It will be a case of seeing double when St Patrick’s Primary School Koroit pupils return to school on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The small school community will welcome three sets of twins to grade prep - Maya and Charli Lathwell, Oliver and Grace McMahon and Nash and Ace Bidmade, all five.
Teacher Shona Louden said getting to know the children’s personalities would help her differentiate between the pairs.
“These are my first twins and I’ve got three lots of them,” she laughed. “Hopefully there’s no mix ups.”
Principal Mark Moloney said it was unusual for the school, which had an enrollment of 125 students.
“We’ve had fraternal and identical twins as most schools have, but to have three sets in the one year isn’t common for us,” Mr Moloney said.
“Some are like peas in a pod and others are opposites and characters. The pressure’s on the teacher to identify them and use the right name, particularly with the identical ones.”
Mum Natasha McMahon, from Kirkstall, said having so many twins in the one class was a rarity.
“It’s a pretty big deal for a place like Koroit when it’s a small school,” she said.
Mrs McMahon said Oliver wanted to learn while Grace was looking forward to going into the playground.
Sarah Bidmade, also from Kirkstall, said her boys were excited to go to school with their big brother Jimmy, 6.
Lisa Lathwell, from Koroit, said her girls were excited and looking forward to colouring in at school.
Meanwhile it’s a similar story at Warrnambool Primary School. Two sets of twins will begin prep on Thursday – Dylan and Hunter Howard and Matthew and Cody James, who will also be joined by brother Zaylin.
Mum Tinika Clifford said Dylan and Hunter were excited and were familiar with the school routine, accompanying her on the school run with siblings Kalora, 7, and Jai, 8. “We’ve been here for years. They’re ready to go,” Ms Clifford said.
She said although they looked similar they were “very different”.
“Hunter is more energetic but Dylan’s the thinker, he’s quieter,” she said. “It’s like one person’s split into two. It’s incredible.”
Drivers are reminded reduced speed limits will operate outside schools from Tuesday as children return to school this week.