The timeless image of life's first landmark event, immortally described by Shakespeare as "the whining school-boy, with his satchel, and shining morning face, creeping like snail unwillingly to school'', has held fairly true until quite recently.

Many of us remember our own mothers waving cheerfully (and holding back the tears) as we disappeared into the fateful building which, for the very first time, would hold us in its grasp (without Mom) for a whole day.

Nowadays, of course, with the vast majority of mothers having at least two careers (mothering as well as earning the `bread' to feed them) the age-old bond between mother and child may be broken when the child is only a few weeks old. Nurseries and pre-schools have been a feature of Bermudian life now, for at least the past 30 years.

Most people would agree that some form of pre-schooling is a good idea, as much for its social value as for the educational head-start which even a couple of hours each day can provide at a nursery school.

Even so, the day on which a child first goes to primary school, is still an important event and Living visited some of those children who will be making the big move within the next couple of weeks.

At Woodlands Playhouse Nursery, Nicholas Smith, who is five this month, will be going to Mount St. Agnes. His main preoccupation when we talked to him, however, was the fate of his butterfly case.

"I had this little butterfly case, but now I can't find it,'' he announced.

"I don't know where it is. It's not in my locker -- or anywhere.'' Asked what he liked doing best at school, the answer was almost inevitable.

"I like catching butterflies best.'' Yes, but which lesson? "Running,'' came the prompt reply.

"Do you think you'll like reading when you go to your new school?'' "No.'' "How about sums?'' "No.'' "What about painting?'' A slightly pained expression, and another, rather emphatic "No.'' It turns out, however, that Nicholas does enjoy drawing, "especially racing boats.'' He is looking forward to wearing a uniform every day and the fact that he will be going to school with his friend, Alex.

"I would like to know where my butterfly is,'' he insists, but pauses for a moment when asked what he wants to do when he is grown-up. "I'm going to be a scuba diver,'' but then it's back to the all-consuming subject of butterflies.

"I don't kill them. And I've only got one.'' Ryan Tyrrell, who was five in July, and presently attending K.A.O.S.

Pre-School, starts at the Victor Scott School on September 11.

"I like working,'' he announced with a huge smile, "and I am looking forward to going to Victor Scott. I like fixing puzzles best, and I like colouring.'' He seemed quite taken with the idea of wearing a uniform which, he said, is khaki pants and a white shirt. On the subject of a future career, he replied, "I want to do what my daddy does. He's a technician. I like playing on computers.'' Four year-old Amy Brew will face a far bigger change than her friends at Woodlands later this month: she is returning to her home in the Isle of Man.

"I'll be four and three quarters when I get back there and I'm going to my granny's school right by her house. I like colouring best. That's the best lesson.'' But did she like sums? "Oh yes. And I like story books and playing with toys best. My favourite toy is the turtle in the fish tank.'' Apparently fascinated by the shorthand notes for this story, she commented, "I would like to do that wiggly writing!'' Warming to the subject of her new school, she then revealed that she will be wearing "a sheep uniform, with a dark blue jumper. My mummy hasn't learnt me how to write yet but I can write my name.'' Then she confides that watching cartoons on TV are "much better'' than reading books. "Especially Godzilla. That's my favourite.'' If she had not been returning to Britain, Amy said she would have gone to the Montessori Academy. "My mum had to cancel me out. My granny was upset. She wanted to come to Bermuda so that she could see the sun again. I'm looking forward to going to big school and seeing my granny because she calls me `a cheeky monkey'.'' Also at Woodlands Playhouse Nursery School is five-year-old Rachel McCaskill, who is going to the Montessori Academy.

Asked what she thought she would be doing at her new primary school, her reply was immediate: "Sharing my fruit roll-ups. This is my last day at nursery, you know. No, I shan't be sad to leave. I shan't cry!.'' She said she will be wearing a uniform of red pants, brown shoes and a too-shirt. "I like books and I like doing homework. My nanny reads `Jack and the Beanstalk' to me and I like `Beauty and the Beast'. They're my best books.

I like singing and `ABCs' is my best song. I played on a piano once.'' Kids start a new life as they make their way to school Asked what she would like to do when she grows up, she replied, "I would like to put my wedding dress on and I'm going to marry my boyfriend when I'm a big girl.'' Did she have a boyfriend already? "Oh no, he's in the States. I can't see him any more. My best friends are Amy and Kelly. I'm only a little five, but Kelly is a big five -- she's bigger than me. Yes, I'm looking forward to going to Montessori. I don't know where it is but my nanny knows and she's going to take me there.'' Ashante Francis-Smith, five last February, and attending K.A.O.S, is on her way to Victor Scott School. "This morning, I went to be tested -- that was fun! They asked me my address, which is Spring Benny Road, Somerset, and I showed them colours and drew shapes.'' Her face lit up when asked if she liked reading. "Yes, I do like it! I want to be a doctor when I grow up because they make people better.'' She admits to feeling sad at the thought of leaving her pre-school. Victor Scott School will be a "special'' place, however, because her teacher (Mrs.

Sharon Bean) went there "and my sister, Nicole, who is ten, is there.'' Rondrica Wilson-Hill, five, also at K.A.O.S. and enrolled for Somerset Primary, said, "I know I'm going there on September 11. My school is special because my mommy went there when she was little and also my great-uncle Billy -- it's his birthday today!'' Rondrica, who plans to be a teacher when she is grown-up, is already a little book-worm, having gone through at least 20 books at school since she was four.

Her teacher, Mrs. Bean, said she was so advanced, it was decided to give her homework. She read (beautifully) for Living her latest book, `It's Not Easy Being a Bunny' which is a Primary I book.

"My uniform is pink and blue and yellow, and in the winter it is brown.'' Of all the children we spoke to, only Rondrica said that her mother was sad about her going on to primary school.

"My mom is going to cry when I go there. She doesn't want me to go because she doesn't want me to get big. But I'm never going away from my mommy! I might leave her when I get big like her.''