Girls will dominate this year’s kindergarten class at Tea Gardens Public School when school starts back next Monday.  Tea Gardens Public School principal Mark Clemson said this year’s girl heavy year would be a change from previous years where boy numbers were high.

“It’ll definitely be a different makeup to the last couple of years,” he said of the new class.

The number of pupils starting, 32, is on par with usual Kindergarten enrolments at the school.

“We will be splitting up the group between a straight kindergarten class and a K/1 class,” Mr Clemson said.

The newcomers will arrive in a staggered start from Wednesday, January 28 until Friday January 30 before all coming together on Monday, February 2.

Starting students in smaller groups is part of the Best Start Assessment, which aids teachers in assessing what level the pupils are at.

“It helps gives us an idea where the students are with literacy and numeracy,” Mr Clemson explained.

Excitement tinged with nerves was the general feeling of the new starters Myall Coast News photographed in the lead up to the first day.

“Grace is a bit nervous but really excited because her friends from pre-school will be there too,” mother Kate Ridgway said.

“She was very excited to get her bus pass the other day,” she added.

The girls said they were looking forward to playing and making friends.

 

Pic: Gingerlilly Shelton, Izabella Pollock, Rachael Watson and Grace Ridgway.