Please drive carefully and watch for children
With many schools back in session on Monday, the Fresno Police Department is reminding drivers to take extra precaution.
Areas near schools are extra busy, especially between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. when kids are going to and from school. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer is making sure drivers are extra careful by increasing the presence of police near school zones. The operation is called "No Recess For Safety."
As a reminder, the speed limit in school zones is 25 miles per hour while children are present. Several other police departments throughout the Valley are also stepping up patrols at school zones this week.
Over 100,000 Valley kids head back to school
Across the Valley, a half dozen school districts, including Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified are opening their doors Monday, and for some students it will be their first day of school ever.
The first day of school is a momentous day for many families, but especially if it's your first child headed off to their first day of school. Monday, the Mills family of Fresno will be sending their first son to his first day of kindergarten.
Action News will be followed the Mills family as they sent their child to school for the first time.
Valley college students prepare to head back to class
Students at both Fresno State and U.C. Merced are preparing for their first days back in class.
At U.C. Merced, students spent the weekend moving into their dorms. About 1,000 students will be living on campus this year. Many of the students are moving in from out of the area, and so far, they seem impressed with what the campus has to offer.
"He chose this one from all the other ones, including Stanford and Berkeley. We think it's a good area, Even though it's 120 degrees up here. But we really enjoy it. Everyone we've met here is pretty nice," said Bille Campbell of San Diego.
Welcome week activities begin on Wednesday. The first day of classes at U.C. Merced is Thursday.
Vang Pao Elementary School opens in Southeast Fresno
There's a lot of excitement surrounding the opening of Vang Pao Elementary School -- not only because it's a brand new facility, but because it's the first school in the state to be named after a Hmong leader. General Vang Pao helped lead American troops during the Vietnam War and who coined the term "education is the key to success."
The new two-story, 60,000 square foot school is located at Heaton and Cedar in Southeast Fresno.
As students make their way through the doors of the main building here on campus, they'll see something very unique -- a portrait of the late General Vang Pao. His family is very proud of the new school and made the students t-shirts which they'll hand out in the first couple of weeks.
