Schools in Geraldton back to work as South of State locks down

Geraldton students were lucky to be in the minority yesterday, allowed to head back to school for the first term of 2021 as most West Australians were forced into a five-day lockdown. On Sunday it was announced schools across the Perth, Peel, and South West regions would remain closed for another week after the first case of COVID-19 community transmission in WA in 10 months. Luckily for the new cohort of Year 1s making their debut in Geraldton’s schools, these restrictions did not stop the foray into the classroom. One of those youngsters was Rangeway Primary School student Al’nashae Taylor, 5, pictured. She’s thrilled to start learning and spending time with her teachers and friends. Her mum even let her pick out all her essential back-to-school accessories. Al’nashae’s giant hot-pink backpack — which matches perfectly with her shoes — is almost as big as she is. Rangeway Primary School principal Dean Vose said he loved seeing the smiles on everybody’s faces on the first day. “Especially the Year 1s — it’s such a proud moment for their parents,” he said. He said he was looking forward to seeing students who were stepping up to “big school” develop their independence. Mr Vose recommends students and parents hit the ground running to ensure a successful start to the school year. “Be prepared with everything, meet teachers and classmates early, and get ready to have a productive year,” he said.