Have we got a starting Secondary School Support thread?

Jilted thanks for starting this thread.
DD1 starts Wednesday. She appears to be calm but I'm so nervous as she'll be going on the bus. We've done a couple of trips together though. She's more anxious if she will make friends as the few from primary that are in same high school aren't her friends. And she's terrible at making friends. Any tips will be well appreciated.

My DS1 also starts at secondary school on Tuesday. My dad has bought him uniform and shoes but we need to sort stationery and I think I have to figure out how to log back into Parentpay and put some money on. I'm used to just paying a fixed amount for primary school meals and the cafeteria menu doesn't say how much a two course meal, main course/dessert actually is, just that it comes to free school meal value. I'm worrying because I obviously want him to have enough food but can't really afford to pay for lots of extra items plus offered breakfast items etc etc!

Wish our local school had no ties and just the sweatshirt and polo shirt, blazers and ties all seems a bit OTT for my 11 year old. I just had a dress code which allowed a lot of scope, black jumper of any kind and black skirt/trousers ditto, no jeans, plain coloured blouse or top, and I went to secondary school at 13 after middle school for what is now called Years 5-8.

My daughter had had her packed school bag and sports kits bag ready by the door since Monday night- she doesn't start until this coming Tuesday. She is very excited.

Witches that's interesting, thanks for mentioning that! Think DH has decided to do some internet research and dive in at the deep end

My youngest is going. It doesn't seem as big a deal as when dd1 went, but he's so much younger than they were in both age and attitude that I do wonder how he'll cope.

Ours don't have ties. Sweatshirt and poloshirt, and, to ds's delight they can choose to wear shorts. That was the biggest thing he didn't like about secondary and they changed it last term.
When we were discussing schools with dd1 she much preferred this school and her no 1 reason was no ties.

Dd2 eats paper and has done since babyhood. It can be stressed related, but I think she just likes it.

It's been a slightly emotional chin wobbling day today and she said she can't explain why .... V frustrating, but trying not to make a big deal if it when school is just a few days away.

(Btw, is Gordon really a m*n? )

Oh no! There are no clipon ties at Dd's school, that will best fun afternoon!

Lovely to read lots of giddy kippers getting ready for school,hope they all enjoy it!

DD is slightly nervous and not hugely confident, she is going to a different school to her friends (I use the term loosely as the friendships have all fractured this school year) at her inset day shedidget on with a couple of people, but turns outmost intake already know each other so she's terrified of having to say hello to people and be 'accepted' by them

Hopefully in a short while this will all seem ridiculous but it's stressing her out at the moment, found she's been eating paper think it's a coping mechanism... Arrghhh

I like her organisation! She will do well!

Slightly nervous here, not helped by the fact that she'll be going on the bus to school for the first time (not a scheduled service, one just run for the pupils). We are doing practice walks to the stop, she never goes anywhere on her own!

Making a list tonight of anything she may need for school like a house key, new purse and have ordered new phone case. I keep telling her she has options if anything goes wrong - ring me for a lift, she will get lost/upset/in trouble at some point - I didn't come up with that options phrase, I read it recently in an article about calming down. Also practicing tying a tie, another thing that she hasn't needed to do before!

Oh Joyce

Definitely contact the school - do they have an INSET day before the y7s start?
Can you identify what she is panicking about and go through carefully to try to calm her nerves?

Oh wow, DD is a trembling mess, really panicking and it's only coming to light, need to ring school and forewarn them

That's sweet.