Excitement mixed with some nervousness on Monday as NSW government schools welcomed back all students for the first time in two months.
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Bottlebrush Street, Thurgoona, filled with cars and buses ahead of Thurgoona Public School's opening bell and the school crossing supervisor was kept busy.
Lauren McDonald, walking with her son Parker, 5, said they were very happy to return, describing the interruption to regular classes as "tricky".
"He'd just settled into school and he's loving it and then taking him out wasn't great, it was hard work and he missed school a lot," she said.
"We feel like the school will do everything it can to look after the kids."
IN OTHER NEWS:
The NSW Education Department has issued guidelines for schools as they continue to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as distributing 740,000 items of hygiene supplies.
"So far we've dispatched to schools, 60,000 rolls of toilet paper, 22,000 rolls of paper towels, 23,500 bars of soap, 2900 litres of hand wash, 166,000 litres of hand sanitiser, 138,500 litres of surface spray and 100,000 packets of disinfectant wipes," the department said on its website.
Thurgoona Public School parent Penny Collis said her daughter Abby-Mae, 6, was very excited to resume her first year at school.
"We're glad and hopefully it doesn't revert and we have to go home again," she said.
Pamela Wilson, mother of year 6 student Liam as well as a daughter in year 11, admitted she was "in two minds" about regular classes returning, even though home learning had been a challenge.
"Because the internet only works one end of the house and not the other end," she said with a laugh.
A couple of Thurgoona school fathers were also unsure, feeling time would tell if the resumption had come too early.
NSW police reminded road users to take care around schools and a police car could be seen near the Thurgoona Public School entrance.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, of the state's Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said school zones had remained in place as normal during the COVID-19 restrictions but student numbers were greatly reduced.
"School zones will become busy from today, with student numbers, vehicles, pedestrians, and buses returning to normal frequency," he said on Monday.
"We can't afford to become complacent for the remainder of the school term.
"All road users, including pedestrians, need to consider their own behaviour in school zones; pay attention to the flashing signs, comply with requests from school crossing supervisors and keep everyone safe on our roads."
Penalties for school zone offences include drive on path - $457/4 demerit points, drive without proper control - $572/4 demerit points, drive using mobile phone - $457/5 points, drive with animal on lap - $572/4 points, stop in bus zone - $344/2 points, exceed speed 45km/h - $2636 / 7 points.
