CONTINUING on from last week's coverage, schools across the shire welcomed students back into the classroom for the start of the 2025 academic school year.
Mansfield Secondary College had 77 year seven students start at the school this year.
"It’s not our biggest year level, but numbers are certainly solid," said principal Tim Hall.
"The students have been very well prepared by our feeder primary schools, and they have been well supported by a transition program that we commenced in the middle of 2024."
Mr Hall said the young people seemed to be a calm, settled year group and and the school was eager to get to know them.
"Like everywhere, the heat wave at the start of the school term is proving challenging, however we are coping as best we can," he said.
"Lots of icy-poles at lunchtime!"
Going into year 12 are 74 students with 32 of them working towards the vocational major qualification.
"This is the biggest group we have had, enabling strength across a range of discipline areas," he said.
"Our capacity to deliver a breadth of outcomes for students is important to us.
"We need to be able to support the growth of every student – our joy and our challenge is catering towards the needs of each young individual, something we consistently do very well."
Mr Hall also confirmed the school had welcomed a number of new teaching staff at the college for 2025.
"They seem to be settling in well and getting on with the job," he said.
Jamieson Primary School welcomed 13 students into the classroom for 2025.
Although the school did not have any prep students begin this term, students and staff alike were excited at three new faces joining the school community.
This term Mrs Bolwell will be leading the school's foundation to year two students, while principal Ms Kalibitzer will be working with the year three to year six students.
Returning to the school, Mrs Bolwell was the principal prior to 2020.
Two of the new students are her grandchildren, making this the third lot of grandchildren that she has had the privilege of teaching here at Jamieson Primary School.
"We look forward to an exciting year of learning, growth, and community spirit," said principal Sonja Kalibitzer.