Starting School in 2012 !

[Presh]

Just following the lead from the previous few years and am starting a chat thread for parents to discuss anything and everything to do with their "babies" starting big school next year.

Who's sad about the milestone ? Who can't wait ? Who's already organised and knows exactly what school their child will be going to ? Lets get chatting !!!

[Starfish]

oh yes I'm in - my oldest baby is starting next year. We've put in the application this week and they do interviews in April/May

I am very glad we kept her out this year and am trying to make the most out of this year with it being the last year both of mine are home together. I really want them to have fun this year because I know little man will miss his sister like crazy.

In a way I am happy for DD because I know she'll love it but I'm sad for myself, I will miss her so much and am not looking forward to such a massive change in our lives. I've been so used to the last 5 years of being a stay home mummy (I've only recently gone back to work from home part time) and all in all I've loved it.

oh, but I have an OBSESSION with stationery so I know I'll be loving shopping for school supplies and covering books etc. and I cant wait to help with homework and project when she gets older

[RoXsteR]

Im another, my DD starts next year.

Im so excited, she is just as excited!! the only fear i have is bullying and her making friends, she is very shy and timid and i am so scared that will be reason enough for someone to pick on her!! it scares me to the point i feel ill.

on a plus note, she is going to the same primary school i attended, so she has been automatically accepted, and according to that school site its in the top 5 schools in Brisbane. i just have to get enrollment forms, they need to be in by september

i cant wait, mind you, i will have a bub by the time she starts school so will have my hands full again!! but i am happy she is so excited about big school!! i really hope someone from her childcare goes to the same school so she knows someone.

[Starfish]

I worry about the same thing Roxster, my DD is very reserved and finds it hard to make friends but a few of her friends that we've known forever are going to the school next year so that is good and she's started going to a prep program and I think they focus on that sort of thing - and she is slowly getting to know the other kids.

[RoXsteR]

what is a prep program?? do they do that at the school?? i would be interested in something like that.

my DD finds it hard making friends. however in a play park she is fine and will play with kids, but anywhere else she wont. shes been in ballet for almost 18 months now, and she hasnt made any friends in the class!! i think she tries but she doesnt always know how to make first conversation. it breaks my heart sometimes.

[Starfish]

Rox - very few schools around here do it, but it is within a local primary school where they have their own preschool and it is very structured, school hours etc only its 2 or 3 days a week depending on what you choose. It was hard to get into and because she is not going to the school that it is run out of she almost missed out on getting a place in fact we only got the offer of a spot a couple of months ago when someone pulled out.

It might be worth looking in to if it is not too late, I only heard about it through friends in my area but if it happens here it probably happens in other schools. DD loves the structure and it is a small class with 2 teachers so it works well

[Trixie]

My two are starting school next year and I'm so sad!! I've absolutely loved every minute of having them at home with me and I'm going to REALLY notice it going from having two children at home to no children at home.... Given that they adore preschool I'm sure they will love school, and as there are two of them I'm not worried about them being lonely (and they are very social as individuals as well), so it's really just me who's not looking forward to it. Making the most of every minute this year!!

The boys are going to the little catholic school up the road, we can walk there so I'm pretty excited about that. Hoping to pick up some teaching work there and I'll definately be offering to help out where ever I can.

Sigh. They grow up so quickly!

T

[Rox]

My Ds1 is starting school next year. Im freaking out about it because we're going from NSW to QLD and I have a bad feeling prep in qld does not equal kindergarten in nsw.

I must be a minority as I am looking forward to him being at school, and he is absolutely over the moon with the idea of learning at school 5 days a week lol

[frenchieM]

oh yes I'm in - my oldest baby is starting next year. We've put in the application this week and they do interviews in April/May

Yes, same!!! Although DS will only be in kindy (2 days a week). I am still so nervous about him going to "big school" and me being interviewed by the principal!!!

[Shelle]

My DD will be starting prep next year too! She started pre-prep this year though, so we have already had the "firsts" of buying uniforms (and taking the first-day photos!), buying stationary etc. She has already made a lot of friends and they will all automatically move into the prep program at the same school. Pre-prep is such a lovely transition between kindy and prep, I can't speak highly enough of it.