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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Year 7 Starters

578 replies

pippistrelle · 30/08/2015 14:18

The new uniform is all ready, pens and pencils bought, as many of the practicalities that I can deal with now have been dealt with. So, just a few days to go. Daughter is getting nervous and, to be completely frank, I am a bit too. Not because I don't think she'll be fine but because, well, change can be daunting.

Anyone else at that stage too? Or, if you're already past this phase, how long did it take until you all settled in to a new routine?

(Couldn't spot any other general Year 7 threads, but apologies if there are any others already.)

OP posts:
HPFA · 17/09/2015 15:55

Massive meltdown last night from DD and then this morning she discovered she'd lost her Bus Pass! So everything seemed to be going wrong. However shortly after her getting on the bus I had a text to say one of the other girls had picked it up off the floor last night. So hopefully that will have cheered her up a bit.

moosemama · 17/09/2015 16:07

I suppose the tiredness is bound to come out in moods and strops to some extent. Hope they both settle down soon.

I have some good news. Ds2 has just arrived home and he has his phone back! Grin It's a bit odd that the person concerned didn't bring it back yesterday, especially as they had PE again anyway, but I'm just glad they decided to do the right thing and hand it in today.

Ds2 was remarkably calm and sensible about the whole thing, but I don't think he'd realised he would have lost all the videos and photos of old friends from primary that he saw over the summer but might not see again. Particularly the friend that moved away.

Going to get straight onto making sure it has a tracking app installed and is registered with immobilise as well to increase the chances of getting it back if something similar happens again.

I'm wondering if customising it stickers might help too - by making it more distinctive.

moosemama · 17/09/2015 16:08

HPFA glad your dd got her bus pass back too. Today must be the day for finding lost things.

smellylittleorange · 17/09/2015 16:49

That is great moosemama but bizarre! i have Dd's photos set up to upload to google in case she looses them .

moosemama · 17/09/2015 17:17

Good point. Dh mentioned doing that this morning, so must remember to make sure we do that as well.

I can't help wondering if there is any connection between us getting the phone locked last night and it being handed in today, but I guess we'll never know.

We've come up with a sly place for him to keep it during PE in future. Won't divulge it on here, for obvious reasons, but I doubt anyone would think to look there.

HPFA · 17/09/2015 17:18

Thanks moosemama, I had expected it to get lost but maybe not just two weeks in!!

moosemama · 17/09/2015 17:28

Two weeks is brilliant compared to how quickly my boys would have lost it! Grin

DontCallMeBaby · 17/09/2015 18:46

Clubs - DD's signed up for nothing as such, there are loads of clubs but it's a bit unclear how signing up works. She auditioned for the school production last week, has no idea what happens next, but is going along to find out about backstage stuff tomorrow. First cello lesson at this school was on Tuesday and her cello has yet to make it home! I want her to do orchestra and/ or string group, and choir, but she's being non- committal. I have the musical talent of a cat in a bag, you see, I don't want her to waste what she has.????She's carried on with Guides from last year, and trampolining (doing the latter right now).

moosemama · 17/09/2015 19:32

Ds2 has announced this evening that he's joining two different types of Minecraft club - no big surprise there! Grin

He's also expressed interest in table-tennis, but wants to have a think if he can cope with that and PE, plus walking home all on one day.

DontCallMeBaby I broke my father's heart by not sticking with my Spanish guitar lessons. He would have given anything for the opportunity of lessons when he was a child, but ended up teaching himself (he was still far better than me at it). He paid for both my sister and I to have lessons and we really didn't want to go, didn't practise and resented the time it took. Fast forward thirty years or so and I really regret it. I would give my eye-teeth to be able to play an instrument. None of my three play anything yet. Both boys did viola in primary school, but didn't take up the option of continuing lessons after Y3.

balletgirlmum · 17/09/2015 20:18

We are into homework nagging now! Admittedly he's better than he was in juniors but can't get away with stuff now as parents have a log in to see exactly what has been set.

Niw admittedly he had school musical rehearsals followed by soccer school last night but when we got back I caught him watching champions league on his iPad instead of doing homework last night.
Tonight he tried to claim he couldn't remember how to do it.
He wants to stay behind after school tomorrow to use the gym (but he's too short for the cycle machines!

BlackHillsofDakota · 17/09/2015 20:40

Dd has been in tears tonight, she feels like she hasn't made any friends and feels lonely at lunch and break. I've told her it's only 2 weeks in and she will make more friends. Also that it's tough and even adults would struggle. Any tips on how I can help her make friends?

IguanaTail · 17/09/2015 21:03

Is there a lunchtime club she could join?

BlackHillsofDakota · 17/09/2015 21:19

Not lunch time but after school there is. They do seem to be mainly sport for boys! She was interested in football but there is only boys football not girls. I might suggest drama.

IguanaTail · 17/09/2015 21:24

Or could she get involved helping with the school magazine maybe?

balletgirlmum · 17/09/2015 22:20

So pleased that the phone has been found moose.

balletgirlmum · 17/09/2015 22:23

Black hills - is there a head of year or pastoral care you could send a quick email to. We've been told not to let issues build up. I know it's hard. Dd has Aspergers & she really struggled with friendships especially as she's a day girl in a mostly boarding school.

Ds goes on a 3 day year 7 bonding/activities trip next week & apparently they deliberatly mix up the children to help them to integrate.

Lilaclily · 17/09/2015 22:33

So glad the phone & bus pass were found

Black hills - could she go to the library at lunch and just read something familiar to settle her down ?

Ds has done table tennis on Mondays at lunch time so far , he'd love a minecraft club !

moosemama · 18/09/2015 11:03

Phew! What a morning. Tears from both boys, while my 6 year old dd went to school cheerful and happy.

Ds1 has a sore throat, is a bit snotty and is having some issues with a teacher, that should have been sorted out before he went in yesterday, but weren't. All that was exacerbated by not seeing dh last night, because he was late home from work and knowing that dh is away tonight as well. He doesn't really 'do' disruption to his routine, so it's a bit much for him on top of going back to school.

We had a huge fight to get him in the shower, then he refused to get out, then refused to get dressed. By this time his taxi was on the drive. Dh went out to talk to them and they agreed to wait, but once dressed ds1 just collapsed into my arms crying and it was clear we couldn't put him in a taxi for an hours' drive to school. So, he's tucked up in bed. All screens have been banned (he was seriously unimpressed with that) but his gaming magazine has arrived and I've said he can read that if he can't sleep.

No sooner had we dealt with that and sent the taxi on it's way, then ds2 woke a bit late, came flying downstairs, half dressed and sobbing that he was going to be late for school and he couldn't do his shirt buttons up (panicking). Managed to talk him down and reassure him that there was plenty of time, all he had to do was eat his breakfast, which was all ready for him and have a wash, as his bag was packed and waiting by the front door. He was ready with 15 minutes to spare in the end, but dh walked him up to meeting his friends as well, as he was going to the station anyway.

Got to school and dd's best friend was upset because she'd fallen in the playground, so dd went off holding her hand and looking after her - must have been the morning for it round here today!

moosemama · 18/09/2015 11:07

Lilac they have one that's called 'Minecraft School' which he seems to think will be teaching the basics - he almost didn't go because he's pretty good at it already - but I think will be using Minecraft to teach other things. I know some schools use it in both Science and Maths and actually he's doing his Art homework in Minecraft this week (with the teacher's permission), so there's plenty of scope for it to be used educationally.

The other one is 'Redstone Club' and iirc, that's about joint build projects.

There used to be a Minecraft Club at ds1's school, run by a senior pupil, but it was closed down after a TA/LSA lobbied the school to ban Minecraft for being too violent. Hmm

CarlaJones · 18/09/2015 11:22

My dd would love a Minecraft club.

Lilaclily · 18/09/2015 11:42

Oh goodness Moose!
You poor thing !
Cuppa and biscuits all round !

moosemama · 18/09/2015 13:27

Thanks Lilac

Lilaclily · 18/09/2015 14:26

We did have a bit of a rush this morning too & dd ended up running after her brother to give him his pencil case at the bus stop !

allwornout0 · 18/09/2015 17:22

Seemed to have had a good 2nd week, not enough homework for my liking but dd is more than happy with this.
A few issues with the bus at home time, dd said even though she presses the buzzer at the right time sometimes the driver doesn't stop and she says she stands there and say's "Excuse me, I need to get off here". She says it's the same driver every day so you would have thought he would know that someone get's off at that stop by now, she sounded more peeved off than worried which is actually a good thing for her as she lacked confidence and had huge anxiety before starting at this school.
She is so happy when she get's home and say's the girls are so much nicer in her new school than in her primary school where she was ignored for 4 years, she is positively glowing now, long may it continue.
Have a good weekend everyone.

moosemama · 18/09/2015 20:53

Good to hear your dd is so happy, despite the frustrating and rude bus driver allwornout.

Ds2 came home with a massive grin on his face this afternoon. Said he had a brilliant day and laughed so much during PSE that his jaw ached. Grin

He's exhausted, but happy. Smile