Local schools have reported a smooth start to the year with happy faces eager to get back into the world of learning.
Metung Primary School has enjoyed a wonderful start to the school year, according to school principal Jim Allen.
“We have welcomed a new student in year four and eight new preps into the junior area,” he said.
“As our school has grown over the last two years with people moving into the area and others coming back to their local village school, we have added new teachers and reestablished a third grade. Metung Primary School now has prep/one taught by Jacinta Bennett, two/three taught by Laura Middleton, formally of Swan Reach Primary, and four/five/six taught by Wendy Anketell and Andrew Kenyon, former principal of Swan Reach Primary.
“All grades have at least one education support staff member supporting the students. The small grades offer individual attention to all students and a wonderful community feel.
“Metung is the village school and as such we have developed and maintained great relationships with other community organisations and businesses. Some of these include the Metung RSL, bowls club, tennis club, St. John’s Church, Lions Club and many businesses in the village such as Aroma Café, who organise our lunch orders, Metung Bakery and the Hot Springs and Country Club.
“Metung Primary looks forward to continuing our tradition of academic, sporting, artistic and social
emotional well-being excellence with excellent NAPLAN and other data confirming what we already suspect – our students love coming to school and doing their best,” Mr Allen said.
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Close by is Nungurner Primary School which has also grown over the years.
“We have 31 students at the school, with five new preps starting,” principal Emma Steele said.
“Everyone has settled in beautifully and we are fortunate to have small class sizes, where we are able to meet the needs of the individual student, but they are big enough for social interaction.
“The children are loving the outdoor environment. It is amazing watching the prep to grade twos working together to build cubbies at recess and lunch time.
“We are lucky to have consistent and stable staff,” Emma said.
St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School also got off to a terrific start to 2025 last week.
“Our new foundation students were eagerly met by their year six buddies at the school gates which made for an easy transition to their first day of school,” St Brendan’s principal Matthew Hamer said.
“It was evident that all students returning were excited to see their friends and the playgrounds were once again full of voices.
“We used the first day to greet, get organised and to set our expectations for the year. Listening was the priority and from what I saw, we are in for a prosperous year,” Mr Hamer said.
Students and staff at Lakes Entrance Primary School were excited to be back for the 2025 school year, with plenty of happy, smiling faces on the first day.
The school welcomed three new staff members Ashleigh Rush, Courteney Donaldson, and Amelia Chambers, along with 24 new prep students ready to start their school journey.
To kick off the year, everyone is looking forward to the Aqua Park family barbecue on February 21.
“This will be a great chance for staff, students, and families to come together and celebrate,” teacher Jess Rowland said.
