The city's first cohort of international-recognised high school scholars has entered the classroom at the Riverina Anglican School.
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Up to 18 students have taken up the challenge to complete the International Baccalaureate course in place of their HSC examination.
It follows the school's announcement last year that it would be the first in the region to offer the academically rigorous, globally recognised study.
With seven years' experience teaching and mentoring students through the baccalaureate, Patricia Humble has begun the task of preparing the 18 students for the year ahead.
"We did end up getting more students than we expected, so it's a very healthy start to the program at the school," Ms Humble said.
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The students began their school year on Wednesday in their science course, before moving into their language groups just after lunchtime.
This year at the school, the students have been given a choice of completing their baccalaureate language component in either French or Spanish.
Holly Wilson and Hugo Currie, both 16, have both chosen to take the French course.
For Hugo, with his ambition to become an engineer, the decision to study French stems from a familial interest in the language.
"I have a step-sister who is fluent, and it's a well-rounded language that's spoken in a lot of countries," Hugo said.
Meanwhile, Holly's goal to work in international relations will see the language featuring prominently in her future.
"In year 7 and 8 we learnt the basics, but now we're still able to go back and start from the basics," she said.
"One day, I'd like to go to Canada - French Canada probably - and do some work there."
Aside from the language study, the students will be required to complete course work in five other subject areas, including science, mathematics, English and the arts.
Beyond the requirements of the typical HSC, the students will also have to make their way through key critical thinking components to each subject area.
"The Theory of Knowledge' class is about breaking down knowledge, asking how we know what we know," Ms Humble said.
"It underpins learning in each curriculum and then there's an actual class on it as well."
Outside the baccalaureate classroom, the school has also welcomed an intake of 111 HSC students who will also work towards their matriculation over the next two years.
While both streams are required to complete roughly the same number of classes, the main difference is that the baccalaureate students may be able to choose to go to a university beyond Australian borders when they finish.
"I just keep telling them, while it is different, while it is a challenge, this is still year 11 and 12 for them. That hasn't changed," Ms Humble said.
"In my experience, students rise to the challenge."