By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK and REBECCA WALSH
One by one they inch through the classroom door, clutching adult hands. It is 8.45 am at Swanson Primary School, and a group of 5-year-olds are making their debut. Some are crying, others are firmly attached to a parent's leg.
Miriam Hunt is nervously tugging at her blue shorts. "Don't go yet," Miriam pleads with her mother, Andrea Hunt, at the door of Classroom 9.
Most primary schools opened for business yesterday, and around 9800 5-year-olds enrolled for the first time.
At Greenpark Primary in Tauranga, the first lesson was shortlived for 500 pupils who were evacuated to the playground after workmen unearthed what turned out to be a First World War naval shell near the front of the school.
Within minutes of her arrival, Miriam was sitting on the classroom mat, singing, clapping and introducing herself to her 10 classmates.
She nodded attentively as teacher Robyn Kurin discussed toilet matters: "If you happen to do pee or a poo in your pants, just come and see me and I'll help, because that's what I'm here for."
By 9.30 am, when parents were asked to leave the classroom, Miriam was happy to part from her mother.
But classmate Jackson Haysome was more reluctant to say goodbye.
"Mum, mum, mummee, I want you to stay in the car," he wailed, clutching her frantically.
Yvonne Haysome said Jackson had been "bawling his eyes out" since waking up yesterday morning, complaining of a sore tummy and headaches to avoid school.
But he seemed to have forgotten his ailments by later in the morning, roaring and smiling when asked to impersonate centipedes, orangutans and dinosaurs.
Year one of school for most 5-year-olds includes basic mathematics, and reading and writing skills.
As Miriam settled in with her classmates, her mother made a quiet exit.
Although she had been through it all before with her son, Victor, 7, leaving her daughter behind was still a wrench for Ms Hunt.
"I feel a little bit anxious about how she will do at playtime and lunchtime. I'm sure she will be fine, but I just can't help worrying. I don't like to think of her feeling lost or scared."
With both children at school, Ms Hunt, who runs a small native plant nursery from home, said it would take a while to get used to not rushing around.
"Life will be a lot simpler ... I'm going to appreciate having a decent chunk of time to accomplish things in."
Once she had done the banking and registered her husband's car, she planned to "come home, get changed and potter around the nursery."
But she was not looking forward to greeting two tired and grumpy children at the end of the school day.
"They behave so well at school; they save their grumpy behaviour for home. Home is the place they let it all hang out."
Ms Hunt said it was hard not to feel cut off from a big part of her children's lives while they were at school.
"They want to take things for news to show the teacher. There's a subtle shift. When you have been the one they bring things to it can be a little unsettling."
Back home last night, Miriam seemed to have had a good day, Ms Hunt said.
"She's been watching TV and eating everything in sight ... She said she had played with another new girl.
"She just got on with it and was very relaxed."
Big day's worries turn to fun
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