Hugging with excitement, friends Emilia Verplak and Harper Durdin on their first day Cowes Primary School
The first of many school drop-offs. Westley and Melissa Morris with their prep Alice, and Kara and Jarvis Weston with Winter.
Arlo Riley and Madilen Barlow explore the playdough options.
Hayley Mosby and Kody Minter, settling into the first day of school.
New staff starting at Cowes Primary this year include (Back row, left to right) Alicia Brook-Ward, Simon Mangs, with Principal Rodney McKenzie and Andrew Burgan and (front) Tessa Johnston, with Assistant Principal Sarah Tyrrell and Barb Milne.
It was all smiles from Harvey Ewbank and Filip Najdovski on their first day.
Tessa Johnson was a prep student 25 years ago at Cowes Primary School and today is teaching her own class. With Shauna Hawking, Mikayla Hall, Banksia Cavender, Aiden Artis-Brewin, Jaxon Smith and Marli Graham.
Mum Carly with Sonny McShane.
Sorting through the alphabet is Dylan Reid, Ace Ransom and Lyrix Whitfield on their first day at school.
Zoe Turner and Zuri Bow are definitely off to a sun-smart start to school.
Patricia Healey, Allan Stray with preppie Sophie Stray
Vera Wiseman and Phoebe Leitch
Madelyn Nettle
Tessa Johnson was a prep student 25 years ago at Cowes Primary School and today is teaching her own class.
Mr Burke’s prep class
Mr Burke’s prep class
Harrison Daw
Mr Burke’s prep class
Ben Thomas, Abi smith, Harvey Jane Smith-Thomas, Mabel Smith-Thomas
Cam, Sarah and Jaxon Smith
Cowes Primary School welcomed students back last week, and it looks like 2021 is shaping up to be a busy year.
Principal Rod McKenzie said the school had 561 students enrolled, an increase on the projected numbers, due to new families moving to the area over summer.
Prep enrolments are the highest in seven years, and there’s strong demand for places at the Early Learning Centre (ELC).
On top of that, there’s plenty going on around the school grounds as well.
Over the holidays, new flooring was installed at the ELC and last year, and the Centre secured a $650,000 grant for an additional extension.
In the school grounds, replacement of the junior playground is underway, and students in Prep and Grade 1 can look forward to a new playground and surface.
“Last year, we asked the students what they’d like in the playground, so they had a say in the design, and it’s now under construction,” Mr McKenzie said.
Work has also begun on the school gym, which is due to be completed around October.
Located on the edge of the school’s sanctuary, behind the existing pool, the building work will not impact on the day-to-day operations of the school.
The same contractor will also provide a refurbishment of the existing multi-purpose room.
New faces
As well as welcoming new students and families to the Cowes Primary family, three new staff members have been appointed this year.
Tessa Johnston is a former student there, and the school is thrilled to welcome her back.
“Tessa started her teaching career at Cowes Primary,” said Mr McKenzie.
“Since then, she’s taught overseas and in Melbourne. Now she’s back at Cowes Primary School taking a Prep class, in the same room that she was in a prep herself."
“We’re very happy to have her back and she brings with her some great ideas from her work abroad and in Melbourne.”
After the disruption because of Covid in 2020, the school is hoping for an uneventful year ahead.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed for that, but we’ve shown we’re agile enough to cope with the unexpected,” Mr McKenzie said.
