Y7- 2023/24 support thread

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Hi, just dropping in a thread for those of us who have kids starting secondary this coming September. There was a lovely thread going last year and they are carrying it on into Year 8, so here is a place for us the year behind.

How is everyone feeling as they finish Primary and prepare for Secondary?

Dd is moving from a single form entry "family feel" type cosy Primary into a large 8 form entry, multiple building secondary. She's going alone, her primary class are really split up across multiple secondaries.

The transition days helped, and she is excited,but has been really sad this weke saying her goodbyes

Is everyone prepped for uniform etc?

DS is also dyspraxic - I think once they see him attempting to catch a ball they won't push him onto any teams!

@HalfasleepChrisintheMorning are the clubs and Saturday mornings compulsory? Or just the rugby in games lessons?
DS is at a very rugby-focussed school - he will happily (mostly) play it in games, but there is no way he would opt for any extra. So he won’t be in match teams or anything like that.

He’s gone to bed in tears tonight because of his residential this week 😢 I’ve just sent an email to the HoY asking if they can have a chat with him tomorrow and explain what he can expect - his ASD makes him really struggle with not knowing what is coming / when things are happening. I’m hoping that will be enough to settle his mind a bit.
Silly though - I’ve been saying to him “don’t stress, you don’t need to, it will all be fine”… then as soon as he has gone to bed, I’m a massive stress-ball over it, and I cannot think about anything else! 🙈

Rugby not compulsory, just highly encouraged. He will just go to rowing instead.
@TeaandHobnobs DS did like his residential but it is a lot for them. He was exhausted and dirty! Hope the HOY is helpful.

One of the Oxford prep schools has just dropped rugby completely, partly under parental pressure/letters saying they didn't want their boys to play it.

@lollipoprainbow

I hope this week is a better week for your DD 🤞.

My dd will have to play rugby and football.
maybe it wouldnt be so bad if grouped by size/weight.

I have said that DS can play in lessons but he’s not allowed to play contact- tag only. They have put him into the bottom group. He’s taking my advice to stay well away from the ball!
One of the other year 7 boys if off school today after a knock to the head at a match yesterday! It’s shocking in this day and age that 11 year old children are made to play such a rough game.

Hope all the DC have a good week this week 🤞

DD went off to school without any protesting or grumbling this morn. She did get awarded star of the week in English last week so that might have helped.

We've got English homework to do this eve. The homework seems to come thick and fast 🤯

Yeah my dc js getting lots of biteseize homework. It's very frequent, but max 15-20mins long. Her maths homework was a sheet with three long divisions on. I think they are starting small and frequent and will ramp it up.

There's a couple of things she needs to use a PC for so she does those at Lunch or after school.

My child has already lost their trainers and pe shirt. They got a negative point for not having the shirt. Luckily we had another pair of trainers but I'll have to buy another shirt which is £15😥

@motheroreily our Yr 7 Parents WhatsApp is mainly made up of daily "my child has lost...." so you aren't alone!

That makes me feel so much better. They didn't lose stuff at primary.

@motheroreily 1 child has manged to lose a whole games kit inc a hockey stick

DS has lost one rugby sock. Which considering I don’t really want him playing rugby is very annoying! I even named the bloody thing.
I have emailed the teacher to say that he must be sent to lost property but that I don’t want him being punished for lack of kit.
I will send him normal PE socks and he can run laps of the field. Which would please him greatly as he likes cross country.

Does doing a German word search help you learn German? Asking for a friend🤣

Great DS got a detention ☹️

Foot on seat and apparently grumpy / rude has 3rd highest points in year group probs not now with none gained today and minus two points.

Spent all last night saying did not want to go to school went off in a hurrendous mood. Just knew it wouldn't go well today.

@Yoyo2021 has he given you a reason to why he didn't want to go in?

@Itslosenotloose thanks for asking x. She was excited to go today as she had cookery, music and drama which she really enjoys. We were at school super early. Not so sure how the rest of the week will go though 🤞

@lollipoprainbow

So pleased she went in 👍.My DD likes those lessons too, plus PE.

@Yoyo2021 poor DS, that seems very harsh this early in the term. Have you read the behaviour policy? Could you chat to the HOY or form because if he’s acting up like that he must be unhappy?

I think they clamp down early on with detentions to try and minimise low level disruptive behaviour and to set an example to other pupils. DD hasn't mentioned any detentions yet but has said there are a few kids on last warnings for forgetting games kit, homework not being done etc.

No reason 🥺

Says he is so tired and fed up does not want to be there say boy steals his tie all the time and same boy stole his bag and staff had to go after said boy to get it back.

Internet and mobile was banned tonight. We completed all homework together after dinner tonight.

Now he is in bed upset saying hamster is keeping him up and getting teary.

Oh @Yoyo2021 that sounds so hard, poor DS. 😢

We had a teary morning here as DSs school did CAT tests all day yesterday so he came home exhausted and has come down with the horrible cold that's been working its way through the family, he's the last to succumb and I'd hoped he'd avoided it, he doesn't do being ill very well!

@Yoyo2021 poor lad, sounds like he is overwhelmed. What did the school do about the boy who stole his stuff? Are they aware that it wasn't an isolated event?