THE first day of school is always a daunting time for children and parents, with emotions testing the strongest of resolves.
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Newly enrolled Jervis Bay Christian Community School student Toby McDonell had dry eyes on his first day, viewing it simply as an opportunity to spend all day with his friends.
"I've been playing with my friends, I did some drawing, and I did my writing," he said of what he had achieved for the day.
Toby said he didn't miss his parents at all, however classmate Opal McDermott said she missed her parents "so much."
Although she also added that her day was good so far, and she was enjoying spending time with her friends.
Jervis Bay Christian Community School kindergarten teacher Carol Gough said it had been “mostly pretty easy as all of them had been to preschool, so the transition was quite good,” she said.
“A lot of them have their siblings here already so it's pretty family orientated.
"We were getting mixed emotions from families. They were happy, but also sad," she said.
To keep the young students’ minds and hands busy Mrs Gough said they played games that have number association.
"All our activities are based around maths concepts. They also learn rules, boundaries, and of course, when it is their news day," she said.
Berry Public School kindergarten teacher Edith Robertson has been teaching kindergarten at the school for 25 years.
She said the number of school students who attended preschool care, made the first day of school a lot more settled for students.
"It's sometimes more nerve-racking for the parents. Especially for the mums, it can be a very traumatic time," she said.
"I have noticed the first day of school, the students are a lot more settled and there have been hardly any tears.
“The preschools have done a fantastic job," she said.
School goes back for most students this week with kindergarten starting times varied depending on the school they are going to attend.
