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'You get to see your friends and play football' - Delight as children return to school

There was great excitement at schools around the country this morning, with over 300,000 children...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

12.31 1 Mar 2021


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'You get to see your friends a...

'You get to see your friends and play football' - Delight as children return to school

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

12.31 1 Mar 2021


Share this article


There was great excitement at schools around the country this morning, with over 300,000 children returning to class.

The four youngest primary school classes are returning today alongside the country’s Leaving Cert students.

The reopening is expected to continue on a phased basis over the next six weeks – with public health officials keeping a close eye on how the return affects coronavirus figures.

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On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Newstalk report Henry McKean caught up with children and parents at St Laurence O’Tooles National School on Sheriff Street in Dublin this morning and found that, for the most part, children are very excited to return.

'You get to see your friends and play football' - Delight as children return to school

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“We get to have loads of fun,” said one child.

“It’s excellent; you are able to see all your friends and play in the yard with the football. I love writing and I wanted to get back to play with my friends.”

Another said home-schooling was “horrible” and it is great to get back to see everyone at school.

On the other hand, one child wasn’t so pleased to make the trip this morning.

“It is horrible being back in school because you have to get up at 7am every morning,” he said.

“Home school was the best because it’s much shorter than normal school and you get to sit on a comfy chair. I liked the break off.”

"Peace of mind"

One parent said it was a huge relief to bring her son back this morning.

“I work in a chemist so he’s after being at home while mammy was in work so it is peace of mind for me and for him to get him out and get his routine back every day,” she said.

“We’re back to school and happy out now. Hopefully it stays this way now. No more lockdowns.”

Children at St Laurence O’Tooles on Sheriff Street in Dublin, 01-03-2021. Image: Henry McKean/Newstalk

Deputy Principal Una Collins said the children did really well while learning from home.

“I have to be honest; I like my lie-ins and I was getting an extra two hours sleep when we were off,” she said. “But I did like the home schooling.

“I thought the boys were great on it; they were on every day; they were always sending their work in and there was a great atmosphere about it.

“But it is nice being back because, for them, they get to see all their friends and get back into the routine. They are a happy little bunch because they have the run of the school for the next two weeks.”

"Back to normality"

Principal Mark Candon said it is great to see things “slowly but surely heading back to normality.”

“Thirty-three days we have been doing classes online every day and kids have been working from work packs,” he said. “It is not the same; it is not as good.

“I think just talking to staff there is a definite frustration with them. Teaching online is hard work, preparing for it is very hard work and they would all tell you that their days actually are longer when they are teaching remotely.

“So, I mean there is a bit of excitement there now today with the second and third classes coming in and we’ll see how it goes, hopefully fingers crossed it works out.

"Spring is in the air"

He said he really hopes that this will be the last lockdown for schools, with the country  “holding its breath” in the coming weeks as classes resume.

“Spring is in the air, the weather is getting is touch warmer; it is a touch dryer today and there is that little sense of hope,” he said.

“It is great to have the kids back in and hopefully it all work. The rest of the school will be back in two weeks and onwards and upwards, fingers crossed.”

You can listen back here:

'You get to see your friends and play football' - Delight as children return to school

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

    


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