More smiles than tears

IT WAS more smiles than tears for Grade 1 pupils who yesterday started their schooling careers at primary schools across Kimberley.

Traditionally a teary affair, with pupils and parents equally emotional while saying their goodbyes, yesterday was definitely an exception to the rule, as it was smiles all around at most primary schools, with pupils (and parents) putting up a brave front.

Many pupils said that there was no need for tears, as they were more excited than sad about starting school. Some parents also breathed a sigh of relief, and said that they were relieved to finally have their children “out of their hair”.

Pupils at Diamantveld Primary, Du Toitspan Primary and Staats Primary schools were seen eagerly finding seats in their new classrooms and making new friends with their fellow pupils who were now officially attending “big school”.

Pupils the DFA spoke to said that they were “very happy” to be at school and could not wait to start learning new things.

Teachers indicated that while there were “some tears”, the children quickly cheered up after seeing their friends. The teachers added that children who attended Grade R at the schools where they attended Grade 1, were also quicker to settle in, as they were surrounded by familiar faces.

During their first lunch break as uniformed pupils, children were seen sharing lunches from brand new lunch boxes and while some still had a little trouble with new school rules, like “no running allowed”, most followed instructions from the teachers to the tee and promised that they would be well behaved while in class, work hard and make their parents proud.