First day of prep for Strathfieldsaye twins
“Tiring but fun” was the verdict on the first day of school for two sets of twins starting school at Strathfieldsaye.
Bendigo
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bendigo. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than one million children packed their school bags for the first day of term one in Victoria on Monday.
Among the very youngest students were twin siblings Aishah and Ryder Durbidge, aged five, and classmates Riley and McKenzie Kennedy, also twins, aged four.
The children started their first day of prep at the Strathfieldsaye Primary School, in central Victoria.
Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said all children starting prep at a government school would receive a goodie bag for beginning their first year of school.
“Each prep student at a government school will receive a free prep bag with books like The Two-Hearted Numbat by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina, a brother and sister team of Indigenous writers,” she said.
The bag also has a Meet the Mathscots ruler, a world map jigsaw, SunSmart stickers and a Get Your Move On frisbee.
The front doors opened to students for the first time at 12 new government schools on Monday, in locations across the state’s rapidly growing population centres in the west, north and south-eastern corridors.
The government has pledged to build 100 new schools by 2026.
The newly opened facilities included: Barrawang Primary School, Donnybrook Primary School, Karwan Primary School, Kurrun Primary School, Lollypop Creek Primary, Mickleham Secondary College, Nearnung Primary School, Quarters Primary School, Thornhill Park Primary School, Wayi School and Wollert Secondary College.
Ms Hutchins said all of the new primary schools would have kindergartens on-site or next door, allowing children to transition easily from pre-school classes, and to help families avoid the double drop-off in the mornings.
The arrangement would no doubt benefit siblings Riley and McKenzie Kennedy, whose little sister Isla aged two, has a while to wait before she reaches her first day of prep.
They agreed they had a good, if tiring, first day of school.
“We like our teacher but there was no time for drawing,” McKenzie said.
“I like the art room,” said Riley.
‘Heartbroken’: Bendigo dad’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis
An ordinary day at work for a beloved Bendigo dad turned into an “unimaginable” nightmare for his “heartbroken” after a seizure revealed he had terminal brain cancer.
Pictures: Victorian preppies start their first day of school
About 70,000 Victorian grade prep students have started their first year of school this week. Check back to see all the photos from primary schools across the state.