The first week of school runs surprisingly smoothly in Lynette Brasher's Doonside home, but the back to school period for the family has been an anxious one.
Twelve-year-old Jayde enjoyed her first day of year 7, but it's day two when she will have to share the playground with the bigger kids and that's making her nervous.
She swapped the kids' Kmart shoes, for which they're made fun of, to ASICs and bulk-bought the boys' school T-shirts in advance, when they're on special for $2 or $3 rather than $6 or $8 later in the year. Back-ups are essential for the "grubby" 10-year-olds who stain white clothes easily.The majority of students at the twins' school are in the lowest quartile of advantage, and almost 100 will be sponsored by the Smith Family.
Lynette starts the year on the front foot, preparing eggs and toast for breakfast and chicken wraps for lunch.They count Jayde's eight exercise books wrapped in sparkling silver contact, examine her timetable and pencil case full of coloured pens. Then Ms Brasher lines the kids up and slots a packed lunch into each of their backpacks.
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