It was a bittersweet send-off when Santa Sabina College mum Daniella Di Santo waved her eldest daughter Sienna through the school gates for her first day of year seven on Thursday. “Not getting in to walk her in is a bit sad, especially since I wasn’t there to experience the last day of year six,” said Ms Di Santo, as she lingered outside the Strathfield school with her younger daughter Verona.
Daniella Di Santo accompanied her eldest daughter, Sienna, to her first day of high school with Verona, year 5, in tow.As vice-president of the school’s parents and friends association, she has been attuned to families’ concerns as the back to school period approached while NSW was still recording thousands of new COVID-19 cases each day.
While there were some nerves - Verona, 9, has had one vaccine dose and is choosing to wear a mask at school because she doesn’t want to catch the virus - her daughters were upbeat as they spent the morning curling and braiding their hair ahead of the first day. For the Zecchino family, who arrived in Australia from Italy last month, face-to-face schooling will be important to help their daughters Vittoria, 11, and Viola, 7, adjust to a new community.
No more running about with the local street urchins.