A family affair marks first day of kindergarten at Ellison Public School. Olivia Grey reports.

Ellison Public School, located on Dharug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains, was buzzing with excitement as eager students (and perhaps even more eager parents) returned to classrooms for the start of the 2026 school year.

From balloons to colourful signage, the school gates were transformed into a picture-perfect welcome, thanks to the efforts of Principal Karina Page and her staff, who work each year to ensure the first day feels truly special.

“We always make a big deal of the first day of the year. It’s a big milestone for students and their families, and it’s important they feel celebrated,” Ms Page said.

Among those stepping through the decorated gates were the school’s newest students: kindergarten children embarking on their very first day of ‘big school’.

For five-year-old Luna, the morning brought a mix of excitement and nerves. Thrilled to be joining her two older sisters at Ellison Public School. Luna arrived ready for kindergarten after a special bedtime ritual the night before.

As part of the school’s Get Ready for Kindy pack, Luna sprinkled ‘ready confetti’ under her pillow to help her sleep, a tradition she said worked perfectly.

Standing proudly beside her was her mum, Rebecca Stocks, who was also preparing for her own first day of kindergarten - this time as a teacher.

After dropping Luna off, Mrs Stocks headed up the road to Springwood Public School, where she is teaching kindergarten for the first time.

“It’s exciting for both of us,” Mrs Stocks said.

“I’ll be learning the ropes of kindy alongside her. Having that firsthand experience is reassuring — I know Luna will be well looked after, just as I’ll be doing for my own students.”

While it’s Mrs Stocks’ first year teaching kindergarten, Ellison Public School’s Assistant Principal for Kindergarten to Year 2, Sarah Johnson, brings a decade of experience supporting the school’s youngest learners.

“Parents should know that once children walk through the door, they’re generally absolutely fine,” Mrs Johnson said.

“It’s a bit like ripping off a bandaid. Once the initial fuss is over, we make it fun and ensure they have a fantastic time.

“This first week is all about helping them feel comfortable. We have an incredibly supportive school community, and our older students are so excited to welcome the kindies.”

As the day got underway, Ellison Public School’s newest students settled into their classrooms, ready for a year of learning and fun as they take on Kindergarten.

Settled and confident for day one at Warrilla North Public School. Natssia Soper reports.

While most students started school yesterday in their new class, students at Warilla North Public School on Dharawal land have already spent two weeks in their new grade.

Through a unique program, the school transitions every class, including kindergarten and year 6, in the last two weeks of term 4.

Warilla North Public-School Principal, Nicole Riley said as a result, students were more settled, confident and ready to learn on the first day of term 1. 

“It just gives them that chance to build those relationships, confidence within their classroom and getting that familiarity with what’s going to happen for the next year,” Ms Riley said.

“We had lots of students with lots of anxiety leading into the holidays and coming back and we have found that’s really taken a lot of that anxiety away.

“So, when our students walked back in for term one, they’re not walking into the unknown, they’re walking back into the classroom and a space that already feels familiar and safe to them,” she said.

From teacher to boss – meet the new Springdale Heights principal. Madilyn McKinley reports.

Springdale Heights Public School principal, Joanna McAlister, has been counting down the days to the first day of school, and her first as permanent principal.

Ms McAlister started her teaching career at Springdale Heights Public School - on Wiradjuri country - in 2009. She has since worked across Kindergarten, Stage 1 and Stage 2, as well as Reading Recovery, Learning Support, Assistant Principal (Learning & Wellbeing), and most recently relieving principal.

She described her newest role as a “proud moment”.

“My favourite thing about being a principal and a teacher is the people; our students, staff and families,” she said.

“Springdale Heights is a school with heart. We’re deeply committed to wellbeing, inclusion, strong community connections and creating opportunities for every child to shine, whether that’s through learning, leadership, culture, sport or the arts.”

Ms McAlister welcomed kindergarten students to their first day at school and is looking forward to soon introducing them to the school’s newest, and fluffiest, team member, Little Miss Winston, a soon-to-be therapy puppy.

“She’s currently in training but already very much part of the school, bringing smiles, calm moments and lots of joy to our staff during the recent School Development Days,” Ms McAlister said. 

High expectations for students at new Bayside High School. Glenn Cullen reports.

In 2026 students at Kogarah's Bayside High School on Bidjigal land will be seizing opportunities and shaping futures.

That’s the motto of the new co-educational facility in Sydney’s south; a merger between Moorefields Girls High School and James Cook Boys Technology High School.

“There was a real buzz in the air,” proud principal Sophie Kapsimalis said on the school’s opening day.

“We have high expectations of our kids and we really want to make a difference in the community. It has been a great start.”

Triple the fun with 3 sets of twins. Natassia Soper reports.

The transition to school is set to be a lot smoother for one kindergarten cohort in Wollongong, with the six new students walking through the school gates with a built-in-best friend.

Three sets of twins and a record number of 38 siblings started school at Mount St Thomas Public School, on Dharawal land, as 62,000 brand-new kindergarten students started school across the state.

Parents Aaron and Lou Wright have twin daughters, Alice and Margot, and say they were a little anxious but were ready and excited to meet their teachers and new friends.

“I made more lunches than I ever had to make in one day and we had a dress rehearsal and were ready to go,” Aaron said.

Principal Ronda Moon said it was the first time the school had three sets of twins in one year.

“We didn’t have a lot of tears because we started meeting these little ones in October last year,” Ms Moon said. “We had playdates, and orientation program and informal visits where they popped into the classroom with the existing kindergarten kids as well.”

“ We want student excellence and work hard across the school with our pedagogy, implementation programs, experiences for the kids and opportunities.

“We want them to have the best start that they can. We want them to be settled and ready to learn, as it sets them up for the rest of their years in primary school.”

Mount St Thomas Public School welcomed 360 students back for 2026, the largest school population in its 74-year history.

Five generations of the Meurant family at Kellyville Public School. Pascal Adolphe reports.

When five-year-old Archie Meurant walked through the gates of Kellyville Public School yesterday for the start of the 2026 school year, he became the fifth generation of the family to do so.

Archie’s dad, Adrien, and his grandfather, Kevin, attended the school, as did Adrien’s siblings Rochelle, Kieran and Courtney.

During the time his children were at the school, Kevin was the president of the P&C and helped organise the first of many “Cracker Carnivals”.

Ellen Sherwood, whose family lent the name to nearby Sherwood Ridge, originally spawned the unbroken lineage of the Meurant family at Kellyville Public School.

She attended the school in the late 1870s and married Alfred Meurant. They had five children who all attended Kellyville public school.

Western Lake Macquarie teachers' share best practices at pre-term pow wow. Sven Wright reports.

More than a hundred teachers and school executives from Arcadia Vale Public School, Blackalls Park Public School, Cooranbong Public School and Biraban Public School - on Awabakal and Worimi lands - have met to share their best classroom practices.

They focussed on improving explicit teaching, a set of principles about how teacher explain and demonstrate material, with students having the opportunity to show they understand, ask questions, practise what they have learnt and get feedback.

The host principal of Arcadia Vale Public School, Daniel Morgan, said such close collaboration benefits students directly.

“We were proud to host a day where schools could work side by side to strengthen explicit teaching,” said Mr Morgan.

“This is about learning from each other and lifting classroom practice across our network.”