First day all over again: Buzz in the classrooms as Hawke's Bay schoolkids return

Fletcher Snee, 5, made the most of his third day at Havelock North Primary by exploring the school playground. Photo / Paul Taylor

Five-year-old Fletcher Snee was walking on clouds as he made his way through the school's gates for the first time since the nationwide lockdown.

Fletcher had just two days at Havelock North Primary before lockdown brought school home.

On Thursday morning, Fletcher was dressed in his uniform at 6.30am, rearing to head back to school for his first post-lockdown school day - effectively his first day all over again.

"He was on cloud nine this morning. He almost forgot to say goodbye to me once we arrived at school, he was away playing right away," mum Kate Snee said.

Fletcher was gutted when he found out school was going to be put on pause due to the level 4 lockdown, having loved his first taste of school life in August.

"His first two days were an absolute hit," mum Kate said.

"About a week ago he started getting excited, and he has kept asking us when he can I start school again," she said.

Havelock North Primary's Fletcher Snee, 5, slid into school again on Thursday. Photo / Paul Taylor

Havelock North Primary principal Nick Reed said everyone was buzzing to be headed back to school on Thursday morning.

"Everybody seemed really pleased to be back, it was great to see the kids enjoying seeing each other this morning," he said

At Flaxmere College there was a similar sense of positivity in the air and a number of students and staff wearing face coverings at school.

"Our teaching staff are reconnecting with students using manaakitanga as we awhi our students back to school.

"I observed a number of classes this morning, and students and staff were all glad to be back and getting back into class routines," said Flaxmere College principal Jim Hay-Mackenzie.

"We have emphasised to the school community the importance of personal hygiene and social distancing," he said.

Dawn Ackroyd, principal of Napier Girls' High School, said everyone was happy to be reconnecting today on the school grounds.

"Our students are very social and they really appreciate the face-to-face contact," Ackroyd said.

"There's not been a huge uptake of mask use but we're very familiar with social distancing and good hygiene practice from last year's lockdown and we've been continuing with those habits," she said.