Oxenford SS buzzing with new preps

Sometimes it takes a five year old to remind you just how fun life can be. These Oxenford parents shared the nerve-racking moment they watched their babies enter school

Poppy 4, Torsten 5, and Amelia 5 are busy little bees during their first year in Prep class at Oxenford State primary School. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Every moment and milestone is nerve-racking when it comes to your first born, Gold Coast mother Tegan Maloney said.

But seeing how excited five-year-old Amelia was to start prep at Oxenford State School appeased any worries she had.

“I just knew she was ready,” Ms Maloney said. “As much as I wanted to keep my baby at home with me, I knew she was ready for this.”

“She can’t wait to get up and get ready in the morning. She loves coming to school, being with her friends and teachers and she loves learning.”

Poppy, 4, Torsten, 5, and Amelia, 5 are busy little bees during their first year in Prep class at Oxenford State primary school. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Since starting school, Amelia has developed a love for science and enjoys running around during PE classes.

Alongside Poppy and Torsten, the three students are among the schools recent intake of prep students – set to complete their first term by the end of March.

“I always said to my wife that this is a big milestone for me,” Oxenford local and father Andrew Ridden said.

“First day of prep, seeing them in uniform makes you very proud. It was an awesome first day really.”

Mr Ridden’s four-year-old daughter Poppy will be joining Amelia in the school’s Shrek musical this year – a project that the school launched to allow prep students to join in with the older students.

“Poppy has settled down really well and she’s going to be part of the musical which is really exciting,” Mr Ridden said.

“Sometime you get a bit of nerves as a parent but then you see how excited the kids are and then it’s all fine.”

Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady said: “We’ve got a smaller cohort of preps compared to other schools but they’re a lovely group who are happy, engaged, and really adaptable. It’s only the second time we’ve organised the musical and we’ve got the prep students involved.”

“They get to mingle with the year five to six students. We also have the buddy program. We definitely have that culture of looking out for each other.”