School uniform – a life saver or a no no?
Here in England, most State schools require pupils to where a uniform or at least a ‘jumper’ (sweater) with the school’s logo or emblem. The standard school uniform for first and middle schools normally consists of black or grey trousers (I usually forget and call them pants) or skirts, a white polo style shirt, black […]
Daughter swap
I had a great conversation a few days ago with Jenny Rutterford a British mum who spent several years in Miami, Florida. We were talking about our daughters who are of a similar age; however, her daughter’s first school experience was in the US and my daughter’s of course was here in the UK. Since […]
Shepherds, fayres and Christmas cakes – Oh my!
Good luck to those who have young children in UK schools! Christmas madness all starts this week and if you’re like me with three children in three different schools, then your calendar will be jam packed. My top tip for keeping track of where and when you’re supposed to be for each child at each […]
Year 6 SATs
Today is the final day of year 6 SAT exams and my eleven year old daughter, Anna Grace, is looking forward to the weekend when she can finally relax. She’s been ‘revising’ (the British term for studying) for weeks and feeling the pressure. Not from us. I really could care less about these exams. I […]
Special Measures in England and Wales
Got an email from my oldest son’s school alerting us to the fact that they are now officially out of Special Measures. PHEW. What a relief that is. Not that we were overly concerned, having gone through it before a few years ago when we put him into what we thought was a good middle […]
Cricket, explained by my British son
My son Sam who is in year 7 is quite sporty and has discovered his favourite school PE activity is cricket. To my understanding, they play a slightly modified version which is more suited to their age and ability. However, knowing diddly squat about cricket to begin with, I wouldn’t have known any different. Although […]
High School in Britain equals exams exams exams
Congratulations to all the kids who got the GSCE and A level results they worked so hard for. I have a son who is on the verge of entering all these exam ‘phases’ in high school. It seems like such a confusing and serious exam schedule! It also seems like they spend all their high […]
George Washington… Abraham Lincoln…. The New Deal… Bay of Pigs? Who, What, Where???
I have a new challenge! Yesterday morning as we were watching my daughter’s swim lesson, my 10 year old son asked what the big deal was about the Queen and ‘her jubilee thing’. I explained that the Queen has been the head of the British Monarch for 60 years and we are celebrating that and […]