More than half a million children returned to classrooms today as schools outside of Auckland reopened.
Berhampore School children were excited to be back in the classroom. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen
Students told RNZ they were happy to be back after three weeks of lockdown learning in alert levels 3 and 4.
Eleven-year-old Zach from Berhampore School in Wellington said he was literally jumping for joy.
"I was really happy. At home I was jumping around really excited. It's much better at school than at home."
Ten-year-old Greta said she had mixed feelings.
"I was kind of like disappointed because it's fun being at home but then when I got to school actually I was kind of excited," she said.
Chloe, 10, said she would miss the sleep-ins.
"I kind of couldn't believe that we were actually going back to school. I've gotten used to sleeping in all the time and now I have to get up at 7 o'clock to get to school," she said.
Eleven-year-old Josephine said she was pleased to be back at school.
"I was really excited to come back and see all my friends and also because learning in lockdown is kind of hard because we have all these projects together and it's hard to communicate," she said.
Teacher Michelle McCracken said it was good to be in the classroom again though it was not exactly normal under alert level 2.
"It's a bit odd because you've got that extra layer of vigilance where you're like 'oh is there enough hand sanitiser and social distancing'. But it's always lovely to be back with the kids," she said.
For the first time, the government has recommended students aged 12 years and over wear facemasks at school.
At Wellington College, the principal Gregor Fountain said the Education Ministry had made it clear that mask wearing was an indvidual decision and schools were not to pressure students or staff either way.
Wellington College principal Gregor Fountain as boys return to the school this morning. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen
"It's going to be a challenge to teach in a mask and to learn in a mask so it's going to be interesting to see where people fall on that and I don't have a sense, but Delta's different. There's significantly more people here wearing masks this morning than there would have been during alert level 2 last year," he said.
Most of the boys arriving this morning were not wearing masks, but most said they would put them on later, if they had them.
Schools in alert level 2 now have three-and-a-half weeks to catch up on teaching before they break for the school holidays at the start of October.
Schools in Auckland remain closed under alert level 4.