Helpful Tips for New Parents please!!!

[YadaYada]

Will the boys play cricket in the first term? I had assumed (never a wise move!) that they would only paly cricket in the summer so I wasn't planning on buying any kit for cricket until next year.

Please advise if this is the wrong strategy!

[Laura12]

The boys only need it for the summer term hence why I have only just bought it for him in the Easter hols.
He told me that they were told that they all needed it and at that stage I don't think they knew what teams they were going to be in.

[thriftymatron]

I intend to follow this up over the coming months as it does not make any sense for parents to buy whites which are then not needed. The second form boys play indoor cricket in the Lent Term (without wearing whites)and I imagine that this determines who is selected for the A/ B squad for the Summer Term. There is usually a sale of cricket clothing and equipment on the last day of the Lent Term.

[Laura12]

So I found out half way through the Easter hols when my son informed me !!
By then too late.
I don't know if it had been advertised and I had missed that bit of info so couldn't blame him entirely for failing to tell me.

[huggermugger]

Yes, I'd be a bit peeved about the cricket whites, but on the uniform list I had they were marked "For Summer term"... which obviously needs to go back on if it's been removed. I would endorse thriftymatron's comment re: the Thrisft Shop - we bought ours there - it was very cheap and in excellent condition!

I think the system has changed but all of them did need cricket whites when my DS first went. It has become obvious that some of the sports kit is now only needed if they get into "squad", which I think means the A and B team. (tho that seems to vary across the sports) However, the sports masters do seem to give as many people as possible the chance to play and the Squad can and does change. What is more, it would seem that the child doesn't even have to be brilliant at the sport to get in; if he/she shows enthusiasm and commitment they will also be given a chance in the team. Therefore, it is difficult to judge at the beginning whether or not they will need the kit... it's frustrating but I'm not sure whether there's a way round it - if they're chosen they need the kit fairly pronto!

[YadaYada]

How does their school uniform get named?

I don't seem to have read about this anywhere....am I supposed to send him with extra nametapes and a sewing kit? Or does it go unnamed and unwashed for the first 3 weeks?

Thanks

[dinahcat]

The excellent Middle Ladies do this I believe. You don't need to send any tapes -all the school uniform is done for you.

[lonelymom]

Each pupil is given enough white blouses, bands and socks for a week, which is plenty if they put them down to be washed daily, and as dinahcat said the middle ladies label the uniform. The matrons will want a small supply of nametapes though for spare as they can become detatched in the laundry.

[Great Plum]

If i remember correctly, the uniform is actually labelled with your house number... (or it was back in the 90's!)

[Momto2]

Yes, you are right Great Plum, it is still labelled like that - well, more written on in permanent marker

[lonelymom]

When I took my daughter back on Sunday I noticed her bedsheet had her house initials written on it in the corner in very large black letters. I knew I hadn't done it, so I thought she had the wrong sheet, but she said that their sheets are marked like that now because it makes it easier for the laundry ladies to identify them, rather than search endless seams for the nametapes we sew in. So, unless any staff members (ie matrons ) tell me otherwise, I won't be sewing (or rather my mother-in-law won't be!) nametapes in the sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases for my younger daughter who starts in September, I'll be writing her name and house number on in black laundry pen.

[englishangel]

I am continually amazed by this whole thing, sheets, duvet covers!! I suppose you have to have them at home so just take them to school but if that is the case it means that you cannot go back and forth without a car.

In the 60's, 70's parents were expected to provide very little, and I have said somewhere else that we took home a change of underwear on holidays as CH was a charity school.

AFAIR (and I am sure many will correct me and add, subtract as required, I think Munch may even have the list)

Parents provided
Hockey boots (only one type available so no brands there) and hockey stick, plimsolls/tennis shoes (Green Flash were de rigeur) and tennis racquet, swimsuit, house shoes, slippers. Contents of washing bag including hairbrush and comb, watch, Bible. One large suitcase (no larger than 28" x 24" by 8" approx.), and one small suitcase, 18" x 15" x 6" (my father still has mine).

Absolutely everything else was provided by the school. Many girls (especially as they moved up the school) wore their own underwear but washed it by hand and made sure it wasn't visible. Around 69/70 we were allowed to wear our own underwear and could wear trousers after prep on a Saturday and after afternoon chapel on a Sunday.

[Fjgrogan]

I think I have said this elsewhere, but when I started in 1956 in 5's, which was a junior house then, the list said that once I reached the age of about 12 (ie LIV) I would need a suspender belt. 'Hockey boots and suspender belt' became something of a family joke! The other thing I remember from the list in those days was a fine tooth comb - our heads were regularly checked. To this day I cannot decide where the hyphen belongs in (presumably) fine-tooth comb, rather than fine tooth-comb - which conjures up a different picture! Anyway a nit comb! And yes, we were definitely limited to one large suitcase and one small case, which was then used to store school needlework in progress. So no space for packing sheets and duvet covers.

In later years I used to watch in amazement as my daughters managed to pack for a term at school with far less hassle than my husband ever took for a weekend away with the Sea Cadets. Unfortunately with the passing years I have lost the art of packing in a small space - I always travel with too much. I vaguely remember one of the tests in the Guides was to pack a bag with the minimum of weight, for hiking presumably. It was a bit of a competition to see who could include all the necessities but with the least weight - even to the extent of cutting half the handle off your toothbrush etc! Katharine would remember, but I understand she is away at the moment.

An afterthought - the Book of Common Prayer was also on the list. I wonder what happened to mine?

[Barnes Mum]

So, unless any staff members (ie matrons ) tell me otherwise, I won't be sewing (or rather my mother-in-law won't be!) nametapes in the sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases for my younger daughter who starts in September, I'll be writing her name and house number on in black laundry pen.

That is absolutely fine. But PLEASE write them on the outside bottom edge as that's where the laundry can see them easiest. You also have to be careful which pens you use as some wash out after a while. Our House writes on each corner of fitted sheets too (only in small writing) as otherwise these are a real nightmare to find the labels on.
I often only label my own daughter's underwear and civvies with permanent marker, but as a matron maybe I shouldn't be admitting that!

[englishangel]

I had to take a suspender belt from the beginning because I was tall and I think we wore them until 16 as we had ribbed stockings long after the rest of the world had graduated to tights. In sixth form we wore 30 denier American Tan tights.