At 8.30am the school’s 17 children were lined up, ready for routine after a week of wandering.

The early morning blaze on January 27, that robbed the

children of their 106-year-old schoolhouse, kept them on

the move last week as their temporary classroom was installed.

They have enjoyed the attention and generosity of friends and strangers since a triple-0 call almost two weeks ago woke Eumungerie bushfire brigade members in time to save a new classroom built with Federal

stimulus cash, administration building, toilets and storage facilities.

Lost were two classrooms, library, canteen, computer room, outdoor learning area and an uninterrupted start to the 2010 school year.

By recess yesterday, however, school principal Heather Thompson reported a solid morning of learning including “buddy” reading, spelling and writing.

For the first time, the youngsters had got the chance to tell each other about Christmas holidays long gone.

“They’re excited to be back at the school,” said the principal, who was keenly awaiting the arrival of booksellers.

Mrs Thompson reports continuing support for the school in its moment of need.

She said public and private schools, their students and teachers, business and the general public were reaching out with offers of everything from furniture and classroom resources to money.

While the school was “covered by insurance”, it was grateful to those who through actions and words had become “part of the rebuild”, the principal said.

They include regional director for education Carole McDiarmid and Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell, set to make visits to the makeshift school room this week.

The fire that turned the school and its supportive community upside down is being treated by police as “suspicious”.

Analysis of samples taken from the rubble is expected to take at least another couple of weeks.