POLOKWANE – For many learners January 14 marked their first day at school while others were just happy to return to a new grade.
Principal Cindy Buys from Good Hope Primary School in Westenburg welcomed all the new learners to the school and wished them luck in their academic year.
Buys said it was always a challenge for children to adapt to a new environment, particularly the gr. R learners because some of them were used to being with their parents and it was difficult for them to settle down when they saw faces they were not familiar with.
She further said the first day was the most difficult, but once they made friends and became used to their teachers they become focused on their schoolwork.
“Teachers, parents and learners need to work together and support each other so that the school can produce the best results at the end of the year. I wish all the learners a good year, they must enjoy learning and playing together,” Buys said.
Gr. R teacher, Pitsi Maitja said she was happy to meet her new gr. R learners and she hoped they would have fun together. She said the first week was usually the most difficult for learners but once they were familiar with their surroundings, they started to enjoy themselves.
She further said that on the first day many of the learners became edgy and kept asking for their parents while others just did not stop crying.
“I want them to learn to respect each other and to be responsible, it is also important that they realise their dreams as early as possible so am looking forward to teaching them.”
Leaurtia Booysens, a parent of a gr. R learner, said she was nervous for her son’s first day at school because he was always at home with her. “He is a clever boy so I am confident that he will do well and enjoy his time at school,” she said.
