Thousands of Toowoomba students start their schooling | Photo gallery
Students across Toowoomba have kicked off their first year of schooling this week, and we were there to capture the moment. SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE
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There was a mix of joy, trepidation and wonder as thousands of Prep and Year One students experienced their first day of school.
The Chronicle was there to capture the moments from multiple schools across the city:
St Anthony’s Primary School
Molly Gillam looks right at home starting at St Anthony’s Primary School, which is appropriate given she’s a third-generation student at the Harristown institution.
The excited prep student was among 41 kids to start their schooling journey at the tiny Catholic school on Tuesday morning.
It marked the second round of “first days” for prep students, with Catholic campuses and other independent schools starting their years the day after state schools returned.
Molly’s mum Jess, a teacher at the school, said her daughter was following in the footsteps of both her dad and grandmother by attending St Anthony’s.
“I’m very nervous, but I’m very excited that she’s starting here,” she said.
“I get to be involved with all of her major milestones like starting, sports carnivals and swimming carnivals – I get to be there for them.
“She’s a third-generation coming to St Anthony’s – my husband and his mum came to St Anthony’s so that’s really exciting.”
Joining Molly in prep are best friends Harrison Hardacre and Felix Obst, who have been hanging out since they were babies when their mums at a mother’s group.
Principal Louise Pfingst said the school was enjoying its largest prep in some time.
“We haven’t had that size for a few years now, we had a small cohort last year so we’re very excited,” she said.
“People have connections with us, so neighbours or friends recommend us — we end up with a lot of parents who were past students.
“We’ve got 236 enrolments currently for this year, we like to refer to ourselves as Harristown’s hidden secret,” she said.
Rangeville State School
Fairholme College
Toowoomba Grammar
Concordia College
Newtown State School
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