Monday will bring the beginning of the end of home learning for Albury government schools, with NSW students returning to the classroom at least one day a week.
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The region's primary and secondary schools will manage the transition out of coronavirus restrictions differently, some organising each day's attendees by year level, others by alphabet or school house.
Albury Primary Principals Council president Brett Davies, who is principal of Lavington Public School, said the NSW Education Department allowed schools to choose the most appropriate system.
"Because the schools are diverse, even within the Albury network, the one fixed approach may not have been the solution," he said.
"The department has trusted the principals to know their communities and what their expectations are and the best way to meet them."
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Up to 30 public schools ranging from about 10 to 600 students make up the primary council, which covers Albury as well as Tumbarumba, Corowa, Jindera, Table Top, Lowesdale, Howlong, Culcairn, Brocklesby, Walla, Rand, Walbundrie and Holbrook.
"Morale is really positive, at the same time really eager to get back to day in, day out teaching and learning," Mr Davies said.
Lavington Public School, which has 430 students, will work on a rough guide of 10 children a class and attendance organised alphabetically, keeping siblings together.
In other examples Albury Public School plans for children to return in learning stages, with kindergarten students due on Monday, while Albury North pupils have been allocated days according to their school house.
Albury High School and James Fallon High School have kept largely to year levels and Murray High School has divided its year 7 to 11 groups by alphabet.
All three government secondary schools have offered extra time to their year 12 students.
Albury region non-government schools are also transitioning back to the classroom.
Many schools have introduced extra safety measures such as staggered arrival and departure times, keeping canteens closed and asking parents and carers not to come on to school grounds.
Mr Davies said the situation would be monitored and reviewed by schools, under instructions from the department.
"We can't sort of fly solo, we need to be a consistent whole system approach, but I can't speak highly enough of our staff and our students, the way that they embraced online learning so quickly," he said.
"I think everyone is very much looking forward to the day we get back on site, operation as normal, we've just got to make sure we put every precaution in place before we open the gates and bring everyone back in."
