WITH polished shoes and pressed uniforms, hundreds of students throughout the Hawkesbury return to school today to start the 2013 year.
With brand new lunchboxes, pencil cases and backpacks, hordes of our littlest students are taking their first big step into the world.
While some parents will be celebrating their freedom, others will be wiping away tears as kindergarten classes begin throughout the district this week and next.
Kindergarten classes begin throughout the district over both this week and next.
Just days before starting ‘‘big school’’, Jye Barrington, 4, who will be starting at Comleroy Road Public School and Austin Williams, 5, who will be attending Kurrajong Public School were looking forward to their big day.
The pair who have become buddies since meeting with the Gazette photographer to capture their first-day of school excitement, said they were looking forward to ‘‘making lots of new friends, seeing the big school buildings’’ and getting their own desk and chair.
School playgrounds around the Hawkesbury are filled with first-dayers and returnees today, as their parents waved them goodbye at the front school gate.
But as school resumes, so do school zones.
Motorists are reminded the speed limits around school zones have now kicked into gear, with motorists asked to slow down to 40km/h. The school speed zone limits began yesterday (Tuesday) despite most children starting school Wednesday.