Schools across the region reopen this week, with children, teachers and families hoping for an uninterrupted school year. 

Three year 9 students at Dunstan High School, Milla Druce, Fern Cameron and Kenya Williams, all head to high school for the first time this Thursday. 

Year 13s are back today, some tomorrow, with all back to school this Thursday.

Fern and Milla are both the second in their family to head to Dunstan, and in the footsteps of older brothers - they also both have younger sisters following in their footsteps. 

Kenya Williams is the last of the four Williams children to attend Dunstan, following in the footsteps of sister - Rikki Lee, and brothers Te Mana and Nico.

All attended the school campus for a dress rehearsal and were excited to be heading off to high school.

Fern Cameron (left)Milla Druce (middle),and Kenya Williams(right) are excited and nervous to begin high school for the first time. 

Milla and Fern said they were all looking forward to meeting new people and being a part of a bigger school.

Kenya was more concerned about losing her existing friends as high school is larger and with more people new groups are created.

A lot of fear, nerves, and uncertainty mixed with excitement came from all three.

It's a difficult time, that first day - but once you know who is in your class, and what teachers you have, the fear turns to excitement and the challenge and fun of learning becomes part of your everyday.  

The classes are filled with students from all over Central Otago primaries to attend Dunstan.

They had been on a number of open days, but still felt a bit nervous about getting lost between periods.  

Learning to follow a timetable seemed to be rather daunting for first time high school students. 

"I'm just nervous about getting lost, or being late for a class," Milla says.

Younger students are also heading back to school, and many are beyond excited about it.

Dunstan High School Principal Reece Goldsmith says the New Year has started well and the school has near record levels of students on the roll. 

“Provisional NCEA results from 2020 were pleasing, looking at a roll of around 600 which is probably the highest we have been since the early 90's and the completion of the Clyde Dam. 

“We have 140 new year 9 students starting plus 10 new students across years 10-13. 

“We also have 3 new staff. We start with an orientation day for our new students with the whole school coming in on Thursday where the new students will be welcomed by the whole school. 

“Today we have our Yr 13's in who are busy organising activities for our Yr 9's as part of this orientation programme.”

While students prepare for their studies, teachers have also been preparing to do their work. 

It is understood many schools have already worked on a new plan in case of another lockdown due to any potential COVID-19 outbreak. 

An anonymous teacher told The Central App teachers had attended COVID-19 lockdown meetings, and briefed on hygiene and procedures if another were to occur. 

Reece says Dunstan High School is prepared in case of another COVID lockdown.

“The spectre of COVID is going to hover over us through the year and we are taking a 'hope for the best, plan for the worst' approach,” he says.  

“Emphasis on good hygiene practices, supported by a good supply of hygiene products and normal recording of visitors is our first response.

“Should situations as happened in 2020 arise, I am confident we have the ability to quickly adapt programmes to meet circumstances such as school closures.” 

Secondary Principals' Association president Deidre Shea said the latest cases of COVID-19 in the community on the North Island were a reminder to everyone, including schools, that another lockdown could happen at any moment.

"We don't want to go back there, but if there's a need to, and we look at what's happening across the world and we know that there may be a time when we need to do it to keep everybody safe," Deidre says.

She says schools were a lot better prepared than they were last year for teaching students remotely during a lockdown.

"We've got some of our processes of course around connectedness and continuing learning from home that much better in place than we did before all of this happened.” 

Photos The Central App.

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