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STARTING school for the first time can be a little daunting for even the most confident of kids.
But luckily five-year-old twins Luelle and Hadley Green and Khushmeet and Jasmeet Pannu will have each other’s hands to hold when they enter Bendigo Violet Street Primary School as prep students for the first time on Tuesday morning.
The four girls are among 27 children starting prep at the school this week.
Mums Jacqui Green and Baljeet Pannu don’t have any concerns about their girls taking their first steps into school life, even though the two sets of twins are the first children in their respective families to begin school.
“They’re excited about new things and for new friends,” Mrs Pannu said.
“They’ve worn their shoes every day for the past two weeks,” Mrs Green added.
The girls confirmed they were excited about school, with Luelle saying the playground was what she was looking forward to most.
They are also excited about making some new friends and learning.
In total there are an estimated 1000 children entering prep at government schools in the City of Greater Bendigo area this year.
Across the city’s nine Catholic primary schools, there are about 425 prep students enrolled.
Projected enrolment figures from the Victorian Education Department show about 953,100 students will attend government schools across the state in 2017, 12,000 of those within the municipality of the City of Greater Bendigo.
Of these, about 6700 will be in primary schools, 5000 in secondary schools and 400 in special schools.
In Mount Alexander Shire, about 200 of its 1800 government school students are in prep this year, while in Central Goldfields about 1400 students will attend a government school, with about 100 to begin prep.
It is not only prep students who are in for a new beginning in 2017.
This week will mark the start of a new chapter in the lives of the 800 students entering year 7 in Bendigo’s public secondary schools.
About 100 students in both Mount Alexander Shire and Central Goldfields Shire will also start secondary school at government schools this week.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
