As preppies start their first day, a principal reflects on missing his
“This story today would be unthinkable.”
He says his experience growing up in poverty fuels his passion for giving more to children than he had.
A childhood photo of Noel Creece, who is now principal of South Melbourne Primary School.
Creece stands at the doors, blasting Pharrell Williams’ Happy and high-fiving students as they enter.
His vertical school is in high demand, with the Department of Education providing funding to increase its capacity by about 50 students.
“About 65 per cent of children here don’t speak English in their home,” Creece says.
“We have many different cultures, religions, creeds. It’s incredibly harmonious even though it’s quite diverse.”
South Melbourne mum Liv Monaghan also farewelled her five-year-old Peggy, who was celebrating her birthday on the same day.
“We both still have friends from when we were in prep, so we are excited for everything she is going to experience,” Monaghan says.
“It’s pretty huge actually, it’s such a big change and I don’t know where the time has gone. It’s kind of surreal.”
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Peggy is excited to read and borrow the school library books.
“I don’t want to grow up to be anything. I don’t want to be a scientist. I just want to be a mummy,” she says, holding on to her mum’s arm.
In 2025, more than a million students enrolled in Victorian schools, including about 660,000 in government schools.
Prep team leader Olivia Martin says that on their first day preppies will make a crown, learn their first word, get started with writing and learn how a classroom operates.
Teachers would also assess each child to see what their comprehension, reading, writing, socialisation skills and background knowledge is.
Creece said putting on a uniform and going to a school with 500 other students was exciting but could also be daunting for a prep student.
“Some kids say they are so excited on their first day, but they also say, ‘Do I have to come back tomorrow?’”
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