DXB2OZ Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 We will be arriving during the holidays, then will have two kids starting the July term, one in high school (year 7), one in primary (year 5).We are working on several assumptions, can anyone tell me if these are correct:1. The high schooler will be riding her bike or walking home alone (with cell phone in bag)2. I will pick up the primary schooler - waiting in playground? At the classroom? - we will then walk or ride home together3. They will go into winter uniform (Melbourne)4. They will each take a packed lunch (is this the norm?)Is there anything else I should know? Trying to prep them and make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. Trying to make sure I know what's what. I know the schools will explain some of it, but they explain from an educator's perspective, not a parent's and probably not a shiny, new immigrant's.Naturally I am also hoping that the other parents will be nice to me and I may find someone to play with down the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 By us kids walk to school, some cycle and others ride school or regular busses. Depending on where you live. Our local primary school has a tuck shop with an online menu (revised weekly). The parents can choose and pay online and book a meal for your kid. Most parent pack lunch on a regular basis with the tuck shop meal being a treat, say on a Friday. Or on a day when they have sushi or a favourite meal. That way your child dont handle the money and cant suddenly order their body weight in chips. Volenteering yourself for the tuck shop roster is a great way to meet teachers and other parents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 We will be arriving during the holidays, then will have two kids starting the July term, one in high school (year 7), one in primary (year 5).We are working on several assumptions, can anyone tell me if these are correct:1. The high schooler will be riding her bike or walking home alone (with cell phone in bag)2. I will pick up the primary schooler - waiting in playground? At the classroom? - we will then walk or ride home together3. They will go into winter uniform (Melbourne)4. They will each take a packed lunch (is this the norm?)Is there anything else I should know? Trying to prep them and make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. Trying to make sure I know what's what. I know the schools will explain some of it, but they explain from an educator's perspective, not a parent's and probably not a shiny, new immigrant's.Naturally I am also hoping that the other parents will be nice to me and I may find someone to play with down the line.DXB that all sounds fine to me. When you are packing lunches don't include anything with peanuts like peanut butter, nutella or trail bars. That might make you unpopular with the teacher. All kids wear hats to school (no hat, no play policy) and all kids take a water bottle, which they refill during to day from the water fountains. I've found the kids drink quite a bit more water here. Don't send them with coke, lol, the teachers will notice.Other than that, don't stress. It is very much the same as you are used to. You do lunchboxes and sometimes tuck which they just call 'recess' . Our tuckshop also recently went cashless. You load money on their student cards on the school website. You can also put a note online to say if they are not allowed to buy something, then the tuckshop isn't supposed to sell it to them. But mine loves the meatpies, hehe.I suggest you try and set up some playdates to help make friends. The older kids will start with 'gathos' which is just a get-together of a few kids. Informal. You can host one after a few weeks if you want to. Depends if your older child is a socialite or not. It is all very similar to SA though. Mall, pizzas, sleepovers. If you don't feel 'out' you won't be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DXB2OZ Posted April 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2014 Thanks for the feedback. Bronwyn&Co, we live in the Middle East so my view of "normal" is somewhat slanted. Had a six month stint in the UK which had a whole bunch of unwritten rules (which they don't share), so am just a bit nervous. Once bitten, twice shy......That's why these tips are extremely helpful, also so I can help the kids. They only really know here so it will take quite a while to adjust. Having the forum is a bit like having a specialised "Dear Abbey" column. ☺️ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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