Starting School in 2011

[{sarah}]

So who else has a child starting school next year? I need someone to hold my hand!

My baby is at his very last day of preschool today, he's so excited. Mummy not so much LOL

[Liz]

Yep... Tallon starts next year. We had our last day of preschool on Tuesday cos we're away next week. Tallon was heaps excited and apparently was proudly telling his friends that as of the next day he would be a big school boy and all the other kids were in awe of him LOL. So while they've all turned 5 before him.. he beat them at finishing preschool LOL.

I'm not terribly nervous... he's done really really well at the orientation days, and he is just BUSTING to go to school. I'll be a little sad that he'll be gone 5 days a week tho Kayla starts 2 days of preschool next year too... I won't know myself for 2 days a week!!

What day is he starting? We have the best start thing on Tuesday 1st Feb for half an hour, then he starts properly on the Thursday.

[{sarah}]

We have Best Start on the Monday morning for half an hour then Thursday the 3rd is the big day. I'm actually a bit nervous about best start, he can do so many things but gets nervous & embarrassed when he has to "perform" in front of a stranger (or even in front of anyone really). Hopefully he gets the teacher he had at orientation cos he loved her & that might help him be more comfortable.

Preschool finishes today & we have the concert next week so it's not quite the end yet LOL

[Liz]

Yeah.. I would think they'd take nervousness/shyness into account somewhat. I think they're only doing 1/2 of the best start thing on Tuesday, and then a few weeks in once they're settled, they'll do the 2nd half.

They did a special rehearsal of the little concert so I could go and watch it.. since we're missing it next week. It was so cute. hehe.

[Rouge]

Transition in Vic goes for a long time. They do half days till 12 for the first two days and then 1 the following week, then the week after they go till normal time but throughout all this time they have wed off... and don't start a full week till early march!

So I'm not tooooo panicked yet. Not sure who the transition is for... us or them...

[Astrolady]

I will Sarah, but not till Term 4 next year LOL. Big hugs, it is so nerve wrecking when it your first off to school.

[Liz]

Im glad it's straight into full school days here. He is used to 9-3 from preschool. 1/2 days would be frustrating for both him and me I think! I do like the idea of days off tho. The tiredness is what's going to be hard. We still have catchup day sleeps here. I need to pull my finger out and get a better after school/dinner routine going too. I've gotten away with it only being 2 days a week. Bed times can be a bit hit & miss. So will have to organise myself a bit more for next year.

[Rouge]

I guess the reason is we don't do full days of Kinder here either.

They also monitor for runners etc too as well as other things that might not have been picked up by Kinder or during the transitional assessment. Preps are separated for the first half of the term here so they don't get lost in the school, they have designated play areas, lunch areas and toilets that they are only permitted to go to.

Yeah it's a PITB. But they've found it actually helps children to settle easier and remain focused whilst enjoying school without hating it straight away because it's too much for them to cope with.

[Nai]

Yes me too!! My DD1 starts school next year. Ours is a bit different to yours Rouge, we do 9-3.30 every day except Wednesday which is a day off for the first 4 weeks. Week 5 they are into it full time. We have had 3 orientation mornings and DD1 is sooooo excited. She finishes Kinder next Wednesday and I think she thinks she is starting school straight after that - she will be so disappointed when she realises it is almost 2 months away.

[{sarah}]

Preps are separated for the first half of the term here so they don't get lost in the school, they have designated play areas, lunch areas and toilets that they are only permitted to go to.

We have the same thing & they will also get a "buddy" from an older grade to help out with ?? things (not sure what LOL)

[Phteven]

My baby starts next year. He's so looking forward to it.
He's at the pre-school attached to the school so he's already met his year 5 buddy and gone to the canteen and library and had some classroom visits. His big brother is in kindy at the moment so he already knows his teachers because he's met them at pick-up.
I haven't bought any uniform because he's prone to growth spurts and also because he'll be using his brother's hand-me-downs.
The first day is a half-day an dthen it's full days but we're encouraged to et them have a day or half-day off it they're too tired or stressed in the first term.
We're thinking of taking a 3 week holiday about 3 weeks after he starts. I hope it doesn't interfer too much with settling in.

His brother is really excited about him starting too - they're really looking forward to being able to play together lol.

[joshnchloesmummy]

Yep my DS starts prep next year as well, they will do 9-1 the first two days then thurs onwards it will be full days. Im a bit nervous as he is my eldest so first time ive gone through this. My only worry is he is quite shy and isn't 5 until next April so will probably be one of the youngest in his class.

Ive got all the uniforms but still have to get school bag, lunch box etc. He is quite excited to go but i have a feeling we will both be a bit teary that first day!

[Amity]

My baby starts next year too. He's in a class which is half full of his kinder classmates, which is fabulous. He has the same teacher as DS1 and is in the same room, so it's hopefully going to be easier for him to settle in. He has some fairly significant emotional issues though, so I'm not working in February to make sure he settles in. This is on the advice of his kinder teacher and psychologist.

We do half day on 4 Feb, then full days but Wednesdays off until after the Labour Day weekend, so about 5-6 weeks of 4 days.

He's desperate to go, which I'm very grateful for. And I'm going to spend my spare time at the gym, getting fit. I'm not going to be the fat Mummy at school any more.

[SugarDust]

Master J starts prep in 2011!

He is atm at kinder for the 2nd last time!

He is begging me to go to scholl now! I can't wait to see him in his uniform next week when we go for our fitting!

[Liz]

We picked up the tshirt, hat and bag when we did orientation. It's so adorable and he loves putting it on to show ppl hehe. Now I just need to hit big w for cheaper plain yellow tshirts and grey shorts.

[SugarDust]

for the first 4 weeks the preps at our school do 4 full days and have wednesday off and on the 5th week it is full on from then!

I'm soooo looking forward to having 2 days where it is just Master L and I!

[Rouge]

We had uniform day today at Kinder, and he's now still refusing to take it off!

[aussienic]

*sniff sniff* I do.. and it is my 3rd baby starting and I am the one with the issues now Ds is starting to finally get excited about it.. Although he is quiet every now and then he makes a comment along the lines of.... when I go to school next year......

I will hold your hand if you hold mine My baby hasn't ever been away from me either I so hope he handles it well