Starting School in 2011

[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!

[Tanya]

Little V starts next year too. They have every wednesday off for the first 6 weeks here. She can not wait! She would gone this year no worries if we had've let her! LOL

[Visitor9]

Eliza is off too..
She has had induction and thankfully she is so confident she had no troubles settling in with the 20 boys and 4 girls in her class. We have the first week of 9- 1 and then Wed off for 7 weeks and then full time. Kinder finishes next Monday and that will be a little sad but her thirst of knowledge will finally be answered when she heads off to school.
Uniform is all done except the winter kilt no point taking up more room in summer. Just got to get to the shoe shop for school shoes ohh and runners for sport uniform..but will wait till we get the starting school cheque or what ever they send out in the new year. This is traumatic for me ..my baby ..is big enough to go to school and mumma aint coping.
Feb will be here before I know it..sheshhh then going to have to learn to pack a school lunch.
Bec

[~Lashes~]

OH NO!! i hadnt thought of school lunch! he takes 2 sandwiches and 2 bits of fruit to kindy for "lunch" and thats only from 8:30 till 12!!
might have to check out some "healthy" snack options as top-ups i think!!

[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.

[Lulu]

Beth is starting too. She will be 5 in March and is still pretty shy but I'm sure she will be fine. She has had 3 orientation days at school so she has met her buddy a few times and her teacher as well as hanging out in the classroom pasting her head off.

CAN'T believe how exxy the school dresses are $33! When DD1 was at primary school, they all had the generic blue/red/green and white check dresses and there were about $13. I have no idea why they switched to the ummmm? "designer" hahahaha uniforms. It's a public school...

[Purple Penguin]

Erica starts school this year as well. I can't believe she's grown up so fast! She is looking forward to it though so that's good.

[Liz]

Hey everyone... are we counting down yet? I for one am looking forward it to it... DS is sooooo bored at home now LOL. School is exactly what he needs at the moment!

Just wondering if anyone was given a list of stuff to buy for school (glue, pencils etc etc) cos we haven't. Yet I was talking to a friend from another local school, and she said her daughter had a big list of stuff to get for starting school in kindy last year. I've just rummaged through all our 'starting school' stuff, the folders we've been given, the school website and newsletters etc, and there's nothing there about what they need to bring. I can see it now.. we'll go to the best start thing on the tuesday and ask, and then it'll be a mad rush getting everything by the time he starts on the Thursday LOL. I don't know any parents at our school to ask either, all our friends go to different schools. argh.

I've still got to go and get DS's lunchbox and uniform. Hopefully Big W or somewhere has their stock already, might have a look some time this week.

I've got DD starting 2 days of preschool this year too.. so it's exciting times in our house. I'm so glad they're both busting to go.. we're all looking forward to it