THE new generation of schoolgoers are too cool for school. Instead of crying snot en trane, the little ones were full of smiles and laughter amped up for their first day of school.

Daily Voice visited a few schools to find out how the new Grade 1s and Grade Rs are holding up as the klein stukkie mensies made their way to school dressed neatly in their school attire escorted by their parents.

The laaities are part of a cohort of 73 000 Grade R learners and 102 000 Grade 1 pupils starting school for the first time across the Western Cape. Meanwhile, 97 000 Grade 8 learners took their first steps into their secondary schooling.

Starting his school journey is Kayden Samuels, 5 who started Grade R at JS Klopper Primary School in Elsies River and was the first to arrive at his class out of pure excitement.

Mom Lee-Ann Samuels said that her baby boy is looking forward to school.

Lee-Ann shared: “Kayden was very excited to start school, he wanted to go to school at 7am already. When he got to his class he was the first one there. I was the one who was a bit more emotional leaving him because I had to go to work but I felt better watching him laugh and talk to his peers.”

Oulike Bella Louw, 5 starting Grade R at Roosendal Primary School in Delft said she was happy to be at big school.

Mom Kesha Louw said that she knows her daughter will settle in nicely, adding: “I am confident that she will adapt. She was not nervous to start school, instead she was very excited.”

Cool kid Atayo Wenzel, 6 starting Grade 1 also at Roosendal Primary School rocked up with hands in his pockets and said: “I feel lekker. I am excited to make new friends.”

Looking forward to her first day and featuring in the koerant is Chesre Cornelissen, 6, starting Grade 1 at Roosendal Primary School, who asked: “Are you going to put me in the paper?”

At Vergenoegd Primary School in Delft, Amber Kennedy, 6 was ready to strike a pose when she heard that she is going to feature in the Daily Voice and was ready for an interview saying: “The school holidays were nice, but I can’t wait to meet my new teacher.”