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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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NCO 2019

840 replies

stringchild · 26/09/2018 08:07

Traditionally for many years MN has had an audition thread; so here it is as the auditions start in a few days 😀

OP posts:
Boyskeepswinging · 12/03/2019 21:22

Not me, I'm afraid. I always thought the skirts were outdated and impractical. Don't get me started on the 300 pages of rules about every little thing dictating a girl's appearance from shoe design to hair while the boys had "Black shoes, black trousers, white shirt, NCO tie". It's nice to see the NCO moving into the 21st century and towards a more level playing field.

ZakStarkey · 12/03/2019 21:55

Hahaha Boys- indeed- lots of rules for the girls!
Polo shirts/shirts seems so much simpler.
Last year I did get a tie- even though I have girls- I thought the ties were nice. Smile

Doubleup · 23/03/2019 09:35

The polo shirts are enormous! Might be sending it back and getting a smaller size - although that might be too short. It’s the width that is the issue.

Pollymalex104 · 23/03/2019 11:37

I think they will look like an orchestra of matadors! I have just ordered a shirt and gone up half a collar size to make sure it fits all year. Hopefully they will have some extra shirts at the course in case anyone needs to swap sizes.

Wafflenose · 23/03/2019 11:48

I liked the red skirts (although I never saw Rara's... I could only see her top half in her concert) but won't miss buying "completely plain slip on black shoes with no embellishments, buckles, bows, shiny bits" ad infinitum. Also won't miss the endless rules over everything from hair ties to what bras were permitted! Hmm

Doubleup · 23/03/2019 12:17

Ah yes, the shoes rule. Not helpful when you have a dd with very skinny feet. Lucky if I can get any shoes to fit with a C fitting. To say nothing of having to buy the regulation 3/4 sleeve white shirt which she would refuse to wear other than in the concert - and only came in a 2-pack.....

CoffeeTeaChocolate · 23/03/2019 14:48

Ah... the 3/4 sleeve shirts. Which my DD said she could move her arm in probably (violin player) so we ended up having to cut up an extra 2inches...

Boyskeepswinging · 23/03/2019 14:53

When the U13s all wore red T shirts for the BBC's 10 Pieces thing last year I actually thought it looked OK. Just a shame they couldn't keep them! Goodness only knows what the fit of the boys shirts will be and of course we won't know until we see them in the concert ... ho hum ...

Pollymalex104 · 23/03/2019 16:45

DS says there is a lot of disappointment that it has changed amongst the musicians themselves on Social Media!

Boyskeepswinging · 23/03/2019 19:06

I don't think the almighty cock up over the boys shirts has helped one iota, either, Polly.

It does feel a bit odd that my DS won't wear his tie again. I always liked the boys uniform and thought it looked super smart. It was just those bloody awful skirts and the stupid never ending rules about the girls that needed updating.

squintsoftheworldunite · 23/03/2019 23:46

I’m another who was looking forward to having a DD in a red skirt for the first time, and she was excited too. She doesn’t like polo shirts.

Wafflenose · 24/03/2019 08:35

Rara hated wearing the skirt and said it felt like a sack. I would have liked to have at least seen it, or a photo of it though.

Doubleup · 08/04/2019 14:19

We have a very quiet house at the moment with DD2 at NCO and DD1 still away on her D of E practice expedition. She’s back later today, but I suspect that we won’t be seeing much of her while she catches up on sleep.

Musicdoc · 08/04/2019 22:00

Another quiet house here.... DS on Mains and DD on U12s.... both happy and no issues with both of them trying to ring me at the same time yet!

Doubleup · 09/04/2019 10:59

Haha, yes the complete lack of contact - I know it well! I do know DD2 got a WhatsApp message from me as I can tell she’s read it, but no response. She will still expect some mail from home though Smile

Remind me what your DD plays Musicdoc - I dip in and out of the thread and can’t remember.

Wafflenose · 09/04/2019 11:31

I found Goo reading all of her NCO mail yesterday. We write to her every day, and she has kept all of it from the age of 9. Last year she pushed a lot of her feelings about NCO down, but it's clear that it still means so much to her. She said she's fine about me just writing to her once this year, but I might get the pets to 'write' to her too!

Musicdoc · 09/04/2019 11:48

doubleup your whatsapp trick is great! My DD plays violin... how about yours?

waffle that's lovely she has kept all of the mail. My DDs teacher is there so I left some (small) wrapped gifts and a card for each day. Saves me remembering to post them! My DS is less high maintenance... but I must remember to send him something!

Doubleup · 09/04/2019 12:23

Musicdoc, she is less anonymous as she plays bassoon.

NeleusTheStatue · 09/04/2019 17:34

Loved the videos on the Twitter. 🤣

Musicdoc · 09/04/2019 18:00

Loving the videos too!

Boyskeepswinging · 09/04/2019 18:38

Yes the Twitter videos are excellent. Great publicity for how much fun NCO is coupled with friends and family being able to see what the kids are up to. Well done NCO!

Boyskeepswinging · 09/04/2019 18:39

Ha ha just realised how old we are calling them "videos". My DS will say "What's a video Mum?" Grin

Doubleup · 09/04/2019 18:58

One or two more on Instagram too.

NeleusTheStatue · 09/04/2019 19:00

How do they call them now?? Grr, sounds so ancient..

It's great to know he's actually changing the clothes. Ha.

bostik · 10/04/2019 11:50

Just came to say that if anyone's littler ones are anxious about the NCO residential, there are a couple of nice videos of the U12s on Facebook... but I think they might be the same as the Twitter ones mentioned above! (Can't get to grips with twitter...). Can't wait to show DD. Waffle that's so sweet about the letters. I might pinch the idea of a letter from our pet when DD away. :)