By BRAD PERRY

IT was a day of nerves and butterflies for many yesterday with the start of the new school year and it was not just the children experiencing first day excitment.

Along with hundreds of young, new students to Riverland schools, the region also welcomed teachers and principals settling into new roles.

Amongst those was new Our Lady of the River Primary School year two and three teacher Jordan Armes, who said she had been preparing for the first day for weeks.

“I have just been making sure I have everything planned,” she said.

“Meeting everyone and their parents.”

From Whyalla, Miss Armes said she had a hint of nerves, as she entered her first teaching job after studying, but she has settled into Riverland life smoothly.

“Because I am a country girl, I wanted to get out of the city,” she said.

“I love the Riverland and have got a few friends around here.”

Miss Armes co-teaches 25 students in the year two and three class, as well as taking the year seven class one day a week.

“It is very exciting,” she said with a smile.

Back to school nerves were also felt by Renmark Primary School principal Lyn Bretag on the first day of her new role.

“It is really exciting to be doing it (principal) and I am looking forward to the year,” she said.

Ms Bretag said her first walk around to see how the school term had begun put her in an extremely positive frame of mind.

“All the children are happy and smiling and pleased to be back,” she said.

All Renmark Primary students now don a compulsory school uniform, an excellent move according to Ms Bretag.

The number of new students across the region has been uplifting for some schools and Loxton Primary School principal Paul Rowe said it is a sign that families are moving to the

region.

“We are starting with 342 students (with 30 new students) which is a large number for us,” he said.

“I think it just speaks well for the community.”

With the school year under way, the Federal Government is today launching the My School website which will give parents the opportunity to compare their child’s school with up to 10,000 other Australian schools.

Riverland educators continue to have divided opinions as to whether comparing data between schools will be of benefit.

“I think that communities already understand schools and their performance and the real issues are supporting schools and staff to assist everybody, no matter what background, to achieve well at schools,” Mr Rowe said.

“I think funds and resources on this could have been used in different ways.”