School
Jess started at her new school last week. A week later than the start of the new academic year but to be honest we initially didn't expect her to be back at school till March/ April.
We have decided to settle in Wellington, Island Bay to be precise. We are staying with my lovely sister-in-law until we find a place to rent and jobs. So Jess started at Island Bay Primary last week. She is in year 2 which is a bit strange for us all as she was in year 1 in the UK. The difference in NZ is kids don't start until they turn 5 so during year 1 (or UK reception year) kids can start school any time once they are 5. This is good for us as in theory NZ schools are used to settling new kids into the regime at all times.
Jess is very happy as she gets to wear her own clothes and has a packed lunch everyday. Another difference from the UK is "morning tea". All kids are expected to have a healthy snack mid morning when they have a play break at 10:30am. Then its lunch at 12:30pm. This is working so well for us as it means madam is not starving by lunchtime and is certainly not mega starving when we pick her up at 3pm. Yes 3pm! It was 3pm in the UK so this is a huge imrovement so we can make the most of our lovely local beach and playground or even make afterschool activities such as ballet and swimming.
We are very happy that Jess is getting a reading book every night. At her UK school she got one book a week until we asked for two. Fingers crossed her reading will leap ahead. The school also send home a poem for kids to read and illustrate on a Friday - a nice touch.
And today she told me they had the first practice for the school cross country competition in March. Two laps round the school grounds and its not exactly flat. I'm really pleased as I didn't do cross country till secondary school. I'll report back and let you know how she got on.
We have decided to settle in Wellington, Island Bay to be precise. We are staying with my lovely sister-in-law until we find a place to rent and jobs. So Jess started at Island Bay Primary last week. She is in year 2 which is a bit strange for us all as she was in year 1 in the UK. The difference in NZ is kids don't start until they turn 5 so during year 1 (or UK reception year) kids can start school any time once they are 5. This is good for us as in theory NZ schools are used to settling new kids into the regime at all times.
Jess is very happy as she gets to wear her own clothes and has a packed lunch everyday. Another difference from the UK is "morning tea". All kids are expected to have a healthy snack mid morning when they have a play break at 10:30am. Then its lunch at 12:30pm. This is working so well for us as it means madam is not starving by lunchtime and is certainly not mega starving when we pick her up at 3pm. Yes 3pm! It was 3pm in the UK so this is a huge imrovement so we can make the most of our lovely local beach and playground or even make afterschool activities such as ballet and swimming.
We are very happy that Jess is getting a reading book every night. At her UK school she got one book a week until we asked for two. Fingers crossed her reading will leap ahead. The school also send home a poem for kids to read and illustrate on a Friday - a nice touch.
And today she told me they had the first practice for the school cross country competition in March. Two laps round the school grounds and its not exactly flat. I'm really pleased as I didn't do cross country till secondary school. I'll report back and let you know how she got on.
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