Make The First Day Count

Facing the first day at secondary school? Ready for a new school year? Read Kernowyouth's guide to surviving at school and making a positive mark...

In class

The key to avoiding embarrassment and hassle here is to have the right equipment with you. Make sure you have got a pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, etc with you. On your first day you will be given your timetable so you will know when to bring your PE kit or stuff for technology. At secondary school you will not be expected to bring all your books every day - you'll be crushed under the pile! Use your timetable to know what you need to bring each day. Put a copy of your timetable up in your room so you can pack your bag the night before, so nothing gets missed in the early morning dash.

During lessons get involved. You'll enjoy them more that way. Show some enthusiasm for what you are studying. Enter into discussion. Say what you think. Be prepared to stick up for what you believe.

Homework

Yuk! But yes, you will be getting lots more now you are at secondary school. You should be given a timetable so you know which days which subjects are set. Make sure you write the details of what you have to do down in enough detail that you know what you have to do when you get home. Most schools issue a planner or homework diary to help you with this. Get into the habit of doing homework. Don't leave it all to the last minute. That way if you get stuck, or are not quite sure you have time to get help - from a friend, a parent or a teacher. If you have a crisis in the home - little brother falls down the stairs and breaks both arms and you spend all evening at casualty at Treliske, don't panic. Get mum or whoever looks after you at home to write you a note explaining what happened and asking for an extension of time. Most teachers will be very reasonable.

Teachers

You will come across 14 or 15 of them during the course of your timetable, so get used to having lots of different teachers instead of just the one you had at primary school. Now while that can be fun, especially when you are studying new subjects, it can also be confusing when different teachers have different styles and routines. This is where you need to try and remember, and if in doubt, ask.

Friends

One of the great things about secondary school is the chance to make loads of new friends. But choose wisely. Choose people who will be good for you, who will help bring out the best in you. The first person you speak to in a new class may not always be the best friendship to develop. And don't forget your old friends too. Be friendly to lots of people, and then you will find people will be friendly back to you. And don't worry at this stage about getting a boy friend or girl friend. There's much more fun to be had with a large group of friends than just getting off with someone at the back of your tutor base every lunchtime!

Bullies

Most people are nervous about secondary school because they've heard stories about someone who got their head flushed down the loo or were locked in the PE cupboard all lunchtime. Every school has bullies. It's how you deal with them that counts. Often if someone says something nasty or scary to you you can brush it off with a bit of humour, and the bully will then lose interest because they see it doesn't get to you. If something does happen, or you feel unable to deal with a situation, then tell someone and get it sorted. It will never stop by keeping quiet. Most schools have student reps you can talk to, or tell your form teacher, or simply the nearest adult. Talk to who looks after you at home. Get your youth leader to pray for you. And if it doesn't stop tell your teacher it hasn't stopped. The adults looking after you have a legal responsibility to care for you properly.

Getting Lost

In one survey of Year 6 students starting secondary school getting lost was their second worse fear (after bullies). Most schools provide you with a map so study it, and make sure you don't lose it. Enjoy the fun of exploring your new school and finding out where things are. During the first couple of days your teachers will be sympathetic if you turn up slightly late to a lesson because you got lost. But don't try pulling that one several months into the term! You are likely to be making up the time missed at lunchtime!

Parents

Your parents are probably just as nervous as you are about you starting at secondary school. So okay, you don't want them walking you to your class or that soppy goodbye kiss as you get out the car, but do tell them how your day was. Pass on any news. Tell them their responsibilities - signing your planner/diary, parents evenings etc.

Drugs & Sex & Cigarettes

You will come across these occasionally in school, but more often talk about it, then anything else. As with anything you are unhappy with, say no and report it. Use positive peer pressure against it. For example, use humour. A "Go get a room you two!" said with a grin is more likely to move the two sixth formers smooching in the corridor on than "Quick! Get the headteacher. The morals of this establishment are being corroded as we speak!"

Being a Christian

Being a Christian is nothing to be ashamed of. Make the first day count. It is easier to tell your friends or classmates earlier, rather than later. Do it in a way that is natural and fits in with the conversation. For example, "What do you do at weekends?" could be answered with "I go to this Christian youth group down at the church. It's great fun."

Team up with other Christians. Join the Christian group in your school. You will encourage them, as well as them encouraging and helping you. If everyone who went to church, chapel or youth group went to the school Christian group each week then your school mates would really sit up and take notice. Check out the school programme or noticeboards for details of what's on. Look at the Kernowyouth guide.

Finally, live as a Christian. The person you are will speak volumes. Being polite, fair, meeting deadlines, being helpful, steering situations away from the bad to the good, will not go unnoticed by others.

Peer Pressure

If friends or classmates try to get you to do something wrong or something you don't want to say no. Be firm. Suggest an alternative activity. Be strong enough to walk away. You may think you'll lose a friend, but you'll actually gain respect.

We are not all the same. Just be yourself. You don't have to have expensive trainers or smoke a cigarette to be popular or liked.

Failure

A bad lesson? A bad day? A bad grade? It's not the end of the world - we all get them. Look at the advice. If your teacher hasn't told you how to improve, ask them. Then act on it.

Remember, school is just one part of life - keep things in perspective. There will be things you will be good at - you may not have found them yet. So instead of having a downer, why not try a new club or activity for a few weeks. Who knows, it could be your thing - and if it's not, there's no harm done - move on and try something else.

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