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?

DD was fine this morning - so they are all at school/nursery.

Really I should be packing for the house move, but have just come back from supermarket and cant be bothered.

We are trying to convince DS to take the last few days of school off so we can go on holiday but he isnt having it - the parents have booked a limo and they're all going bowling on the last day and he's adamant he doesnt want to miss it.

Please could someone remind me that on 8th April, I need to tell the secondary school our new address/phone number etc.

I know there's a good chance I'll forget and will put money it thats when they'll send out an important letter that we wont know anything about.

Oh, sb please let him go on the school leavers jolly's at the end of the year - it marks such an important time.

I know, I know.

Its just that we've had a bit of a rough year so a holiday would have been nice for ALL of us - looks as if it will be a caravan in the cold and rain instead!

My pfb starts in September as well, gosh how time has flown.

She has been through a lot in the last 2 years including moving countries starting 2 new schools and my marriage break down, but yet she is so happy and excited up beat about going to secondary school.

I am very very proud of her, in actual fact right now I am near tears!

roisin, good for your DS!

My feeling is that DD has to be on the school bus from day 1. She thinks so too, and I'm pretty sure her friend will be doing likewise, which of course helps enormously.

I got the impression that the school does some sort of a buddy system with a 6th former too to start with - it might be worth seeing if theres something like that possible if your child doesn't have a pal on the bus from the outset.

PassMyGlass, after that your DD should take it in her stride no probs!

Yes I am inclined to agree!

We haven't heard anything from the school yet, has anyone else?

We got the letter confirming we had been offered a place, which I replied to

It said that there will be a meeting after Easter, but there was no time on it......

We've had a letter from the school too passmyglassplease, offering DS1 a place. This was in addition to the offer letter from the LEA. We had to reply in writing to the school confirming acceptance of the place, again in addition to accepting the place with the LEA.

Not heard anything since though...

I think it varies from school to school. After the mass application process, schools all seem to do things their own way from now til the start of Yr7, I think.

Hello All!

We had a letter from the "big" school today detailing meetings and stuff. It's all getting a bit real.

We've only had the official letter from the LEA. I'm not sure when we'll get more info.

I have had a letter from the school asking me to confirm that I am accepting my place but nothing since.

Cadelaide - I totally understand what you mean by "its all getting a bit real".

Right now it still seems as if they are going to stay at primary forever but seeing all the new stuff in black and white must hit it home.

Has Belle not been back? She said her DS wasnt well, I hope he is okay.

We have still not had anything from the school (starts to wibble again) but it is early days yet...

Ds attended a 'dance and literacy' festival at his new secondary school yesterday. Organised by the Year 11's they invite 30 Y6 children from each of the 5 local primary schools. (irrespective of whether they will go to this secondary)
The main aim is for the Y11's to organise and run an event but it was great for ds to see his new school. (although they only got as far as the main hall, sports hall and toilets )

A few nights ago ds and I decided use the evening dog walk as another practise walk to his new school. From our door to their side gate (closest gate to us) takes exactly 23 minutes. (but that did include stopping to pooperscoop) So if we allow 30 minutes he should be on time in the mornings. (although we may have to allow time for by dawdeling, chatting with new pals, admiring a parked car 'wow it is the latest xyz' etc)

I'm here sb . He's feeling better today so we went to watch Nanny McPhee (he was better yesterday so has had chance to relax). Why do they always recover in time for the weekend??

Was it any good? Was thinking of taking my lot to see it but not sure if DD2 will watch something if its not a cartoon about some princess or other

Seem to have so much to organise atm. Moving house, DS' residential trip, end of term jollies (loved that phrase from BigTillyMint - so needed an excuse to use it gain).

With all that, secondary does still seem really far away.

Really not looking forward to DD2 starting nursery at the same time - seeing her off in her school uniform will just seem like the end of an era for me.

It was OK, I don't think the children were as naughty as the ones in the first movie though, Nanny McPhee was more of a nanny rather then someone to alter the little darling's behaviour. I found little bits a tad sinister, the uncle had gambled the farm away, two female's turned up and threatened to remove his kidneys, then they were going to remove all of his insides and stuff him. It may go over a small child's head, or not. It's quite funny in parts though, the children end up in bed with farm animals (and a baby elephant) because they don't want to share. I don't think it was as good as the first one though.

You have alot going on, it must be stressful for you. I'm not sure what ds is up to at the end of the term, all of his year apart from 2 are leaving (the school extended the intake to go up to 13 last year, they were moving and having an intake from 3 to 16 which I though was huge, now they have decided they are not moving, they are messing about a bit and ds would love to escape all the god stuff), I don't know if they make a fuss. They did at his old school, parents meal, childrens meal, weekend away, parents of leavers had to donate something to the school, leavers ceremony. My neighbour sent her son there, she must have spent £300 for him just to leave!!

Totally agree with OP...my PFB starts in sept he was born 29th August and is waaaaay toooo young I wish it was a year later really.Not worried re work he just seems smaller[eeek]

Whew that's a relief, I have just spoken to the school and they will be sending out their confirmation letters over the Easter Holiday.

Yay

Time to start looking at buying the uniform, think I'll just cut off the arm and leg now and have done.

Ds's uniform list is online, it's huge! At least I can get his blazer from John Lewis for £20 though, the last time I had to buy one it cost me £68!!

Does anyone know if they are expected to have their own cricket bats/tennis raquets etc?

I actually emailed our new school as I was worried that open evening would coincide with DH birthday (have booked couple of nights peace away from kids!). They have come back that open evening is at beginning of July, so am relieved but it seems very late! Also my friend, whose DD attends same school said that she phoned as it was well into June before they heard from the school and she was panicking that something had gone wrong!
She also advised me that we could only buy PE direct from the school and that we should buy it at beginning of open evening as they left it to the end and it had all sold out, so they had to wait until DD started school in Sept to get it - so beware!

Boobaddum my DCs school normally has the "new intake" evening in July and the next day is then the taster day in school.

A taster day? What happens if they are little sod's? is the place suddenly withdrawn? Are they blackmarked forever? (likes to be brepared for all eventualities)

LOL Belle - I bet the teachers take note of any characters.

Darn, I was hoping I'd have the summer holidays to get him into shape!

Belle, bribary normally works a treat in this household.

Got confirmation of DD2's school nursery place today.

September really is going to be all change - my eldest going to secondary and my youngest just starting off (I know its only nursery and will only be for half a day - but still....)