Pupils’ first day fears turn into smiles

PETALING JAYA: Going to school for the first time has been less scary for seven-year-old children in some states.

The 2019 school year kicked off in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu yesterday.

Children at some schools in the four states were welcomed by Upin and Ipin, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Power Rangers.

In Pasir Gudang, superhero Spider-Man as well as famous local animation characters Upin and Ipin welcomed 490 new pupils to a primary school.

The school also had a Marrybrown Chipmunk mascot to help make the new pupils feel more comfortable in their new surroundings.

A father of three, Nik Mohd Al Amir Ismail, 34, said his eldest son Nik Mohd Putra Aqil, six, was slightly nervous before they arrived at the SK Taman Scientex gates yesterday.

“But when he saw Upin and Ipin, he ran towards them and gave them a big hug.

Some fearful Year One pupils of SK Taman Scientex in Pasir Gudang, Johor, calmed down the moment they saw their favourite cartoon characters such as Upin and Ipin, Spider-Man and the Marrybrown Chipmunk at the entrance to welcome them.

“My son is enjoying himself at the school now, especially with those characters around him,” he said.

Housewife Salmia Muharibain, 38, said her seven-year-old daughter Nur Farisah Damia Amri was crying all the way to school.

She started to smile and laugh when the chipmunk and Upin and Ipin comforted her.

“It’s nice that the school is making the children happy, and the parents are grateful for it,” she said.

SK Taman Scientex Parent-Teacher Association president Abdul Nasir Sabran said the programme to bring in the cartoon characters to the school started in 2015 and had received good feedback from parents.

“It is aimed at making the new pupils feel welcome and comfortable at the school,” he said.

For this year, he said the school collaborated with Marrybrown and Pasir Gudang Community College.

He also said 490 new Year One pupils were enrolled at SK Taman Scientex, which now has a total of 2,400 students with 128 teachers.

SK Taman Scientex is known for bringing in popular children’s entertainment show characters to welcome new pupils.

Previously, the school had invited Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Darth Vader, a Star Wars storm trooper, Minions, Ultraman and Kung Fu Panda to welcome the pupils.