June 2013 - the thread that lasts us a while

[Sunbeam18]

Starting our new one!

Less than a week until school starts now! And DS goes back to preschool on Monday next week. I think DH will be glad of the break from the kids!

I applied for DS' school place this morning, which is rather scary! Hard to believe that both kids will be at school in a year's time.

Gosh, its such a different system here in Scotland - I haven't even applied for Keir's place yet and don't think we do so until November!

Yes, not long! We're ready to go and DD has a party this weekend - it'll be nice seeing her friends a few days before they start reception. So strange to think that a couple of her classmates will already be 5 when they start (there's another party next weekend too - parents of those born in early September have to be super organised!).

We went to get her black school shoes last week and she's apparently gone up two sizes in two months!

I can't believe your DS will be starting school next year, Fluffy! Time is flying!

Whereas due to our ridiculous system she finishes nursery on Friday but doesn't start until 22nd! And not full time until half term. Killing. Me.

That's just bonkers, Bean!

Bean, isn't it private nursery? Why can't she keep going until 22nd?

Because all of her friends have left. Because they all start school at sensible times. I didn't want her to be the last one standing. On her final day I went to collect her and she was sat alone surrounded by kids I didn't recognise. Definitely time to leave!

Ah, I see, sorry. Must be a nightmare trying to organise work around such a late start, you have my sympathies!

Hello! Is everyone on half term this week? DD really needs the break, bless her!

School appears to be going well, from what I can tell. She met the reading dog they have as a reward for doing well with her key words, anyway!

We've got actual books for her to read to us over the holiday. That's a job for later on. 😁

Hello! No, it's half term next week here. My niece back home had half-term last week and my nephews are off this week so it varies a lot!

I'm glad school is going well, it is here too. Ah, keywords. DD seems to have a photographic memory so she's doing well with those too. I was surprised how much sight reading they still have to do early on with the new phonics system (it was all new to me, I was a sight reader).

Her reading at school has continued from where she left off at nursery so she hasn't had to repeat anything which is good and she's been bringing reading books and new keyword lists home every week (and we have to write in a reading record book, as we did at nursery).

Ours didn't do formal reading teaching at preschool. DD seems more than competent though!

I was a sight reader too. This is a steep learning curve for us all!

I think it was only because they're part of the school and therefore know exactly how the school teaches it.

It is! At least I'll feel better prepared when DS starts! In all areas. There are strange unknown (Welsh language!) events on the timetable that they're expecting parents to attend soon and which are making me feel nervous already!

Our two have just started swimming lessons. DD is so good at it really quickly. Helped by the fact that she has misguided confidence in her swimming costume ('I have a swimming costume, so I can swim!' 😂). Aren't they so funny?!

DD started 6 or 7 weeks ago (the week she started school!)! She has picked it up quickly too. From her first lesson she's been very confident in the water (surprisingly, as we didn't go swimming very often beforehand and she hated being splashed in the face before starting!). Going under accidentally after jumping up too high in excitement at the start of her first lesson helped I think! She came up happy which wouldn't have happened if she'd been with us! I really enjoy watching her every week.

DD did intensive lessons over half term (4 hours of lessons) and now she's going after school on a Weds.

She's only been swimming once since she was a baby, so she's surprised me too!

I've no idea if any of you are still out there but I'll try anyway.

I feel like I can join the conversations about school stuff now. We've just had our place for August confirmed in the local village school. The best bit is I've been added to a Facebook group for all the mums so have gotten to watch all the batshit conversations up close.

Current major concerns are the fact that there will be 2 primary 1 classes so the poor wee darlings might not be in the same class as their mates. Apparently some of them may need serious tlc to get over this childhood trauma. Its highly entertaining for me.

Ooh, activity - hello!

How exciting!

There are two classes per year here and they mix them up every year which I think is a good thing. They get to do lots together anyway.

Our Facebook group is a bit boring, it's mainly people chasing rsvps! I think the biggest drama (from a few) was about the reception children playing in the main playground with the older children - in previous years reception played in the nursery playground. DD loves mixing with the older children so it didn't bother us (and everyone seems fine with it now!).

DD is still loving school and DS starts at the school nursery in September - time is flying!