St Andrews College Marayong Year 8 twins (L-R) Joel and Jonathan Longy, Alex and Anthony Futialo, Eidrian and Ethan Tibig; Joshua and Melody Attard, and Elyssa and Katie Bassili
If you think you are seeing double when you visit St Andrews College Marayong, you would not be wrong. In fact, the school’s Year 8 group features six sets of twins!
St Andrews College Principal Stephen Kennaugh said they have always had twins at the College, but not to the extent of six sets of twins in one Year Group. Five sets of of twins include: Joshua and Melody Attard, Elyssa and Katie Bassili, Alex and Anthony Futialo, Joel and Jonathan Longy plus Eldrian and Ethan Tibig.
The students’ Year 7 Leader of Learning Wellbeing Martin Gillogly said usually staff attempt not to have siblings in the same class, although, they can be placed in the same Learning Group and House Group. “I have mistaken Joel and Jonathan but usually teachers are pretty good recognising the twins," Mr Gillogly said.
Some strategies Mr Gillogly said he has put in place, so as not to get confused with all the twins is: "I get to know each twin individually and pick up little idiosyncrasies they may show. If I had both twins in different classes I would usually associate them with the person they sit next to," Mr Gillogly said.
Twin brothers Anthony and Alex Futialo both admitted to saying they were the other brother just to confuse their teachers
For twin brothers Anthony and Alex Futialo being a twin just feels natural, as they have six children in their family including another set of twins. However, Anthony said a positive for him is that “it feels like someone always has your back."
They are not shy about admitting they have pranked their teachers, with both admitting to saying they were the other brother from time to time. The brothers have even made a Twins Club with Joel and Jonathan Longy.
For twin sisters Elyssa and Katie Bassili being a twin can have its good and bad points. For Elyssa the good thing about being a twin is you are always going to have someone the same age as you and with the same life experience. “One bad thing would be that one is older, like my sister, who woke me up at 5am to tell me she was 13 and I wasn’t because she is two minutes older than me!”
All the twins can relate to being dressed the same or very similar when they were younger and Joel and Jonathan Longy even had the same haircut. They also all share the same friends and tend to have similar interests when it comes to sport and hobbies. The chance to share their secondary schooling with their siblings and such a large group of twins really is double the fun!
For twin sisters Elyssa and Katie Bassili the good thing about being a twin is you are always going to have someone the same age as you and with the same life experience