Today marks the start of our grandsons' formal education and he will attend his father's old school in Leamington Spa. I have been learning from his mother just how very different his first year at school will be from mine; it seems as if I was educated in the dark ages for so many things have changed. Gone is corporal punishment and just as well too. The teaching is very informal, through play, although the focus is still on the three R's and I hear that there is a mud kitchen ?
It seems no time at all since he was born and I made a wintery trip across to the UK to meet Ollie and his proud parents. I thought to mark his special day of starting school I would share a pictorial history of Ollie's first few years.
It seems no time at all since he was born and I made a wintery trip across to the UK to meet Ollie and his proud parents. I thought to mark his special day of starting school I would share a pictorial history of Ollie's first few years.
Ollie a few hours old.
The inquisitive imp
Enjoying the sea.
A few minutes later he was swamped by a wave
and Granny leapt to his rescue.
Father and Son
Ollie gives forth words of wisdom while Granny listens.
Toby gets in on the photo
We wonder if he is thinking about taking a trip to Ireland ?
Ollie's mum Helen
Master Oliver ready for school.
We are looking forward to hearing about his experiences and how he progresses
throughout the years.
Where did the time go ..... It seems like yesterday he was a babe in arms now he's a young man looking forward to spending time with his friends & the new lady in his life ... His teacher!! Its already love at first sight!
ReplyDeleteMay you grow in wisdom, character & love little man, i will always be waiting for you to come home with a welcoming hug xx
Thank you for the comment Snappy. Very much appreciate that about falling for his school teacher - I guess he will be feeding her with apples and sweets daily !
DeleteWell he is home full of chatter about "his" teacher & massive telescopes .... Apparently school is brilliant!
DeleteOh what a fantastic day. Congratulations Granddad and Ollie x
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of Ollie - Thank you Grace xx
DeleteWhat a marvellous event, I only hope this is the start of a wonderful and fulfilling experience of learning and enjoying school for Ollie.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Suzie.
DeleteI have every confidence that Ollie will surprise us all in becoming an achiever !
As a retired teacher I have to say he's just the kind of student I'd love to see walking through the door, bright, eager and full of life. Hope he enjoys his school year.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janet, Ollie has always been keen to learn and like yourself I to hope
Deletethat his eagerness stays with him.
Do hope he settles easily. He looks a confident, happy little boy so I am sure he will.
ReplyDeleteHello Pat, I am sure that he will settle in very quickly. For he seems to make friends with his peer group wherever he is.
DeleteThank you for the comment, it is good to receive remarks from ex-teachers such as yourself.
A landmark in his life, Mel. It hardly seems possible he's already school age! I remember you announcing his birth! He looks happy, eager and proud to be going to school. A lovely way to start and as you say, so different from our early school days!
ReplyDeleteThank you Val, he has yet to be told that his school life will be at least fourteen years and may be longer depending on what he wants to do.... !
DeleteGoodness this post took me back years. Our eldest has just started uni and our youngest his GCSE course but I well remember the 'first day school uniform photos' just like yours above. How time flies. I'm glad to hear Ollie had a good first day. I hope his mum coped OK, it does make us all a wee bit wobbly for the first few days. CT :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reminiscences CT am pleased to report that Ollie's mum once she saw that he was grand had no qualms or quivers about leaving him :)
DeleteHis first words to her on returning home was " They have lots of really big telescopes there Mum"
I lay awake last night trying to recall if there were any telescopes in any of my schools and I certainly do not recall seeing any. So this Grandpa is a bit miffed.
Thankfully schools have changed a lot from my day....and for the better. The challenge for any teacher nowadays is to make lessons fun , exciting while still being educational. We know we have our work cut out for us as many children are used to just sitting back and being entertained by a TV or an ipad. Hopefully we get the point across that interacting with "real" people is much more fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your detailed response Nols. I admit to being very ignorant of modern day teaching methods and am now quite envious of Ollie & I presume there is no chance of this Grandpa starting from scratch.... No I thought not :)
DeleteYes ollies school is very much learn through physical play & interaction they also have a large outside space for building & experimenting! Technology is embraced too in the shape of a massive touch screen projector on the wall!
DeleteHe is absoloutely loving it & is full of all the wonderful things he's done! I'm so excited for him, of all the new things he will learn xx
I want to be five again, no not true!
DeleteI would though like to experience/observe modern schooling methods.