No girls from kindy to Year 12
The start of the school year can't come quickly enough for these four boys who will be among the first 24 students in Aquinas College's new kindergarten class.
Until this year, Aquinas enrolled boys only from Year 4. So when this quartet reaches Year 3, Aquinas will become the first boys' school in WA to offer a single-sex education all the way from kindergarten to Year 12.
But all that concerned Armando, Curtis, Lucas and Jericho during a sneak peek ahead of their official start next Tuesday was trying out the new playground.
Headmaster Mark Sawle said offering an all-boys education meant teachers could cater exclusively for the learning style for boys.
He said the recently completed early learning centre had been designed for boys and included a tricycle track, climbing frames and musical play equipment. "Aquinas is blessed with space and items that boys can explore," Mr Sawle said.
The boys' parents said they chose a single-sex education because they believed boys learnt differently to girls, particularly in the early years. Jeremy and Fiona Landrigan, who have three sons, said they had no qualms sending Jericho to an all-boys school.
"It was an easy decision for us," Mr Landrigan said. "We know he's going to be taught like boys need to be taught."
Curtis' mother, Peta McVittie, said she would be interested to see how the all-boys kindy compared with the co-educational one her older son had attended.
