Publication: nc08022012

Ngaio School's new entrants were among many young students who took their first steps into classrooms last week as schools around the region opened for a new year.

For Mya Willmer the first day of school was a breeze, with big sister Zoe in a classroom down the hall.

Mya’s mother, Jacqui Van Der Kaay, says there were definitely no tears. “Oh no, she was just dead keen to start and get into school. I was very lucky really, she just loves it.”

Ms Van Der Kaay says it makes things easier having older children at the same school.

Teacher Nikki Rathbone says she hasn’t quite got her head around all of her new student’s surnames yet. But she is enjoying settling everyone into the classroom.

Charlotte Brown says her grandson Harvey was a bit confused by the change to the status quo on Thursday morning. “Thursday was our day together when I would look after him. He didn’t have pre-school, so we thought I would take him to school today and pick him up at the end of the day.”

“I think he was hoping to stay with me today though. It will just take a bit of getting used to.”

Ms Van Der Kaay says it is a good idea to bring the children in a bit before class starts because they soon get caught up in different activities. “It’s great because it means they get into it and go off playing, so before you know it they’re bored of us and then I can head off.”