It's back-to-school for many across the motu - but it won't be learning as you know it.
Children from year four and above will be masked up, and interactions between different groups of students will be limited.
Many schools are busy forming plans on how to keep teaching when Omicron swamps the community.
Canterbury Primary Principals' Association president Sandy Hastings and Post Primary Teachers' Association vice-president Chris Abercrombie spoke to Corin Dann.
