First Day at School

• Senior boys will give directions at the front of the Castle. A number of final year students (Rhetoric) will be in uniform and will answer questions or provide directions. The Castle is the building facing the Avenue, which is the main entrance to the school.

• Only first year students return on this day so almost any other adult you see is a parent. Some will of course already have older boys in the school; others will be finding their way around just like you, so feel free to talk to anyone you meet.

• Senior boys and staff will greet you inside. The Rhetoric boys in school uniform will help with registration and will then act as ‘sherpas’ in that they will both guide you to the dormitory and help carry the luggage.

• Early arrival is encouraged. Allow plenty of time for the journey. Finding the school when you are not familiar with the route, as well as ongoing road works in the immediate area, can cause a problem. Remember, your boy may be anxious and being late won’t help his mood.  The more time he has to settle in, the easier it will be to leave him. For many parents this will be the first time of extended separation from any child. It is bound to be stressful for you and it can be hard to hide it from a 12 year old.

• The school has an extensive program for both parents and the boys on the first day. Take those few extra hours to make the most of the school on this special day.

• Meet the Rudiments Prefect and talk to other parents. The Rudiments Prefect’s room is on the landing at the top of the stairs leading to the dormitory. Most of the adults you will meet on the day are in the same position as yourself, so don’t be shy, introduce yourself and ask questions. You may find that they share the same concerns as you do or may have travelled from the same location.

• Find his place in the dormitory. Some boys will share, others will have a single cubicle. They will be moved around after a couple of months, so if they don’t like who or where they are it can be resolved later.

• Settle in quietly. Do try to attend the parent meetings and meal, they are a good opportunity to meet other parents of boys in your son’s year and get a rough idea of the layout of the school and how it operates. Take a walk around the grounds, which are extensive and offer privacy and peace.

• Make sure your boy knows how to use the public telephone to call home. There are a number of them in the dormitories. Pick one, take down the number and arrange a time to call. When he calls you with no change you can call him back straight away. Mobile phones are not permitted. A private line is always available in the prefect’s office for emergencies.

• When it is time to leave, make as little fuss as possible. The school generally discourages visits during the first week or ten days. This does actually work and allows the boys to settle in.