Quake: School reopens

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Southbridge children were among the first back to school today since the Canterbury earthquake, and first up they had an earthquake drill.

Southbridge School, about 45km southwest of Christchurch, reopened today - one of only two of 165 Canterbury state schools opened for a normal school day.

The other was Oxford Area School, in north Canterbury, the Education Ministry said.

Principal Peter Verstappen said there was no structural or physical damage, the school's sewage and water systems were intact and no clean-up was needed.

The school had 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," Mr 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.

But for Joshua Stoliker, 9, 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.

Southbridge school has a roll of 175 children and about two-thirds of pupils were back at school today.

- NZPA