Video: 9-Year-Old Has The Best Reaction To Going Back To School

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Nine-year-old Clara Zanotto is like most kids — ready to go back to school after months of distance learning in the pandemic.

So when her mom Tarine Cavalli Zanotto told the Redondo Beach Unified student that it was time to return to the classroom her reaction was priceless: total joy.

"It was really exciting," Clara told Patch. "I was just so excited to finally go back to school."

After a year away from her classmates, Clara returned to elementary school last week.

"I missed just seeing all the teachers outside, waiting for their kids to come back to the classroom," Clara said. "I missed just having all my friends around in my classroom."

So far, the change is welcome, Tarine told Patch.

“It’s going really good,” Tarine said. “She’s super happy to go back to school, just thrilled to be back, to see her friends and see the teacher and not through the computer screen.”

Each grade at Clara's elementary school is divided into cohorts. Each cohort goes twice a week, three times every other week, she explained. So for Clara, it’s Wednesdays, Fridays and every other Monday.

Returning to class is making a big difference for Clara and their family.

“Having them back at school — it’s wonderful,” Tarine said.

Clara described how much had shifted since a year ago — and how difficult and bizarre it was for her.

"It was different, I guess it was just really strange because I wasn’t used to it and our teacher was always really glitchy and she'd never be glitchy in real life," Clara said. "I guess it was just really hard to go from in-person to completely online."

For now, she's grateful to be back and hear her teacher's voice in-person.

"There’s a lot of great things," Clara said. "I think my top two is just learning with my teacher when she has a read-aloud."

The pandemic has also changed her perspective on recess. She's happy to be with her friends again.

"Recess used to be my least favorite part of the day but it just makes me happy to see all the kids out," Clara said.

Recess now includes three different areas split up into different spots, one area for basketball, soccer and handball, a second area for the big kids play structure and a third area for the kinder structure and part of the field. Each time she's at school the students rotate.

"One day I’m so excited to go the next place," Clara said. "I’m just excited to have all of that sort of back."

It's a new and different experience, but she's glad to be back.

"It was just a brilliant experience on my first day to be back," Clara said. "I was ready to go. It wasn’t what I expected it to be."

The rain also played an unusual role in this adventure, she added.

"Last year, almost last year it was raining the last day," Clara said. "The day that it closed it’s rainy, the day that’s open it's rainy."

Her mom says this might not be just a coincidence.

"The sky was in tears for you," Tarine said. "The sky was talking to you kids."

Watch Clara's reaction to her mom Tarine's news:

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