Quintuplets from Alexandra Hills will spread their wings as they head into prep at Hilliard State School on Wednesday.
Mum Melissa Keevers has mixed feelings about Charlie, Evie, Eireann, Abby and Noah Nolan-Keevers starting ‘big school’.
She says although she has some concerns about them embarking on their school journey, she also feels excited.
“Part of me just wants to stop time, but it is also exciting to see them grow and develop their own personalities more and more,” she said.
Ms Keevers said the reality that they are going to school hit her when she got them dressed in their uniforms.
She believes her biggest challenge during this school year will be helping the quins and their sister, Lily to do homework.
“I have a house mate who is their god mother who is a help, but it really is just me, my mum and whatever help I can get,” she said.
Lily completed prep last year so the quins have an idea of what school is all about.
“But I am not sure that they fully comprehend what it will be like,” said Ms Keevers.
The family made international headlines when Ms Keevers and her partner at the time, Rosemary Nolan, discovered they were expecting quintuplets.
Having not undergone any hormone-based fertility treatment, the chances of Ms Keevers naturally conceiving quintuplets was less than one in 60 million.
The Nolan-Keevers quins turned five on January 3.
They have been in the same group since starting child care at Gumnuts Kids in Alexandra Hills when they were 15 months old.
However, they will be in different prep classes at Hilliard State School.
Gumnuts Kids director Kristene Watt said being in different classes for the first time would help the quins to find their own self-identities.
“It will be a big change for them but they are ready for it,” she said.
Ms Watt has formed a close relationship with the quins over the last three and a half years.
“I have seen them at different ages facing different challenges and it has been very exciting,” she said.
“They started here when they couldn’t walk and are now five-year-olds ready for school.”
Ms Watt said there was “a sense of five-ness” about the quins.
“They really look after each other,” she said.
Having previously had twins and triplets in her care, Ms Watt said having the quins at the centre had been rewarding and she was going to miss them.
“The worst part of my job is saying goodbye to these little people because I get so attached to them.”