GIVEN all five members of the family were getting ready for school, it's understandable if things were a tad chaotic at the Willetts household this morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Kiama Downs family - parents Bob and Heather, as well as their eldest children Keegan and Erin - will all be battling a case of the back to school blues.
Mr Willetts is principal at Berry Public School, while his wife is assistant principal at Gerringong Public School.
Keegan (year 5) and Erin (year 3) will be starting a new year at Gerringong Public, while youngest daughter Elysse will be starting kindergarten there.
Elysse will attend school today before start
ing full time the following Monday.
Keegan and Erin will also return to school on Wednesday, while their parents had a staff development day yesterday.
Mrs Willetts said Elysse had been "counting the sleeps" and couldn't wait to start school.
"When you have your first two you build it up as a big thing, but it gets easier," Mrs Willetts said.
"It's a big deal for her [Elysse], and we have to make sure it's a big deal for her, and make an effort."
Following the release of the ASG Planning for Education Index released last week, ASG CEO John Velegrinis said regardless of whether choosing to educate a child in a public, private or systemic school, parents need to start planning financially for education from the time their child is born.
"What we're advocating is that by putting a little bit away, parents are more likely to achieve the goals and aspirations they have for their children."
According to the report, NSW is one of the most expensive states to privately educate a child in a regional area ($343,385), second only to Victoria ($344,355).
In regional areas, a public education is most expensive in NSW ($54,421), making it the most expensive state to educate a child in the public system.
Mrs Willetts said it was expensive to send a child to school, regardless of where you send them.
"The expense of sending a child to school is going up a lot more though," she said.
"Things like extra-curricular excursions on top of costs are always there."
However, they would be better off financially not paying for child care.
The couple agreed that going back to school had a "different feel" for their family, and while it was a welcome prospect not to be governed by bells and timetables while on holidays, it was exciting to return to work.
Mrs Willetts also teaches and said although "you can't leave school at school sometimes, which can be tricky", they had learned to manage.
