Excitement and tears to be in big school

There were plenty of tears, fears, but mostly excitement as the grade 1 class of 2025 started their school careers on Wednesday.

Boys and girls in their oversized uniforms filled the corridors of the various Nelson Mandela Bay schools on a rainy start to the first term.

Proud parents and grandparents huddled around to snap pictures of their little ones at their new desks.

In Algoa Park, Yolande Calitz said shortly after dropping off her granddaughter, Kaylee, at Tjaart van der Walt Primary School, that she already missed her.

“She’s keen to go to school, but I will miss her at home,” the proud grandmother said.

“She’s so smart — this one’s going places.”

It was double the excitement and nerves for mother of twin boys, Paula Holmes, as Harry and Benjamin, 6, walked to their classrooms with umbrellas in hand at Grey Junior School.

“I probably feel double the anxiety, but I am super-excited for them both to begin this exciting new chapter of their little lives.”

Holmes said the brothers were a little nervous, but also excited and ready for the school year thanks to the orientation morning spent with their new teachers on Tuesday.

“They definitely enjoyed putting on that shiny, new uniform to arrive at ‘big school’, where they were greeted at the gate by their new headmaster, despite the pouring rain.”

Holmes said Harry wanted to be a soccer player when he grew up, and Benji wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and run his own construction business.

Harry and Benji’s father, Ryan, also attended Grey.

“We tried to capture the moment with a few photos, but getting there on time is pretty special when you have to get two excited little boys ready in the morning.”

The mother of another grade 1 pupil at Grey, Kathryn Kimberley, said Adam, 7, had confidently led the way to his new classroom.

“We feel so privileged that our son gets to follow in the footsteps of his late grandfather and attend an all-boys’ school.

“Grey is an incredible school and we look forward to many happy years there.”

Kimberley said when she fetched Adam from school she was nervous and had prayed that his day went well.

“Thankfully, Adam reported that he had a great day, loves his new teacher, and already can’t wait to go back to school tomorrow to see his new friends.

“He said he has his eye on the white blazer [highest achievement] and has already set himself a goal to one day receive one.”

Adam wants to be a sportsman when he grows up.

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Schuyler Warricker, who proudly walked through the doors at Fernwood Primary School on Wednesday, said: “Learning is my superpower.”

Elizma van Rooyen was extremely proud of the confidence her son, Rynhardt, showed on his first day at  Laerskool Frans Conradie in Despatch.

“Rynhardt has shown signs of both excitement and some slight nerves.

“As a mother, I pretty much feel the same. This is the beginning of ‘big’ school for him.

“I am so proud of the boy we are raising and with all my heart hope that he will enjoy school and have a good year,” she said.

In the northern areas, some grade 1 pupils appeared a little apprehensive and shed a tear as they said goodbye to their mothers and fathers.

However, grade 1 pupil at Triomf Primary School, Taylor Jonas, would not allow nerves to get the better of him.

“I saw my friends from grade R and was so happy to see them.

“I am so excited for school and my new teacher.”

Nicole Martin, mother of Astra Primary School grade 1 pupil Laykhum, said initially she was anxious but the staff had since changed that feeling.

“I was anxious because there would be changes and that I did not know what to expect.

“But we saw that the school and its management team put the interests of the children first and that puts me at ease.”

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