O’Donoghue siblings begin new school year together at Alawa Primary School

A Top End family is excited to kick off the school year together. Find out what they’re most looking forward to.

Alice O’Donoghue is excited to kick off the school year alongside her three younger siblings.

It is the only school year the family will be enrolled at Alawa Primary School together, as Alice, 11, will graduate from Year 6 at the end of the year.

Her younger brother eight-year-old Reuben starts Year Three this year while five-year-old Cara and Ingrid are starting transition.

Alice, Reuben and twins Cara and Ingrid prepare for the first day of school in 2023. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Alice said it might get “a little bit annoying” having her siblings at school but it was exciting to see them around the schoolyard.

Mum and Alawa Primary School teacher Emma Churchman said having her kids enrolled at the one school meant it was easier to keep track of them.

“I think the best thing about it is the fact that Alice is pretty responsible, that she can kind of help the little ones, and just having the one place that they go to for after-school care,” she said.

Ms Churchman said she would not be teaching her kids this year.

“Because I am in preschool, I’m kind of separate from them a little bit,” she said.

“That’s nice as well, as they get to have their own experience without me affecting it.”

Preschool teacher Emma Churchman enjoys learning alongside her students. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Ms Churchman said the best part of being a teacher was learning alongside her students.

This year she hoped to bring a cultural element to the classroom.

“Bringing a lot more learning about the cultures from the kids that are in the classes,” she said.

Ms Churchman said she was also keen to connect her students with the school’s farm in term two.

Students across the NT return to school on January 31.

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