If 12-year-old Talita Soatini had any jitters about the first day of high school she did not show it.
But that did not stop her mother Irene getting teary yesterday morning as she packed daughter a roast beef and salad wrap for lunch into her school bag.
“She is my last one and my only daughter, so it is a little bit emotional,” she said.
“There is a big change, learning wise it is much more grown up, the teachers treat them differently and they’re becoming teenagers.”
Talita Soatini, 12, from Werrington with her bagged packed. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Next up, breakfast. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Ready to hit high school. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Preparations for her first day at Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek began the day before when her mother ironed her pristine white school shirt and Talita went to bed at 9pm to get a good night’s sleep.
She woke at 7am sharp yesterday morning before enjoying a breakfast of Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut with her two older brothers.
Picture: Dylan Robinson
She loaded up her bag with her new MacBook, a pencil case and new stationary bought during the summer holidays before hugging her mum and dad Izzie goodbye.
“I am not really nervous but I am a little bit scared about going from class to class by myself,” she said.
Her older brother Amosia dropped her off at school where the 150 students in Year 7 were sorted into “home room” groups.
Talita Soatini, 12, from Werrington, on her first day of high school at Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Next was assembly, where the national anthem and the school song opened proceedings before Principal Rob Nastasi wasted no time getting down to academics — quizzing the students on who was the Pope when they entered Kindergarten in 2013 before giving them some advice.
“It is a bit stressful today, there is a lot of information, just take a breath … No question is a silly question,” he said.
Start of assembly at Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek. Pictured during the first assembly. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Then it was to their classrooms where Talita’s home room teacher James Hamond issued them with diaries, gave out timetables and a map of the school.
“This place is huge — finding your place around is probably the most difficult thing,” he said.
Then Mr Hamond explained phones may be used in class — but strictly for educational purposes only.
“We are not using the phones for messaging friends on a WhatsApp group.”
Talita (right), with her friends Ameilia Kondek and Holly Taouk at recess. Picture: Dylan Robinson
But that is to the amusement of one student who jokes: “Sir no one uses WhatsApp.”
At recess Talita’s friends run to see her in the playground and talk about everything that’s happened in the six weeks since they last saw each other at primary school.
Talita with teacher Joneil Yuzon in mathematics class. Picture: Dylan Robinson
A liturgy followed by a reading activity in the afternoon gives Talita just enough time to some new friends before the final bell rings at 2.30pm.
“It was different from primary school,” she said at the end of the day.
“I feel tired… now I think I will just have a rest.”
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