GCSE Summer 2020 - Thread 11 Carry on Corona Cohort - Starting New Terms and Settings

Hope the next few days brings clarity in which way to go Fools.

@FoolsAssassin DS also doing 4 A levels and an EPQ and has 6 study periods per week.

DS doing 4 but one is Further Maths, which only adds 50% to normal maths. For anybody doing 4 without FM at DS's school, 4 A levels would be 36 lessons over 2 weeks, plus they have 1 core and 1 tutor lesson, so 38 lessons/2 weeks or 3.8 hours/day.

with 4 here @FoolsAssassin, DS has 5 in week A and 5 in week B.

His local friend gone quite a trek away . He is finding it hard to put it into words. I think he is making friends, just a huge effort after a full on day to have to interact with others and not have that feeling of a safe space. The contrast of 6 months of nothing to being so full on and having to contend with the Covid stuff.

We definitely aren't particularly well today which isn't helping .

@FoolsAssassin what is the main issue? Does he just not like being away from home/struggling to make friends/something else? I think given all the uncertainties at the moment it would make sense to move him closer now. Can he go where his friends have gone?

Didn’t see you there Kingscote. He is back on a Friday. I have suggested a Wednesday but he just shrugged. The role thing for funding is Friday apparently.

We always knew it would be hard and nearly didn’t look because of the boarding. Obviously when he decided to apply we had no idea there would be a sodding pandemic !

If we had known about Covid I don’t think he would have applied. What isn’t helping is none of us are feeling well and we’re now under pressure to make a quick decision because of funding.

DS’s current timetable is rammed as a lot extra. Could someone whose DC is doing 4 say how many free periods they have a week please?

@FoolsAssassin We had exactly this problem 5 years ago when DD was in Year 7. She hung in there for a year and it did get a bit better, but in the end we moved her to Day for Year 8.

The problem is it's easy to say 'Keep trying until half term', but that's just too long if he could end up doing a completely different syllabus for his A levels at an alternative school.

Could someone get to him on a Wednesday and take him out for supper? Would splitting the week make it more bearable? Can he come back on Friday eve, or is Sat school/Sat sport compulsory?

Much sympathy - I remember those silent drives back down on a Sunday ...

@FoolsAssassin that’s a shame. It’s hard to pull out of something and admit it was the wrong decision but there’s no shame in doing so. Better to do it now before it’s too late to change. I think a lot of 16 year olds would struggle with boarding, especially in these current restrictions. If he’s happy at home, he’ll achieve in his A Levels.

I just don’t know and neither does he. I keep going round in circles, just not easy.

@FoolsAssassin only you can know what's right for him, it's never to late to change your mind.

@FoolsAssassin - that sounds tough, well done for being on the case and open minded.

Thanks, still some talking to do and under no illusions that a change to another local school would be easy. Such a shame we are closer as I do think he would thrive there but just don’t think the boarding is right for him.

Fools It's a shame when it's been anticipated as a fabulous opportunity but he's tried it and you know him best. Times are strange and boarding is not for everyone. At least you have a plan B!

I don’t think this is going to work out, might need to activate plan B. I think the contrast of nothing through lockdown then the intensity of the experience coupled with being away from home is just too much.

Londonmummy

Thank you @JustHereWithMyPopcorn DD1's housemistress is now on the case so I can't imagine the GP will know what has hit them if they don't sort her out. A tricky week as she was supposed to be recording stuff and having consultation lessons with conservatoire HoDs this week. DD2 is really in the adjustment phase from being the sole focus of attention at home to being one of 100 or so girls in house and one of the oldest so less likely to get attention. Will no doubt do her good in the long run but having corners rubbed off is never a pain free experience.

At least next weekend is exeat so they'll both some TLC and home cooking...

Sorry to hear about your DDs @Londonmummy66 I hope your eldest gets things sorted if that continues to be a problem for her, periods are enough of a pain for 5 days let alone 10 heavy days, poor thing.

It seems from speaking to other friends that a lot of DCs are finding it hard at the moment away from home, whether that’s boarding schools or uni. All the usual things that make it exciting aren’t happening and they are finding themselves stuck in a room with little socialising and no nice things to look forward to. Such a horrible time for kids in so many ways.

Dropped out for a bit as both DC having a few problems. Oldest (yr13) has had the period from hell for a week and a half and still ongoing. Is struggling to get to lessons due to flooding - not great when you're only 18 - I didn't get that sort of issue until 48. Has lots of support from house staff though so hopefully OK

New boarder DD has been calling me and being up beat and calling sibling saying she hates it. Eventually had to tell her that her cover was blown and it appears that she was overwhelmed by her IB timetable on top of all the CV19 restrictions meaning that she can't do the extra curricular things she was looking forward to. Also having been told she'd have her own room being put in a junior girls dorm of 4 as they are keeping each corridor one year group hasn't been great as she needs peace and quiet to work. She's now swapped to A levels and is finding it all more relaxed. We took her out for lunch today and bought her her GCSE present so she is more upbeat and looking forward to exeat at the weekend.

Fools so sorry to hear that DS is struggling a bit too - I think it takes some time to settle in and weeks 2-3 are often bad for homesickness. Hope he was a bit happier this weekend.

Sorry some of you are having problems with dropping subjects/getting subject taught/bubbles bursting. Hope it all resolves itself soonest.

Oh @Piggywaspushed fingers crossed it’s only the two. My lungs still not back to normal after being ill in March. I wonder how many are the same. Its not bad enough to talk to dr about (again) but disturbing.

I hope so too! At the moment the decision is two teachers to SI, both senior members of the English department.

Sorry to hear that Piggy, hope your distancing methods were effective.

I think so. I feel out of breath every so often but still don't know if I had it of course.