Tear time as school bells toll for wee ones: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 30 Jan 2006: 6.
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Abstract
With some variations across the school systems, students from South Australia return today, Victoria, NSW and the Northern Territory return tomorrow, Western Australia on Wednesday and the ACT on Friday.
Ellena Peach, 5, starts kindergarten on Wednesday at Balgowlah Heights Public School on the northern beaches of Sydney.
Her mother, Helen, said the children were being introduced into the class at 10-minute intervals through the day, with Ellena scheduled at 11.10am, so theyoungsters wouldn't be overwhelmed by all starting off in a large class at one time. "I think I'm going to cry when she goes, she's the first of my three kids to go to school," Ms Peach said.
THERE will be tears over breakfast this week as children head off to school, with some parents expecting to be more upset than their children.
A new generation of very nervous and very excited children are heading off to "big school" for the first time.
Children in Tasmania don't have to go back until mid-February, and Queensland's kids have been back since the beginning of last week.
But, with some variations across the school systems, students from South Australia return today, Victoria, NSW and the Northern Territory return tomorrow, Western Australia on Wednesday and the ACT on Friday.
Ellena Peach, 5, starts kindergarten on Wednesday at Balgowlah Heights Public School on the northern beaches of Sydney.
Her mother, Helen, said the children were being introduced into the class at 10-minute intervals through the day, with Ellena scheduled at 11.10am, so theyoungsters wouldn't be overwhelmed by all starting off in a large class at one time. "I think I'm going to cry when she goes, she's the first of my three kids to go to school," Ms Peach said.
"There will be seven of us doting parents and grandparents dropping her off at school. It's a big event."
Nigel Peach said his daughter was enormously pleased about starting school.
"She's excited but there's a balance of apprehension," he said. "I remember from my own days, starting school is the beginning of a fantastic adventure through life; but the access to facilities and the education system is far more advanced than when we started."
All nervous Ellena would say yesterday when asked how she felt was: "I don't know."
The education sector faces numerous challenges this year, including continuing tensions over government funding of public and private sectors and demands over teacher pay rates.
The Victorian Government has announced a controversial proposal under which school infrastructure would be funded by the private sector.
Victorian Education Department secretary Grant Hehir will meet officials of the Australian Education Union's Victorian branch this week to discuss the plan.
A furore has also erupted in NSW over the $50 cheque received by all parents of the state's 1.1 million school students, at a cost of $56 million.
Critics say the scheme is cheap "vote-buying", has not kept pace with inflation and is inequitable because it is handed out to rich and poor families alike.
NEW YEAR
Date pupils return to school
Qld ...... January 23
SA ...... January 30
Vic ...... January 31
NT ....... January 31
NSW ... January 31#
WA ..... February 1
ACT ..... February 6*
............. February 7+
Tas ...... February 16
# Far-west NSW pupils start Feb 7
* New students
+ All students
Note: Check with individual schools for alternative dates
Source: Education departments
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