There was a hive of activity at Randfontein Primary School (REM) on Wednesday, January 11 as scores of parents took their children to school for the first time.
This comes as inland schools officially reopened and thousands of Grade 1 learners across the province started their school careers.
Also read: Mixed bag of emotions for Avanté Grade 1s
The Herald caught up with a parent, Pule Sibidi, who was overwhelmed by this new reality for his child. He even had to take the morning off from work.
Also read: GDE confirms 268 192 Grade 1 and 8 learners already placed for 2023
“I have two children at this school – one is doing Grade 1, the other is in Grade 7. They were both very excited [today] and we didn’t sleep much the night before. They both did wake up very excited for the big day. Everything went well and everyone was so welcoming and professional,” Pule said.
The Herald also spoke to another parent, Emily Mphetho, who said she was really excited for her son yet nervous at the same time.
“It was quite stressful, I mean it is a new beginning for him going from daycare and being a toddler to this Grade 1 learner in ‘big school’. He was also very excited as I was but we are looking forward to his 2023 first year at school,” Emily said.
Regarding the morning’s preparations, Emily giggled and said it was one very hectic morning.
“We actually didn’t sleep very well. We were so excited and we didn’t want to risk the chance of her running late, but everything went well, and we managed to come on time,” she said.
Meanwhile, the school has a tradition of its own for the little newbies where every single learner had to ring a bell under the chapel-looking structure before being escorted to their classrooms. This gave them a reality check that they are now in big school. For some time, many were continuously looking for their parents, wanting to cling onto them.
