After two weeks of school holidays, students across the Cook Islands were back in the classrooms for the start of term two studies yesterday.

The cute little Apii Avarua Year 1 K students were settled nicely at their tables focused on their drawings before lunchtime.

Apii Avarua Year 1 teacher Jane Kora said the kids usually look forward to being back at school as “they miss their friends”.

When the children were asked if they were enjoying being back at school, their delightful, loud uniformed response was: “Yes, we are happy to be back at school.”

Five-year-old Leila-Rae Katuke said she had a good holiday with her grandparents and her favourite part was “going with Mum to the beach”.

“I’m happy to be back at school because I like learning,” she added.

The second term will run until Friday, July 21 when the schools will close for the busiest holiday period of the year which features the annual Te Maeva Nui Festival and Constitution Celebrations.

Some students and their families will also be involved in the much anticipated 200^th year of the Arrival of the Gospel to the islands of: Mitiaro (21 July), Mauke (23 July) and Rarotonga (25 July), to be held during the term two holidays. Atiu will be the first island to celebrate their 2023 Bicentennial on July 19, before the school holidays.