal shooting

Teachers returned to the high school in La Loche, Sask., on Mondayfor the first time since two of their colleagues were killed in a shooting at the school on Jan. 22, whichalso saw two brothers killed at a separate location andseven people injured and sent to hospital.

"Today was a critical day for us, because today was when all the staff arrived," saidKen Ladouceur, director of education with theNorthern Lights School Division, which oversees La Loche Community School.

"We had to make sure our staff were ready, and we had to show them the respect of giving them the time they needed," he said of time spent meeting with school staff Monday afternoon.

To help everyone transition back into the classroom, 12 guest teachers from across the province are arriving on Tuesday. They'll shadowthe teachers,and if someone needs a break, a guest teacher will take over.

Ladouceur said he wasn'tprivy to what the teachers talked about in their meetings.

"I'll be perfectly honest with you, even I didn't attend that because it's that intimate and that much family," he said. "Andit's between the administrators and the teachers themselves, and that's something we'll all respect."

• La Loche, Sask., shooting leaves 4 dead, others wounded, RCMP say
• La Loche, Sask., shootings: Male, 17, charged with 4 counts of 1st-degree murder

KevinJanvier, acting mayor of LaLoche, said the return ofteachers to the school means a lot to the community and to him.

"Like I said, education needs to be a priority in LaLoche, and let's all move forward here," he said.

LaLocheRCMPhave confirmed that a school resource officer will be posted in the buildinguntil the end of the school year. A regular patrol officer has volunteered to take on the position.

In addition to theRCMPofficer at the school,Ladouceursaid the school division has hired a security service. The high school andDucharmeElementary School will both have three security staff working in the buildings from morning to evening.

According to information from SaskatchewanPremier Brad Wall'soffice, students are scheduled to begin classeson Friday.

Police tape no longer surrounds the school, but the main entrance is now boarded up. Aroadside memorial made of snow-covered candles, flowers and stuffed animals remains outside of the school.

Education Minister Don Morgan, Government Relations Minister JimReiterand the minister responsible for rural and remote health, GregOttenbreit,were in LaLocheon Saturday, meetingwithschool division and village officials.

Morgan is scheduled to return to the town this week.

Classes at the elementary school, where the Canadian flag remains at half mast, have also been cancelled since the shooting.Those students will return to the school on Tuesdayfor an open house and cultural event.

The community is organizing a"reclaiming our school" walkon Wednesday. Another open house and cultural event is planned for students and the community that day.

Suspect in court

Those killed in the school shootinghave been identified as teacher's assistant MarieJanvier, 21, and teacher Adam Wood, 35.Of the seven peopleinjured, four victims have since been released from Royal Univeristy Hospital inSaskatoon.

BrothersDayne, 17, and DraydenFontaine, 13, were founddead in a home near the school.

The 17-year-old charged in connection with the shooting deaths made his second court appearance on Monday.

He'scharged with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.He also faces one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

The Crown says it will apply to have the17-year-old sentencedas an adult, if he's convicted.