Tuesday also marked a fresh start for Tai Po Baptist Public School, whose original premises were decommissioned last year because of the Wang Fuk Court fire.
Hundreds of students have had to split up since, attending classes at two primary schools in the district for more than half a year.
The Education Bureau eventually identified a vacant campus at Fu Shin Estate, and renovations were complete just in time for the school to move in for the new academic year.
To make up for the extra distance some students had to cover from home, classes started at 8:20am on Tuesday, 20 minutes later than usual.
A primary six student said he was excited:
“I’m quite happy, because we now have a stable campus and there’s no need to keep moving here and there,” he said, adding he was ready to give it his all this year to improve his grades and get into a higher-ranked secondary school.
There were also newcomers, most of whom were primary one pupils.
One mother said she had enrolled her child through a discretionary place last November, days before the Wang Fuk Court fire.
She explained why she stuck with the choice, despite the uncertainty.
“The teachers are really caring; we really like them. That’s why we picked this school in the first round,” she said.
Asked if the location of the new campus was less convenient, she said it didn’t matter. “Because we drive anyway, as long as he likes the teachers here,” she explained.
Principal Siu Ting said most students reside in nearby Kwong Fuk Estate, as well as Ting Kok Road and Pak Shek Kok.
She added that an open day was held last week to allow students to familiarise themselves with the new campus, while specific areas have been assigned for them to release stress and emotions.