Back to school in Nova Scotia: Here's some of what you need to know for the start of classes this week

A new school year begins in Nova Scotia on Thursday, Sept. 3 PHOTO BY TINA COMEAU /Postmedia Article content That faint whining noise you’ve been hearing for the past couple days, slowly growing in volume? It may just be the collective moaning of students preparing for the return to school. Article content Whether you’re happy or sad about school starting, going for the first time or heading toward the last first day of classes, here are some things to remember. Article content Article content When it all starts this week Article content The first day of school for students across the province is Thursday. They will go to class for two days, including orientation and getting settled in classrooms, then have a long weekend thanks to Labour Day landing on Sept. 7 this year, before classes begin in earnest. Article content Article content Enrolment numbers Article content The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development estimates there will be more than 133,000 students attending 372 public schools across the province. That’s a fair estimate, considering enrolment last year was 133,752. Article content A mother walks her sons on the first day of school in Halifax Regional Municipality in this file photo. PHOTO BY TIM KROCHAK /The Chronicle Herald Article content Schools don’t release their fall enrolment numbers until October to account for new students who have moved to the province or transfers because families moved between school districts. Article content In 2025-26, as would be expected, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education had the highest enrolment with more than 60,100, followed by Chignecto Central with 20,200, Annapolis Valley with 14,000 and Cape Breton-Victoria at 13,000. Article content The remaining boards – South Shore, Tri-County, Strait and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial – had 6,100 to 6,900. Article content The numbers don’t include students at private schools and those being home-schooled. Article content What’s new this year Article content This school year, students and families will see several changes and investments, the Education Department says. Article content Article content A new English language arts curriculum for Grades 3 to 6 begins this month. It builds on the foundation students develop between Primary and Grade 2. The curriculum places a focus on foundational skills and reflects research on the science of reading, the department says. Article content “It aligns with a…