Most pupils flock back to learn in the flesh

Pupils across the South swapped home learning and virtual meetings for the classroom yesterday, as schools opened their doors for the first time in Level 2.

Schools spoken to by the Otago Daily Times reported high attendance rates, some with more than 90% of pupils present.

Otago Girls’ High School principal and Otago Secondary Principals’ Association president Linda Miller said only 59 of the school’s 814 pupils did not attend, a "pleasantly surprising" number.

"Given we’re coming into winter and we’ve said stay home if you’re sick, it’s very high."

Invercargill’s St Patrick’s School principal Kath Lieshout said about 90% of the school’s 282 pupils returned yesterday.

"To get 90% back, we’re thrilled."

She said parents were more nervous than pupils, but could see the tension "leave their eyes" as their children were greeted at the school gates by teachers with balloons.

For 5-year-old Reico Neilson, "back to school" was extra special.

The Tainui School pupil had been due to start school on his birthday, April 29, but due to the lockdown had his first day there yesterday.

Mother Jo Neilson said while Reico had met his classmates during Zoom video-conferencing calls, he was eager to enter the classroom.

"It’s really nice to finally see him properly start school, he’s very excited.

"It has been a worrying time. I did think about not sending him just yet but he was so eager to go."

Tainui School principal Shelley Wilde said more than 90% attendance was expected, as the school had carried out a survey to gauge attendance last week.

After two months at home, Logan Park High School pupil Caspar Rennie-Weston said it was a shock to switch back to the routine of school.

"But we get to see friends and talk to people face-to-face which is awesome."

Fellow pupil Emma Bradfield said the lockdown had gone by quickly, and it was now hard to comprehend what had happened.

"It almost feels like it didn’t happen, like some sort of weird blip."

Dunstan High School pupil Maz Cameron spent part of the Level 3 and Level 4 period at his job as an essential worker at Alexandra New World.

The 15-year-old said he had missed interacting with others and said social media could not replace seeing friends face-to-face. — Additional reporting Simon Henderson and Laura Smith