Back to school tears
Golden Bay mother Casey Port is expecting a few tears at the school gate this morning.
Her son, Parker, who turned five in lockdown, was about to start his school life in ‘‘a little bit of a strange environment’’. ‘‘I can only drop him at the gate,’’ Port said. ‘‘Usually I hang around for five, 10 minutes [at kindergarten] until he’s settled in. But tomorrow, it’s going to be clean cut.’’
Parker is one of nine children due to attend Takaka Primary School today out of a roll of 159, as schools across the country partially reopen.
There would be no photo of him with ‘‘little friends’’ at the start of his first day at school, which would now be spent in a bubble in the library, Port said. The unusual milestone left her feeling ‘‘a little bit apprehensive’’ and emotional, as she returned to work part-time in customer service at Tasman District Council in Takaka.
But the school’s online learning programme, and the enthusiasm Parker had shown for it since officially starting school online two weeks ago, was helping ease her nerves as she and her husband both went back to work. ‘‘He’s a strong wee boy. I’m really proud of him, he just blows me away.’’
Parker also seemed to understand requirements to stay one metre away from people inside school and two metres apart outside, she said.
A single mother in Nelson said she had been reassured by distancing and cleanliness procedures at the primary school her daughter was returning to, as she went back to work at a retail store.
The woman didn’t initially want to send her daughter back to school over fears about her catching coronavirus, and how a ‘‘strange’’ school environment would affect her.
But the woman said she couldn’t expand their bubble to keep her daughter away from school.
She felt more comfortable with the situation now, but planned to speak to her boss about taking leave or sick days if she felt uncomfortable next week.
She was unsure what her rights were as an employee, having been asked to return to work. The Government’s Covid19 website says an employee should discuss their situation with their employer if they were asked to go to work, but couldn’t access childcare and schools were closed.
‘‘There may be options such as flexible work arrangements or working from home,’’ the website said. ‘‘If you are unable to work, you should discuss with your employer what leave arrangements can be agreed, including the use of annual or special leave.’’
Most principals in the Nelson region could count on one hand the bubbles they expected at their schools this week (of no more than 10 people including a teacher). Of 28 schools that replied to Stuff ,24 anticipated less than 10 per cent of their students would return. The remaining schools reported less than 12 per cent, with the highest number of students returning at a school reported as 50.