Anyone else's oldest child starting secondary this September?

my dd starts secondary school in september.
she has gone for her induction day today.
they were all sitting there like little lost
sheep.

My DS is starting too, although he'll be 12 the first week and I know he'll be just fine.

I'm also dreading the leaving assembly. They have a film made about them over the year which is beautifully edited and set to music, which they choose - I gather it's going to be 'Don't stop me now' by Queen. I'll need my hankie! They also sign each other's shirts and have a party in the evening.

DS went to his Induction Day at his secondary last week. It was just like him starting at Infants school, I was more worked up about it than him. He took it all in his stride and really enjoyed himself. I heard an audible twang as another apron string was broken!

forgot to mention... love your pics on your profile you have lovely children

Hi DumbledoresGirl, have you been for a look round the school and had your parents information evening?
My DD starts her secondary school in September and she has just spent the last 2 days there with all the other children that are going up. She had a brilliant time.
When they go in September the new year 7s will be the only year group in.. then they finish at 1:30, then they are all in the next day, but the year 7s finish at 1:30 again... I think basicly what I'm trying to say is that they are eased in gently, they also have buddys for their tutor group to help them if they get lost.
I am so looking forward to her going there... I wish it was me!

Didn't see the cutting edge program... thank god!

went to a parents only meeting last night to meet the form tutors, head and talk rules and money.
my sons form tutor was off so we had the deputy head of yr to show us around and give us info, it was a real shame as he could not work the power point so it all got messed up but hey thats computers!!

sounds good yr 7 have their own playground they can go onto the bigger playgrounds if they want to aswel. we went througt the uniform and dinners

And I have a soft spot for Y9 "Kevins"
Find it very hard to keep a straight face when dealing with them as they are so giddy and amusing

........spelling mistakes from a teacher ...

Dumbledoresgirl, I teach in a secondary school. I didn't see the Cutting Edge programme, BUT nearly all the kids in my school are lovely.

They are polite, pleasant, co-operative, well informed, and very concerned about destruction of planet. There are some horrible ones, but very very few and far between. Even then they are generally just giddy rather than nasty. I think there are very few nasty ones.

Mostly there are entertaining, amusing, lively and interesting, AND I always cry when I loose my form at end of Y11, having had them for 5 years. They are almost like your own children, and I get very attatched to them. SO....they can't all be ugly and nasty can they??

Don't worry please, they all come out as normal adults in the end...

My ds is 15 - he has a knitted Tiny in bed with him - off Tots TV, remember ? And when his friend comes to stay the night he brings his special magic pillow that helps him sleep. They are all butch on the outside, but when you see them sleeping, aw! (And don't tell anyone). My dd1 moved to secondary last year. I think the first term is hard, and physically tiring - it is so long, especially up to midterm.

awwwwwwww cute
wish they didnt have to grow up

My oldest, DD1 will also be starting secondary in September. It seems like a big step, but she's looking forward to it, and is quite mature for her age. She has in the last month reached 5'4", and size 6 shoes, so she is officially bigger than me! But reading your post, dmo, reminds me of the boys in her class. I think in Y6 you can really see how girls start to mature earlier than boys. The class photo this year was so funny..... BIG girls, next to tiny boys!

my ds1 will be 11 on thurs but seems very grown up ds2 will be in yr6 in september his birthday is the end of august (he is my baby) and he still wears age 5-6 clothes (got him 6-7 but they were far to big)

It is all happening so fast now. DS has his induction day on Friday then a yr 6 leaving party that evening. DS is one of the youngest, still 10, so I do have concerns.

DG, ds is the same about taking cuddlies to bed. They are so different with their friends though. He has just come back from 5 days away with his school trip and coped well with that - didn't seem to miss me!

He is my last one at primary school, so it is really the end of an era for me. DD is at secondary school, so I do know what it is like. She is in year 9 and hasn't had any problems so far. She was one of the oldest when she started so as DS is still only 10, I do think this is a big difference.

It doesn't seem to matter what stage they are at - there is always something to worry about!

My dd starts in September too - I cry every time I think about it. So embarassing!!!!!!

my ds1 is starting in september
going to be so sad, just thinking about masses etc hope i can get to the last ones as i'm a childminder and its such a deal to go such things
maybe i might book his last day off so i can cry

DD1 starts her new school in Sept also. There are about 5 going from her school. She's really excited about it, but I'm panicking (quietly). Sure she's going to forget everything, miss the bus, not bring homework home etc. Hopefully I'll be a lot better next year when dd2 goes.

I am going to be a wreck at DS leaving> it is a small church school and have a leaving service and always sing Shine Jesus Shine.They all get a friendship book presented to them as a leaving present.

I think my DS's new school have a lunch time club where older children take the newbies under their wing.

I have been so worried about him being able to organise himself as he has a problem with time ie not even knowing what day it is, but I have seen him flourish in the last couple of months. They have had a revision club for SATS in the morning before school so he has been taking himself along to that, always making sure he has his pen etc so I am not so worried now.

Yep, my ds is going to Upper in september but it's a bit different here because they go to upper at 13, not 11. So he's already a man/boy iyswim.
Yes, I agree there's lots to worry about and just because you send em to a good school doesn't mean they won't encounter drugs, bullies etc (I have a friend who says the only difference between state and private is the price of the drugs), you have to trust that they will cope as they will have to in life. And cross the pitfalls if they happen. You don't want to pass your anxiety onto them and fwiw, most of the teenagers I know are nice kids. The media just tars them all with the same brush and some (but not all) of them live up to it.

BAGPIPES! Nooooooo! I am a wreck now and there's still 8 weeks to go!

our kids do a school year book too, they also take in a school polo shirt and get everyone to sign it. They did the Friends theme too at our school, then at the end they all threw their hats in the air (you know those ones university types wear for grad?) They sign a song "Moving On" and I really can't bear to focus on the words as its too emotional.

The whole school gathers outside and the P7 children each get a chance to ring the old school bell - this is the only time it is allowed to be rung.

Then in the evening we had a get together and the teacher came and when she left it all went a bit emotional for everyone.

They are your babies for ever, I know my mum says that every milestone you get more and more emotional

have tears pouring down my face...I need to get a grip!!!

We have them all processing out of school while all the younger ones line the corridors clapping them. They are preceded by a piper (bagpipes) and there is a bell tolling as each of them exits the school

all the mums were wailing

SOUTHEASTASTRA!!!!! You just made me cry thinking about it!

i cried during my son's last assembly. they played the 'friends' theme and had a slide show of all the children.