West Moreton Anglican College: Ipswich school marks history as record number of second-generation students commence

Eight Ipswich Preppies have made school history as the largest cohort of second-generation students to commence the year, with one paying tribute to her mum’s time at the school in a touching way.

An Ipswich school has welcomed a record number of second-generation Prep students this year.

Eight second-generation Preppies today started school at West Moreton Anglican College — just like their parents did in decades gone by.

It’s the highest number of second-gen Preppies the school has ever welcomed in one cohort, and included five-year-old Charli, the daughter of former student Laura Loveday.

Charli arrived at school on Monday donning her mother’s original Prep skirt and a shirt that once belonged to her older brother Toby, 9, who also attends the school.

Ms Loveday attended the school from Prep to Year 11 in 2007 and her husband Jeremy also attended the school.

She said the connection between her, her husband and their children — represented by shared uniforms — was “really special”.

Ms Loveday said she hoped her daughter would have as good a schooling experience as she did.

“I think this is one of the most crucial years of schooling,” Ms Loveday said.

Ms Loveday said Charli was already confident and determined in what she wanted to achieve, so she was thrilled to be stepping up from Kindergarten and joining “the big kids”.

Likewise, the mother of fellow Preppie Christopher, Kathryn Fletcher, said she had high hopes for her only child’s Prep year.

“I just want him to expand his knowledge as much as possible, and make friends along the way,” Ms Fletcher, who attended WestMAC from Year 8 to 12, said.

“I’m sure (school) will shape him into a fine young man.”

Ms Fletcher said Christopher was a sociable and happy person, and a very fast learner, who could not be more excited to commence his schooling career.

Head of Junior School Kirsten Mullan, a 28-year WestMAC foundation teacher, said she was excited to welcome back a record number of families.

“I remember when many of these parents were students in junior school, so it’s an honour and joy to have the responsibility of nurturing and developing the potential for individual excellence in this second generation of students now attending WestMAC,” she said.

Having opened in 1993 and welcomed its first students in 1994, WestMAC has grown from a small school to one of 1400 students and three Prep classes.

Principal Geoff McLay said that as the school neared its 30th birthday, it had reached a point where staff were seeing the next generations come through and its legacy of community continuing.