Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2014 Chat

Blackcat I hope things improve for you.

Dd2's birthday is in a few weeks and we have decided to go with a class party as it's just too hard any other way as she plays with boys and girls but doesn't have any she would call besties yet as she is in another class so yep she is invited too. All up it's sitting on 24 hope a few can't make it! There has been one other class party and another that dd hasn't been asked to but she isn't worried, she is focusing on her birthday for now. She is settling in well but is forgetting to go to the toilet and having small accidents at the end of the day so I need to ask her teacher to make sure she goes.

OP DS' birthday was last week and I didn't do a party either. I'll just do one next year when I know who his friends are.birthdays in the first part of the new year are a bit hard like that. Dd2 will be the same.

DS has his first Birthday Party this weekend, its just a 90 min Macca's party. I rang the Mum's number on the invite to RSVP as I wanted to introduce myself etc and let her know I'd be hanging about (not about to do the drop'n'run when I dont know her) but the phone rang out, sent a sms to which she immediately replied. I would really like to get to know some of the other Mums, especially the ones of the kids DS considers his friends.
DS's birthday is in the April school holidays - as we have the 'learning conversations' (old parent/teacher interviews) a few weeks before I'll suss out from DSs teacher the most appropriate way of giving out the invites and suss out who DS is hanging out with at school.

Had a nice note from DSs teacher in his communication book tonight telling us that she'd sent out revision sheets for the class today to help the parents encourage the kids to keep learning their word sounds (from the jolly phonics program), however she said we should be proud as DS knows all of his and has none to revise. So pleased for him as he is such a sponge is is constantly spelling and sounding out works and letters on street signs/in the supermarket/from our mail etc - he hears words and tells me what letters they start with and have in them, he loves it :) Today he surprised me be writing out most of the kids names in his class and then writing todays date down and telling me what tomorrows date would be - he's 4! I feel like I have seriously underestimated him and should have been encouraging him more, no wonder he was getting a bit bored at home late last year!

Clearly he takes after his awesome mother ;) :rofl:

Oh bravo! Well done lovely boy :).

How is everyone going now? Are your little ones as tired as mine?

After a very rough start things are finally starting to settle down for us. DS took to school like a duck to water (after the initial separation issues and realisation that this is a week long gig passed). Our biggest hurdle has been dealing with school policy, DS is the only allergy kid in his class. Which has also made the 4 birthday parties he has been invited to a bit interesting. Apart from cost and not having much time together, I declined the one that was a back yard and not playcentre/maccas etc as it's all just too hard to monitor with uni, work, school and then parties :P Yeah I know, I suck according to DS. Oh well.

The good part is the other parents are starting to open up their group a little more. So although I spent the beginning of the last social gathering wanting the ground to eat me alive, by the end, people were actually more open. Maybe it helped that they all wanted to know why DS had his own little cake again, who knows, I'll take it. haha.

He seems to have made lots of friends, there is one boy who has taken to shadowing him around everywhere. Speaking with his mum he is a little excited, DS is all he talks about. Sweet but I can see it ending badly too.

We have Parent Teacher interviews next week. Im not really sure what to expect from those. Wait and see I guess.

I am having one of THOSE days today, not feeling crash hot then I posted this in the wrong thread :wall:

I've got a bit of catching up to do.

How is everyone now that they are all full time (I think) and nearing the end of their first term?
DD1 is still loving school, her teachers and asking for homework etc.

She had a walkathon last week and raised $230 in a week to go towards our local CFA for all their help during the fires, the school leaders chose to do the walkathon and organised it so it was very cute.

She is loving her readers and has gone up another level to level 3, she has also gotten her 4th certificate on Study Ladder - does anyone else have their LO using this program?

This school is the best decision we have ever made for her I think, she is improving daily and is apparently doing some grade 1/2 work every now and then.
The teachers are fantastic and so easy to talk to, I really need to ask about going in for a day and helping out but it doesn't seem such an issue in such a tiny school.

What does everyone have planned for the first big kids school holidays?

I am still having issue with her not eating everything she's sent to school with, even if I limit what she takes - no reason for it at the end of the day either, just that she didn't want it.... how is everyone else going with this?

My DS is six today. Happy birthday my big school boy :)

He is doing so wonderfully. I am so proud. His anxiety is almost nonexistent. I would have thought school would have made it worse, but it seems to have made it better. I think he likes the framework and the distinct expectations.
He reads, writes, does maths, sounds out words brilliantly. I think finding his abilities is helping his confidence.

Oh and his teacher is the nicest person on earth! Prep teachers are a bit special. She sends the 'fallen out teeth' home in a little glad bag, she rings if we forget their hats, she is so kind.

He idolises the older brother of one of the boys in his class. And he has stopped telling stories of children always chasing and hitting and tagging and throwing bark at one another. Now his day is spent with the kids who love their monster trucks and hot wheels. He has found like-minds, and is content.

I am so pleased we waited for school. I watch the sad mums with children having trouble separating, and I know what difference one year can make to the whole experience.

We are a happy family, I hope school stays such a positive place for my boy.

Dd seems to have hit a bit of a wall the last few weeks, she outright refused to eat anything last week and came home starving and cranky. She loves being read to but hates to sit and do her letters but will do reading eggs and can recognise a few more words. Having to pick my battles as she is getting upset easily. It's her birthday so hoping that a fun day at school will cheer her up. Glad it's only a week and a half until the end of term.

Her birthday today BR? Snap with my DS!

ZF - we have the opposite. The school is enormous! Almost 900. I help with reading and PMP next term.

We posted at the same time! Happy birthday to your ds too :)

Aww, happy birthday to your DS Lenny and your DD BlackRose. I hope they both have fantastic days!!

ZF - I wouldn't call our school tiny (not compared to the size it used to be anyway), but I'm always amazed when he walks down the corridors and both the kids and teachers all say "good morning DS". They all know who is who. And I love it. I'm still trying to get my head around who everyone is. It was one of the things I worried about when choosing schools, that sense of community and belonging.

We haven't been given any reading levels yet, is that normal? DS is on list 4 of sight words, though he is cranky about those. I think because the first 3 lists came so easily to him and this list he is really struggling with. His readers are coming home in all different levels still. He actually read one to me from start to finish the other night, it was the first time he had read it so he hadn't been able to memorise it, I was so proud and literally amazed. They have learnt so much already.

Lenny - there is still one girl in DS class whose mother has to get her into the class teacher have her distracted and then run. Otherwise there are tears galore :( DS thankfully was never like that, but he also has his moments where he doesn't want to go because he misses me (awww!).

Happy Birthdays all around ;) :D

DD2 does not eat much. If she gets a chance she pulls most items back out of her lunch box. She is finally speaking up more about what she wants, so today I sent a small thermos with baked beans.

She is not doing so well at reading. Teacher is not worried, but compared to her sister she is really lagging. Trying not to stress about it, but it does worry me a bit. Her sight is fine, I got that tested just in case (DD1 has reading glasses). I suspect her leftiness is getting in the way, as she wants to move Right to left across pages.

Happy Birthday little people! May your classes spoil you.

Blackcat, I'm glad you're finally making some in roads. As for reading levels, our school doesn't make a big deal about letting the kids or the parents know. I only know well, because I do the readers a lot. We actually don't have sight word lists. At our school they concentrate on THRASS (Teaching Handwriting Reading And Spelling Skills) stuff first. It's about sounds and phonics and decoding.

ZF both my kids are like that with their lunch boxes. Even my big girl who eats a phenomenal amount of food sometimes comes home and says she didn't feel like what I put in there. Frustrating for me but worse for their teachers in the afternoon I'm guessing lol. Learning ladder stuff is not something they push until the older grades at our school. They do do some in class, but not much.

Lenny, sounds like your little guy has found his niche. I agree with the waiting. I did that for my big girl and made such a difference for her.

black_rose, I feel like that's DS ATM.

Astrid, I feel like that with DD1/DS. He's just not that into it like she was. Funnily though my gifted kid is a lefty and DS isn't.

As for us, DS is T.I.R.E.D man!!! They are into their second week of 2 intensive swimming weeks. His teacher has been away for the last 4 weeks on long service leave, and while they have had the loveliest teacher, it was cute how excited they all were to see her this morning.
I did get a bit of a shock phone call yesterday though. It was the stand-in teacher and she said,
"Oh, Hi Kim, it's (her name)" - I thought, my goodness what has he done for her to be ringing me at home????
"Nate's had a bit of an accident...." - now a good friend of mine who knows DS and his quirks works at reception. She usually rings when there's been an accident so my first thought is 'oh no, Josie's had to go in an ambulance with him so the teacher has rung....'
"He's been hit in the face rather heavily with a book. It caused his nose to bleed really badly"
Poor little guy, for once in his life he wasn't even involved. He needed a new shirt his has so much blood on it. I thought he'd have a meltdown, but she said he dealt with it, more calmly than she was. He didn't want to come home and preferred to stay and go swimming lol.
Thankfully no black eyes this morning.

We only have a week off this school holidays (and then 4 in the middle of the year) so I think I'll take the kids down to see DH. He lives in the community at the base of Ayers Rock.

Oh no Kim hate those phonecalls! Poor dd had a fight with a friend today and is upset hoping they work it out. She managed two huff and puffs today which means two laps around the oval so apart from the fight she had a good day.

My DD is tired, but still waking up before 6am usually - asleep by 7.
So at home I experience big behavioral blow outs - deliberate acts in opposition to what I've asked her to do..can be frustrating! Then in the Mornings there is lots of dordling.

I've been doing sight words in the Mornings and reading eggs because she's a lot brighter and receptive. Still on sheet one for sight words - they've been slow to test them again but I know she should get a few more of them. But if she doesn't know it she deliberately gives me the wrong answer as if that's enough and then I will stop asking her! Her teacher says just leave it when that's happening.

I have to work really hard on not showing my frustration at her deliberate wrong answers (she also tells very mighty tales about her day), it's really exhausting and I'm insure what's actually what.

She blocks me in the afternoon and says no questions - and my Q's are very fluffy and light and open ended so not too hard to answer.

Anyone else experiencing this?

My DD had a meltdown this afternoon because she wanted a plain piece of paper and all she could find was paper that had stuff printed on the other side (we give them recycled paper to draw on, instead of new sheets). Complete with tears, angry accusations (Mummy! You're not helping me!) and hiccups.

I really should have helped her calm down but I was literally in the middle of making dinner, DS1 and DS2 were both screaming at me and I just couldn't. Plus I was getting a bit over it!

Anyway. She is tired. She's also been sick - off sick Friday and Monday. Been fighting a virus of some sort. I'm hoping things are picking up now.

Our school is also pretty vague on levels and things. By sight words do you mean the golden words etc? If so, DD has just gone up to the red words. She's trying but it's taking time. But that's ok.

Blackcat we dont start readers until next term. Term 1 is all about settling into school and learning all the Jolly Phonics sounds/letters etc. Interesting how different prep is across the board!!

DS is up and down with tiredness. Doesn't help that he's an early waker (usually up by 6am), with school not starting till 9am he's put in a good 3 hrs before school even starts. He had a meltdown about going to OHSC this morning "Mummy, I'm soooo tired, its such a long day". Anyway packed a few books for him cos apparently today it was boring too, of course the books stayed in his bag as once he got to OHSC he was busy having fun. Made me feel guilty though. He only goes 2 mornings a week due to my work commitments, but he's right, it makes for a long day :(

Next term I am helping out with reading, and excursions :) Looking forward to it. Have done the volunteers course and had my police clearance so all good to go. I really want to be a part of the school community so that will be a great way to get involved. DS had his first birthday party on saturday. It was hard to join in talking to some of the other Mum's who clearly have already established friendships so I was a little disappointed as thought the party was a great way to get to know some other parents. Had a good chat to one of the Dads though. Will try again at the next party - perhaps there will be different kids and therefore parents there who aren't so cliquey! We will have a party for DS late April here at home - easier for me to interact on my turf hehehehe. I am finding that thats a drawback to being a working Mum. I only do two drop off and pick ups in normal hours (aside from the early drop offs for OHSC) so not seeing some of the other parents as frequently. I want some School Mum friends god damn it!! Have just been randomly chatting to other parents while waiting for the bell at pick up. Hmmmm reading this back I sound kinda desperate LOL

Mummy Naoimi I Know what you mean and get it! I am the same DS1 has been going to a friends 2 mornings a week and BSC 1 morning a week and ASC 3 afternoons a week and dont get me wrong he love sit but I feel like I am missing out on getting friends!!! Next term he is doing 3 mornings at BSC as friend finding it to hard with so many early morning as when DS 1 and another boy often dropped of her kids were still in bed.
I find that I am left out of chatting and convos and do not know names of many at all. :-( I really want school friends as didn't really get it at kinder.

I hope to be able to help at school but will depends on DS2 sitting nice and quiet so I can!!! HMM prob no hope!!!!!

DS1 has good and bad days with readers some days very keen and does well other days no hope!! He also has flip cards with alphabet on them. No set words to learn yet. Have started reading eggs and Mathletics which he enjoyed!

You are amazing Kim, doing so much on your own.

One of the children in DSs class comes here in the morning and afternoon on Wednesday. Dropped off at 8.30ish and picked up at about 5.50pm.
She and DS aren't really friends, just classmates. DS is getting tired now and he doesn't really want her here so late in the evening. We normally have dinner at 5.30 especially because DS2 has kinder all day as well. I also don't like the fact that she eats and eats her way through my fruit bowl and then starts on the loaf of bread. I am often giving her 3 pieces of fruit, a carrot, some rice crackers and a whole sandwich. The other day I said no more food - it was getting so late and it seemed unfair to be withholding food from my own children (so they'd eat their dinner) yet giving her what she wanted. When I explained this to the mother she said oh, its ok, she can eat what she likes.
I feel bad saying something though. I feel like I said I would do it, so I really should follow through. I have been told the alternative is she gets dropped at school at 8.30, and then has some kind of after hours care for the afternoon. Currently a different family member does each day of the week.

That's a tough one Lenny... I offered to have my neighbours two kids on Thursday afternoons while she's working but she normally picks them up by about 4.30 so it isn't too much work at all. Do you think you could talk to the child about, just say "We don't eat snacks after 5pm" or whatever? Is she eating her lunch at school, and all her food in her lunch box?

Are you guys having dinner late because of her? Or do you eat with her there?

Is there anyway the mum could pick her up a bit earlier from your place?

Re the school friends for us mummies: it seems like at my school there are some mums with older kids who are already friends, and those groups are a bit hard to break into. But there seem to be quite a few who are willing to say hi - just this morning someone said to me "Have we met? I'm Caroline" which was nice. And we bumped into a family walking home, who live near us. So that has been nice.

We were informed this morning that as of next term we are no longer allowed to walk the kids to class unless we specifically want to talk to the teacher. They have to be dropped inside the glass doors and then either walk themselves to class and then go to the oval or otherwise put their bags in lines and off to the oval. I feel kind of sad that I won't be able to see what they have been doing anymore. Maybe its just me having issues giving up control? I dunno. I'm sure they must have mentioned this on orientation, but I dunno, I feel so... blah about it. :( DS was so upset this morning telling me and telling me that I couldnt drop him off to class anymore or he would get sent to the principals office! (Im not very happy about that either, that he is being held accountable for someone elses (my) actions which he can't possibly have control of, on the threat of the principals office). What does everyone else think? I feel so disheartened about this school lately. They have a wonderful community spirit. Maybe Im just projecting my own issues onto it all, maybe I'm just not equiped for what school is really like. :(

MummyNaomi, Feeb and OP, Ive also had a few issues breaking into the already established mummy groups. There is one mother that has a clear dislike for me, but thankfully we don't have much to do with one another, her husband on the other hand has no issues (maybe that's her problem with me :lol: :dunno: ) A lot of them all know one another from their older kids. But after a few parties I am slowly being brought into the group. I find it hard also as I have social anxiety so its not something I'm good at or open with in the first place. But I'm trying.

Lenny can you ask that her mum provides her with something to eat in the afternoon with you? So she can eat that while your kids get to eat and she isn't munching her way through the fruit bowl? I have a fruit muncher, as soon as he comes through the door he starts and doesn't stop until bedtime, even then he tries. So I can imagine what its like for you.

Feeb - does your school have a box of toys etc for siblings? I know a couple of our mums bring their younger kids to reading and the class just brings out a box of toys for them to play with. The other parents are good at helping watch them too when the mummy is distracted etc.

twodarlingirls - DS is like that too. He just shuts me down, it doesn't matter how you phrase it, he just won't talk about what he has done during the day. Sometimes he will open up and start a conversation about something that has happened but mostly I get the cold shoulder too.

Kim - I hope your DS' nose is ok now. Ouchies! Poor little fella.

OP golden words? not sure tbh. The sight words we have are words like to, the, because, she, he, they. That sort of thing. I think they are a combination of words that you can't sound out and high frequency words.

Our kids have pretty much been thrown straight into everything. So they are learning letter sounds (jolly phonics), how to make words from the sounds, sight words (as above) and readers. Some of the kids are struggling and you can see it when you do the class reading for them, while others have taken it in their stride and run with it. Our teacher was (IMO) rude at orientation and said if your kids are 4 don't bother sending them, wait for next year. I can understand the reasoning but surely that should be a child by child basis and the parents decision. But anyway, this is what we chose.

I found with the friendship thing as school that it takes time and numerous encounters. So it may take the birthday party, a shared volunteering session and then bumping into each other at the shop/park/etc for friendships to begin to form.

Have found that volunteering helps, being part of committees etc. They have to talk to you then ;)

Good point Astrid. Probably more time and interaction is needed. I shall plug away and build some bonds. Friendships aren't made overnight.

We can't take the younger siblings when volunteering, frankly that's fine with me, I'm there to help with the class not kid wrangle my very inquisitive toddler who would be a big distraction for the school kids. I plan to take DD to a morning session of child care. Then I am splitting my RDO into halves for each kid and my full attention will be on each. DD is very strong willed and tantrumy atm so it wouldn't be appropriate to take her.

DS took a fall today and has a massive egg and cut on his forehead, looks terrible :( DH picked him up from school after the office rang me shortly after 9 and took him home, poor love. He was quite shaken up.

BlackCat on Wednesdays we have Independence day where the parents are asked to drop the preppies at the door, let the bring their own lunchbox, drink and message bag into the class and settle themselves in. DS comes into the classroom from OHSC anyway that day so no biggie for us, but I do understand that they are helping our little ones organize themselves for the day. Seems they are much more capable than we realise. Boo Hoo the way your LO is made to feel he will get in trouble though if you
don't comply :(

I can usually draw a fair bit out of DS depending on the Qs I ask. Eg who did u play with at lunch, what books did you do work in, did you go to other buildings outside your classroom, did you see other teachers today, what was your favorite part of school today, what made you feel happy/sad today. All great conversation starters :)

Did I say we also have P/T interviews next week (Learning Conversations). DS participates which I love, back in my day (showing my age here) we sat outside the classroom while Mum went in. DH and I are really looking forward to it.

Meant to say too Lenny there is a little girl in DSs class like that - cries every morning and is soooo distressed, breaks my heart :( I don't think I could cope if DS was struggling like that everyday. That was one of our big considerations when we were deciding when to start him. The other issue that arises is then the teacher is monopolized each morning settling her in and she has a whole class of preppies to greet. She is amazing at juggling it all.

Having to organise the party invites for DD2's first school birthday party. I like to be fairly open with the first one and invite most of the kids. I see it as a good way of families starting new connections (we are always open about parents staying)
Sadly she is being funny about two of the girls. I suggested invite all the girls, plus a couple from the other class, but no, she does not want that. I really don't want to exclude only two girls, does not seem fair, especially since one of the girls is new. I doubt once the party gets going that she will even notice. Kids learning socialisation can be tough at times.

We had that last year Astrid there were two girls she really didn't want to invite but we had 8 other girls from the same class so we talked about it and invited all the girls and one or two other girls from other classes.

Our school actually has it in their policy that parties should be all of one gender or the whole class. I presume from talking to a third time mum that you can invite one or two of their best friends only if done so outside school grounds.

We're holding off having a party this year and waiting to see who he ends up closer to.

Wow, I would fight a school policy like that. Fair enough request being subtle about giving out invites (give to teacher or direct to parents etc), but I don't think any school has the right to say who should be invited. I get where they are coming from, but a policy???

I have found as they get older they tend to want sleepovers, so the numbers are quite low for that (2-3 friends), so it is less of an issue and the kids seems to be so much more understanding.

I'm with Astrid, that is OTT. DS has missed out on a party invitation (or more possibly) as he told me last week that when the kids have parties not everyone can go as the children can't invite everyone. I think his teacher has positioned this to the class at some point as DS articulated this well, clearly it's been something the class has talked about.

Catching up on a bit here.

Lenny, is it possible just to offer to give her dinner too? Then you can control a snack after school then all kids get dinner at 5:30? I would have an issue too. I have the next door kids a couple of evenings and they like to eat a lot too. I have to hide the snacks when they are over!

Black cat, that's an odd policy, I wouldn't be comfortable with that. Dd1's best friend is a boy and he only plays with the girls, he would be very left out if that happened. He just doesn't relate to boys and it would be cruel to enforce that. What would happen if you had been friends before school with a couple of the different gender kids and then had to exclude them.

Parties are always fraught but I think as you get older the kids figure it out. I like that the girls don't get invited to everything and that they also have to say no to some things or make a choice which thing to do. Even dd2 understands she can't go to everything and there are some kids she doesn't warm to either.

Funnily dd2 has singled out kids that she likes who are a little different. One of her friends is an African girl with hearing aids and another has CP and in a wheelchair. She goes out of her way to include them in her friendship group. I'm a bit surprised as she's not necessarily overly empathetic in general.

We had our first gastro bug this week - it has been going around so not unexpected. Although vomiting child as you are about to walk out the door for work isn't the best way to start the day!

Oh no nai I hope it passes quickly for you. Poor dd.

I agree that it's a horrible policy but it's part of the school so what can we do. :dunno: for that reason ds is not having a party this year. Next year once I can contact parents direct I'll look at battling that one. Talking to mum's of more than 1 child its more accepted to go against that policy once the kids are older and so long as you do it away from the school environment the school doesn't seem to pull anyone up. No one usually does it in kinder though.

Well we are having a rough trot here. Poor DS seems to be the victim of some bullying at the moment and we are devastated to say the least. He doesn't turn 5 until late April and this has made us question our decision to send him this year. He is a very kind and happy little soul, so to a certain degree he doesn't get he meanness but is starting to get a bit worried. On Friday we got a call as he'd hurt his (already hurt) head. He took an innocent tumble on Wednesday last week. Apparently on Fri some older kids were swinging him around at lunch, calling him midget and dropped him on his head. Other children advised that they'd been yelling at the kids to stop, Today some kids took his hat off his head and ran off with it again calling him a midget.
DS is very short, he is about a head shorter than most of his class. He has always been tiny. I never expected this to happen term 1 of school :( His teacher advised that he definitely needed to start this year, despite being one of the youngest he is very bright and is immersed in his learning. Hopefully his school experience isn't tainted by this rubbish. I am very emotional about it and burst into tears while talking to his teacher today :( She was very supportive, she has her own little boy.
His teacher and the school are hot on it though, I am confident they will identify the culprits soon and hopefully the behaviour will stop. DS suggested we can stop it by him staying home from school :( Fortunately I talked him around and his biggest concern is not having a hat tomorrow so he wont be able to go on the playground. I have emailed his teacher hoping they can lend him a spare until I can get to the school uniform shop on Thursday.

I hate that children can be so cruel to each other - I mean really? Should junior primary children even know how to be mean, I think I've been living in a bubble, seems they are just as horrible as adults :(

Oh honey! I am so devastated to here that. Poor wee man! Mima told me today that the biggest kid in her class punched her today too. I'm not sure whether I should speak to the teacher or not? She seemed over it as she was trying to get him to give her an Easter egg today when he won the Easter raffle. But then she is rather motivated by food. Still I can't imagine how I would feel if it felt systematic like what bai is dealing with. I would be distraught like you I think. I hope they get on top of it soon. And whilst I don't believe in toughening kids up, he is tiny..... Do you think a self defense style class might help his confidence? Or is it too soon to go down that path?

Oh no! Terrible xx
My DS1 is small. We've held him back (he just turned 6 a week ago). He's still one of the smallest. But he has the attitude and the emotional intelligence of a 6 year old, so is better equipped to deal with it all.
Plus the school is huge, so preps are encouraged to only play with preps. I thought this was a daft idea, but it has it's merits. Bullying being one of them.

I hope that things improve. It would be a much tougher introduction to school if he no longer feels secure and content. I can't imagine children so young being bullies. I have noticed some of the girls being a bit manipulative and a bit more interested in who is friends with who.

ETA - I'd be an emotional mess. Poor you xx

Lenny, DS would likely still be the smallest next year too :(
The receptions, yr1/2 have their own play area, 3-7 a totally separate one, so it's other little kids :(

oh no MN :( Thats awful. Your poor DS.

Does the school do talks about bullying? I know at ours they talk about it a lot, but also talk about when other kids see this sort of thing to go tell a teacher too, not to just leave it to the poor victim. Is it possible that these kids don't realise that what they are doing is quite cruel and thing that its just a game? As mean as it is? :(

I hope the teachers can sort out something for you both.

They do BC, I attended an assembly a few weeks ago and it was a topic then, I know they focus on it in class too
Hoping that as all the teachers have been made aware they will be vigilant in the yard. DSs classmates are protective of him and helped him during the hat incident yesterday apparently

Oh no MN that's horrible glad your little man was brave enough to go back to school today. Hope the staff sort it our quickly for him.

Dd had her party and had a ball, it gave me a chance to see her around the class as she only just turned 5. They all seem to interact really well and are a nice group.

It's there first full week this week so I am sure she will be very tired and will be looking forward to the holidays.

Big hugs Nai. I really hope they get this under control quickly. As you know we have also made decision to send DD this year even though she only turns 5 tomorrow. You know your reasons for sending him this year and they are still valid, like you said he would still have been one of the smallest if you had sent him next year.

DD had an instance where some Grade 1 boys were chasing her. Harmless fun from their point of view but DD did not like it. They teach kids at our school to say "stop it, I don't like it" in first instance and if that doesn't work to report to teacher. In her instance the boys were talked to about appropriate behaviour and apologised.

Hopefully the duty teachers will be informed so they can keep a close eye on the situation.

I really hope it does not tarnish his enthusiasm for school.

Big hugs, Janie xxx

oh MN :hug: to both of you. Bullying is something I worry about. Hopefully it is sorted asap.