Brandon's Year 7 School Photo

This week we received the link for Brandon's first Beauchamps school photo for Year 7. Its one of those pictures that I feel obliged to buy as it is his first secondary school picture, but on the flip side I am a bit loathed to part hard earnt money on it when he couldn't even be bothered to smile and his hair was a mess!!! Hardly a picture that he will be using for his Facebook profile! Its so frustrating these days trying to get Josh and Branon to put on a simple smile for a photo!!!

Brandon King Year 7

Holly gets Her Rainbows Bronze Award

Since going back to school Holly is now getting back to some sort of normality. Her Rainbows club has restarted (albeit outdoors only) and her swimming club has started. The swimming is weird as they have a one way system through the pool, there is no showering allowed and parents have to sit 2m apart, pool side whilst your child swims.

In Rainbows this week Holly was awarded her bronze badge and certificate which is a great achievement and more sewing for Tina to do!!!!

Holly running around outdoors with her friends at Rainbows.

Receiving her bronze award badges and certificates from her Rainbows leader, Margaret.

That's another 4 badges for Tina to sew on Holly's short plus a new certificate for her box.

And Finally Holly is Back to School - Year 2

Due to Covid-19 and the lockdown we have had 1, if not all 3 kiddies home and home schooling since March this year. It has been a really tough 6 months and has made us realise just how difficult teaching is (and that's with only 3 kids and not a class of 30!).

But that all changed yesterday as Holly returned to school to start her Year 2 at Abacus which meant that me and Tina had the whole house to ourselves (me due to being made redundant and Tina due to being furloughed). As much as I love our kids to bits, it was so nice to have some time to ourselves as just a couple and we even treated ourselves and went out for lunch!

Holly was so excited to go back to school yesterday (unlike her two older brothers) and was exhausted by the time she got home yesterday. It sounds like they spent most of the day playing outside!!! Fingers crossed we don't get a second spike of Coronovirus and they can all stay in school for this academic year.

 

And after 6 long months all 3 kiddies are now back at school.

Holly was so excited to be finally back at school (more so than her two older brothers!).

Both Boys in Secondary School

So one day after Brandon started secondary school it was time for Joshua to return as a Year 8. So now we have both boys in secondary school and thankfully both going to the same school. So far they have both settled in very well despite the school environment / landscape now being very different to what they have previously experienced due to the Covid-19 restrictions. They have designated bubble areas, one way systems around the school stairs and corridors, hand sanitizer stations everywhere, PE in their school uniform and so on. The school are taking the new arrangement very seriously and and breach is immediately receiving a C4 punishment.

The boys don't travel to school together as Joshua still cycles with his mates and Brandon walks with his. However I didn't realise how much I missed the synergies of having the two of them in the same school since they split with one being in Juniors and one in Seniors last year. For examples at the dinner table they often talk about their classrooms, teachers, subjects etc and this common element of the same school was lost on them both last year. We tend not to get this with Holly as she is several years younger, but because the boys are only one school year apart it seems like there are much more synergies with their schooling lives.

Joshua and Brandon both now at Beauchamps Secondary School

Start of Senior School for Brandon

Hard to believe really but our second baby started Secondary school today. Last night he got to pen an envelope which was given to him from his Primary School with an instruction to be opened the night before starting secondary school. Within the envelope was a really nice poem about the feelings of transitioning from Primary to Secondary along with a little bag of Abacus coloured confetti to sprinkle under his bed to ensure he got a good nights sleep ahead of the big day.

Brandon woke up really well this morning and was very nervous but excited about starting school. He only ate one crepe for breakfast as he was feeling so nervous. He had arranged to meet up with 4 of his mates for the first day and they all set off together for their first day. I have to say Brandon was looking very smart and handsome in his new school uniform.

The night before secondary school and Brandon got to open his letter from Abacus.

Inside was the ready confetti poem.

New uniform and all dressed up for a new chapter in his life.

Brandon met up with a few of his friends for the 1st day walk to secondary school.

Hastag United U12's

The new season is nearly upon us and Brandon's Hashtag U12's team is completed and all signed up for the new season. As always we lost a few players but have also gained a few valuable players and the team is looking formidable for next season. Still not sure about the name change from Forest Glade to Hashtag United!!!

Brandon all ready for the 20/21 football season.

The team of 20/21. Back row L-R: Jake, Brandon, Daniel, Oliver, Ryan, Josh and Charlie. Front row L-R: Danny, Jayden, Jack, Zack and Aaron.