The five-year-old who was also accompanied by her parents Rebecca and Ben Chalker said she was excited to start school and make new friends.

Mrs Chalker said Sophie already knew her way around the school and had attended school assemblies and church services to see her brother, who was in year 3.

To prepare for school Sophie also read books about school, she wore in her new school shoes and put on her new school uniform to show family members when they came to visit.

Stacey Thomas's oldest son Rhys was in Sophie's class K Gold, with teacher Edwina Haydon.

"I'm sad but excited for his new journey," Mrs Thomas said.

The children were among 46 kindergarten students who started their first day at St Mary's on Thursday in Mrs Haydon's class and in a class run by Katie Frew and Liz Varco.

Principal Kerry Maher said the other students returned to school on Wednesday when another 18 new students also joined the school.

Mrs Maher said the kindergarten children already had an idea of what to expect before they started their first day of school.

"They had quite an extensive transition program last term so while they will be doing some settling in they will be starting formal phonics lessons," Mrs Maher said.

"One of the things we do here is a Ready to Learn Program that will run for six weeks."

Mrs Maher said it would be a social program focussing on how to make new friends and how to be a good friend.

"They also learn skills on how to be attentive during classes," she said.

Once the children were settled in, parents were invited to a tissues and Tim Tams morning tea on Thursday morning.

"Sometimes they are not ready to leave straight away," Mrs Maher said.

"They also meet other families, the parents they are meeting their children will be friends so it's good for them to establish that friendship now."