Canberra Day can be tricky for families with parents working either side of the border, but the Anglican School Googong embraced the confusion and turned the day into their own celebration.
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Families planted about 70 trees on the hill above Googong to help create a habitat for the vulnerable glossy black cockatoo.
“A lot of the parents aren't working so we thought we would make this our founders day,” school’s principal Ian Hewitt said.
"It's a way of celebrating people who have gone before us to set things up, through either the school or the grandparents."
The cockatoo is featured on the school’s logo, but the planting of trees also serves as a symbol for the children’s role and growth in the community.
And a chance for the school to observe how fast it is growing.
"When you see the playground here full of grandparents, full of parents, and full of kids sharing those stories it is a really special thing,” Mr Hewitt said.
One family who represents this growth is nine year old Jacob Denby and his parents Kathryn and Simon.
"Three years ago they were in my office in Queanbeyan before we started the school, being interviewed for a school that didn't yet exist,” Mr Hewitt said.
"And now three years down the track, their son is in his third year of school here and they've been a part of the community from day one.”
Mrs Denby said she has enjoyed watching the school come to life.
"It's great to see how much it's grown and just to see the vision of Mr Hewitt and the teachers,” she said.
“There are classes added each year and it has a great community spirit now."
While Mr Denby said Jacob liked being one of the big kids in the school.
“He likes the pastoral care, looking after the little kids and teaching the little kids certain words to help them learn to read," he said.
"The school encourages the caring attitude that the kids have, respect for each other, which is great.