Helpful Tips for New Parents please!!!

[Vonny]

sheets (ditto & fitted are best because they have to put them on a mattress on a cabin-type bed), bath towels (the list says four but I've only ever sent 2).

Do you have to supply sheets and towels these days then?

[Eruresto]

The school do supply flat sheets, but most people use their own, I believe.

Which reminds me! There are two different mattress sizes in the boarding house! The bunk beds have a normal shaped mattress which is just fine - use your normal sheets.

BUT

The ones on the lower beds are bigger, so normal fitted sheets won't fit. In which case, either use the flat sheets from matron, or Ikea (I get mine from, there may be other places), do fitted sheets at the right size for these larger mattresses. I just thought I'd share it with you - caused my DM and myself no end of confusion till we worked it out.

[YadaYada]

Do you think you could post the internet site you have found useful?

I don't already have a child at CH and haven't yet received the kit list so am not sure what I should be looking for but do really need to start early to spread the cost!

Thanks

[thriftymatron]

Do check the Thrift Shop for games kit and bedding. It will be open on Sunday 19th April from 4.30 - 6pm (first day of term) and during New Entrants' Day on Sunday 3rd May when it is likely to be really busy. I am always willing to open at other times by prior arrangement, including during the holidays. The new clothing list will be sent out shortly as part of the New Entrants' pack and although some items are now coming from a new supplier, I have been assured that I can still sell the previous kit from the Thrift Shop and the pupils will not be criticized for not wearing the latest style. Likewise, parents with older children at CH can still pass on out grown kit to younger siblings.

In my experience (94 - 06 as parent of 2 boys, 00 - date as Matron of boys), pupils are expected to have crested polo shirts and most have at least 2, with maybe a 3rd plain one. They are used for PE, Tennis, Fives and Athletics. Extra plain navy jogging bottoms are essential for boys (old ones are fine) especially during bad weather when they get covered in wet mud. Sports wash is only done twice a week so you can imagine the problem! The girls have 1 House hockey shirt and 1 House polo shirt, where as the boys 1 House rugby shirt and 2 reversible rugby shirts.

The use of bags to carry books and equipment around the school is now much more widespread than it used to be and makes sense, keeping possessions together and dry. Most use a backpack.

Fitted sheets are much easier for pupils to use, especially as most sleep in high beds. The only extra-long mattresses left in junior rooms are in Peele and i hope that these will have been replaced by Sept with standard length ones, solving the problem of sheets not fitting. We can supply plain white flat sheets so it is best to avoid sending similar ones for your child, as they can get confused with the school ones once laundered and there is no advantage to the pupil. There are new instructions for labelling (on the reverse of the updated clothing lists and new photos are soon to be put on the website) as nametapes on fitted sheets must be easily visible for laundry purposes.

Vests are optional and quite a few boys in my house do wear them. Others wear plain white T-shirts and have long-sleeved ones for cold winter days.

Most matrons do have a very limited supply of spare games kit for emergencies, but pupils (and parents) must not rely on us being able to supply whatever is needed at any given time. We then have an upset pupil to cope with and they may also get a punishment if unable to take part in an active due to lack of kit. Not a situation that we want to happen to anyone.

I hope that this helps!

[YadaYada]

Thanks, that is very helpful. Unfortunately we live 3 hours away so I will have to brave the rush at the Thrift Shop on New Entrants Day.

My son is NOT sporty. He's certainly not dreading it, seeing it as just another lesson that he has to do. Does he have to do extra curricular sport? If not and he only does PE lessons, I can't see him needing as much kit as say, those that are mad keen on sports.

My only experience is the state secondary sector where I teach so not at all sure how it all will work at CH.

The name taping sounds horrendous! Do most people do it by hand, by machine or pass on to granny?!

Keep the tips coming, they are certainly helpful and reassuring!

[Barnes Mum]

As well as the set P.E lessons the children also have compulsory 'Actives' every afternoon, which tend to be sport related, so they do need quite a bit of kit even if they're not really sporty. As a general rule most children have some sort of sport every day, so as you can imagine they get fairly muddy and sweaty most days!
As for the name tapes, either sewn by hand or machine (whichever granny is happy with!). In my experience machine sewn labels do stand up better to the school laundry, they are also quicker to sew on by machine. Don't underestimate the amount you'll need as EVERYTHING has to be labelled, down to every sock and pair of pants. You can get labels on the web that are cheaper than Cash's, as long as the font and colour is the same as the school requests. (This is to help Matrons and thier assistants to read them with ease!)
Hope this helps.

[lonelymom]

The name taping sounds horrendous! Do most people do it by hand, by machine or pass on to granny?!

Yes, all three!! I tried to do it by hand (bit of a disaster), then passed it on to daughter's granny, who did it by machine

[dinahcat]

I think the forum is fine as it is . Prospective parents who are keen ,will find it and make their own minds up. If the school website contains a link to this forum it will be endorsing it without prejudice which could get them into difficulties.

I have seen another website which quotes items from this forum in an attempt to present CH in a poor light. As Jtaylor says, these quotes are from early threads but the quotes they use are about bullying and other more personal and distressing issues which have been taken completely out of context. Unfortunately, I have heard they they are off putting to some parents who don't realise how old the posts are or indeed how old the posters are! They may not also realise how this forum is a place for laying ghosts for some OBs .
The forum is essentially for Old Blues and I think that should remain its main focus. The current and new parent threads are useful and enjoyable but an add on to the main purpose .

I imagine that the school woud take the line that if you have a question you should contact them .

[lonelymom]

Dinahcat, do you know how to copy the above comment to the 'do parents know about this forum?' section? I think you probably meant to post it there, didn't you?

[dinahcat]

Yes I did ! And no I don't ! As I am techno-useless! Must have had a mad monent and got my threads muddled. I hope it's curable!

[lonelymom]

I hope it's curable!

Yep, the good news is it's curable You need to sit on the sofa with a glass of wine in one hand, a bar of choccie in the other, and put your feet up for the rest of the evening. After all, we still have 1 hour and 3 minutes left of Mother's Day!

[dinahcat]

Oh well , throw caution to the wind and leave it where it is!

[YadaYada]

Sports every day? I think this might make him think twice about wanting to go.

The list of extra curricular activities includes lots of non sporting activities - we assumed he could pick one of these.

[thriftymatron]

Sports every day? I think this might make him think twice about wanting to go.

The list of extra curricular activities includes lots of non sporting activities - we assumed he could pick one of these.

All Second Form boys play football and rugby in the first 2 terms. Non-swimmers have extra swimming lessons to give them the opportunity to learn with others of similar ability. I think there is usually only one afternoon per week for them to choose a non-sporting active at this stage. In Sept all pupils will be assessed by the coaches and placed in squads according to ability for team sports. Many boys have not had the opportunity to play rugby before (neither of mine had), so they willl be taught from scratch and the squads change as they improve at different rates. Enthusiasm and effort are more important than sporting ability and your son should not worry if he is not cut out to be the next Jonny Wilkinson or David Beckham! He certainly will not be alone in this.

Pupils not involved in school matches do Inter-House sport (Block Competitions) on Wednesday afternoons in a variety of minor sports (vary according to age groups) throughout their time at CH and even non-sporty Grecians have a minimum of one double period of physical activity each week, as we seek to encourage a healthy lifestyle for all.

[YadaYada]

Thanks for making this clear. At least I now see why they need so much kit!