Dread, nervous excitement, apprehension – that unmistakable feeling of the first day at school.
Hundreds of Marlborough children were feeling a mixture of these emotions today as colleges, intermediate schools and many primary schools started the new school year.
Those such as 11-year-old Meg Macaskill, of Blenheim, took the next step in their educational journey. She is moving from Witherlea School to Bohally Intermediate, and said she was nervous and excited about starting at a new school.
"I'm excited because I'm going to meet new friends, but a tiny bit nervous because I don't know what the school will be like."
Meg said she planned to continue playing hockey, basketball and maybe volleyball at Bohally. She was also looking forward to taking food technology classes, and learning in the school's audio-visual studio.
"But there's probably going to be lots more homework. I'm a bit nervous about that."
Her parents Dave and Libby Macaskill accompanied their youngest daughter to school today, but said that from tomorrow, she would catch the bus from their Witherlea home.
A new school always meant new faces and unfamiliar surroundings, but Meg's friends from Witherlea School would make the transition easier, Mr Macaskill said.
Meg's school for the next two years would provide more than the challenge of making new friends as the school began to challenge the children and "start pushing them a bit more", he said.
Meanwhile, five-year-old M'kenzie Boyd had been looking forward to her first day at Renwick School ever since she finished kindergarten last year.
With her school bag full of books and a healthy lunch, and sporting her new uniform, M'kenzie walked to school this morning in earnest with mum Cherie Boyd, dad Matt Webb and a lot of excitement.
Renwick School, along with most other primary schools, started the new year today, while others will begin tomorrow or on Wednesday.
Ms Boyd said M'kenzie was "very excited" about her first day at school. Every day since finishing Renwick Preschool in mid-December, she had been asking her mum if it was time for her to go to school.
M'kenzie, an only child but with a sibling on the way, was also excited because her nana had been a pupil at the school.
Many of her friends from kindergarten would also be joining her among the new kids in the schoolyard.
Ms Boyd was excited but apprehensive about her first child starting school.
"It's kind of scary having your baby go to school, but I'm very excited. She's very happy, and definitely ready for it."
The lengths of school terms have been adjusted this year so the October term holiday coincides with the final stages of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
As a result, terms one and two are slightly longer than usual, and term four is two weeks shorter.
The third and fourth term dates have been changed, leaving a gap so every child in the country has the chance to watch the competition.
KEEP THEM SAFE
With the new school year beginning, road safety should be a key issue for children and their parents, police say.
Road policing manager Inspector Peter Baird said motorists and pedestrians also needed to take care near schools as thousands of children headed to school this week, many for the first time.
"Children walking, biking or scootering to school are not able to judge the distance at which a vehicle is approaching, so we're urging parents and road users to be wary of children ... and have a bit more patience."
He urged parents to talk to their children about road safety. "There'll be plenty of children who received new bikes and scooters at Christmas.
If they're riding these to school this year, we want parents to ensure their children are wearing helmets and know the basics of road safety."
Parents should also consider backpacks and jackets with reflectors, as they were a good way to help motorists see children, Mr Baird said.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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