About to start year 7?

[Phox]

Thought it might be good to chat all things new starter, plus a distraction from the mess of the end of year 6 - DS effectively had his last day on Friday without knowing, as the call to isolate came over the weekend. So no leavers events or party at least for now. He did manage to get to an induction day for his new secondary school thankfully, which has settled some of his nerves.

Anyone else looking ahead to y7 in September - summer schools, crazy-priced uniforms and ‘they are just too young!!’ panics?

My sons just finished year 7. He had a dreadful ending to year 6, no leavers party, assembly, school photo or induction to secondary. He has loved year 7 though. They certainly hit the ground running, some allowance was made for lateness due to getting lost on the school grounds but apart from that he was expected to have the right equipment for each lesson and to be correctly presented and polite. He always got his bag ready I the evening for the next day, made his own lunch in the morning, set up show my homework on his phone, I also have it on my phone just incase. Phones are allowed at school but must be off, he leaves his at home as we live 5 mins away. The one thing that stuck out for me is how independent he got very quickly, you never hear from the school unless they are in trouble, and I did struggle with this as son wears hearing aids and uses radio aids at school so the lack of involvement was un nerving, but he's had a fabulous year 7, so his report says and he is really looking forward to year 8.

Top tip about having a spare pencil case.

Also the secondary school is offering lockers, it is worth taking this up? Does this mean you could leave a set of say sports gear in the locker?

I am also planning to set up a dedicated work space at home for homework as currently my son just sits on the sofa to do any work.

UncomfortableSilence that is such a helpful post, top tip about heading into a safe place like a shop.

I agree you never know how you will react. Before the times of mobile phones I was at a library studying and some older boys from a different school made me aware that a guy was wanking to porno magazines right behind me and had been following me.

I could not move as I completely froze - thankfully that bunch of kids were pretty good and they came and sat with me. I did not tell my Dad until I got home, even though he picked me as I was too embarassed!
I was also in shock and was surprised that I just froze and couldn't move!

lettuce At DD's school most of the tutors tended to let them dump PE kit in a cupboard in their room. though I suspect that kind of thing is very school dependent.

We did lockers for PE kit as it saved lumping it around all the time or forgetting it, and then DDs just brought their shirts home to be washed - maybe not so helpful if you have a full rugby kit needing cleaning anyway. Also a useful place for dumping coats in the day time in winter. Or if you do an instrument or need a laptop etc. They only cost £5 per year so wasn't a great outlay, again very school dependent.

Probably more useful for those walking or cycling than those going by bus or car.

Thank you TeenMinusTests we will order a locker! Good to have a dumping ground I think.

I imagine home made school lunches go into a fridge?

I am looking at a retractable key ring attached to school bag - as I can imagine my son losing stuff.

Another question - I wonder if I should get some home testing kits now so he knows how to take a covid test?

I am assuming you can machine wash blazers too. He likes to wash all clothes every day - and I guess with stinky teenagerville coming around the corner - that won't be a bad thing.

He does not have any special needs but covid and crime are causing a bit of anxiety, but hoping with covid it will improve and crime we will put some strategies in place.

I imagine home made school lunches go into a fridge?

I very much doubt it! They didn't at either DD's primary or secondary - we used freezer blocks, though they tended to have school lunches.

Another question - I wonder if I should get some home testing kits now so he knows how to take a covid test?

You could do, though I'd imagine they would 'teach' all the y7s if testing is still required then.

I am assuming you can machine wash blazers too. He likes to wash all clothes every day

You can machine wash blazers. Personally though I'd teach him that blazers do not need to be washed daily, that seem OTT to me (but I'm not a wash towels after one use kind of person either). Taking badges on and off daily would be a right pain.

Is the washing daily due to covid? If so maybe he could have 2 and isolate each one for 24hrs and alternate rather than washing?

Packed lunches don't go in a fridge.

All schools are being asked to lateral flow students twice before they return including year 7 so you could order some to practise the swabbing at home.

I'd try and knock the washing on the head. Blazers get washed half termly on average (based on questioning a lot of kids!). Some weekly but majority half termly or if they got really dirty/wet. Think of the blazer more like an over coat.

Packed lunches dont go in fridge. Stay in bag or locker.

Our shcool has said 2 covid tests before return in september. I assume that will be the same elsewhere?

Washing blazers!? Once a term here.

I would definitely get them to do a few LFTs to get used to it if they haven't done one yet. We are testing our Y7s twice in school and then they will have to continue twice weekly at home as before until the end of September when the government is reviewing this requirement.

I wash blazers weekly but I know many do it far less.

And yes to a locker if it's available.

Teacher here with adult DC.

Packed lunches most definitely don't go in fridges! Hell, even teacher ones don't unless you fancy a trek across the site in the rain to collect it.

Our school has had kids coming in PE kit on the days when they have PE and wearing it for the full day for the last year. They are seriously considering keeping this going as it means less chance of kit going missing and longer time for PE as they don't need to get changed. So there's no need for lockers full of minging PE stuff. Ours all get a locker but some need a padlock. Most of my y8 tutees didn't bother using theirs this year.

Schools are once again expected to be testing pupils from September, like we did in March. It might be worth getting some LFTs to practice on. We were handing out boxes of them every 3 weeks since just before Easter. I have no idea what will happen going forward.

To the poster who mentioned Casio calculators on offer, I am going to disagree slightly. Our school recommends particular calculators and sells them at cost price. In lessons, the teacher only has to explain once how to use a particular function if they all have the same model. Before getting the cheap one, check to see if there is one they recommend.

Smart phones were coming out when DD1 was in year 7. She had a pink flip phone in y7 which was fine for texting/calling - no WhatsApp in those days. Her birthday is late July so for her 12th birthday she got her 1st smartphone, a Samsung. Now almost all kids have smartphones, but a surprising number of older kids either don't have any data allowance or use it up very fast. One of my tutees was not allowed any sort of phone by his parents, much to the astonishment of the others (who are quite sympathetic). When we were doing Covid testing in March, lots of y12 were unable to log onto the .gov site on their phones as they had no data, and hardly any of them knew how to scan QR codes - I was very pleased that I knew more than they did!

I think the washing now is covid related but he also manages to immerse himself in mud, dirt, food. So often does come home and need to wash everything anyway.

So although yes I think he has some real anxiety re covid, knows someone who got horribly ill, has had relatives in hospital with horrible respiratory illness. Actually it may be something I should drop a line to the form teacher about. Covid and Crime are the concerns he has and they seem real to him.

If you are a teacher would you want a quick email from a parent explaining that my kid has some covid anxiety concerns? I can always wait until nearer the start date to see if any of it dissipates over the holidays?

As a case in point, one day there was a big sporting event at primary and he just couldn't go through with it, even though he loves sport, as he felt their were too many people and he felt their was no social distancing. He physically could not attend it and it was horrible really. He got to the gates and just could not go in.

Malbecfan yes I realise now that the secondary school has a preferred brand - so thanks for that tip!

My daughter really wants a handbag and since she really really wanted one I let her get one form new look. Ordered uniform cost about 170 pounds. Got the pixel 4 for year 7. She is nervous but exited and seems to be happy to leave primary. Only worry is sticky back plastic. They say I will have to cover books it how do you do that

Covering books is fun. DD didn't have to do that ever, I remember doing it at my school. I started writing instructions, but it is bound to be on youtube somewhere.

The recommended calculator is usually the casio one (ime) I've never seen another recommended in 7 schools I've worked in. But yes check which one is used at your school.

@Pinkfish321

My daughter really wants a handbag and since she really really wanted one I let her get one form new look. Ordered uniform cost about 170 pounds. Got the pixel 4 for year 7. She is nervous but exited and seems to be happy to leave primary. Only worry is sticky back plastic. They say I will have to cover books it how do you do that

I despise covering books! You can buy ready made book covers but obviously works out more expensive.

Thank you UncomfortableSilence Does anyone have any advice for a laptop for school. I don't want her using the family computer for it and my eldest has his own laptop and im unsure what to get an 11 year old

Our DC have to have the Oxford Scientific Calculator and they sell it at the school shop.

Re: phones, DC don't take them to school as it's a short journey and they're not allowed, but do have them for chatting to friends (texting or whatever) out of school.

Frozen juice boxes for packed lunches-keep it cool in the morning and defrost in time to be drunk. Though ds is so overexcited at being able to buy his own dinner by the magical power of his thumbprint!

Lettuce - I would email school/senco. The form teacher may not be accessing emails over the summer and will likely only see the class for 15mins or so a day. If its a level of anxiety that can affect school then ths senco ought to be aware (and may even be able to help .)

@Pinkfish321 our school provides devices for all students so I can't help there. Do you know what platform the school uses? Some use Google, we use MS Teams/Office 365. Make sure that whatever you get will work with the school's system. Have they said that they will need a device yet? Could it perhaps be a Christmas present once you know more about how things work?

DD1 had to cover a couple of books more than 10 years ago but that has been phased out, mostly by student pressure on environmental grounds. If there is an expectation of using books, do they even need their own device? If they need a device, will they be using books?

I have had this conversation with my Head of Department. The students' devices arrived in October 2020, by which time we had done almost half a term's teaching so started out with exercise books. To be completely honest, I haven't used those exercise books with my year 8s since then as they have to have their devices with them so it seems pointless having both. I asked year 8 at the end of term what they thought about books and the overwhelming consensus was: don't bother. My HoD wants to use them for y7. Fine, but I really can't be bothered with them, and all work can be submitted electronically.

Any tips for pacing walk to school? Mine (also ASD) has been practicing but the time it takes him varies wildly depending on how keen he is/ the weather/ how much wildlife he spots on the way....... No idea how I can get him to pace himself to get to school reliably on time.
My preference is to allow lots of time and risk getting there early but he is definitely a night owl already and struggled to get up for primary on time - secondary starts 30 min earlier so that may not work too well!
No idea what the plan for COVID tests, wearing pe kit etc is here. The school isn’t deciding until the autumn, which while sensible given all the changes in guidelines, makes it tricky to prepare. His induction days aren’t until September either, though he has met the ALENCO.
Great to have a thread to chat.

@Malbecfan They use google classroom but then use office for work. They use the books for class for written work and some homework but things like computing are done online. What laptops do you reccomen or shoudl I get a ipad with a keybooard

I bought DD the HP Pavilion 14-ce3602sa 14" laptop. Think it was £499 from Curry's.

She has quite severe dyslexia so uses a laptop for almost all lessons as well as homework etc. It works well for Teams and all the online classes school ran. Also holds a charge for the whole day so she doesn't need to take chargers with her.

It's not the nicest in terms of keyboard function etc, so I will probably upgrade to a Dell in Y9 or Y10, but DD has a long commute and I didn't want anything too expensive or heavy for the first years.

Protect My Bubble have good insurance deals on laptops/ipads/phones.

DD does have an ipad which she uses for graphic design classes, but I wasn't sure it was a good idea to learn to touch type on that if she's going to be doing all her GCSEs on a laptop, so didn't opt for the keyboard on that (probably need to look into that more, as it is much lighter weight and smaller).

DD1 has a HP pavilion too, they use Google Classroom and it's been fine.

DD2 already has a laptop, she's been using GC at primary so is used to it. We have office on our laptop so if they need to use that it's available.

@TheSockMonster

DS started Y7 last year and I have DD starting Y7 (at a different school) in September. I also have a DSS in Y12. What I have learnt:

1. As far as DS knows, everyone has a smart phone and uses WhatsApp

1. School bags mustn’t be too large or obviously branded/very expensive or your child will get teased

1. It is important not to look like you are “trying too hard” to be popular. No one can tell me exactly what this means, but apparently it’s important

1. A lot of the girls will change gender in Y7. Apparently this drops off after Y9/10.

1. I told my (naturally prone to disorganised) DS that I was not going to monitor or remind him about his homework. He missed 2 then pulled himself together and manages it himself now. The feedback at parents’ evening was that he organised himself well(!) and that his homework is always to a good standard. It seems benign neglect is a valid parenting strategy here!

My question - DD has to wear a plain white shirt as part of her uniform. All the ones I’ve seen look fairly thin. DD is flat chested but with very obvious and sticky-outy breast buds. She doesn’t want to wear a crop top/vest/bra so they’ll be fairly obvious. Will she be teased if she does this?

Just get her a vest bra top then?