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Students Gear Up For 2010 School Year
Thousands
of students across the state will be returning to school for
the start of the 2010 school year today. School buses will
begin leaving depots this morning at 6:30am to transport
students to over 46 schools across the region.
Among
those returning to school, hundreds of children have packed
their new school bags and joined reception classrooms for
the first time this morning.
Harry
Fisher is one of the many students who will today be
embarking on the first day of the rest of his school life –
and today could not come quick enough for the fun loving
five year old who has been trying on his uniform for size
all summer holidays in preparation for his new adventure.
In his
new shirt, shorts, backpack and shiny shoes, Harry is one of
37 new reception students starting school at Tenison Woods
College. Harry says he is looking forward to school because
‘I get to learn to read and do math’s.”
“I am
also looking forward to recess and lunch because that is
when my brother said that you can go outside to play and
have fun” he said.
Despite
having visited the school many times to pick up older sister
Morgan (Year 6) and brothers Charlie (Year 4) and Elliott
(Year 2), Harry said that he was still a little scared about
starting school.
While
many students will be saying goodbye with smiles and hugs,
many parents with be leaving school car parks in tears as
they realize that their children have reached another
important milestone, leaving them to face the reality that
their children are, without a doubt, growing up very fast.
Harry’s
mother, Bernadette is very excited to see her son start
school but this excitement comes with a little sadness as he
will be the last of her four children to start school.
“Even
though he is starting school and considers himself to be a
‘big boy’ now, he is still my baby and I can’t help to feel
a little sad that he is growing up.”
Tess
Kenseley, who has also been counting down the sleeps until
the big day, is on the other hand, the first in her
household to attend school.
Carefully
picking out her new lunchbox and drink bottle, Tess has
spent most of her holidays making her 3 year old brother
pretend he is in her class while she acted as her new
teacher Miss Labozetta.
Parents
David and Michelle said they were looking forward to
watching their firstborn start school and can’t believe how
grown up she looks in her uniform and that she is old enough
to go to school already.
“She is
really ready for the challenge of starting some formal
learning and was excited about starting school, making it
easier for us to be excited rather than sad.”
“No
doubt there will be a moment of apprehension and reality on
Wednesday morning when she gets dressed for the first time
in her school uniform.” Michelle said
A teacher
herself, Michelle will be leaving her husband David to get
Tess ready for her big day whilst she meets her own new
class of Year 6 students.
Taking
the morning off work to take Tess to school, David is
expecting that he will be more reflective than Tess on the
significance of the occasion.
“I may
need to stop for a coffee on my way back to work.” David
said
Reception
teacher, Davina Labozzetta is also looking forward to
starting with her new group of students.
 Moving
from Adelaide in 2009 to work in the country Miss Labozzetta
says teaching in the country offers exceptional
opportunities for both experienced and beginning teachers.
“I don’t
know who is looking more forward to starting school me or
the kids.”
“I find
it amusing that when parents are well and truly ready to
send their children back to school after the long summer
break, I can’t wait to have them back.” she said.
“Being a
teacher allows me to share knowledge and skills with kids
that they need to succeed as adults and become positive
contributors to their community.”
“I love
how I get the opportunity to share this knowledge every day.
It is such a fabulous job that is constantly rewarding and
very fulfilling.”
Motorists
are also urged to look after the safety of children and
adhere to the 25 kilometre speed zones, parking restrictions
in pick up and drop off areas and school crossing as road
laws outside all schools come into effect today.
Parents
are also encouraged to make sure their kids use seatbelts
and if riding to school wear helmets when cycling.
Tomorrow
(Wednesday 25) will also see the launch of the Australian
Governments My Schools website, with results and profiles on
almost 10,000 Australian schools made available publicly for
the first time.
The
website developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment
and Reporting Authority of behalf of the government will
allow parents to see how their child’s school is performing
compared with similar schools as well as other important
contextual information about the school.
The
information will be used to better inform parents, schools
and governments about what is working and what else needs to
be done to ensure a good education for every child.
The new
website can be found at
www.myschool.edu.au.
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