Preps ready for first day of school in Victoria

SCHOOLS are set to resume across Victoria this week, with thousands of Preps all geared up for their first day in class. Here’s some tips to help parents on their child’s first taste of primary school.

Mason, 5, Bella, 5, and Poppy, 5 are ready for their first day of school. Picture: Tim Carrafa

LITTLE Bella is all geared up for her first day of school.

As Victorian classrooms are set to return this week, the five-year-old has tried on her oversized uniform and checked the contents of her equally big backpack many times.

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She, and friends Poppy and Mason, both 5, are among the 100 prep students who will start at Essendon North Primary School on Thursday.

Asked what she was most looking forward to about starting school, Bella replied: “Seeing my friends.”

Then she quickly added: “And learning new things”.

Any first-day jitters will be eased by the fact her mother will be going to school with her — Kate Barletta is the school’s assistant principal.

Mason, 5, Bella, 5, and Poppy, 5 are all geared up for their first day of school. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“It’s such an exciting time. It’s the start of a new journey,” Ms Barletta said.

“Bella is very school ready. She is probably going to be the most confident foundation student we have as she had a week with me at the school and knows her way round.”

Emotions will be running high for other parents as they drop off their kids for the first time at schools across the state.

“We offer a tea and tissues morning tea for our parents on the first day once the kids have gone into class,” Ms Barletta said.

“It’s quite a significant milestone and while the kids are excited, sometimes it can be an anxious time for the parents.”

TIPS FOR PARENTS ON FIRST DAY

Mason, 5, Bella, 5, and Poppy, 5 are all geared up for their first day of school. Picture: Tim Carrafa

■ MAKE sure your child knows who will take them to school and pick them up on the first day

■ HELP your child to organise their clothes, hat, shoes and socks the night before

■ HELP your child to pack their school bag with a snack, drink, lunch and a hat

■ PLACE a spare pair of underpants and a change of clothes in a plastic bag. Let your child know these clothes are in their bag in case of any accidents at school

■ PUT sunscreen on your child in the morning if it is needed

■ SHOW your child where you will meet them at the end of the school day

■ TALK to your child about what happened at school when you pick them up

Source: Victorian Education Department