Tears as parents face first day

But the emotion on show was from parents, not pupils, as some left their children in the care of school teachers for the first time.
At Keysborough’s Chandler Primary School, parents Rita and Paul Stannard farewelled son Nickey on his first day as a prep student, amid tears and uncertain feelings.
How was mother Rita shaping up just moments before Nickey and his parents departed?
“I can’t wait to drink the champagne in the staff room,” she said.
“And I don’t normally drink.”
Rita later explained the joy of seeing her son, who was born two months prematurely, become of school age.
“It’s a big thing,” she said, “he was just very tiny, but now he is all grown up.”
Rita shed tears of happiness as she made her way to the staffroom along with other parents, for a Cheers and Tears celebration.
But first, it was time to hug Nickey goodbye for his first day of school.
However, too much hugging caused Nickey to exclaim, “mum, I am a school kid now,” as he squirmed away to join newfound friends and explore the curiosity of the classroom.
A teary Rita later laughed at the display of independence, it was after all a good sign.
Chandler Primary School assistant principal Naomi Reed said children tended to cope better with the firstday jitters than their parents.
She said nervous or emotional children were often so because they fed off their parents’ emotional state.
“But sometimes we ring the parents an hour later to say (the child) has stopped crying and has settled in.”