The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013 continued

I'm sure he'll have a fabulous time :)

I've just packed 4 little Trinity boys off on a birthday treat to Thorpe Park. I can't believe they've finished Y7.

Just dropped ds off at sports course - all the other boys looked much bigger and all seemed to be carrying lots of kit! Hope he'll be ok - think he was a bit nervous...

Eyes - the Parents Association run a social evening fairly near the start of term for new boys parents - drinks and nibbles. You will get another chance to have a chat with your son's form tutor, and meet parents from your son's form (labels to id who's who!!).
suz - yes you can drive into school to drop off and pick up. Basically you have to drive very slowly - common sense! Be warned the first week or so is chaos as obviously lots of parents are picking up new boys, and also there aren't really any after-school activities so nearly everyone is going home at the same time. You will be directed where to park at that stage, it is often on the grass areas round the side of the school. Arrange with your DS exactly where you will meet or both have phones at the ready or it may be a while before he spots you!! After the initial chaos, I usually park outside the sixth form centre/swimming pool. there are benches near there where most of the boys wait.
I think some of the JBugs go to France- my DS didn't so not really sure, but both JBug forms do lots together and get to know each other pretty quickly so he won't be limited to just his own form.
Frenchlady - don't worry. My Ds was the only one from his school last year in the Junior Form, but very quickly made friends. The school are very good at helping the boys settle.

Hello to all mums. My ds is going to T and I am very nervous as none of his friends from primary are going to T but I guess he will make new friends. Anyone with a child in 1M? Regarding the drop off his tutor said you can drop them inside the school towards the sports hall .hope this help.

He has got Mr Moralee who seemed like he had an interesting background. I forgot to ask are you allowed to drive into the school grounds before and after school and are there any particular rules or tips on this?
Yes, I'm sure he will be fine although I think not being the brightest child in the class will be a bit of a comedown for him after 6 years as top dog at primary.
Do you know also if many J-Bugs go on the Disney trip? I have put his name down and hope he has a classmate or two for company.

We had a good time too, and felt really positive about the school. In the 'mingling' bit after the speeches and meeting the form tutor, it would have been good if parents of each class wore a specific coloured dot. That way, you would have been able to go confidently up to other people. aAter all, you're really only interested in talking to other parents of boys in your ds's form! It was very useful having the chance to speak to current parents though, and get some tips.

He will be fine suz. My DS didn't know anyone but the school make it easy for the boys to mix and make friends very quickly. The induction afternoon is much more relaxed and he will get to know some of the boys better then. If he is into sport he will quickly find himself drawn into lots of extra training sessions etc. They usually ask the new boys along for a pre-season training session before terms starts, I think in football, possibly rugby too.
There is a huge range of boys in JBugs, but my DS has found friends - not necessarily of the type that we would have expected at the beginning either! If your DS can go in with an open mind, and be open and friendly with all of the others (most of whom will be in exactly the same situation) he will settle in quickly. Which form tutor has he got?

It was fine for me, lots of info and I did like meeting the form tutor in their future class. DS was incredibly quiet throughout and is usually very confident and chatty. He said afterwards that he found some of the boys quite babyish and 'geeky'. He's a rough n tough sporty type who always speaks his mind.
I've reassured him that there will be some great sporty boys in the group so not to make judgements too quickly. I think it's dawned on him that he's leaving his good friends soon and going a year early doesn't bring that closure like year 6.
I know he will be fine but in hindsight if they'd played some games or sport to bond he might be a bit reassured.

Racegirl and Suz - are you feeling after the new boys and parents morning at T? I know I felt alot happier afterwards last year

Oh -- meant to say that refers to Trinity! Headmaster's newsletter can be accessed through the school website under 'recent news'.

For prospective parents, you might want to amuse yourselves by reading the acting headmaster's recent newsletters. He seems to have been hoarding anecdotes and rhetorical flourishes for years in anticipation of the opportunity.

Yes, we are off to Trinity tomorrow. Seems like ages since we were last there. Have put my DS down for December French trip, he doesn't know a soul going but was very keen to go. All very excited for tomorrow, me not him it seems!

Hi
Anyone going to the Trinity new boys and parents morning tomorrow? DS can't wait to meet the other boys and his form tutor. We're definitely more nervous than him!!

fatal my ds has gone to previous sports courses and loved it although cant go this time. We had long discussions about Danish long ball but seems to involve throwing balls at people and was great fun. Not a lot of swimming usually done and quite relaxed and fun so I'm sure your ds will be absolutely fine.

That was meant to say 'not the most confident of swimmers' but my phone, along with much else this morning, is conspiring against me!

Good to know LM - ds could do with a bit of building up

Info arrived about sports week - ds v excited about Danish Long Ball (is that right??) but less so about swimming. Not the most cnOh well!

The 13+ contingent isn't that large (in comparison with the 10+/11+) and tends to come from the local prep schools, so I imagine relatively few parents will have been following this thread I'm afraid. I know of several Year 6/7 waistbands which have expanded due to the food available at Whitgift, so wouldn't worry on that score.

Strange, there are no parents from 13+ group who attended the parents meeting? Comments please.

Yes, excited and curious at the same time. We were really impressed when we visited W, the lady working in the canteen was very nice and food looks delicious. Anyone knows if food tastes good ? My son will have breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday there ......

Hi Hott- you were not who i thought u might be then. The woman i was refering to sat on left (facing front) roughly in middle with blonde hair. She looked like she was looking around trying to spot mumsnetters .
I must have been sitting not far behind you in the middle section!

Hott - where were u sitting? There was a woman who i thought was u but i dont think she was with her dh. I have spoken briefly to the person i thought you might have been before in the car park.

basildonbond thanks for the tip - a pillow would never even have crossed my mind!

Lake Garda trip is fab - apart from the journey ... make sure your boys take a pillow for the coach (yes, I was the crap mum who forgot ...)

It is actually tough for me being an overseas mom not to be able to attend these meetings. Thanks for sharing the ABC concept. Envy all of you as you can share the excitment first hand. You know, we can only fit school uniforms in Sept.! Please keep posting so that I can keep up.