h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My gosh - doesn't time fly. Today, little has his leavers' assembly - OK he doesn't actually finish school until tomorrow, but the leavers' assembly was today. It was lovely; I cried.

They did a kind of review, with excerpts from the Christmas play, Bugsy Malone. Little did two solo bits, including leading the school's army-style call-and-response song. It was at this point that quite a few parents started taking their handkerchiefs out and dabbing at their eyes. I didn't do that until the last song - one of Queen's - 'Don't Stop me Now'. They also had poetry, cello playing, paintings, and automata. The kids were absolutely brilliant! At the end little cried and all the kids started writing messages on each others shirts, blouses and polo shirts.

They had a leavers disco in the evening and little was allowed to come home on his own, so he's been late to bed.

Aahh!

How wonderful, ZSF Despite the tears, it'll be one of those cherished memories that you share. And I guess it marks a big step for little

Thank you for sharing it in your journal

What age is Little ? My daughter Iz has also just left primary school and will start in secondary in September. She'll be 13 in September.

I was going to write something here but I got the 'unknown hiker' thing coming up and have forgotten what I was going to write.

(Probably because I have moved to a different area)

Anyway, this is the gist of it.

Starting at secondary school is always a big step.

Are they looking forward to it?

Hi Gnomon. Little is 11. He'll be starting secondary school in September on his birthday. I didn't realise that Iz was 13. Seems children start secondary school a bit later in Ireland. What age do they start primary school?

Yes, Ladye_S - he is looking forward to it, but he's also quite anxious that he might not fit in or make friends easily. I'm sure he'll be fine - he is a friendly child. There will be plenty of support for him from the staff too.

They start primary school at 4 or 5. They do 8 years in primary school.

When do they formally start to learn reading and writing, Gnomon?

They start reading in their first year in primary school at 4 or 5, but daughter El learned in Montessori before that, and read a 96-page Roald Dahl book when she was only 4 years and 3 months old. She hasn't stopped since.

Well done El! What a !