MANY excited five-year-olds will be buckling up shiny new school shoes for the first time, as the school year gets under way across the city.
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Sophia Hall, 5, can't wait to write, play games and learn the alphabet.
Mum Amanda is a little more hesitant.
Sophia will pack her lunchbox into her new school bag and wear her blue and white dress to school for the first time on Monday.
When she walks through St Joseph's Primary School's gates Amanda will be nervous but excited for her eldest daughter.
"Honestly, I would have to say that our biggest challenge will be saying goodbye to a much-loved chapter of our lives and embracing another exciting journey ahead of us," Amanda said.
"We are very fortunate that Sophia has a perfect measure of both excitement and readiness for school.
"It's another transition in life."
Sophia is looking forward to a great year with many new challenges.
"Playing with my friends, playing games and the playground," she said, listing her favourite activities.
"I really like the slide and borrowing books from the library."
Sophia was looking forward to learning to write letters, so she could write a letter to some fairies - maybe even the tooth fairy.
Sophia has been practicing getting ready for school over the summer holidays - trying on her uniform and running around in her new school shoes.
"Role playing has been a huge success in our household - to the point where we had to plead with her to take off her uniform so we could wash it," Amanda said.
Whatever the first day of school brings, Sophia, Amanda and dad Simon can be sure the enthusiastic five-year-old will be beginning a new chapter in her life.
