CTV News Montreal

Updated: Mon Aug. 31 2009 11:56:03 AM

ctvmontreal.ca

Thousands of students in the English Montreal and Lester B. Pearson school boards headed back to class Monday morning.

The first day of school is an annual ritual that many students and parents have been waiting for.

"It's the most wonderful time," said Jane Munroe, a mother of three.

But the beginning of the school year can also be nerve-wracking -- especially for parents whose children are heading off to class for the first time.

"She's jumping to go and I'm holding her back," said Kristina Rosner of her young daughter.

"I think it's tougher on mom than it is on her," she added.

At St. Edmund Elementary school in Beaconsfield, CTV Montreal's Derek Conlon asked youngsters what they liked the most about going back to school.

"Playing with my friends," one child responded.

The staff hopes students will be equally enthusiastic about learning.

There's a world theme at the school this year, with each class representing a different country and learning about it.

Amelia Crerar, a teacher who spent a year teaching students in China, plans to educate her students about that country.

"The main things about China -- the dragons, the money, a few of the names of the cities, a few words to pronounce in Chinese," Crerar said.

Principal Susan Greenberg said students will also be celebrating the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games with a symbolic journey.

"We're going to be walking as a school -- staff and students -- for one kilometre every week, and collectively that'll be about 325 kilometres. We're going to do this for 15 weeks until we reach Vancouver," she said.