‘Unusual, unique’: Four sets of twins start back at school

Students could barely maintain their excitement when they returned to classrooms for the first time this year. And for the first time in history one class welcomed four sets of twins. Details here.

Excited students, parents and staff filled the gates of schools across the region when the private sector returned for the first day of term on Tuesday.

Among the masses were four sets of twins at the Concordia Lutheran Kindergarten – something principal Anton Prinsloo said was a first-time occurrence for the school.

“Normally we have various sets of twins across the school so you may find four sets from kindy through to year 12,” he said.

“But to have four sets in the one class or year level is quite unusual. From what I’m aware this is the first time this has happened so it’s quite unique.”

4 sets of twins, (from left) Sophie Hancock, Elliott Hancock, Oliver Quilty, Daisy Quilty, Zakariah El Attar, Mohamed El Attar, Zarlia Harriage, Kylan Harriage. Kindergarten students at Concordia Primary Campus Kindergarten. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The twins are Mohamed and Zakariah El Attar, Elliott and Sophie Hancock, Kylan and Zarlia Harriage and Daisy and Oliver Quilty.

Keen to follow in their parent’s footsteps, the identical El Attar twins said when they grow up they would like to run their own restaurant and cook pizza and chips “like (their) mummy and daddy”.

Twins Zakariah El Attar (left) and Mohamed El Attar enjoy their first day of Kindy at Concordia Primary Campus Kindergarten. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Twins Zakariah El Attar (left) and Mohamed El Attar enjoy their first day of Kindy at Concordia Primary Campus Kindergarten. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Equally excited was the new prep class of St Thomas More’s Primary School including Audrey Truskinger, Connor Reilly and Kate Olive.

Keen to “play with toys” and “make friends” the trio agreed they were free of nerves and just eager to head to big kid school for the first time.

Aspiring dancer Audrey, 5, hopes to become a ballerina when she grows up so she can wear “pink and yellow tutus” while Connor Reilly, 4, wants to be a police officer so he can “catch bad guys”.

Not swaying from the answer she provided when she graduated from kindergarten in 2022, Kate, 5, maintained she wanted to “be a mum”.

(from left) Kate Olive, Connor Reilly and Audrey Truskinger. First day of school for St Thomas Mores Primary School prep students. Picture: Nev Madsen.

New principal appointed at Toowoomba school

It’s been a long journey for the new principal of a Toowoomba primary school, but Duane Wann has finally returned home to accept the job of his dreams.

After fulfilling several teaching and leadership roles across the state, Mr Wann (pictured) was appointed the new St Thomas More’s Primary School principal.

Duane Wann is the Principal of St Thomas Mores Primary School. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Originally from Toowoomba, the father-of-three said he was excited to be home.

“I went to high school in Toowoomba, I studied at university in Toowoomba and my family are home in Toowoomba,” he said.

“The opportunity to work with Toowoomba Catholic Schools and at a school like St Thomas More’s – both which have a wonderful reputation across the state – was a huge incentive.

“Personally there are great opportunities for my children in the arts, sport and education.”

Duane Wann is the Principal of St Thomas Mores Primary School. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Mr Wann, who has been a principal for the past decade and working in the education sector for almost two, said he was excited to connect with parents, work with staff and provide a holistic approach to education.

“During the pupil-free days our teachers have been very positive, enthusiastic, eager to learn and happy to embrace new ideas and fresh challenges, while also immersing themselves in existing practices currently in place,” he said. “The children are at the heart of what we do, always will be and are of course the biggest reason we do what we do.”