Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2015 - Chat

Mum and Dad tried that KMART today - thanks for the info though - they did have more than the local Target but nothing in the jacket front apparently - have plenty of time and if all else fails can get one from school uniform shop when it reopens on 28th Jan.

Got school shoes today - expensive but no more than most shoes she needs (like me she seems to have very difficult feet to fit) - she has worn them most of today and will probably wear them sometimes out of school too. At least the shop was quiet - I remember going in late Jan last year for shoes for some reason and shop had half an hour wait.

Thanks for mentioning Beleza - I had never heard of them.

What is a windcheater? In my English mind - a windcheater is like a rain jacket - but the Beleza site seems to look more like a jumper/sweater. I have confused myself because I am sure the jacket was navy - but list in book says red windcheater - but is that just the jumper?

Hi wysiwyg, there is a big uniform shop called Victoria schoolwear that is not too far from you. In my experience the uniform shop items are better quality that normal stores and worth the extra dollars. Ie. They retain shape and colour better with washing.

It would be a jumper, Some schools have 2 colour options. Another local school here has maroon or navy for their jacket or jumpers.
If you get confused ask at Beleza they will know exactly what colours you need for what :)

I plan on getting shoes mid Jan, so not looking forward to spending $200ish on shoes

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As for the book, I know exactly which one you are talking about. We have it, as well as another one that is also named 'Starting School' but is written by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker. My Moo loves the latter and wants to read it every day so it might be a winner for your DD too.

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Got it from Library yesterday and has already been read 8 times - thanks again for the tip.

Anyone got any tips on water bottles for school? Haven't had to provide any before - and the ones we have round the house I think they all leak (or have a top where DD manages to just pour all over herself). Picked up one from Aldi today with an ice stick in it but it leaks - so will be good for home where can keep upright but no good for school.

We use a Sistema stainless steel water bottle with a twist top. Dd has used one at kinder all year last year without a drama. I use them for work. We all use them at home. We haven't had any dramas at all with leaks. We keep them in the fridge overnight and then throw a couple of ice cubes in for the day.

When we walked through big w the other day looking at school stuff, she said to me that her kinder drink bottle was dented and was it ok to get a new one for school. The one she had for kinder will become a second one for at home. Will mean I can ditch another of the old plastic ones she uses while her stainless one is washed.

I liked these ones cos I've seen so may kids get pop top bottles that they bite on and ruin the top within days of grabbing them. This can't be opened using their teeth at all so they are far less likely to get damaged. The lids can be replaced as well, which was a selling point for me. I was sick of plastic perishing over time. My drink bottle has been dropped so many times it not funny. It is still going strong.

Dd never asks for cordial or juice for being out and about so no idea what would happen if cordial used in them. The base woudk be fine but not sure about the lid.

We like those bottles that have the tops where the mouthpiece comes out while you twist it round. (Systema ones from Woollies seem to last the longest for mine).
We haven't bought shoes yet either. We'll head to the shops on Monday.
I would've thought a windcheater was a water-resistant jacket as well! Like a "shell" for over the top of a fleece...

Found these great socks at Best & Less - both the girls will be wearing white socks and they're different sizes. The B&L ones have colour coded squares on the sole showing the size for easy sorting! Hurrah! I plan to get many more pairs, lol.

Phoebe has her assessment on 2nd Feb (can't wait to find out who her teacher is! There are three possibilities but I don't know which one it will be) then she starts on Wednesday 4th which is a week after Natalie starts - no idea what we're going to do for childcare that week, other than having to take days off :(
I agree wysiwyg that it's bizarre only going for an hour in the afternoon!

Bought DS1's uniforms today. I think I'm sorted now. Don't have a book list to sort out so that's good. Mum and Dad bought his shoes and lunch box which was helpful. Only $160 spent on uniforms. For now I have bought 3 shirts, a jacket and 4 pairs of shorts. Will look at tracksuit pants closer to winter.

His assessment is in 2 weeks today and then he starts on the Monday. We know who his teacher is and it's the teacher he had for his transition sessions which is fantastic. She was really lovely.

Looking forward to him starting now.

My bank account looks very sad at the moment but i now have everything but DD2 sports uniform.
Both girls have their assessment on Thurs 28th.
Then she starts Feb for 2 half days, Weds off & then full days except Weds for the first term.

We have everything for Jamie he probably needs another pair of shoes but other than that we are set book pickup is the 27th of Jan First day is Feb 2 and Jamie's assessment is the 4th he goes for full days except the first 4 Wednesday's then full time in March

Thanks for the drink bottle tip BG - I had been searching for a good one and picked up a stainless steel Sistema bottle at Big w today [emoji1]

I am waiting on a reply from them as to how to go about ordering replacement lids. I smashed one the other day (apparent,u dropping it from over six foot up when you miss the shelf isn't something the lids appreciate!)
I think de is pretty much sorted for uniform now. Will pick up some iron on patches the week before school starts and get that side of things organised. Only other thing I can think of is finding plain colored hair ties. I use some that I can only find in bright colors (teeny ones). If I cant find plain hair ties I might be stuck with having to use colored ribbon on a daily basis, which will drive me a littl es inkers, but dh will find it seriously frustrating cos he will have to get her in to uniform (which will also mean he will have to make sure they are tied properly before school cos I'll be at work


Have to organise to change my hours at work (again!). I knew school would mean changing swimming lessons to after school hours but didn't really take into account that swimming lessons might interfere with me getting home!!

Bg, swimming lessons are now a pain in the backside now that they are so limited in availability. I now have booked my big girls in on Mondays after school, and Wednesday's for my little girl.

I think we are all ready here, well except for black school shoes, which we've decided to get when we get back from our holiday. But of course I need to get both big girls new shoes. Found dd2 some awesome joggers at target the other day that were half price.
We've got lunch boxes, drink bottles, bag tags (so very important when everyone has the same bag :lol: )
I have bought her some new learning books to practice with and to get some confidence before she starts. Also it's helping her get excited about going to kindy.

She had a massive meltdown the other day saying she didn't want to go to big school, that she wanted to stay home with me. And as much as I love her, she is ready.
We worked out that her biggest problem is the words we were using, she responds better if we say kindy, not big school. And I had to make a deal with her, that after the Easter hat parade at the end of term 1, if she still didn't like kindy then I would pull her out for the time being. She was rather happy with that deal.

So I now have a job - is not great timing as I need to start on the 4th Feb and DH is away nearly all of Feb and first week in March - the job is also 4 days a week - so it means 4 days a week of OHSC for DD before and after - so some really long days 7:30 to 17:45. I couldn't turn down the job though as DH job finishes in April, and is a good job for me although location isn't great. I have just booked the OHSC (I think!!) so she will be starting that on Day 3 - she is used to those length days at daycare - I just hope the OHSC can be a little bit relaxing too, as school finishes 14:30 has quite a few hours there too. She loves the idea of OHSC (she is a bit like me, I used to love any activities or anything that wasn't at home) - so I hope reality meets her expectations.

I still need to write names on clothes, sew a patch onto her hat, and get a jacket. DD says she isn't wearing her dress on first day just the skort and polo - which is fine I have told her, but that she must understand that if we get there and all the other girls are wearing the dresses she can't change :-) I also need to change swimming lessons as will be at work now for the time I had booked - is probably going to have to be weekend now if can get a slot.

All ready to start next week here.
Swim lessons are on Sunday now, she is getting excited but she is still nervous.
Trying to get some kind of routine going but it's an epic fail at the moment.

Need to finish covering books (about 1/2 way), labelling rest of stationery (waiting for labels to arrive early this week) & label school clothes. Eventually found brown sandals last week (3hrs of shopping to find them) and sorted white sneakers (also not easy for size 10.5 feet).
Only bought 2 sets of summer uniform & 1 PE uniform. Not cheap $230 inc school bag & hat. Thank goodness for the schools secondhand options.

Liz I didn't think you could wear sandals to school these days?

All ready here, labeled all of DD1's stuff, don't have to do DD2's thank goodness as it's all shared to foundation, baked heaps of stuff today and froze it, should last well over a month. Took DD2 to get her school shoes refitted as I was sure they were too small, was right snd swapped them for a size bigger.

All ready here too! Waiting on the labels to arrive so I can label his clothes etc but that is it. I think he is becoming a little nervous so am not saying much about it at the moment. Had a play at the school today and were able to peek in the windows! All looking very cute with a campsite set up, a reading nook and other 'investigations' all ready. I'm so excited for him!

We are going in on Thursday to pay the fee, collect the book pack and also have another look in the room as suggested by the principal. Then starting on Friday!