WHAT started with streamers has ended with smiles, sunscreen and playing The Beach Boys' Surfin USA.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Tarro teachers have been hosting a drive-through at the site every Friday, when families can collect and return home learning packs.
They held the last one on October 15, ahead of kindergarten and year one returning next week and other grades from October 25.
Principal Cheryl Henderson said the weekly event was an opportunity for students to see their teachers, stay connected to the school and intended to "give them happy memories to add to the stress of COVID". Their record is 103 cars.
"The very first day we just had streamers and waved and made a bit of a goose of ourselves," she said.
"But then [religious education coordinator] Petrina Massey's idea was we create a theme."
These have included football teams, Hawaii, bright colours, golf and this week, the beach.
"Last week was decorate-your-car," she said. "For the last three weeks we've encouraged families to join in the theme, prior to that we were just creating the environment for them to drive through, but the last few weeks we've said 'Okay you join in and you get dressed up'."
She said several families had told teachers it was the highlight of their week.
"Today we had lots of families come through who didn't even have packs to collect, they're kinder and year one, but they came because they wanted to be part of this community.
"We're humbled, but we're proud, we know we've got something special here... it's so important our families know we're in this mess with them and that we share the downtimes, but we celebrate together too."
