Students in prep, grades one and two, and years 11 and 12 were back at school on May 26 after more than six weeks of remote learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students in the remaining year levels will return to classrooms from Tuesday.

"It's exciting for everyone," Kennington Primary School principal Travis Eddy said. "It's exciting for our teachers and for our parents and families.

"But most particularly, it's exciting for the kids. It's an important step forward."

Maiden Gully Primary School principal Craig Arrowsmith said his school had introduced a range of measures to keep all students and staff safe.

"We've got the additional cleaning at the school and things like access to hygiene products for all students," he said. "We also have a staggered finish to the day.

Read more: Bendigo, central Victorian schools return to classroom learning after COVID-19 shutdowns

"There are arrangements for parents to collect students from colour-coded gates. What makes it work here is the very respectful approach and really quite orderly way the parents go about it."

But Mr Eddy said Kennington Primary would not have staggered start and finish times.

"We're lucky in the sense that we have ample entry points and our school is on a really big site," he said. "Even with 650 students, we have ample areas to keep the kids apart.

"The risk is mainly towards adults and we have a number of things in place for staff. But we're certainly making sure kids are cleaning their hands when entering and leaving classrooms."

Marist College Bendigo principal Darren McGregor said his school, which has students from foundation through to year 12, would also avoid staggered starts.

"Parents have gotten into a good routine with drop-off and collection, particularly for the early years," he said. "We're confident they can all safely come and go. We're not changing that.

"But there will be some other limitations. There will still be no assemblies and the canteen will only be taking lunch orders so there will be no queuing and buying at the canteen.

Read more: Bendigo schools welcome Victorian premier's plan to get students back to class during the COVID-19 pandemic

"We will continue with social distancing for staff. We're very conscious of some of the real challenges staff have been through.

"The reality is learning from home has been more work for staff so they have been working flat-out for eight weeks. The next three weeks will be challenging for everyone."

Mr McGregor said parents, students, and teachers should be commended for their hard work throughout the pandemic.

"We're really proud of how our parents and kids have dealt with remote learning," he said.

"It has been a totally new experience and at times it has been really tough, but parents have worked through it.

"I don't know another time in schooling where the relationship between parents and staff has been so close.

"Parents are really appreciative of the role of the educators and better appreciative of the learning of their own children. It's been really good."

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.