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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Good Luck today secondary school starters! and has anyone noticed...

54 replies

catwoo · 04/09/2012 07:37

how their 11 yo who looked big at primary school, looks like a little dot in their secondary school uniform

OP posts:
OwedToAutumn · 04/09/2012 21:41

DD2 started today.

When DD1 started at her secondary school a couple of years ago, I was warned that it was considered seriously uncool to pick her up and walk to the train or bus with her.

So, I assumed it would be the same for DD2, at her school, but she came home all sad that everyone else was picked up.

( We did do a practise run, yesterday, though.)

mosp · 04/09/2012 21:50

My dd1 also started today. She was incredibly stoic about it. Neither excited nor nervous. I have been feeling a bit 'pondery' about it (as in, where has all the time gone?) but apart from that, I have had no emotion. I didn't walk her there or collect her. I blame the ADs I'm on; they make me so unable to care about much.

Ninjahobbit · 05/09/2012 08:00

my DS starts today and already we are having 'issues'

It looks like its going to be a long haul, oh fun times ahead.

I am waiting to see how 'big' he looks in his uniform Grin

think when I get back a big coffee will be had!

LIZS · 05/09/2012 12:08

@LM - no, it was drinks and nibbles for us instead ! Did your ds have fun ? Chaos dropping off this morning.

dd forgot her football lacrosse boots which we discovered as we left the school shop and she walked past us. dh has just set off to take them in although I'd have just let her use trainers for today to avoid the fuss and embarrassment. Tried to exchange her swimsuit for a smaller size only to discover it was already the smallest !

Ladymuck · 05/09/2012 13:40

Yes, ds in his element, and we seem to have a fairly normal set of families in the class. Boys played football, all the girls vanished off together. Had to take ds2 to school first this morning, so we were early and it was quite calm. Not looking forward to pickup. Realise ds1 has gone in without towel for showering after games, nor with his bag named (though I have named everything in it - forgot the bag itself - aaargh!)

Madmog · 05/09/2012 14:33

My daughter was so excited this morning, she was up at 5.50am. I asked her if she was a little nervous and she just said, I'm too excited to be nervous. She had four friends meet at ours this morning which was great as they could all walk together and find their way. Fingers crossed, it will continue on a positive note.

Ninjahobbit · 05/09/2012 15:20

am sitting biting my nails waiting for DS to come home

TunaPastaBake · 05/09/2012 15:22

Ditto Ninja !

Ninjahobbit · 05/09/2012 16:02

woop a good first day,

I have already taken a copy of DS's school time table (wk 1) yay.

although He couldnt find the money I gave him for school Confused and neither could his teachers...I found it Hmm lucky he still had some money on his card from when he had his full day at the end of last year

I just have to hope the rest of his year goes as well.

SoupDragon · 05/09/2012 16:06

DS2 looked very excited this morning. :)

I just hope DS1 did indeed arrange to meet him somewhere after school so he learn his way home!

EcoLady · 05/09/2012 16:56

DD has made it home - very happy but tired. She didn't get lost Smile

Only homework is to cover her French rough book with something appropriate.

TunaPastaBake · 05/09/2012 17:53

Eco lady - used to love covering my school books - wall paper was the best Grin

Then re writing/ copying the timetable on hand drawn grids (no computers when I started secondary school )- DS timetable all printed out for him by school and stuck into his 'student organiser' !

VivaLeBeaver · 05/09/2012 18:50

Well dd says she has no friends. Sad

She's sat on her own on the bus, been by herself at lunchtime, etc. she says all the other girls have "paired off" already and she has no friends.

I've told her to try and push herself forward a bit, start conversations, etc. she says she's tried.

Tigerstripes · 05/09/2012 19:20

Viva, is she not sat in seating plans for lessons and formtime? This is the easiest way to make a friend: just talk to the person next to you! Her Teachers should be incorporating pair work into yr 7 lessons for this exact reason.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/09/2012 19:26

I'll ask her who she's sitting next to. Only second day today and as I've pointed out she hasn't had all her subjects yet so there will be people she hasn't met yet. They don't stay in their tutor group for their lessons.

Just noticed that someone from her old primary school who has started at the same school has already added 10 new friends onto Facebook. Dd hasn't added anyone new to Facebook. Am worrying now. I know she should really have Facebook but I do police it, just don't want her left out.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/09/2012 19:36

She says she has to sit next to boys. They're paired off in lessons girl/boy.

LIZS · 06/09/2012 08:29

Hopefully bus successfully negotiated this am. It helps that ds can keep an eye, probably from a great distance !

Sorry to hear your dd is unhappy Viva. I'm sure there will be plenty of chopping and changing of friends while they get to know each other and join clubs etc. At least on that score so far things look hopeful for dd.

LIZS · 08/09/2012 15:06

Aargh, PE top has disppeared ! Probably got put in another girl's kit bag by mistake yesterday but had tears this morning when getting dressed for netball. Have now acquired a "spare".

SoupDragon · 08/09/2012 15:08

We still have an entire rugby kit after the first games lesson [smug]

:o

Ladymuck · 10/09/2012 12:22

Left locker key at home this morning. School secretary didn't look hopeful about getting it to him! And now have just received music timetable which indicates he has a rehearsal tonight which he doesn't know about, as well as a clash of ensemble and music lesson on Thursday (bizarrely with the same teacher so at least I know it will have to be resolved!).

Younger son has just started Year 5 at prep, with a focus on 11+, so bizarrely he has more than double the amount of homework that ds1 got!

Ho hum

BadRoly · 10/09/2012 13:47

My baby dd has been sent home poorly this afternoon. Apparently she is the 4th in her tutor group - which makes me suspicious but anyhow. I did consider sending her back after lunch Blush

LIZS · 10/09/2012 16:16

oh dear LM . Has his tutor not kept a spare ? dd managed to reset her combination on Friday, fortunately with the locker open. She now has a key padlock ! Does he play a brass instrument by any chance ? Waiiting to find out if dd is going to a choir rehearsal now or not !

Ladymuck · 10/09/2012 16:33

I'm hoping that his tutor did have a spare. His class seems to have new lockers and the school provided the keys. I too am waiting to see if he will find his choir rehearsal or whether he is already enroute to the station! Apparently today's letter was meant to have come out a few weeks ago! And yes, you correctly guessed the type of instrument which I suspect narrows him down to 2 boys (the other being one of his closest friends!). Do you have a brass player? I am a fan of LT - she seems to get a lot out of the ensembles.

Ds2's year 5 teacher resigned suddenly and without notice last week, sending many parents into a wild flurry! . Apparently 2 of his classmates are due to start other schools by the end of this week!

LIZS · 10/09/2012 17:15

dd was told choir would "probably" start next week so came back on time. ds (4th year) is the brass player so may well meet your ds on Thurs !

Ladymuck · 10/09/2012 17:27

Lol!. Well ds1 stayed on for his choir and I'm about to head to pick him up. And there is a mystery over when the brass ensemble will be happening as LT think that she is teaching ds1 from 12:35-1:15 then ensemble 1:15-1:55. (Not sure how ds1 gets lunch but never mind!)