{"id":54802,"date":"2022-01-25T06:02:51","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T04:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/smooth-start-to-first-day-of-school-20220124\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T18:47:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:47:10","slug":"smooth-start-to-first-day-of-school-20220124","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/smooth-start-to-first-day-of-school-20220124\/","title":{"rendered":"Smooth start to first day of school"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Excited Grade 1 learners lined up for the first day of school at Zwaanswyk Academy in Retreat on Wednesday 19 January. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the children were eager to get a glimpse of old friends and new teachers, some parents looked on emotionally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) 1,1 million learners started the 2022 school year, including 105 000 Grade 1s and 97 000 Grade 8s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isabella Johnson (6) and her mom Charlene waited outside the school gates at 07:15. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe is very excited to be at school. Monday and Tuesday I spent with her prepping her,\u201d said Charlene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isabella was all smiles and looking forward to the day, while her mom felt rather emotional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is scary for me as a parent, not being able to take them into the classroom because of Covid protocol, but she has been at this school since Grade R so at least I know she will be okay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe was up early this morning. She is my eldest and I think it is very exciting for her to start school. There haven\u2019t been any tears, but mommy has shed a lot of tears this morning.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Placed either in the \u201cMermaids\u201d, \u201cMonsters\u201d or \u201cInto the jungle\u201d class, Isabelle was happy to be placed in the Mermaid class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The classrooms were ready and prepared with screens set up between each desk. PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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Samantha Jagger and her daughter Chardeney who was excited to start Grade 1. PHOTOs: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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Omandla Mahlati (7) could not wait for school to start. PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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Amara Samsodien (9), Leo Dodgen (8) and a family friend. <\/div>\n
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Learners following Covid protocol. PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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PHOTO: <\/div>\n
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Grade 1 pupils lined up for the first day of school at Zwaanswyk Academy in Retreat on Wednesday 19 January. PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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Holding her six-year-old daughter Chardeney\u2019s hand, Samantha said the Grade 1 learner was very excited to go to school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe can\u2019t wait to see her old friends from last year and to make new friends this year. She said she wants to pick roses to give to her teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was in cr\u00e8che from an early age so she is excited for school.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lwandile Mahlati and his seven-year-old son Omandla also looked forward to the new school year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI joked with him yesterday that he won\u2019t be going to school today and he wasn\u2019t happy,\u201d he said. \u201cHe told me he will go to school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a short wait for the school gates to open, a long line of parents and learners made their way onto the school grounds where Grade R and 1 teachers greeted the learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary-Anne McDonald, a Grade 2 teacher, said the school has three classes of Grade Rs and three Grade 1 classes this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are 25 children per class in Grade R and around 30 to 32 in each Grade 1 class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the Grade 1s have already been here for Grade R last year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added while Covid had impacted learners last year they adapted well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCovid had a huge impact on learners last year, some were impacted negatively and missed having a routine and seeing their friends, but they adjusted very well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile Education MEC Debbie Sch\u00e4fer visited Perivale Primary School in Lotus River for the first day of school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, Sch\u00e4fer said it was unfortunate learners were attending school on a rotational basis despite recommendations from experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wish our learners and school staff the very best for the year ahead. The pandemic is far from over, and while our schools have shown much resilience during this pandemic, the learning losses, together with ongoing rotation, is a heavy burden to carry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are tough times ahead, but I am comforted by the self-evident dedication and passion of our officials and school staff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that an extra 18 000 places will be made available for learners throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe anticipate that two new mobile schools, in Bothasig and Fisantekraal, will be completed by the end of the first term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFour additional schools are under construction and will be completed during the course of this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite over 32 000 late applications, latest figures indicate that 442 Grade 1 and 2, as well as 419 Grade 8 learners have yet to be placed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sch\u00e4fer added that the department has unfortunately already received reports of buildings damaged by theft and vandalism over the school holidays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI urge schools to report any such incidents to Safe Schools as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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