Special day for kids returning to school after Covid lockdown

Schools in NSW have literally rolled out the red carpet for students returning to class after three months of learning from home.

Kindergarten kids have received the red carpet treatment as schools across the state reopened today after three months of learning from home.

For six-year-old kindergarten student Dakshanya Yukakumar, there was a raft of reasons to be excited to return to class at Homebush West Public school.

“I’m excited to come back to school because I get a cupcake and get to walk on the red carpet and get to see my friends,” she said.

“I have missed my teachers the most.”

Teachers at her school literally rolled out the red carpet for kindergarten and year 1 students on Monday morning. They played upbeat music and threw confetti to welcome the children back.

Year 12 students also returned to in-person learning while all other grades will start back in one week on October 25.

Dakshanya Yukakumar on her first day back at Homebush West Public School. Picture: Richard Dobson

Deputy principal Jenna Arzapitian welcomes Dakshanya back to school. Picture: Richard Dobson

Homebush West Principal Estelle Southall said many students were apprehensive about returning to the classroom.

“We want to establish for students a sense of joy, and for families, a sense of confidence so we’re really showing everybody that we are safe,” she said.

“There‘s been a completely different set of routines and expectations with learning from home.

“And they’ve been surrounded by fear … This is how we help students overcome feelings by showing them that we’re both safe and happy, and that school is a great place to be.”

Pictured with her teacher Jenna Arzapitian for her first day back at Homebush West Public School is Dakshanya Yakakumar. Picture: Richard Dobson

She said the focus in the first week of school would be on socialising and doing physical activity as a class because they were the subjects students had been deprived of when working from home.

Across town Premier Dominic Perrottet visited Randwick Public and said some students would feel anxious but a lot of parents would be happy for normal schooling to resume.

“Many of our children have gone through a difficult time not being able to interact and play with their friends, to be back in the classroom is an exciting day for kids and for teachers and particularly for parents as well,” he said.