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My First Day at St Mary' s School Whickham-1997
“My first day at school was very good. At 7 o’clock my Mum woke me up. I bounced out of bed, raring to go. I got washed and dressed into my grey dress with a pleated bottom. Also I had my light blue polo shirt with my grey tights and black shiny shoes. When I was ready I brushed my hair and looked at myself in the mirror. This was it! I was starting school and I wasn’t really nervous, mostly excited. As I walked down the stairs my Mum popped out with the video camera, taping every step I made. I have always wanted to go on the bus and today I was getting on it.�?
“I remember I put on my uniform. My polo shirt and grey pants with a blue sweater. My Mum used to drive me to school at 8.45am. On certain days we went into the computer room and went on the computers. My Mum picks me up in the car at the end of school.�?
“I was on the bus and my Mum was holding my hand and tightly squeezing it. She said ‘I don’t want you to go but you have to’. My Mum looked for my name in the cloakroom. I was right in the middle. Above my name was a picture and I was a yellow and orange ice-lolly. In the classroom I remember seeing lots of toys and bright colours. There was a bright red carpet and at the far end there were loads of children just like me. Some were crying and some just sitting there by themselves. I sat next to my teacher. I was nearly under her chair�?.
“I was really excited but still very nervous when I started school. My Mum took a photo of me in my new school uniform. My Mum took me to school. Then I came back on the bus. I had loads of fun. I played in the water and sand-box. On the second day I cried and didn’t want to leave my Mum, but then I had fun.�?
“When I got in we put our coats on pegs. Each peg had a name on and a picture. Mine was a tree. We went into the classroom and the teachers introduced themselves. They had made name bands for us, and when the register was called you got your name-band which went round your waist, like a belt. I had school dinner and reception always goes in first.�?
“I was looking forward to being in ‘big’ school, as I called it. I walked into what looked like an interesting classroom. It was great playing in the sand and water.�?
I remember there were children that looked like giants. A teacher came out of the door and rang the bell. My Mum took me to line up. All the giants were going in first and our line went in. I started to cry because I was nervous but excited. My teacher showed me around. It was cool. Our class, Reception, had our own toilets. After dinner the teacher read everybody a story and I fell asleep. The story was Little Red Riding Hood.�?
My teacher was really nice and kind. She showed us all of the classrooms. I remember this girl put sand in my hair and then soaked me with water. Sometimes I missed my Mum and felt like crying but I was scared in case some of the big boys and girls laughed at me. I had an older brother but he was usually too busy playing football. Playtimes were great, but I often got knocked down by the crazy kids. They were huge.�?
“My first lesson was sponge painting and at the end of the day I got a ‘well-done’ sticker.�?
“My Mum was telling me to remember to hand in my Dinner Money and to be sensible and careful. I made a lot of friends that day and it made me happy to know that I wouldn’t be alone at playtime.�?
“When I got there I peered round the corner and started to cry. I felt as if I was tiny because all of the other children were massive compared to me. At lunch time I saw all of the other children eating their dinner. I had dinner too. I thought the dinners were lovely�?.
“ Reception was great! I remember friends who were cool. We did everything together. We would make up games and we would go to each other’s houses for tea. I had a friend. We would have ‘sleep-overs’ and joint birthday parties. Everything was really fun. I felt very special with all my friends around me. It was fantastic.�?