Y13 Summer term: Finishing Lessons, Starting Exams and leaving Sixth Form

[catslife]

So our dcs are now on the last term of sixth form, finishing off lessons and starting their exams.
How did that happen - doesn't seem that long ago since they started Y12.
This is the thread where we support each other as our dcs revise and start their exams, finish off coursework, leave sixth form and make plans for what to do with the rest of their lives. This may involve going to uni or other alternatives.
Every Y13 parent is welcome to join in whether new to these threads or if you have been with us for a while - the more the merrier.

Dd won't turn 18 until July, so she took no interest in the local elections.

Congratulations to your dd Lobster.

Dd quite thrilled his morning as the candidate she voted for won the seat from the incumbent.

Fantastic news lobster ! Many congratulations to that DD.

oh that would make me very teary Lobster it is lovely that she is leaving school so appreciated - it will be strange when they start again little fishes in big ponds

well I was wrong about the Potholes and Rubbish collection, seems the election was fought entirely on Brexit and immigration issues, Labour retained and improved.

ursula that is exciting, to feel your vote made the difference.

dd is off school today and headed straight for the library. Everything she is revising is s organised, and ds2 is so organised too, that I am beginning again to think I have to intervene in ds1's revision er...arrangements.

I am going to set up a desk for him in the small front sitting room - his room is just not conducive to concentration and he never goes to the library or anywhere else to study. Four weeks proper till first exam and if he just does a week per exam paper he might get better marks..So if I could just put a week's worth on notes in front of him downstairs and break it down into something manageable..well I can only try..

lots of spring cleaning happening here as I try desperately to keep the tide of mess at bay. I've bagged up lots of their clothes and just put them in the loft to get them out of the way for the next month.

Well done to your DD HesMyLobster

That's brilliant Lobster! Congratulations to your dd!!

I think dd has been most bemused by the shenanigans that go on in local politics.

Congratulations to your dd lobster!

lobster
Congrats 🎉🎉 that’s excellent

Very happy today! As we finally have a some what diagnosis gp who is an advanced practitioner said she matches the symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa!
Dd is relived and has to go for bloods for an overall Heath check

I hope the diagnosis helps your dd fantasy sounds like a breakthrough to me.
Congratulations to your dd lobster.
No elections here - they were all last year on the same day as the General Election. So dd still hasn't voted yet.

lobster congratulations to your dd that is excellent.

fantasy it is good to have a diagnosis and I hope it helps with treatment.

Dd was another one who voted for the first time yesterday. We had a competition between Labour and Green and I was somewhat disappointed with the result. Dd steadfastly refuses to say whom she voted for.
As she has no classes today, she is staying at home hopefully to work. She had a concert last night and was late home so is very exhausted with a pain flare on top.

No election here so not on our radar this time. Ds1 has had some test scores back and is pleased with them as he looks I course for his grades.
He is still stressed though which shows itself in rudeness and disrespect which he apologises for a couple of hours later.

We have a kitchen trailer on the drive now which should make life easier while the building work goes on.

Congratulations to lobsters Dd and fantasy I'm so pleased your Dd has a diagnosis.
to all who have started exams already.

That's fantastic Lobster.

Good news Fantasty, hopefully she can get the treatment she needs now.

Drummer that's a good step forward with the trailer. Hope it all gets ahead quickly.

DD heard today she got full marks for her English Lit. coursework, so far so good! Not heard anything yet from History, which has been a bit more controversial.

She’s had bloods done
But she’s worn out, very emotional night she can’t stop crying,
It’s awful seeing her so ‘not her’

Fantasy hopefully the diagnosis is the beginning of sorting out your DD's problems for good. Fingers crossed for her that the end is in sight.

Congratulations Raspberry's DD - excellent result! Full Marks in English coursework is supposed to be almost impossible so that's extremely impressive!

if you meet the AO1 2 3 4 5 or whatever it is, you can get full marks in English Lit - I just talked to someone else whose daughter received A* in her English coursework with not much help from anyone; mind you I think only the inspired manage it Raspberry!
[ds1 still lurking at the D level, but he is happy with that - a few others in his class received notional D's too)

It is in a magical May morning here, my order of compost is about to be delivered and a lot of mum angst is going to disappear when I've lugged heavy pots around all afternoon and done some more weeding. Dandelions are springing up merrily.
Ds1 has skipped off to revision session in school (in EXCELLENT spirits, why I do not know, his revision still seems very sporadic), dd has hotfooted it to the library first thing to meet her friends AND revise (she told me yesterday that revising alone is very dismal, she needs 10 minute interactions with Real People)
Ds2 is revising to classical music, he seems happy to be alone when he revises as long as there is loads of space for him to spread his papers and boxes around and he can check football scores/sports. (has the football season ended, I'm not really sure

Fantasy I looked it up on wikipedia, that looks like a very difficult condition for your daughter, I'm not surprised she is feeling low now. Chronic conditions are so overwhelming to get your head round, but then to some extent they can become managed, I've met a few mums whose children have struggled with debilitating diagnoses, and just the management alone can cause such stress, but then then they do begin to live life to the full despite the problems - its the mums and dads who go on being affected. to you, it is such a strain.

Would she venture out on this lovely day and just sit outside for a bit? Presumably you can get her out of school now for medical reasons if that helps her mental state, dealing with the horrible girls too.

Haudin just talking to someone who dd is about to firm Edinburgh, did your dd still make that her first choice? No need to answer if it is too outing. We were discussing all the pros and cons of Edinburgh from a distance (ie London) if you are highly academic/ambitious but need a bit of tlc/pastoral support.

Yesterday was the last day to firm uni choices apparently. That seems a loong time ago.

Ds has now returned in a very bad mood, saying he is too hot and giving a bitter laugh when I suggested joining dd in the public library for revision. He's managed to have a fight with ds2 on the doorstep not even getting as far as the hall... territorial ishoos, it's like having 3 cats that are all fighting over the available resources.

Drummer building work aargh, but at least it is a sort of distraction and something to look forward to apart from exam results
^rudeness and disrespect* ds is constantly apologising before he even finishes his sentences, I don't really take it seriously though, I know it is difficult being hassled, even if I cannot help innocent enquiries. We are getting very little information out of him on any subject.

He told me someone in his class has got into Oxford, I suspect he is keen on her and hoping he might bump into her when he goes to the Poly... Most of his class appear to have their sights on Leeds or Birmingham

Beautiful day here too. Too beautiful for DD not to ride but she is home and revising now and I am watching Badminton.

nettleskeins Yes she firmed Edinburgh. We are in south west England but as my mum lives in Edinburgh, dd is familiar with the city. (And I am an Edinburgh graduate - I don't think I unduly influenced her ).
We found the disability service very good at an initial interview.
There wasn't much in the way of pastoral care when I was there in the dark ages but even then I found it useful to have a director of studies who could look at your progress in the round. They do still have the director of studies system.

Lobster & Raspberry congratulations to your DC - enough emotion to well up reading it as end of an era approaches! Fantasy I do hope the school now take the issue seriously! Drummer hope the kitchen is sorted soon.

Well, 4 weeks to go on diary countdown now - gulp - feeling all too real especially as prom has been now & they all looked so lovely & grown up in their dresses. The mum's were emotional too as we reminisced about them in their little uniforms years back & holding their tiny little hands. So, time to busy myself & clear out DD's She Cave now - got to occupy myself with mindless work to stave off thoughts of exams & meltdown tears from DD

Nettlleskeins lots of my students are keen on Leeds (party city) and Birmingham (unconditionals) too. We are in S Manchester so they aren't too far from home either.
DD has done one or her 2 essays for this weekend and still has 3 Classics essays to plan. It's interesting hearing about leaving proms too - DD did their prom at school so now she's at a 6th form college of 3000+ students in the city it's v different. There is a leavers party in a big hotel in town but not until the end of June. She seems much more streetwise and independent academically than my 6th formers who stayed at our school. I'm hoping that will help in September.
I think she just wants to get on with them now but the first exam isn't until June 4th