Silly questions about starting secondary school

[Uberly]

Hello!

I wanted to start this thread so I could ask all these silly questions that I have about my DS starting secondary school this Sept.

I hope that others who have or had children at secondary school might suggest things us new to all of this may have missed.

Also, please feel free to use this thread to ask any of your own questions (that's if this thread takes off). I think I'm right in saying that I'm not the only one walking around a bit confused in this new experience!

So, my questions are:

• what pens should I be buying for DS to write with? School hasn't said. He's used to those handwriting ones, but I had to use cartridge pens. Will he need that too?

• will he need a gum shield? Again, school hasn't said and he's not one for PE anyway! I'm guessing that the answer to shin pads is yes, he'll need those.

• should he be wearing a watch for school?

I'll add more if and when they come to me!

Thanks

In previous years the young scot card was given on the first day of high school. I presumed they changed it this year as other parents complained.

She's one of the few not to bring home the £668 Switzerland trip.

School photo's were done yesterday and are terrible

I've checked: none of his other friends at the school have it, so presumably it will be sorted some time later. Maybe 'cos the school uses a Q card to load up for school lunches, there is not the same urgency?

Ds hasn't brought home any school trips (nor has he had any photos taken yet): the the biennial ski trip is this coming February, so it is last year's S1s and 2s (ie now S2 and S3) who will be going. Just as well, as cash is a bit tight at the moment!

still all going well prettybird? it's 'd-day' here tomorrow.....think we are all ready.

Still seems to be enjoying himself. Brought home his first homework (French) last night - but wanted his dad to help. I'm the one with the French degree! but I had just got him into trouble for not doing his chores! His dad sent him through to me.

Tie is not tied quite so neatly now!

lol - I've said to No1 son to try to do a medium knot and medium length tie and then to see how everyone else does it, I've said to him to try to start of in the middle with everything until he sees what the done thing is amongst High school boys - at least No2 son will have a better idea next year :)

Glad it is all going well - we need to divvy up the homework help, I've already been allocated Maths as OH is no mathematician! He is better as the namby pamby stuff like sociology etc. I'm the one for the cold hard facts, bit of a role reversal in our house - that's why he ended up being home with them until they went to school.

We're pretty balanced across Arts & Science although dh is the geographer and I'm the French graduate. Won't be able to help ds with his SPanish though - unless I learn it in parallel!

Other bit of advice for new starts: make sure you've got needle and thread easily accessible. Both buttons on ds' blazer have already come off - lost one but that's OK as blazer came with a spare but I was having to sew buttons on in a hurry this morning!

Not good as they are not exactly cheap! Son's blazer is an unusual blue colour so if the buttons get lost there is no chance of matching them - sure there will be 1 spare, but if the buttons come off, I think I will be taking the blazer back for the shop to sort it!

Neither of us are good at languages other than a teeny bit of French - neither of us took an 'o' grade in any language (other than English!)

Each first year has received a toshiba tablet in part in a pilot scheme. Dh took dd to get it last night as I had another meeting. It's an android and dd was able to sign up with her gmail account. But it's bigger than we expected so having some difficulty with the packing into the bag.

I was impressed that they will have to scan a barcode in each class which locks down the apps, so no surfing the net or playing games. They will only be able to access what the teacher allows from her own tablet.

Your DS will be fine, you'll be surprised how fast he will settle in!! Cheap pens, as someone said good ones will be 'borrowed'. Don't panic about getting things sorted all in one go - a watch is a must, a cheap one will be okay. Do not allow them to check their mobiles - in our school a mobile out around school is instantly confiscated and a parent has to come in and collect it!! It is not returned to the child!! Be warned!! If the school has a good integration policy then you should be able to approach the school about anything you want to and I can assure you nothing you tell them will surprise them - they will have heard most of it before!! Your child will almost certainly receive a planner - USE IT!! This is the first point of contact between you and your child's tutor. CHECK THE SCHOOL BAGS for notes etc. PREPARE THE NIGHT BEFORE, PREPARE THE NIGHT BEFORE, PREPARE THE NIGHT BEFORE......got the message? Good luck and best wishes at senior school!! Let us all know how it goes!!

Plastic wallets for loose homework sheets then a ring binder to keep them in at home with more plastic wallets - they'll get loads of loose sheets!! Spare emergency money hidden somewhere in the school bag, if there is an emergency or something is urgent then the school will contact you and let you know what is going on - KEEP YOUR INFORMATION DETAILS UP TO DATE - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS BE KEPT UP TO DATE!! And check the school website - they're usually good!!