THERE was an excited energy buzzing around Grandis Primary School this morning as students from years 1-6 entered the gates for the first time.
Though open to kindergarten and pre-primary last year, this is the first time the Banksia Grove school has welcomed all years, with 319 enrolments as of Friday afternoon.
Dale Caton said her children Iliena (Year 2) and TJ (pre-primary) were “excited but nervous” to be starting at a new school closer to home.
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“It was so good we could walk here,” she said.
She said she had been very happy in the lead up to their first day.
“They have kept us updated on all the online stuff and we were taken on a tour last week,” she said.
Though the experience of starting at a brand new school was not a first for Kyra-Jade Fisher (Year 2), who was also part of the first cohort of students when Alkimos Beach Primary School opened three years ago, mum Jess Fisher said it had been all excitement at the house this morning with Kyra-Jade and Tain-Jaxon (pre-primary) up at 5.30am ready to go.
“We moved house to just up the street from here so this is now perfect,” she said.
It was the same for Jaxon Dear (Year 5) who said the three-minute walk to school this morning was “really nice” compared to their previous 20-minute drive.
“We used to live further away but we’ve lived in Banksia Grove for a while now so this is great,” dad Nick Dear said.
For Sienna Perks (Year 6) the decision to move schools was a bit different.
Having previously attended Banksia Grove Primary School, Sienna wanted to make the move with some of her friends.
“I was undecided at first but then we did a tour and she fell in love with it,” mum Gwen Freeman said.
“She read the whole information pack and stuck the map above her desk. She couldn’t wait to start.
“It’s new and beautiful and I’ve heard so many amazing things about it.”
Foundation principal Stephen Bevan said the vibe around the school this morning was “very exciting”.
“We had a welcome barbecue last week and a lot of the kids came down and found out what class they were in,” he said.
“This is a great start to the year and to build this fantastic school.
“It’s great to see the kids who look fantastic in their uniforms and with lots of bright, chirpy faces and smiles.”
He said staff was on hand today to hand out maps and direct students and parents to make the first day “as settled as possible”.
Excited students start at Alkimos College
