Bright-eyed grade 1s start their big year a little different in 2021
Rekord spoke to a grade 1 learner to find out what his first day of school was like and how he is adapting to school life during Covid-19.
To say that 2021 started off on a rocky note is probably an understatement.
Many excited faces entered school grounds for the first time this week, despite having the official school year postponed with two weeks, a surge in Covid-19 cases and the fact that learners now have to get used to wearing masks on a daily basis.
Six-year-old Luan van Aardt started his grade 1 year at Laerskool Elarduspark. His parents Lucinda and Antonie told Rekord that their little man was beyond excited to start this new journey in his life, and allowed Rekord to get the direct perspective of Luan’s views on his first day of grade 1.
Luan understands that most things will be different when he starts grade 1. He understands the concept of Covid-19 like all other grade 1 learners have had to, and is happy to protect himself and his friends around him.
“I understand the coronavirus can hurt us. I know we now have to wear masks at school to protect our bodies,” he said.
On what he is looking forward to most in his grade 1 year, Luan had an interesting answer.
“I’m looking forward to do chess this year, and actually everything else in big school.
“I have heard many things about going to big school. One of them is that you can do lots of sports and that my teacher is the bee-teacher. I have also come to actually love my school uniform,” Luan told Rekord.
Luan looks forward to making new friends, but he also says he will miss his old friends from his daycare. When it comes to his lunch box, he has very specific requirements his mum has to adhere to.
“Macaroni is my favourite so I would like my mum to fill my lunch box with macaroni and pancakes please and of course a pear.”
Luan’s favourite activity just reminds us not to take the little things we get to do every day for granted.
“The favourite thing about my day was running outside, playing, then eating the food in my lunchbox and running again.”
Luan explained he absolutely adores his teacher, not only because she’s nice, but because she tells very interesting stories.
“I can’t tell you all her stories, some of them are secret stories that she will only tell us at the end of the year, I also liked that she gave us fun schoolwork to do.”
When it comes to his ambitions and dreams for the future, Luan did not hesitate.-
“One day I want to become a reptile catcher but also a police officer. And don’t forget, I also want to become a person that discovers dinosaur bones from the ground. I look forward to going back to school to learn more and be clever,” he concludes.
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