Have we got a year 7 support thread this year?

[KangarooLady]

Hi all! DD1 is starting secondary this year! She's very nervous about the travel (train and bus) but definitely looking forward to it . Any other new year 7s?

The communication from the school hasn’t mentioned “outdoors” and there is no two way dialogue as has been encouraged at other secondaries.
I’ll see what happens next week when lessons start properly. They may get outside for PE but they don’t really have an outside sports area so I imagine even PE will be in a hall?

@MoverOfPaper-I thought the virus spreads less easily in outdoor spaces? Your poor DD, being made to stay indoors isn't great. Fingers crossed they will be spending more time outdoors soon!

Hi DD starts on Monday, shes the youngest in the year group (31st Aug baby) and if she'd been born just an hour later, she'd be the eldest in Yr6.
She isn't ready and though she is putting a brave face on, I know we are going to have huge meltdown on Sunday evening.

Strange to think the criteria for 'what do I look for in a good school' are so different now.

Personally now I just want my Y7 child to settle in & establish some kind of connection to the school, teachers & new friends ASAP. Preferably with some outdoor PE. And then I want a school that is well equipped to support remote learning if/when children are required to stay home, whether it's just them or the whole school. Let's see. (Ours start on Mon!)

How much homework have your year 7s had? dS has had 6 pieces in 3 days. It going to be a big change for us to have to spend Sunday afternoons doing homework rather than going out and having fun!

@LadyCatStark-yikes!!!! DD has had two bits, but only little things- finding a picture to put in the front of her book in geography and making a poster in history.

Tomorrow DD is catching the bus for the first time-twin DD2 and DS (9) along with DD3(4) are starting the school year tomorrow and they they take a long while to get ready!

@LadyCatStark wow! We haven't had any yet (started Wednesday) so she's spent Saturday in dance classes and today with friends. Enjoying the freedom while she can!

No homework here either - or so I’m told.

We haven’t started back yet! Not til Tuesday. I don’t remember ds having much homework in year 7 although I think they’re supposed to have 2x25 mins a night.

@LadyCatStark DS had his first day of lessons on Friday and got given two pieces of homework to be in on Wednesday and a project to work on until half term. He's still full of enthusiasm so has loved doing it! Long may it last!

We have also been given a homework schedule so we know when he'll be given homework - it's typically two subjects each day, occasionally three.

Good luck to everyone starting this week. We've had 2 days last week and then a bonding day today. For me the takeaway has been just to try and go with it as it's all early days. There will be ups and down. My message to DD is just that each day is different - some better some worse. We shall see what the new week brings.

DS2's first day was really just induction, so I wouldn't have been expecting homework just yet.

Once it does start, my sons' school and many others use an app called Show My Homework, and there may be other similar things, and parents can look in and see what is being set, when it's due, whether it's being done etc. I think over the last few months they've also been using another app where you can look in. Obviously it depends on whether the teachers have put stuff on and ticked it off but there's some useful information, and you also get to see the kind of tasks being set etc.

Plus their school asks for 20 minutes reading every day and there is a reading record to log it - it's not been an issue with DS1 though I think he's currently got bogged down in a book and got stuck, but it could be interesting with DS2. He seems to be reading and perhaps writing his own fan fiction online but we're not even sure what it relates to and he's very secretive - welll, it is reading! And I think I'm not setting a great example just now, as I'm normally a reader but am struggling to read or finish anything since lockdown.

Saw ds onto the bus this morning. Hope he turns up again this evening...

Our bus route doesn't have school services, so just as well all the waiting kids ignored the sign saying 'Non school service. School children should wait for the next service'. And the driver ignored the 30 limit and let 20 masked kids onto the half-full bus.

DS and homework have never mixed so this term will be fun. He's enthusiastic about the rule to have a book to read on him at all times, at least. Had to stop him taking four on Friday!

@ShakeaHettyFeather don't worry, he will turn up again no doubt!!!

How lovely re: book(s), I wish mine was similarly motivated. These days I try hard NOT to be too excited about books so that DD doesn't get turned off.

I’d love to know what sort of things your DC schools have done to help them settle, to bond. The mental health and fun stuff.

@YouMakeABetterDoorThanAWinda ours had a summer camp where her class went in for a week and did different activities every day - an art day, sports day, orienteering etc - which helped them make friends and feel more comfortable. Then they didnt do any work the first week, it was all getting to know you stuff, games etc and on Friday a big team building day. Shes only started lessons today and has 3 pieces of homework but they all look pretty quick and she seems quite enthusiastic

@BoudiccaAnn It did mean that when he got lost this afternoon, he asked a school for help, they called me, and he sat happily reading until I got there in the car...

We'd only practiced getting to the main entrance of school, until last week when we found he'd be using a back one down some twisty side streets. He says school was good, though.

Thanks Shiny, that sounds great. I’m not sure how I feel about the summer holiday transition time. I feel for the teachers and wonder if they really want to do it. However something similar but in the first week back sounds great and will catch the admissions changes.

A much happier DD today and the school seem to be on top of amy issues. So relieved. I hope everyone else’s DC are getting there.

@YouMakeABetterDoorThanAWinda I'm sure lots wouldn't! But I'm a teacher and would have happily done this to ease transition. Glad your DD has had a better day today.

My DD has not taken the school bus both ways and feeling very pleased with herself! She said today was fun and more exciting because they did some real lessons. Some rubbing on the new shoes, but I suggested she re-tie them at lunchtime, see if that helps.

I meant now taken the bus!

My DD is starting year 7 tomorrow, no one from her primary school is going to the same school as her and she's been a bit upset about that. I think because they've started school already and most of her friends are going to the same one she's feeling left out but I've been trying to reassure her she'll make friends at her new school

@ShakeaHettyFeather unnerving for you but well done to your DS!! I'm a firm believer that getting lost is an important formative experience (which most kids these days don't get to experience properly due to smartphones, etc.). He is resourceful, worked out whom he could trust for help, and got home safely in the end, and it probably will make him more confident in the future.