Townsville schools call on students to wear thongs to school after overnight drenching

Dress codes were relaxed on the first day of school for 2020 around Townsville after the city received a drenching on Monday night. SEE THE PHOTOS

DRESS codes were relaxed on the first day of school for 2020 around Townsville after the city received a drenching on Monday night.

Parts of the city received 100mm of rain on Monday night, which triggered isolated flash flooding.

The wet start to the new school year meant that Railway Estate State School Prep student Paige Condon wore her thongs to and from class so her new pink princess school shoes would not be ruined.

Ryan Catholic College has advised its students on its website and Facebook page to wear thongs or sandals to school this week in anticipation the wet weather will linger.

Smiles and sulks: Townsville kids’ first day at school

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Students are able to then change into their school shoes when they are inside the classroom.

Five-year-old Paige is one of 65,800 Prep students who left their parents’ nest yesterday to embark on their 13-year school journey.

Paige gave two thumbs up and nodded when asked if she enjoyed her first day of school.

Railway Estate State School Prep teacher’s aide Julie Waters said the students had quickly settled into their new routine.

“We have all had a lovely day cutting, drawing, collaging and we played in the playground and learnt how to line up,” she said.

Ms Waters said she didn’t see any Prep students shed any tears yesterday but suspected a few mums were upset saying goodbye to their babies.

Queensland schools welcomed a record number of 856,500 state and non-state students through their doors yesterday, enrolled from Prep to Year 12.

The state has seen a 10 per cent increase in state school enrolments over the past five years.

Originally published as Townsville schools call on students to wear thongs to school after overnight drenching