Oh! Oh! My firstborn starts secondary school in September. Surely that warrants a support thread?

[Cadelaide]

Am I a bit too early for this?

I mean it's months away yet, isn't it?

Thanks MmeTrevignon.

Lynette, it is a long journey ans I understand perfectly why you are worried, I do not think you are being precious either.

Kid, I hope it is just a bit of tiredness.

Ds2 told me on the way back from school "I feel left out now that sister is starting high school" I think I might have overdone the encouraging bit for her s at the expense of the little ones

Well, I am definitely emailing the bus company tomorrow. Apparently the bus driver got lost, much to DS1's amusement (although he couldn't have been on a diverted route, so I won't mention it) but the bus didn't stop at DS1's stop. DS1 was supposed to get off in the village, a 5 min walk away but instead carried on into town, but did stop about a 20/30 min walk away from our house, where DS sensibly got off. If he's stayed on the bus, it would have gone into town, then come back towards our house and stopped very near where he gets on in the morning, but I don't think DS realised that. He finally turned up 1/2 hour after I expected him, and I had begun to imagine the worst.

He had to rush his tea, and I then dropped him off at the sports centre, so he was able to give me a blow by blow account of his day in the car on the way there. He seems to have had a good day, anyway.

DS1 has developed a swagger to his walk. i can't believe how much he's changed!

Only one piece of HW yesterday and one today. it took us the entire journey to decipher his timetable as thud given each subject a 2 letter abbreviation. DR eluded us until www got home and looked at the website (Drama).

He was late today but thankfully this was the fault of the school bus, not us.

BTW Caoimhe, at school pick up I'm the stressed mother with the two worst behaved siblings in tow. [sigh]

Just read your pencil case and bag disaster- what a nightmare!

Dinosaur Are you still at the same school as you were when you used to post? (M)
I know 2 adorable little girls that go there, reckon you must know them if you are still there. Twins in Year 4, my DS's first loves

DD is fine, I had a chat with her and she claims she was just tired. Lets see how tired she is tomorrow after double PE!
I got her to try her PE kit on tonight, no idea what I would have done if it hadn't fit. I have also cleaned her trainers as much as I can, lets hope they pass their inspections!

I have given up with the name labels, instead I have written on the label, much quicker and I used my best handwriting

I am finding it exhausting having DC in 2 different schools while I work at a 3rd school. I can't wait for the holidays which are just 6 weeks and 3 days away (I think)

Did you find out which class he is in? Don't think you said. DD is in LS1, I don't know where she got the C from when she first told me.

She is very impressed with all her different lessons and was telling how hard it is to have to walk all the way to the 3rd floor for lessons and then back down to the ground floor. Nevermind that she gets to sit down for an hour between walking up there and walking back down!

Hi all,

Sounds like you've all had hearts in mouth etc... We've packed bag, put buspass in wallet (prediction: wallet and buspass will get lost within 3 days...), dished out the lunch money, laid out the uniform.

DS is remarkably chilled about his first day tomorrow (and he's pretty prone to anxiety) but I have to say the school have been BRILLIANT at managing the transition: lots of Y6 activities throughout last year up at the school, visits from head and head of year to the primary, three induction days at end of last term where they got put into forms, met their teacher etc (as did we, which was great). It has totally taken the unknown of 'big school' away, so DS seems to see it as just another stage in his life. The reality - of massive MEN all around him, and evil big girls mocking him, and homework, and finding his way round etc - will kick in soon and no doubt we'll have a delayed reaction later...

And am trying not to worry that we can't find his mobile for him to text me when he gets off the school bus, but I guess he's been walking to primary without me 'knowing' he has made it there so need not to worry. And he's gonna spend all his lunch money on cake and milkshake on his first day, isn't he? And surely he won't need his pe kit on first day?

And... breeeeeeathe.

All the best for your DS's big day Wilself!

Can anyone tell me if they have showers after PE? Does DD have to pack a towel, shampoo etc?

Hi.
It was ds' first day today (sort of, he was in for 2 hours so he could find his way around). He loves his new teachers and has met a couple of nice boys. He wasn't impressed with a few of the others though as they were being a bit mean apparantly. The school's great, we've decided the courtyard looks very much like the one at Hogwarts. He has a full day tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Soupdragon-
I know what you mean about the swagger!!!
Ds has had 4 pieces of homework this week and has rushed upstairs to complete as soon as he gets in- that won't continue!
He is in bed by 8,30 and fast asllep before 9.

Still waiting for dd's first morning.... She sorted out her school bag yesterday, we have a few small things to buy this afternoon and will go and have a look at the school so she can try and remember the names of the various buildings (I get them confused... ). Then she goes in on Friday to spend the morning with her form tutor, looking all grown up in her uniform. She'll probably be working harder the following day when she has 3 hours in orchestra!

Frankly I want her to start, we are more than ready now and I am possibly starting to drive dh mad....

It's ds' first full day today and he was late! the bus took twice as long because we were stuck in traffic, then he started to feel sick so we had to get off the bus (sigh)

He just told them the traffic was bad, it was though, it normally takes 28 mins to get there, we got off the bus after 50, he sat down for 10 as he was a bit pale and clammy and we had to get on a different bus. I'm pleased I didn't sign him up to the school bus, he'd have been on there for 1hr 30, he'd never have made it.
I've looked at the trains, it takes 28 mins aswell but there's no traffic, we may try this tomorrow, I should get back in time for work. I have a couple of days to work the times out.

It sounds like your dd is settling in well She'll be OK tomorrow.

Wilf, I hope your dc has a good day!

Hi SoupDragon, yes day 1 was dreadful but normal service has now been resumed (thanks to dh who did a dash to the shops for a new bag on Monday afternoon ).

I agree re the swagger - ds was most miffed that I attempted to phone him at the end of the day and told me not to do it again!!!

He had his first German lesson yesterday and was cross with the teacher because "she kept talking in German" !!!!

trefusis, DD is carrying all her PE kit around with her everyday, despite having a locker!

belle, DD's friend was actually sick on the bus on the way to school yesterday, poor thing. Apparently it was very crowded and a bumpy ride....

though have heard there are roadworks so school bus will perhaps be late. God I hope they got there on time this morning, although he won't have been the only one if they were late...

I am making notes on homework etc. I'm going to photocopy the timetable the minute he gets in, and we're all primed and ready to do homework each afternoon... I expect he will find it quite unfair that his little brother has NO homework...

Dd has 2 pieces of homework to
complete. I wonder when she would do them if I didn't nag encourage her?

Dd doesn't have a locker so had to carry her pe kit around all day. I let her be school dinners today so she didn't have to carry her packed lunch too. She decided to buy a sandwich for lunch! No different from a packed lunch, well just the cost of it!

trefusis, that does show that she is resourceful. But did you have to go and get her?!

kid, DD has bought sandwiches twice so far this week. She is going to have packed lunches next week!

DD has had 12 pieces of homework so far this week

No homework for the first 2 weeks. Ds has said he spent all the break and all lunch time sitting by himself