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.

"DS1 & friends filled a paddling pool with sand on the school field, set up a barbeque and inflatable palm tree and came in dressed in beachwear."

I take it you don't have our weather then. It has been pouring down most of today. We have had a lovely May so far and the grass round here has been looking parched, so the rain was needed. I put some weed and feed on the lawn yesterday evening in anticipation of the rain.

It's been non stop rain here all day too. DD is gutted, she was all set for a long lazy afternoon in the beer garden, instead they're all crammed inside the pub and she says the atmosphere is brilliant but a bit louder and more lairy than she'd hoped. I'm just hoping nobody gets silly and gets them all thrown out!

Second that sounds like lots of fun, apart from the few that get carried away and spoil it!

Ursula so glad your DD had a lovely day, although the fainting sounds a bit worrying, hope she's ok and feeling better after her lie in.

She's always been a fainter. She normally throws up afterwards but fortunately avoided that. Can you imagine the shame. Puking on the Queen's back lawn!!!

Sounds like most of the dc who are leaving school this week are having good weeks.
Fancy dress, pranks and drinks seem to sum it up :)

Sorry for those who due to bullies or illness can’t enjoy these last few days of school.

It has been half term here this week and ds has been studying 12 hours a day. Tried to get him to relax a bit but lord he is driven.

He is doing the Euro Bac so has 5 subjects (2 in another language) with written exams and orals for 3 more subjects. Says he can’t afford to revise less - so I am trying to not interfere and plying him with good food.

Roll on the end of the Exams.

Blimey. I'm lucky if DD will revise for 6 hours in a day

6? We probably manage 4.

Any reduction on 4?

DS1 will probably average about 2-3 hours a day in half term.
He is not aiming for A or A* grades though.

DD is so she had better ramp it up. But there is always a YouTube video to look at, or a prom dress to be chosen.

DD is another 12 hour studier. Tomorrow is her last day in her job though, so she won't do very much, but she will be doing it most of the days in the holidays. I would prefer her to have a few breaks though.

She wanted me to do a big pile of flashcards this evening, but 3 questions in my voice has given up!

Last day here for DS - presents for form teacher from the class, somehow became DS' responsibility - he commissioned me to bake and ice a cake. The tutor is keen on university challenge, often playing it in form time, so DS made him a mock buzzer - a wooden box complete with acrylic name plate, and a buzzer, and the electronic gubbins inside to make it light up and say the name of the school and his teacher's name. Apparently it was very well received! As a further maths class they also bought all of their maths teachers individual presents, including those who taught them in Y12.
No pranks in school, but fun in the couple of timetabled lessons, then a leavers' assembly and then a trip to the pub.

Ds1's celebratory gesture was to appear home in a horrible red hoody with his school logo on it...why oh why did he choose Red for his Leaver's hoody, very unsophisticated it looks too...like the Wolf wearing little red riding hood's cloak.

There doesn't seem to be much else happening..there was Church though. and apparently some food.

He is asleep now, overcome by it all, poor wolf. School tomorrow morning first thing so that didn't last long did it - adulthood..

Probably 4 hours revision a day on a good day over half term, with numerous breaks.making it feel like all day..

I think the last night panic over unrevised stuff from the Gscers has given him a bit of a wakeup call. He may do more than usual. He says he wants to watch BBC King Lear next week and that will help him with Othello.

Just picked DD and boyfriend up from the pub. They have been there all afternoon.

Ive just droppped DD and friends back at the pub! They were there all afternoon, came home to eat and glam up and have now gone back "out, out"!
My duties are finished now though, they'll have to get a taxi home later - I'm finally opening the wine and celebrating the start of half term!

dd is a 6 hours a day person, but very consistent through the year. She's just got in, but still has 3 weeks or so after half term. Hanging in there.

Panda that's cool!

6 hours a day! Blimey, we might get 3 days of 4 hours (again taking up the whole day) along with the other days of 1 or 2 hours. And yes aiming for AAA...
A handbrake fail on one of our minibuses at my school crashed into a classroom causing a huge amount of damage.we were lucky not to have any serious injuries. I hope that wasn't a prank that backfired!!
Off to speech day at DS's school, I had panicked messages about midnight from him, obviously an argument with the girlfriend. His best mates parents have invited him to go on holiday with them to a Greek island, all expenses paid. I imagine GF is unhappy about this.....

I hope speech day goes well! I also really hope the handbrake fail wasn't a prank

I think dd just carries on like normal school days when it's revision time, she's a creature of habit!

Much less than fur hours, much much less.....

Dd seems to work much better into the wee small hours. But that means I never know what time to wake her in the mornings.

I am feeling a little better now that I know DD isn't the only one putting in fewer hours than I think she should. Although, once she reaches saturation point it is rarher pointless doing any more because she doesn't take anything in.

To be fair, she has done hundreds of flash cards for biology during her frees, and throughout the year, so often it is a case of me testing her. She is also doing loads of past papers/specimen papers for chemistry and biology, and revision workbooks for geography. I have suggested that she does the same as school hours next week ie 5 hours a day with breaks.

ursula ds also seems to do far more work in the middle of the night and doesn't like waking..

he has gone into revision now at school, I dropped him there at 8.30..he was yawning. I gave him some money and begged him to go out with some acquaintances for a coffee or something, failing that go by himself round Kew Gardens...anything to break the monotony of school followed by hanging around at home not quite revising.

Was also discussing his holiday "plans" with him - he doesn't seem to have any ideas or schemes, so I've had to suggest a few. Two family events provide a framework location wise. Also trying to suggest some paid work; he is keen to do this but doesn't know how to fit it in the weeks ahead when we are away some of the time, so that needs a lot of fine tuning. Masses of confidence building needed this holiday, a sort of pre-uni skills base. He didn't do D of E or any volunteering last year or the year before, stopped at Bronze in Year 10. He has missed out on everything which might have been construed as team building. However, I am going to try and leave my negative thoughts here, and start afresh this summer...

Derek what a heavenly invite. I remember going to a Greek Island at that age, well more a pennisula. I remember suddenly having an OCD phase on washing all my clothes, when there was a water shortage. Diving off the harbour, getting sunburn, my white dress having the wrong straps, strange Greek Apples like large globes of wood. It was my first holiday without parents but with my friend's parents. I think there was also a [English]granny there which caused a lot of issues, we were all roped in to entertain the friend's granny who was getting quite bored, so there various arguments about whose turn it was to be nice to her..when we all wanted to slope off the harbour...honestly the callousness of youth..

The leavers events at dds sixth form college were very well organised with a paint-ball type activity, music venue with a band along with food!
The evening finished off with dd and friends at our house for pizza.
Can't quite believe it's all over apart from the exams.

I am not sure how many hours dd does as it varies depending on how she is feeling. It seems to be enough though!

dd is very inconsistant about revision, tends not to start till atleast 9pm, can be just half an hour to a good 12 on varying days, but she does maths physics and chemistry so she doesn't have to remember many quotes or anything like that, so i think that affects how you have to revise.

but thinking about it she is also aiming for As and a*s so I think I might need to give her a bit of encouragment on her half an hour days

I spoke to ds about his 12 hour days. He has terrible hay fever at the moment and is looking run down. Reminded him he can’t burn out too early.

He is very driven (unlike me :)))). And acknowledges he is putting himself under a lot of pressure. Have encouraged him to take a little time out today - it is going to be 30 degrees. Will try to convince him to come for a swim at the lake at some point today. Let’s see.