New kids starting school hit ground running

Kristan Kameta, 6 (right), keeps an eye out for her little brother Te Turangiupoko Kameta, 5, as he starts his first day at Sunset Primary School. Photo/Stephen Parker

There were no tears for Mokoia Raethel as he started his first day at school.

With his bag packed and dressed in his new uniform, the 5-year-old joined his three older siblings as a pupil of Sunset Primary School yesterday.

"He was absolutely chuffed to go," mum Haley Raethel said.

"We've been prepping him all holidays, telling him that he'll be going to big boy school soon.

"My husband dropped him off and was going to stay with him for a little while because he was going to be in a different class to his brothers and sisters but when he arrived and settled in he kind of looked at him like, 'You still here, daddy?'

"He was absolutely rapt to start and there wasn't anything for us to worry about."

Mrs Raethel said the key to a smooth transition into school was preparation.

"You can't leave it to the last minute. Ever since Christmas we were telling him he was changing from preschool, showing him his new uniform and his new lunchbox with his name on it - just making him aware that change was going to happen.

"Last year we just kept taking him up to the school when we picked his brother and sisters up so it became familiar to him."

Principal Niels Rasmussen said they had 25 new entrant pupils start yesterday with most enthusiastic to start learning.

"We will be splitting into two classes and have another teacher with them to lighten the load.

"We had one mum who sat with the class but most of the kids were happy and pretty keen to get on with it.

"A lot children have older brothers and sisters here and it's lovely seeing them show the little ones around and share with them their experiences and school's expectations."

Mr Rasmussen said it was always a highlight seeing a full school after the holiday break.

"We love it, the students are dead keen to start, we don't have a problem with motivation."