Around the district, lunch boxes have been made, bags packed and pencils sharpened as students and teachers prepare for the new school year.
Teachers and students at Avon School in Stratford are looking forward to putting into action some plans made late last year.
Principal Denise Hendren says the staff and pupils are all looking forward to a fantastic school year.
"Everyone has come back from the holidays refreshed and ready to go, and we have lots happening this year to keep the enthusiasm going."
Denise says every class is starting with a Manaakitanga unit, "to ensure our motto of caring and sharing is embedded throughout the school".
She says the school, which has just over 50 students on the roll currently, held a community consultation last year in November which has "really given us some positive feedback - what we have been doing well and where we should be going from here". She says a total of 129 people, from pupils and parents, to staff, visiting professionals and members of the community came to the consultation evening.
"It was an amazing turnout and reminded us that we are very fortunate to have such an involved community."
Areas that received particular recognition and praise included the whole school approach Denise and her colleagues bring.
"People like that the school camp is for all students, not just the older ones, and it is definitely seen as a big positive - the way our children work as a whanau."
All pupils are also part of the kapa haka group at the school, another great bonding exercise says Denise.
With this year's school camp to be held at Vertical Horizons, Denise says the students are already beginning to fundraise for it.
"We have a car boot sale already organised for the end of March, and will be doing more fundraising throughout the year."
This year pupils will have their swimming lessons at the Stratford District Pool says Denise.
"Having our own pool is great, but the cost of running it, especially when it is vandalised at times, can be prohibitive.
"This year we are running a feasibility study - looking at what will work out better, both cost and quality wise, from using our own pool as in previous years, or this year using the public pool."
The school teachers will still provide the lessons, with the school paying a coach for stroke development for the more capable swimmers.
With eight new students enrolled this year already, Denise says the school roll is stable.
"It is always sad at the end of the year to farewell our students as they set off on their high school journey, but it is great to see some new faces in the playground and watch them learn to love our school as much as we all do."