The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013 continued

[Somelikeithott]

Hi all as I posted on previous thread, I realised we had hit the 1000 mark, do felt obliged to open a new one. Hope everyone finds this thread easily

hott...according to website (see Academic section/Lower school curriculum) its 2 languages for Yr6 i.e Italian and Latin...and 3 languages in Yr 7 i.e (Spanish or French), (Latin/German) and (Chinese Manadrin or Japanese).

Yes...so many more decisions to make (arghhhh) .

JohnnyT - im with you, could always start a new thread nearer the time and alert people to it?

Small phone tip: my phone number is programmed into DSs phones as AAA Mum which means it is the first contact in an alphabetical list.

I think this is why the a nice Frenchman phoned me when he picked up DS2s phone from the ski slopes during half term. [sigh] Of course I was in Croydon, they were there with their father but I was able to get his father to retrieve the phone. :)

Oh, and neither DS has used more than £10 per month of their PAYG credit.

Thank you Soup!

I wonder if it's possible to programme AAA Dad in for problems/emergencies/trouble at school and BBB Mum for everything else?

BTW I hear there is a place in Wallington that will embroider DS name on their sports bags which makes them easier to find and less likely to go missing. Will post details when I get them. Also Ive been advised to return the language option form as soon as you can after receiving it otherwise can end up not getting first choices.Would be nice to keep in touch with tips etc and with T parents as well.

Lol! Frazzled. Now you've given me food for thought.

Frazzled, we have AAA Mum and BBB Dad as they live with me and it's thus my job to deal with them! :)

burnt - good idea on a new thread nearer school time. I'm with you on that.

I'm told that a lot of old fashioned dry cleaner (the ones that do repairs) will sew name tapes on for you (at a cost). The hardest ones for T are the inch name taps on the sports bag and rugby socks.

The Tesco mobile have a capped contract option so ds cannot go over his very generous number of minutes and texts.

There is a huge variety of phones in the first few years (from none through to the very latest £500 model). Just to warn you. There is peer pressure. Sadly for ds I think teaching resilience is valuable.

The Samsung Ace is cheap for a reason. Its internal memory is very very limited, so if your ds likes apps then be wary! photos and music can be stored on an sd card. But I've found the phone so frustrating that ds will get my iphone when his contract finishes. If only because I know how it works!

Croydonmumtods I used that last year, they are very good but book early

Croydonmumtods - sorry typo should have read used that company last year they are very good, but need to book early

Ladymuck - another reason for letting him have your old iphone is that you can track him using "find my iphone". Not that I did this with DS1, oh no no no. :o Very useful for planning the timing of dinner!

croydonmumtods- I think the embroidery firm is nayims embroideries on Stafford road wallington

Thanks lfs2126 that's really useful.
Soup - love the I phone finder idea and I do need to upgrade mine....

Just checked Nayims website looks good and they do alterations as well - perfect.

The only issue I had thought about with PAYG is the chance of them being out of credit the one time there is an emergency (god forbid!)

Hi.
With the naming stuff ordeal I have ordered from these people www.easy2name.com/product.htm?product=easytags
I've never used them myself but a friends son has them on everything. You basically get named buttons with backs and a small hand-held applicator. You load it and the button clasps (like an earring) to either the lining or a label (or whatever you choose) and can't come off unless removed by the same applicator. Obviously you'll still have to sew on the big name tapes by the sounds of things but everything else will be easytagged in seconds!!!! You have to buy the start up kit but then the buttons aren't extortionate considering the ease of applying them and they are all reusable.
I'm hoping they live up to my expectations as me and sewing are not best of friends and I have experience of my ds losing jumpers and not getting them returned and have heard people just cut the labels out (at his primary school)- this won't help with jumpers but blazers and bags etc might make it back to us.
I'm off to the second hand sale on Saturday to see what I can get as back up for the inevitable "mum..... I can't find my shoes/sock/top/shorts/jumper" (delete as appropriate)
When the tags arrive I'm going to label his current school uniform (as I can reuse them) and I'll let you know how it goes.
Re: Phones. Cheap and cheerful as he has a iPod touch (bought from saved up chore money and Xmas/birthday money) so he has that for all the apps, games, FaceTime etc and he won't be allowed that to school.
Right off into the blizzard!!!!!

burnt_ this happened to me! I was able to top up his phone up remotely (Orange were very understanding with the lunatic mother-me!)

I think O2 have an "auto top up" option although I don't use it. DSs get a text each time they use any credit that tells them how much they have left. They tend to send me a text with their last remaining pennies and I top up online for them :)

Johnny - there is a contact list for Upper First (probably they do the same for Lower First) which is produced by the Whitgift School Association - you can opt in or out of supplying your details. They say "The purpose of the list is simply to help parents and boys to discuss homework, identify others who live nearby to share travel arrangements, develop friendships, and so forth." It has been very useful. Someone posted about meeting other parents - it's obviously very different from primary school on that front but most parents we met pitch side once the squads are sorted, there were a few social events in the first term for parents (quiz etc), also met parents via friends DS has made in his class and he made quite a few on the induction days, school bus, sports teams etc In the week before term starts there were 3 days of induction for new boys - encouraged to attend but not compulsory - bit like the sports course with a variety of activities from golf to orienteering, with library induction, music etc added. Then on the Friday afternoon all the new boys came in dressed in school uniform to meet their form tutor, be shown around, see their classroom/locker, told what to bring to school etc and then there was a tea outside in the quadrangle for all the parents and boys and teachers. So by the time they had their proper first day at school it was not that daunting at all. Not sure if same arrangements this year but remember getting a letter around this time with info on all sorts of things, including info on uniform and booking an appointment for that etc - letter will also come in due course re language choices

.... and there was an induction/information evening for parents too (no kids) - can't remember when that was but possibly June time - talk and info from Headmaster and various Lower School staff followed by a glass of wine or two in the garden after..

Thanks morange..thats exactly the kind of useful and practical information that I've been longing to hear .

Yes, thank you all for sharing your wisdom!

I'm a worrier, but I'm beginning to think DS (and I) may just make it through the first term.

racegirl - would be deeply thankful for your feedback on buttons - that does sound perfect.