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

lol at the sherlock holmes homework.

ds1 (then reception) came home last half term (ie summer term) insistent that his teacher had said that, as they were doing space as their topic, they had to do a trip to space to see what it was like . And not just any bit of space - no quick trips to the moon, no, it had to be outer space...

cue big argument and lots of tears when I said (as nicely as possible!) I really didn't think that his teacher had said to go on a trip anywhere, let alone outer space. And that regardless, as they hadn't yet invented rockets that could take little boys on half term trips even to the moon, then we really really weren't going on a trip to outer space.

He still thinks he's been hard done by, despite the fact that nobody else's mummies or daddies managed to take them to space

ds2 seems to be very settled and enjoying himself immensely. He's had quite a bit of homework, but is managing to stay on top of it.

He's joined boys choir and his singing lessons start next Friday.

He's lost one of his school jumpers, but claims to be checking lost property on a daily basis.

Sounds like things are starting to fall into place for a lot of our very grown up year 7s

Dd is definitely tired as she reminds me every morning, but happy and finding school pretty easy so far. She seems to have made several friends in her form (she was extremely careful of not being clingy to anyone as she was the only one from her old school going there, and it worked a treat apparently!), and also meets up at break and lunchtime with a couple of girls she knows from her theatre group.

Her form have a lady helper who shepherds them from class to class so they don't get lost, but apparently she's not very good and ends up getting them lost and late... It could all be on purpose to make sure they pay attention of course

She seems to like most of her teachers, apart from the science teacher (although she was better yesterday as they did some experiments), and is particularly taken with her history teacher (who is also head of the lower school, very nice man) who sounds excellent (and "does start jumps in class even though he is 54 years old", according to dd). He seems universally liked, so I am delighted for her.

She is looking forward to a big lie in this week-end! So am I.....

Enjoy the week-end everyone

Could not get to my computer for the last few days, nice to see that friendships are starting! We had a busy week here, on Tuesday DD was supposed to go to a friends house after school. Friend did not see DD in the bus, called her mum to report her missing, her mum called the school then myself to tell me what was happening. I was desperately trying to call DD who was not answering for about 15 minutes. She eventually called me as she was indeed in the bus (phone on silent), just not on her "usual seat". When she eventually checked her phone at the bus stop, there was 16 missed calls from myself and friends of hers who were worried, I thought it was really nice the way they care about eachother.

Yesterday she forgot her PE bag in the bus in the morning. Bag, fleece, new trainers,top, trousers all gone and no sign of it at the bus station lost property.

SoupDragon you can invite my Dd anytime, she would certainly feel quite at home at yours.

I wish i could remember how long it was before i felt I'd made friends. having said that, the friend I made in those first weeks is still a friend now, many MANY years later :) It's good they're starting to make friends, DS named his first new friend yesterday, having been sticking mainly to boys he knew from elsewhere.

I'm rather nervous about having friends home for tea as I suspect very few of them come from bog standard semis with peeling paint and a weedy driveway!!

Good news on the friends front, kid. DD has invited 2 friends back next week, but I'm not sure their mum's know yet, and she doesn't have their numbers!

I agree, it is a horrible shock getting loads of homework - DD didn't go to a pushy prep-school and didn't get any homework after the SATs in Y6. But the amount of homework she has been given this week has been much more manageable and she is ontop of it (after a melt-down yesterday!)

Anyone would think that it was my fault that DD has so much homework by the way she is carrying on.
She sneaked off out to play tonight knowing full well she has a piece of history HW due in tomorrow.
She had a supply teacher last week and claims she wasn't told to do the HW, I have a feeling she wasn't listening when the HW was set or explained.

She has done one of the 3 timelines she was meant to do. She has picked out the other 2 that she will do and will be producing them over the weekend. She is a bit worried about getting a detention but she needs to get her priorities right.

Over the weekend, she will be doing Spanish, Science, ICT and possibly some Geography HW.
To think she didn't have a single piece of HW in Y6! What a shock to the system for her.

No feedback from the sch regarding the bullying incident. Nothing else has happened so hopefulyl its all sorted out now. DD has some older girls looking out for her who are friends of my nephew. That will give her a boost of confidence and might even help her make some more friends. She has asked if one of her friends can come round our house next week.

the car is entirely my fault as I naively thought I could order a new car and have it in a couple of weeks. As my old one was about to comprehensively fail its MOT, I had to get rid of it before the new one is ready! Sadly, the school bus only runs to school so I'm relying on friends due to the bizarre impossibility of getting home by public transport.

I hate pushy prep school parents. DS is coping admirably with the homework considering he had one piece a week at primary. Personally, I'm rather glad he's had 7 years of playing and acing fun rather than 7 of being pushed hard. I think your DH behaved admirably by running away as i would most likely have said something rude :o I remember biting my tongue when an acquaintance said she moved her son from DSs school to a private prep in Y1 because he'd spent his time making sock puppets but hadn't learnt to read... I wanted to point out that DS2 had managed to make sock puppets and learn to read.... I'm not sue I'm cut out for private school!

Apparently it is DSs turn to take cakes in for his form on Monday I don't remember this being included in the school prospectus.

V impressed with your DSs SATS result, Wilf! although I'm more impressed with his friend thinking to take his PE kit off the bus :o

It is amazing how they seem to have grown up suddenly. [sigh]

Sorry to hear about the car, SoupDragon - how are you coping? Is Ds getting the school bus to and from school?

Ds came 120-something or 130-something (anyway not quite last ) in the Mob Run. Your ds should share his tip about the shed with the others!!!! Dh went and was bored senseless by some mother who said her ds was coping wonderfully with the homework as his prep had "pushed him so hard". Dh ran away faster than ds had managed....

Ds has his watersports day tomorrow so his entire day consists of watersports am and Games pm!!!! Excellent story re the dramatic life-saving episode - I should imagine my ds is more likely to be saved than saving..... .

What a mix-up re the music leson Wilf - your poor ds struggling in with all that stuff to no avail! Glad it was good new re the sports kit - I'm dreading ds leaving his stuff on the bus! Very impressive SATs result.

Well, first few minor disasters under belt. PE kit (which he needed next day too) left on school bus. Fortunately his mate, who gets off after him, had foresight to take it home...

And today DS1 battled in with his bag, lunch, PE kit AND guitar (and raincoat), turned up for the guitar lesson we have paid for, having been told by head of music where and when to be, and no-one turned up!

I rang the school who said normally the music teachers send someone along to get them out of lessons, so someone seemed to have either not put him on a list or given him wrong info...

On the plus side though his new maths teacher told him he had got 100% in his Y6 maths SAT. Which I am he is massively chuffed about.

And he does seem to be thriving there: grown up loads with all the new independence, has made new friends, loves doing different challenging subjects...

He had his watersports day today too. Saved someones life, apparently, when they got trapped under a wind surfing sail. I rather suspect the truth is less dramatic but it makes a good story!

LOL... I nearly got a commendation for my Art :o Actually, i just offered creative suggestions for that one.

He's absolutely knackered... Came 99th I think and has identified a shed halfway round where he intends to hide out for a lap next time! how did yours do?
I couldn't go and watch as we currently have no car at all (and won't for at least another fortnight which is a challenge).

SoupDragon - glad to hear about your RS homework!!

Ds almost did completely the wrong Maths homework yesterday but, fortunately, I got him to check the teacher's email first!!!! Hope your ds isn't too exhausted after the "Mob Run".

The assistant head of year phoned me this afternoon to find out what had happened. She is going to speak to the girls tomorrow.
I had arranged to collect dd from a certain st after school. I was editing there for 20 minutes but then had to collect ds. I phoned sec sch to find out if she had a detention. I was trying to keep calm and they advised me to get ds and call them back or go to the sch. Dd was waiting at ds's sch! I was relieved but not very impressed with dd!

She almost got a detention for not having full pe kit. They let her off because the shop hasn't got the socks so it's not out fault. I'd better try and get them before next Wednesday

I hope the sch are helpful with supporting your ds. It's not like you can just wave a magic wand and make all his worrying go away. They seem on the ball, time will tell if they do walk like they talk!

Dd started new primary school in nov of y6 at SA+.
I had one IEP meeting between then and July.

No point in dwelling on it now, I can just look forward and deal with the future.

If you can, ask z if she knows a boy called callum their mum is lovely, we kept in touch for a while after they moved but haven't been in touch for months and months.

Wow, look at the time, I'm guessing I'll be tired in the morning!

I do know I&Z, I've known their mum through another friend for years, as well as knowing them through school. It's a small world.

Your DD's primary school should have passed on any SEN information. I spent about an hour with the Head of Year 7 doing the transition forms for the children we sent. She was really thorough.

Lets hope they sort the laptop out quickly.

DD was identified as having high indicators of dyslexia at her primary school (who did nothing to help her)
New school have made no contact or mention of any SEN. This worries me slightly but according to their diary, there is a Y7 parents information evening on the 23rd.

Do you know my lovely twin friends at your school (I&Z)? I love them so much and really miss them They used to attend my school a few years ago.

DD is the tiny little one in the class, I'm sure she will stand out to anyone!

DS had to find the definitions of various figures of speech - which he has ended up copying from my grammar exercise book from 1981. We had all the definitions dictated to us - they were such thrilling lessons we had but I'm pleased it's come in useful!

We haven't had any t-shirt designing, perhaps that's yet to come!

Homework issues are compounded by him needing to type everything as he has hypotonia and his writing is painfully slow and spidery. At the moment we only have my work laptop that he can use as he has broken my PC. You wouldn't think his Dad works in IT! We spend our evenings fighting over the laptop.

His name does end in R - I think he knows who your DD is.

I'm glad they're dealing with things so quickly; the head of Year 7 is really nice - I did the hand over with her for all the children going there from the school I teach at - I'm holding off ringing until next week with my long list of things, not least being when is DS1 getting the promised laptop to use in lessons as he's obviously struggling with the written work.

so sorry to hear your DS is srtuggling with the homework TheCheeseAlarm They will do an extension if its needed but not on the day its due in.
The homework seems neverending, so an extension probably isn't that helpful.

Whats the English homework that is due in tomorrow? DD only had to design a T-shirt which is finished. I am just hopeing there wasn't more homework that she failed to mention! She has completed her PE, English and Maths H/W that is all due tomorrow. We She only has 3 more pieces to complete by the 20th, so it finally feels like we can breathe!

I phoned the school tonight for advice on who I should speak to regarding the incident. They have taken it out of my hands and will deal it tomorrow as this is a form of bullying and they don't tolerate bullying at all. I am very happy with their instant response, I don't feel that it was that serious for such a knee jerk reaction, or maybe I am just hoping it would all blow over. DD's problem also started in Science today. Apparently, she pushed this girl and thats why the girl told her big sister. My DD is tiny, I would like to meet this Y9 girl myself, but I know that won't help matters and I am a grown up (apparently )

I think DD knows your son, you said his name started with an O didn't you? Does it end with an R?

Kid - sorry to hear your DD is unhappy. DS1 lives in the library as well, apparently he plays scrabble every day with his new friend whose name he does not know, but it might begin with an N or perhaps an S or maybe an R. He had a problem with a boy in his science lessons last week but he seems to have resolved it now.

He got all overwhelmed this afternoon as he needed to finish his biography of Colin Jackson tonight but he was given English homework to be in tomorrow as well. He arrived at the school I teach at in tears wondering how he was going to manage it all. I think the exhaustion has set in.

Dino - glad you're getting the PE kit back - I'm sitting here trying to work out the best way for DS1 to carry everything tomorrow to minimise the chance of him leaving his anywhere!

Well, dd doesn't like school today as she is being bullied. Those are her words, I am yet to decide if it's a case of bullying. She is scared to walk to or from school but hasn't yet said she doesn't want to go to school.

Dd's version is a girl in her form has told her big sister that dd was mean to her. Big sis has told dd she will pull her hair out if she ever sees her again.
I need to speak to dd again to find out what actually happened and to see if she can deal with it herself or if I need to contact the school. I really didn't need to be dealing with this right now, biut I'll do what I have to
do.