It’s back to school for the Nisbett-Bickel family this week with three of their seven children starting classes at the new St Aloysius Catholic School, Chisholm.
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Mack, 8, Julian, 7, and Liliana, 5, are among the first students enrolled at the new school after their family moved from Sydney to Thornton last week.
Mack goes into year 2, Julian year 1 and Liliana starts kindergarten.
Mother of seven, including a three-week-old baby, Jodie Nisbett-Bickel and husband Nathan, moved to the area for the extra space.
“It is perfect for our family, we have a bigger house in a bigger area and it is a new suburb with lots of room,” she said.
“The new school fitted in with our family and it came along at the right time for us.”
Initially, there were spaces for only two of the children but a third place has since opened up.
“It was meant to be,” Mrs Nisbett-Bickel said.
“We were looking for a Catholic school and we looked at several in the area since last October.
“There were not many places left for the children but it all came together at the last minute.”
HELP IS AT HAND
With schools back Education and Communities deputy secretary Greg Prior welcomed more than 780,000 new and returning students to the 2015 school year.
“Starting school can sometimes be a bit daunting, especially for those attending primary or high school for the first time,” Mr Prior said.
“A visit to www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au can help with students’ and parents’ back-to-school needs.
The website has useful information, such as:
A checklist for getting students ready to head back to school
Answers to frequently-asked questions about uniforms, sun safety, curriculum and technology
Public school term dates
Assistance is also available to parents and caregivers via the Back-to-School Hotline (1300 738 338).
