27 May 2021

Yep, that's me in the photo. Hungry Jacks had some sick hats back in the day.

Nothing and I mean NOTHING will ever bring you as much joy than that lunchtime bell going off and receiving a brown paper bag that your mum wrote your lunch order on and sinking those chicken fingers. No responsibilities, no taxes, no worries at all - just you and your lunch. Smashing down lunch to then run to the handball courts and get the best spot. Those were the golden days my friends.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, a commemoration if you will, for all the things we miss and loved in our 2000’s primary school days.

1. Jelly joys

Not sure if all schools had these but these little tubes of jelly made my heart skip a beat. Sinking 10 of them on a stinkin’ hot day and they’re extra frozen + the amount of different flavours. Also for ten cents a pop, I thought they were great value for money.

2. Single serve lasagne

Now, it looked like clag glue and the sieds were always burnt. But it absolutely tasted delish. I could not get enough of these and when I wanted a bit of a change up, a bit of a snazzy meal, this was it. And boy, do I still dream about it until this day.

3. Year 6 Farewell dance practice

This may be someone else's worst nightmare or you’re a bit eh about it but practicing the Nutbush on a Thursday arvo after lunch was literally the highlight of my week. The partner dances though? Gotta pass on those.

4. Tamagotchis

Tamagotchis were single handedly the best thing to happen to me and my mates. Sending little gifts to each other at lunch time? Feeding your pet? Playing mini-games? Nothing compares. And if you weren’t allowed tamagotchis in your school, sorry not sorry.

5. Smashing your mates in handball

Nothing feels better than getting your mate out on a full. Better yet, going so low with a back hand pass that you inevitably hit another square with doubles. Ahhhh, the rivalry.

6. Getting your pen licence

It was the highest of all honours in Year 3. You’re nervously waiting in line to show your teacher your completed handwriting task, hoping you’re up to standard. She pulls out a little card and writes your name on it. You can now operate a ballpoint pen. All is good in the world.

7. The Scholastic Book Fair

When I am telling you this was the highlight of my year, this was genuinely it. I was never really into reading, even now but I’ve always loved tiny little knick knacks and stationary. Erasers, pencils, stickers, origami, fancy pom pom glitter pens - you name it. This book fair had everything and when it was my class' turn to have a look, you bet I was racing in.

8. Kid Pix

I am definitely digging some memories that are buried deep in ya head but if you don’t know this one, suss it out. It was the equivalent to computer courses nowadays. It was Paint’s cooler older sister. It brought out creativity and when you were done with it, you’d hit the page with a firework and it was the best graphics you’ve ever seen.

9. Happy Meal toys

Alright, not something from primary school but definitely something from your childhood that deserves a shoutout. Some of these were ICONIC. The McDonald’s sonic games? The little mp3 radio’s that played Mambo No. 5 and The Veronicas? The Strawberry Shortcake lip balms? The scented Care Bears? The Jumpstart CD-Roms? Mate, I could go on forever but I am also coming to the conclusion that I ate a lot of 6-piece nugget happy meals as a kid.

10. Getting split up into other classes because your teacher is away

Look, maybe you absolutely loved your class as normal. But when your teacher was away and you got assigned a three-page booklet of colouring in, simple math and handwriting activities, maaaaaaate was that a good time. Running a muck in the back of the classroom while you see this other class get told what to do by their teacher. A crack-up of a time.