The air at St Joseph’s primary school was filled with joyful laughter and chatter as children eagerly returned to school yesterday for a brand new year.

Students were glowing with excitement in their neat crisp uniforms, tidy hair, colourful backpacks and healthy lunches and to reunite with friends.

Grade 3 students Hannah Maxwell (6 turning 7), Sidney Seeto (7) were both “happy” to be back at school, and catch up with their friends again.

“I like my school, I like writing, I’m happy to be back,” said Maxwell.

“In the holidays I played outside with my soccer ball and I waited for mum and I waited for my aunty. I liked my holiday and I liked my school and maths and numbers,” said Seeto.

School principal Anna Rauru says this year they have started with a student roll of 175.

Rauru said 25 senior students have moved onto Nukutere College, and they have had 30 new enrolments.

“Our roll number is strong and still growing, and we have had walk in enrolments. I’d like to encourage parents and families who are Catholics to bring their kids here.”

For this week, St Joseph’s school hours are 8am to 12.30pm.

Next Monday, school hours will return to normal, 8am to 2.30pm. Rauru said this is a special year for the school as they will be celebrating 130 years of the school’s operation from July 14 – 18.