The earthquake occurred shortly after 14:40, when the last class of the day ended. Children were about to go home in groups, and were gathering in the playground. At around 15:30 I learned about the approaching tsunami, and took the children up to the rooftop of the school building, along with local residents who had come to take refuge.

[School and the Earthquake Disaster] Okada Elementary School, Sendai Part 2

Schools and the Earthquake Disaster:
a series of interviews with teachers at seven elementary schools located in coastal Sendai. They talk about the evacuation process of school children and local people, shelter management, and how the evacuees got on until classes were restarted borrowing classrooms at other schools.