Five-year-olds Mackai, Luca and Nikayas O’Keefe are making history at their school on Tuesday, being the first set of triplets to start prep at Bendigo’s Creek Street Christian College.
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The three boys have been excited to start their schooling adventure for a while now, having started counting down to the momentous day since Christmas.
Mum Anita said the prospect of her youngest children heading off to school gave rise to mixed emotions, but she was happy for them.
“It’s exciting, because they’re excited, but sad as well, I suppose,” their dad, Darren, said.
Anita said it would also be a big change, going from a busy household to one with all children at school.
The boys join their older sister Zianna, 7, at Creek Street, while their big brother Chas is entering year 9 at Bendigo South East College.
Anita said Zianna was ready to welcome her younger brothers to the school and her friends. “I’m very proud of her for being like that,” she said.
For months now, Anita said, she had been a “wealth of knowledge”, giving her siblings the rundown on the school and what to do.
The boys are among 27 prep students, and more than 300 students in total, enrolled at the school this year.
Meanwhile, the Stevens family are also likely setting a record for St Francis of the Fields Primary School in Strathfieldsaye this week.
All five children are enrolled this year, with four-year-old Raff joining older siblings Flynn, 6, Isabella, 8, Georgia, 9, and Archie, 11.
“I think they’re all really excited they’re together,” dad Leigh said.
Their mum, Bek, said she was very much looking forward to doing just one drop-off in the morning.
She thought she might be a bit at a loss to do with the extra time at first, but with a young foster child still in the home, it would not be an entirely empty nest during the day. “It’ll still be a big change,” she said.
One of the biggest things, Bek said, would be packing five lunch boxes every morning.
Raff is so excited about starting school, he’s been wearing his new shoes around, and looks forward to playing in the school playground.
Big siblings aside, the school will not be entirely new to him – his prep teacher is his next-door neighbour.
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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.
