Comments on: Being the new girl – Starting School

By: Fran

Fran — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:45:58 +0000

In reply to Jean Collom. I totally agree that it puts pressure on the household. If it wasn't for my dad, Matt would have to have left work early tomorrow so that I could get to the PTA and would have to have the morning off work on Monday so that I could go to the reading meeting (it's at 9.15am and they asked that you NOT to take pre-school siblings as they are a distraction). That's in the first week!

By: Fran

Fran — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:41:19 +0000

I don’t envy you the driving. Yesterday I was forced to drive as we had to pick Sofia up at lunch and then head straight over to Twins Club 6 miles away. I arrived half an hour before pick up and was forced to go to an NCP car park. Although, you probably don’t envy me the pick up with twins (they are a nightmare and just wriggle out of their buggy and go running round the playground).

I completely agree with you. Whilst, I want to be fully involved with Sofia’s education, there is a lot of more peripheral stuff that you feel obliged to be involved with (and as you say, it’ll be noticed if you slack). I think it’s a lot of pressure and adds to the already demanding schedules that we all have.

Glad it’s not just me that felt like the new girl.

At least tomorrow’s PTA meeting has cheese and wine 🙂

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 11:29:31 +0000

In reply to Jean Collom. It's sounds quite similar to our set up for school! We have to drive having been allocated a village school (near to M4/ M5 and more highly populous areas!) with virtually no public transport and way too far to walk, so traffic is a stress on the way and don't get me started on the parking. I had similar new girl feelings and worries, and thank goodness for the old hands at the school gates and the understanding staff, and overall my brilliant Mum who has cancelled everything in her diary for September to help (we have 3 weeks of just mornings)! It does seem like school is an ever increasing committment for parents, whilst I want to be a part of Maisy's education there does seem to be a lot that we are encouraged to do and with just a 30 children intake any slacking on my part may well be noticed! Still at least our newbies are managing just fine with it all :-)

By: Jean Collom

Jean Collom — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 07:23:37 +0000

Wow, School days are certainly sounding a lot different to 30 odd years ago!!
Surely school is meant for the children not the parents?
There sounds to be a lot of social requirements for the parents to take part in. Um!
What meetings should there be for parents to take part in in such a short space of time?
I can understand the progress evening at the end of term and choosing options for exam time but when a little one has just started it seems a bit extreme. Putting unnecessary pressure on the household.