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They were gorgeous with their new, crisp, and sometimes oversized uniforms.

The photographers had their job cut out photographing 1446 new Preps, organising them in order from smallest to tallest in Indian file.

There was a mixture of smiles, face contortions, extroverts and introverts. Did we seriously expect boys to stand still and pose on a playground bridge when they had other — more boisterous — ideas in mind?

And then there was the tearful little girl who had to be coaxed to join in the photo.

Getting the kids to kneel on the playground chip bark sometimes took a bit of persuasion, too.

Many teachers ensured little boys’ and girls’ faces were clean, numerous shoe laces were tied, collars fixed in place and fly-away hair smoothed down.

Fellow students were keen to watch the Preps’ photo sessions because they were just so cute.

Then there was the priceless moment after a photo: as a girl skipped beside her teacher, the teacher said the girl’s mum would be so proud to see her photo in the paper. The girl’s face lit up and she beamed, ‘Oh! Nanna will!’.

 The Preps of 2013 are off to a great start.

Meet some of our 2013 Preps

Benjamin Sherlock, 5, St Brendan's Primary School

"I enjoyed the Safety Day Expo. I liked it when the fireman squirted the hose up high."

Mya Falla, 5, Mooroopna Primary School

"I have learned to read 'is' and some other words too."

Riva Zerbato, 5, St George's Rd Primary School

"I love doing activities and going outside to play. I'm good at playing on the monkey bars."

Justin Reynolds, 5, Congupna Primary School

"What I like about school is playing with my friends."

Ashton Commandeur, 5, St Joseph's Primary School

"I like learning all the stuff at school and I can read 'The Father's Lunch' without even opening it."