Crossedover Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Boy oh boy.... We have 3 weeks before they come and pack up our home AND our 2 girls are learning for their year end exams.... I am not sure which pressure is worse? I believe that the homework and test learning in Aus is less? Is that so? Are the kids under less home pressure in Aus? Or is that wishful thinking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Crossingover, I know how you feel. When we were packing up to leave our youngest son was writing his matric, he finished on the Friday and they loaded our container on the Monday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadEnoughofJuju Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Don't know about the other states but here ion QLD the kids don;t really know what exams are. Everything is just continuous assessment. They also don't seem to push homework as much here, most of the so called home work that my child brings home is reading and some maths every now and then with the odd show and tell or presentation thrown in for good measure. No where near as stressful as I remember it back in RSA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossedover Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Mara.... That must have just tripled the stress...somehow when we decide to wait for the end of the school year we did not picture trying to balance the home.... Not that immigration is a time of balance... Ha ha! Wow, no mine are just yr 7 and 5.... But my oldest daughter is aiming for one of the top spots and my middle child could not care but then wonders why her report does not look like her sisters! Children! Thank you for being there xHEJJ... You made my day.... I have heard it is less stressful and that sounds like such a bonus! Something to look forward too... Less stressful afternoons and more play time! Just what I needed to hear. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pell Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 You're not alone, Crossingover!My daughter is writing grade 10 exams at the moment (they count 75% of the final mark) and we will be packing our container soon as well... pressure, pressure, pressure...Personally, I am more worried about her starting school end of January and we won't have our container and a rental by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossedover Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Ya Pell, we definitely share your concerns.We will be packing all we need for school in our suitcases, reports, immunization cards, hair stuff, basic stationery..... I also hate the idea of girls wearing boys lace ups.... I would prefer them to wear normal girls school shoes.And the schools are understandably not convinced by temporary Accomodation.... Guess we will figure it all out over there!Many have gone before and we too will make it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parks Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 We're in the same boat our daughter writing grd 10 and our son grd8......they write their last exam on the Monday and we fly out on the Tuesday...we moved out of our home a week and house sitting for friends. Talk about pressure, poor kids worrying about moving, packing and in between learning! Character building in the first degree.Good luck to us all especially our kiddies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeferg1 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 (edited) I think the homework load depends on the school....I stand to be corrected though. We're in WA. My boys go to a small private school with a South African principal and quite a few SA teachers and they start writing exams in Year 5. The homework is pretty full on with plenty of projects for my eldest (Year 7) - keeps us both on our toes, that's for sure! Friends of ours whose children go the local government school don't seem to have much in the way of homework - mainly reading. Edited November 11, 2014 by leeferg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pell Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Ya Pell, we definitely share your concerns.We will be packing all we need for school in our suitcases, reports, immunization cards, hair stuff, basic stationery..... I also hate the idea of girls wearing boys lace ups.... I would prefer them to wear normal girls school shoes.And the schools are understandably not convinced by temporary Accomodation.... Guess we will figure it all out over there!Many have gone before and we too will make it. My daughter is also not very impressed with her future school uniform (here they have a multiform so it's all pretty relaxed), but that can't be helped.Luckily. the school she's going to is not worried about zoning, otherwise I would be a complete nervous wreck about finding that elusive rental. I couldn't leave it to chance seen as she is going into year 11 and I enrolled her in a private school. I'm just worried because we're not arriving at the best time of the year and January is a holiday month for a lot of people so I've been told that agencies have skeleton staff and property choices would most probably be limited... but again that can't be helped... I wish I could just relax and listen to the kind people who tell me not to worry, that things will work out etc., but I guess I have to get into that mindset and try to set aside the Jo'burg-rat-race mindset... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbren Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I can relate to your concerns. I can't speak for the current SA school system, but having immigrated from SA years and years ago during high school to Canada, I can tell you it was positive for me - I went from average student, albeit under pressure to perform all the time - so top of class in maths and sciences - and ended up getting scholarships for university. So I have a good feeling about how your children will fare. Fast forward a few decades, and I am preparing to bring my own daughters to Australia in a few weeks, as we are in the immigration process.My daughters are yr. 12 yr 7 and 4 - and I have one in each of the situations described above (1. placed in a private school so that enrolment was secured and catchment not a worry) and (2. could not get /afford a private school close-by for the 9 year old, so waiting on landing a suitable rental in order to enrol her at state school in area - although doubtful about the timing working out since only land jan 14th).And for the biggie, my oldest, who is staying until early Feb. to finish her final year exams - decided recently that she isn’t' coming on this move, and after a short two month stay with us is headed back to Canada to start college program on her own - something I can't really deny her and would be foolish to push my own agenda and whatever consequences came from not being her choice.So, here’s to smooth transitions into next year - for the small stuff - having the right shoes and the big stuff - good teachers, making friends, coping with load, making sense of new system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 bcbren, just wait until your daughter has spent two months in the Queensland sunshine, it may change her mind... especially as she will be coming out of the Canadian winter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossedover Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 I know our kids are not ours to hold on for forever but I like the newer ending to the old saying..." if you love something set it free, if it comes back it was meant to be..... "With my kids I am sure I will...." if you love something set it free, if it comes back it was meant to be... Otherwise hunt them down and kill them" I have prepared my kids... So all is good!My kids have finished writing exams so we are full stream ahead on the packing front. As my husband keeps reminding me we are paying the movers R100 000 to do it... So whilst he watches TV I am frantically sorting and chucking. Mmmmmmm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbren Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Crossingover,You must have only days before your big move kicks off, hope it goes smooth so you can enjoy the holiday and the farewells. For us it will be our last winter Christmas probably for a while.....I never did get used to the cold in Canada, but I must say that around Dec. 25th, a beautiful white snow fall is pretty special. I had the removalists here today for a quote and assessment, feels a bit more real. I am hoping that my oldest and I have a least two good months together before she comes back - despite the stress I will be under upon arrival and starting job.Good luck with everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossedover Posted December 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2014 Thanks bcbren.... I hope you get some special time in too!We survived... Not sure how! Container on the water... This time in 2 weeks we will have arrived in Sydney!! Oh my! What a thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pell Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Yip, packing company finished yesterday - what a mission, I wish I could have thrown the lot away and bought on the other side....!Now we out of the house, house-sitting in an awesome house, with little to do except wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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