So You Want To Be First Do You??? Its Lasting!!

[usnuzuloose]

My kids used to do Bmx racing. My son got into shape real fast.

 

[PrincessInOz]

DS does karate and he seems to enjoy the most. He goes for about 3 classes a week; and they get the kids to run around and do core body strength work before the kata's. He's gotten his black belt in the little tikes and is up to blue belt in the juniors.

He also goes to swim class once a week. We ride bikes at the weekend, when the weather is reasonable.

The new school runs 2 sessions of PE/sport per week. That's one more session than the old school. Gonna be interesting to see how that pans out. DS might discover that he does enjoy sport....at the old school because he was so un-co; he was picked on and teased. The old school administration did nothing about it. This new school seems to be much on-the-ball with stamping out this kind of behaviour and much more caring about the kids. And they teach the kids to be inclusive of everyone.

 

[ACDSNY]

Hey I am the big 5. Not so bad.

That's good to hear.

Its one that the school mandated. No choice...just cough up money.

Ouch.

He doesn't like his sport; but his parents makes him do things.

That means you're being great parents.

Contrary to what I look like now I used to love to play softball, roller skate and ski. I took tennis lessons with my Aunt, but never really stuck with it afterwards. I spend way to much time at my desk these days.

 

[skiingfast]

Its one that the school mandated. No choice...just cough up money.

So how do they determine this? Does it need to run certain software, or are they getting kickbacks from a PC manufacturer?

 

[usnuzuloose]

He will come to appreciate some day. At least he is active, thats the main thing.

 

[PrincessInOz]

So how do they determine this? Does it need to run certain software, or are they getting kickbacks from a PC manufacturer?

I really don't know how they did this. I can only assume that they went out to tender and got quotes from the various companies. The whole school had to get the same. All the parents have to do is pay the money...the laptop was given to the child on the first day of school with all programs loaded.

DS has a Dell Latitude and for the $$$ we paid, it seemed like a fair price. We compared it to what Dell pricing would be via the discount that DH would have got. The Latitude is a business machine and it seems to have Windows 7 loaded.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I dont know what some families would do here if the school required students to have electronic things. So many families cant afford them.

 

[skiingfast]

This new school seems to be much on-the-ball with stamping out this kind of behaviour and much more caring about the kids. And they teach the kids to be inclusive of everyone.

Early on I was the kid being teased, but I found a solution. If I could get the bullys to the far side of the playground where it was lined with trees. I could throw them to the ground and kick them in the head. They got the message that even if I couldn't dribble a basketball, I could beat them otherwise.

As I got older I encouraged anyone to play. When sports got more serious as in when on school teams, I noticed a lot of people would quit. So I tried to encourage having fun, more than playing to win. Because a team that has fun together, is a team. A team that players squable with eachother is not a team.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sadly, DS is a gentle soul and doesn't want to hurt anyone. Plus he is scared of getting in trouble.

There were a number of bullies in his grade at the old school. One particular bully tormented DS for 4 years....until DS couldn't take it anymore. So, he hit the bully. The bully had just gotten a new set of braces and rumour has it that DS hit him so hard that the braces fell out. The kids that saw it thought that DS broke the bully's teeth.
We got called into the office for one of those 'chats'. Not that we advocate violence but I figured that after 4 years, that bully had it coming.

Strangely, DS didn't get bullied for the next 3 months....and then it all started again.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I dont know what some families would do here if the school required students to have electronic things. So many families cant afford them.

At the GFC in 2009/10, because Australia was in such good financial position (our budget was in surplus), the government threw a whole heap of money out to stimulate the economy.
One of the measures was a $660 handout to help the lower income parents buy children entering Year 7 a computer. Quite a few kids benefitted from that particular measure.

The school has an arrangement for outright purchase of the laptop or a monthly leasing arrangement. With the lease arrangement, the school owns the laptop. At the end of the lease, you can purchase the laptop for $1.

 

[skiingfast]

DS has a Dell Latitude and for the $$$ we paid, it seemed like a fair price. We compared it to what Dell pricing would be via the discount that DH would have got. The Latitude is a business machine and it seems to have Windows 7 loaded.

I dont know what some families would do here if the school required students to have electronic things. So many families cant afford them.

I though it was aweful when I need a graphing caluculator in HS. They were brand new I didn't know they existed until it was on the sheet of school supplies. Other than medical care my parents had never bought me anything so expensive. Still it was a lot cheaper than a computer.

Sadly, DS is a gentle soul and doesn't want to hurt anyone. Plus he is scared of getting in trouble.

There were a number of bullies in his grade at the old school. One particular bully tormented DS for 4 years....until DS couldn't take it anymore. So, he hit the bully. The bully had just gotten a new set of braces and rumour has it that DS hit him so hard that the braces fell out. The kids that saw it thought that DS broke the bully's teeth.
We got called into the office for one of those 'chats'. Not that we advocate violence but I figured that after 4 years, that bully had it coming.

Strangely, DS didn't get bullied for the next 3 months....and then it all started again.

Unlike when I went and found a trip to the principal's office was a slap on the wrist and beneficial break from class, now schools usually have a zero tolerance policy toward bullies and fighting.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sadly, the old school had about 5 or 6 kids that bullied in DS grade. They had a lot of 'counselling' going on...but when there is a pack like that, there isn't much they can do.

I certainly wish that the most expensive item to get a child these days would be a calculator.

 

[skiingfast]

Sadly, the old school had about 5 or 6 kids that bullied in DS grade. They had a lot of 'counselling' going on...but when there is a pack like that, there isn't much they can do.

I certainly wish that the most expensive item to get a child these days would be a calculator.

I still haven't bought DS anything that cost more than that calculator. Other than doctors visits and Disney trips.


When I moved there was a group of kids who were looking to welcome me. One came over to tell me another was going to beat the crap out of me. I grabbed the messenger by the throat and threw him to the ground. Let him know his friend can name the time, place and which arm I should break first. Nobody hassled this new kid after that.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wish my DS was that ball-sy. But he's not. He just doesn't understand kids like that.

Is your DS hassling you for e-toys yet?

 

[skiingfast]

Is your DS hassling you for e-toys yet?

Yes.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Which system is DS interested in?

 

[skiingfast]

Which system is DS interested in?

You name it. Ipad, laptop, Wii, Play Station, smartphone. Something every few days.

 

[PrincessInOz]

And so it starts.....

If you get a Wii or a Playstation, at least it is easier to turn off. Plus it has the bonus of not being portable; like the ipod or PSP or DS.

 

[PrincessInOz]

DS did come home with homework.

He's completed the Maths (he needed to spend a maximum of 45 minutes on the problems and see how far he got with it)...and then has to decorate brand spanking new exercise books. He's about 50% through the decoration.

He also has to spend 30 minutes reading every night.

Not too excessive....

 

[skiingfast]

And so it starts.....

If you get a Wii or a Playstation, at least it is easier to turn off. Plus it has the bonus of not being portable; like the ipod or PSP or DS.

I certainly was close to getting an Xbox at one point. He can have new soccer cleats in the Spring instead.

I'm going to get to bed. Sleep well everyone.