Big day for the little ones

Karoline Tuckey | 3rd February 2010

Nine new faces were on the mat for the first day of the year yesterday at Douglas Park school.

Primary schools throughout the region started back for the year yesterday, after a teacher only day on Monday.

Douglas Park new entrants' teacher Nerina Molechan said all of the new children had turned five during the holidays. The first day of school was a big day for new children, she said, they were often excited but scared to be in a new environment.

"It's hard leaving mum. But it's so wonderful at the beginning of the year to see all our kids here in their uniforms. They are ready to go," Ms Molechan said.

Summer Wallis, 5, was holding tight to mum's hand as she looked around the classroom for the first time. She was excited to be starting school, and looking forward to "making friends, learning, wearing uniform, playing in the playground and seeing her cousin at school."

While she was proud that she could already write her name and some other names, she wasn't sure what other things she would be learning at school.

Olivia Cooper, 5, started school late last year, and was all smiles for her first day back. She said she was looking forward to 'jump jam', when the whole school started each day with fun music and exercises.

Douglas Park Deputy Principal Jane Macdonald said this was the first year the school had started in uniform after it began to be phased in during 2009.

"It's really smart, and the kids look after it more."

She said from the very first day the new children would start to learn to read, write and do maths. "Kids are remarkably adaptable."