Security guards at La Loche high school when students return

Administration assistant Martha Morin says it’s hoped a hot breakfast will make the building feel “homey,” as students will see an RCMP school resource officer and security guards there for the first time.

Students will also have four classes a day instead of five, and will be able to attend classrooms off the site if they don’t want to be in the school.

A mass shooting last month in the community left four people dead.

A gunman first killed two teenage brothers at a home, then walked into the high school and opened fire, killing a teacher and teacher’s aide and wounding seven others.

Students at the school’s nearby elementary building returned to regular classes Wednesday morning.

Vice-principal Erin Trotechaud says the children’s smiles lifted a heavy presence that had been in the building.

“It’s amazing how when you fill it with children and there’s laughter and there’s smiles, it just kind of washes it away and – it was really beautiful.

“It feels like home again.”