BY TRISTAN, LEO AND BEATRIX

Students and parents are over the moon after one of our little parking friends was returned to the school after being stolen.

Sophie is a one-metre-tall cutout holding a lollipop stick with a sign saying “No Parking.”

We have her so that students, parents and local residents can stay safe whilst crossing the roads near JKPS.

She is one of three little buddies that help to slow traffic down.

Sophie went missing on October 10 and was mysteriously returned on November 2.

She was left just inside the school gates and no one knows who left her there.

The only sign of damage is that her school logo has been scraped off.

Celeste, a JKPS parent, who helped lead the search for Sophie said: “We’re so happy to have Sophie back, especially as it means we don’t have to use precious school resources to replace her.

“It’s great to know that she can get back to work helping the children to get to school safely, but this time I’ve invested in a lock!”

Bea, 9, said: “I felt offended that someone dared to do this to our school. I felt relieved when she was returned but she should have never been taken.”

When Sophie went missing parents made missing posters and put messages out on local WhatsApp groups to ask if anyone saw anything.

One local resident said they saw three people putting Sophie into a car at around 9 p.m. and thankfully noted down the number plate.

Parents contacted the police who managed to track down the people who allegedly stole Sophie. They asked them to bring her back, but two weeks later she still hadn’t been returned.

Everyone at JKPS was distressed and really wanted Sophie back. Then she appeared at the school gates one morning unannounced.

Despite the damage to her logo, everyone is thrilled.

“I was outraged that she was taken but then I was happy when she was returned,” said Leo, 9.