Bay of Plenty students urged to return to school

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

Absentee rates are soaring as students forsake the classroom for the clean-up in flood-ravaged Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Widespread flooding hit the region on the eve of the new school term and almost two weeks later hundreds of students have still not returned to their desks.

Principals say they realise it is not easy for some young people whose homes have been devastated, but it is important to try to resume a normal routine.

"We understand if there are still difficulties and they are helping their parents clean up," said Peter Tootell, principal of Whakatane's Trident High School.

"Our hope is that they get back on track at their earliest convenience. We don't want their studies to be affected more than necessary."

A trust fund had been set up to help students replace uniforms, books, stationery and other school-related items lost in the floods, Mr Tootell said.

Absenteeism yesterday was still more than double the average of between 50 and 60 students a day.

On the fringe of badly hit Awatapu, Trident High also draws its 930 pupils from the sodden Rangitaiki Plains and Waimana, which suffered badly during the emergency.

"We know of around 60 families [of students] really seriously affected and we're still counting," Mr Tootell said. "Some will be out there helping with the pumping."

Form teachers were watching students carefully for signs of stress.

A number were still on a high after helping with sandbanking and other work during the height of the drama, he said. Whakatane High School was closed for the first two days of term because 15 teachers could not get to work and there was uncertainty about water and sewerage, said principal Chris Day.

At first about 350 students were absent from a roll of 1000 but that had dropped to 100 yesterday.

Mr Day said it was important for families to be together helping out after a disaster, but getting back to normal was vital.