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Source: ONE News -
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Children in the Canterbury region should see some routine returned to their lives next week, when most schools reopen.
A handful of schools have already re-opened today, including Akaroa Area School, Cust, Little River, Oxford Area and Southbridge Schools.
Principal of Southbridge School Peter Verstappen, said there was no structural or physical damage to his school; the school's sewerage and water systems are intact and no clean-up was needed.
The school has been checked by the ministry, local builders and engineers.
"We felt it would be good for our children and staff to get back to normal, pick up and move on," Verstappen said.
"We kept it low-key, every class had an earthquake drill."
He said children were eager to swap stories and were happy to be back in each others' company. Many parents had thanked staff for re-opening.
Lucy Hamilton, 6, said she was a bit nervous after the "big one" yesterday. But they knew what to do for aftershocks.
"You just drop, drop down under your desk and get into a turtle," Tilly Helm, 6, said.
Lucy and friend Charlotte Haycock, 6, had brought their teddies, Flying Pig and Tangarine with them to school.
"It makes me feel safe," Charlotte said.
Joshua Stoliker, 9, said being one of the first schools to reopen was "cool".
"We get to be on TV."
He was shaken by the quake, which broke his glasses, and was surprised the school was not damaged.
Some other schools are planning to open tomorrow including Belfast School and Kaiapoi High.
However the vast majority of the 165 affected schools are reopening on Monday.
More information is available on the Ministry of Education website.
Tertiary institutions to reopen
Most of Canterbury's tertiary institutions will start reopening from Monday, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce says.
Joyce met with managers of the institutions today and said there had been minimal permanent damage.
"The needs of students are a priority for all providers and staff from the Tertiary Education Commission and Ministry of Education are working closely with Canterbury providers to get campuses open as soon as they're comfortable that they're safe so that students can resume their studies."
Joyce said he was impressed with the emergency management response of tertiary providers in the region.
Tertiary providers in Canterbury will reopen as follows:
- Canterbury University to staff on Monday, and students Wednesday, with classes resuming September 20;
- CPIT and Lincoln to staff and students on Monday;
- Te Wananga o Aotearoa's Manchester Street campus remains closed until further notice, classes will resume at the Moorhouse Avenue campus on Monday.
