Teachers were seeing double at St Anthony of Padua Catholic College Austral at the start of this school term.

Principal Lea De Angelis said the school has welcomed three sets of Kindy twins, who couldn’t be more excited to go to “big school.”

Asked to explain why he was thrilled to be at school, five-year-old Charlie Tannous said: “Because we get to see our favourite people.”

St Anthony of Padua Catholic College principal Lea De Angelis with one of the new starters.

His sister, Matilda, nodded her head in agreement.

They spoke of friends they’d made at Preschool.

Sisters Savannah and Sophia Smith, also aged five, said they looked forward to playing at school and making new friends.

Four-year-old twins Christian and Sebastian Pittorino reflected happily on the Kindy “practice days” they had attended at St Anthony before the official first day of school.

“We got to play outside,” Sebastian recalled.

The boisterous triple-doubles are among 119 Kindergarteners to join St Anthony of Padua in 2021, and 6000 Kindergarteners taking the next step of their learning journey at a Sydney Catholic school.

St Anthony of Padua Catholic College is the only comprehensive Preschool to Year 12 Catholic school within the beating heart of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The co-educational school is being built in six stages on a picturesque 10.9-hectare parcel of land within the newly revitalised community of Austral.

“There is a strong sense of pride among our staff, students and parents in building the college from the ground up, and contributing towards creating the culture and traditions of St Anthony of Padua Catholic College Austral,” Ms De Angelis said.