See the fresh new faces of Shepparton East Primary School

Parents lingered a little longer at the gates, soaking up the final moments of having a ‘little one’ before officially handing them over to big school life.

The 15 new Preps were hard to miss.

Partly because of their oversized bags, and mostly because of the excitement bubbling out of them.

Their day was filled with firsts: first classroom, first teacher, first playtime and first time figuring out how on earth to open a lunchbox.

Isabelle Hunter was more than ready to spread her wings, confidently telling her mum and dad, “It’s okay, you can go now.”

For George Reilly, the highlight was already clear: “I’m most excited about using all my brand-new school equipment.”

For others, the idea of parents leaving felt a little more daunting — for both kids and grown-ups — but once the roll was marked, the nerves melted into cheeky grins and classroom curiosity.

With pencils sharpened, shoelaces tied (mostly) and independence officially unlocked, these tiny legends have now started their big adventure.