It was a day of firsts at Carinya Christian School.
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Twenty-six fresh-faced kindies set out for their first day in the junior school, 18 students started year 7 in the middle school and year 8 was introduced for the first time.
It is also the first time the school has offered individual classes for all year groups across the junior school.
Now 24 students can be enrolled in both years 5 and 6 instead of maxing out at a total of 30 in a composite class.
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Kindergarten was also split into two classes to give them "the best possible start", principal Chad Kentwell said.
Mr Kentwell said they "gained a good number of enrolments from outside of the school" and 218 students are enrolled from pre-prep right up to year 8.
To keep up, almost 10 more staff have joined the ranks on a full-time and part-time basis, including Curlewis farmer Kate James.
Mr Kentwell said the school was "building" its number of specialised teachers and the Mandarin Chinese language had been introduced for the first time.
It will be a big year for the school as it prepares to go to tender to build a senior school after receiving $900,000 from the Capital Grants Program in late 2019.
Mr Kentwell said he's hopeful construction will start by mid-year.
The senior school is part of the school's expansion plan to introduce years 9 and 10 in 2021 and 2022. There are no plans to cater for Years 11 and 12 at this stage.
Kindergarten and year 7 students at the shire's other schools will start during the coming days.