Oh! Oh! My firstborn starts secondary school in September. Surely that warrants a support thread?

Just been to into primary school to drop off 4yo DS's things and say hello to his teacher. DD2 wanted to come, and various of her friends from last year were there too with their younger siblings, so the big ones ran around like old times trying to forget that they were all off to new schools on Thursday. Her favourite teachers were there too, she didn't want to come home

Belle- I'd let him come home himself- he will probably have met other boys during the day who are going the same way home.
Ds would be mortified if I came to pick him up- I think he's looking forward to the travelling more than anything!
He is meeting up today and tomorrow with boys he met last week at the summer school the secondary organised- he got the numbers of 4 or 5 boys he liked, and they've been texting all weekend.

Ahh, poor thing. Hope he cheers up once he starts new school.

DD changed schools in November. It took her ages to settle and although she got on okay after a few months, she never really had the chance to make any good friends.

In a way, I am glad she is away from a certain circle of girls that made each day difficult for her. They didn't bully her or anything, but they didn't make her feel welcome either.

At least with secondary school, everyone is in the same boat. I know it was the right thing to move primary school, but I wish I didn't feel so guilty about it at the time.

I go back to work Wednesday, its gone so fast and I literally have to get everything ready tomorrow for DCs return to school.

He said he'd have to try it. I can't take him over, I won't have time. I know he'll be OK, he just has to walk around the corner and get on the tram.
He misses his friends from primary school so isn't looking forwards to starting. I hope he'll be OK once he's there. All I've had all summer is "I'm sad"

I think its better to meet him after school until you feel happy he can do it safely and sensibly.

How does he feel about doing the journey on his own?

Ds needs to catch a bus and a tram which is literally around the corner from where the bus drops him off, the school is 2 stops on the tram and across a road. He'll be OK (worried) I'll do a few days with him, there should be boys on the same bus though (worried)

I don't know whether to collect him (for a little while) though as the bus coming home is on the other side of a very busy road?? Is it better to just give him a mobile phone and let him get on with it?

We tested the walk today and it did take 25 minutes at a slow stroll which will no doubt be how DD walks!

There are quite a few routes she could take but the one we did today will keep her on main roads and will also keep her out of the path of other secondary schools. I would like to think there would be no trouble but you never can be sure. I have seen some schools gang up on kids from another school and don't want that to happen.

She can even jump on any bus for part of the way, just 2 stops. As long as she is clear that if the bus is not there she is not to hang around waiting for it. I'd prefer her to get to school early rather than late.

I feel much happier now she knows the route and she will be doing it again a few times this week. I might leave her to do it alone and I'll drive down to the school to pick her up. She is so tiny though!

ds is in for 2 hours on Tuesday and then normal hours after this. We are going shoe/blazer shopping tomorrow. (stress)

I was all set to send the boys in to school on Monday. Fortunately I just checked the school website and they don't start back until Tuesday!

I don't know where I got my misinformation from.

Dd will walk on her own until she makes friends. None of the children from her primary live near us.

I'm not worried about her not knowing where to go once she gets to school as staff meet children at the gate. She will also be assigned a buddy to help her settle in.

I'll time it today but guess it's a 20-25 minute walk. She could get a bus half way but if there isn't one coming, she'll be late!

DD starts on Friday. It is just a Y7 induction day, and she will finally find out about her form and tutor! She is nervously looking forward to it, I think! DH is taking her in and picking up and hopefully she will be getting the school bus with friends next week.

Think I'm finally done with sewing in labels for her and DS, hurrah!

Kid, how far does your DD have to walk to school? I would walk the route with her in the next day or so but come Friday let her walk by herself if she's happy, she'll be fine I'm sure. My Dd is going into Yr9 on Thursday and I remember the worries I had about her crossing the main road near us. DD on her first day went into a bit of a melt down and she suddenly realised she didn't know where she had to go once she got to the school. In the end her Dad took her and there where several other parents there.After that DD refused any parental company on the walk to school.

Good luck to all the Yr7 DC.

Is she going to walk with a friend kid?
Always helps.

DD starts Friday at 8:40 for the whole day along with years 11 and 12.
She is going to walk there this morning. I'll go with her but at a distance.
Wonder how many times we should do the route. I've picked a straight forward journey but it involves several side streets to cross. She'll be fine though, I'm sure.

I still have to get her blazer adjusted, the arms are too long!

dd lost 11 items of uniform in year 7.
I made her pay £100 out of her savings, as it was sheer carelessness.
Amazingly, nothing lost at all in yr 8

He lost his wallet on the induction day (it was handed in with the cash intact ), but it's made me observe him more closely this summer and he is very scatty with his stuff. So I'm labelling everything twice and not holding my breath.

I've told him I will pay replacement cost for first lost item, 50% of next and after that he will have to pay himself.

D-Day is Monday for us.

Yr7s just start at 8.40 am with the rest of the school, no staggered starts or anything! I think they all have extended registrations - to copy out their timetables etc and a whole school assembly.

It will be a long and tiring week, but once he's cracked that week he'll be flying.

"My dd was in tears last night saying she just wanted to go back to primary school. I said every single kid going up to year 7 will have said that some time these holidays. She cheered up a bit then."

Jux that is true! DDis super exited at staring high school but has several teary moments remembering primary school during this holiday.

WRT transport, I think it is one of my main worries, even though the bus stop is visible from my house. To make sure I do not pass that onto DD I decided she would take the bus on the first day (she asked several time if we could get her there the first day as apparently all her friends will get a lift on that day) I think if she cracks it right from the start it will give her more confidence (and me )

Schooluniform still not 100% complete, I am pulling my hair a bit! but, for the first time in years I am looking foreward to the l;abelling of clothes because DH got me my very own "label machine" yesterday!

Friday for us.
A normal day- 8.40 registration.
That will be a shock to the system!
There are 8 of them meeting at the end of the road to get the bus.

So when is D-day for all of you?

DD2 starts on Thursday. It is a short introductory day for the new ones only (+ parents! We get a tour of the school while she is with her form tutor, we have lunch with her, meet some teachers then come home at 2pm. Friday is a day off for the new ones - first day for the rest of the school - and she starts properly on Monday.

Good grief - I have to sew a name label on the sports bag - how am I supposed to do that?

I gave her a mobile phone recently. I was a bit unsure at first but now I'm pleased. It's an old handset on a cheap contract that can be cancelled at any time.
She is a bit of a pest though as she keeps texting silly messages to people. I was hoping the novelty would have worn off by now!

I managed to get the rest of her uniform
today so at least she can go in the complete uniform now.

I agree with you kid. You know deep down that they will be ok doing all of these new things but it doesn't stop you worrying does it? I'm sure if you go through the route a few times before then, she'll be fine. When your DH takes her on the first day, will he have time to walk with her? That might help :)

We got DS1 his own house key cut yesterday so that he can let himself in, as there will be some nights when I will be collecting the younger children / taking them to activities when DS1's bus gets in. Again, I know really that he will be fine - it's just new and different and something for me to worry about!