Ruby Roberts ready for first day of prep at Lakes Creek State School

Thousands of kids across Central Queensland will walk through the doors of their new classrooms for the first time as they get ready for their first day of ‘big school’ for 2024.

Ruby Roberts with her younger sister Lola. Ruby will start school on January 22 at Lakes Creek State School.

Thousands of children across Rockhampton will start their ‘big school’ journey on Monday with school officially back for 2024.

Prep students across Rockhampton will walk into the classroom for the first time and while some may have first day jitters, others are extremely excited.

Little Ruby Roberts will have her first day at Lakes Creek State School and her dad Anthony said she couldn’t be more enthusiastic.

Mr Roberts said in the lead up Ruby has been telling everyone she can about her first day.

“She is genuinely so excited, we’ve been pumping her up in regards to the school she’s going to,” he said.

“We’ve been telling her how her uncles went there, her older brother, her dad and grandad, it’s been like a generational school.

“She keeps telling everyone ‘I’m going to Lakes Creek School on Monday’, she’s ecstatic.”

Ruby Roberts ready for her first day of prep at Lakes Creek State School.

Mr Roberts said Ruby loved trying new things and going on new adventures and wasn’t feeling any nerves about her first day.

“When I asked her what she’s most excited for she said writing, drawing, meeting new friends and her teachers,” he said.

“We’re excited and a little nervous but overall, I’ve got a 16-year-old boy who has gone through it all before, but this is our first little girl and we’re a little anxious and nervous but we’re very excited for her.

“She loves trying new things and meeting new people and new adventures, on the day there might be a few nerves but she settles quite well and adapts really well.”

Mr Roberts said Ruby had been preparing for the transition into prep while going to kindy.

“She’s been in kindy all of last year and at daycare, she goes to Mayfield Childcare, and they have been amazing, they’ve been awesome with the whole process,” he said.

“Being in kindy it’s a bit more structured, so they do a bit more actual school work.

“What we have been doing as parents is making sure she knows this is an exciting situation, that this is positive, she doesn’t need to be scared or nervous.”