Young hearts and minds remain bruised and battered after the 106-year-old Eumungerie Public School burned down last Wednesday morning.

Police are treating the fire as “suspicious” with samples from the rubble set to be analysed after an accelerant-detecting dog assisted in the investigation.

Demountable accommodation was placed by crane on school grounds on Saturday, in readiness for the return of students today.

But with finishing touches still required, and youngsters still battling to comprehend their loss, the decision has been made to head to Dubbo for the day.

President of the school’s parents and citizens association Tracey Haraki yesterday confirmed that a bus was being sent to Eumungerie from Dubbo to collect the children about 9am this morning.

The city’s Aboriginal community, police, education and civic authorities, along with local business are reported to be part of the exercise that Mrs Haraki says aims to “keep everybody’s spirits up”.

“The kids really want to go to school,” she said. “Lots of them are saying they don’t want a new

school, they want their old school.”

The NSW Department of Education and Training has moved like the wind to get the students back to their

studies, while promising “we will be rebuilding at Eumungerie”.

First stop this morning is expected to be the Dubbo RSL Club for a dip in its pool.

Mrs Haraki understands there will also be trips to Centro Dubbo, Western Plains Cultural Centre and Dubbo branch of the Macquarie Regional Library.

It’s hoped tired kids will sleep well tonight and be ready for a “muck-about” cricket match tomorrow morning in Eumungerie, followed by morning tea in celebration of a couple of birthdays, one belated.

“The school burned down on one student’s birthday,” Mrs Haraki said. “She went from being excited to devastated.”

Mrs Haraki yesterday understood power still had to be connected to the demountable building, featuring airconditioning.

The fire last week robbed the community of two classrooms, the school canteen, library, computer room, an outdoor learning area and untold resources.

Outlying buildings including the administration block housing the principal’s office, toilets, storage shed and a new but incomplete classroom built with federal stimulus cash were saved.

Eumungerie bushfire brigade was on the scene about 10 minutes after a triple-0 call at 4.34am, holding off the spread of the fire until reinforcements arrived.