With regard to the uniform, it is more of a dress code. The students wear white or light blue tops and navy blue or dark gray to black bottoms. Dress shoes are required; no trainers (that's sneakers here). Everything in the UK is more expensive than in the US. I had found this on our previous assignment. If something is $3.00 in the US, then it will be 3 pounds in the UK which is actually the equivalent of $4.50. Knowing this, we purchased pants, skirts and shirts in the U.S. before leaving. Socks and shoes were on our shopping list as well. With a suitcase full of clothes for school, we arrived in the UK.
Once here, there were still a few things we needed to buy for the uniforms. At the school, we purchased the school pullover with a crest on it. We also picked up P.E. uniforms for each child. Even Cameron in second grade changes for P.E. At the grocery store, we found a large section in the seasonal area dedicated to school uniforms. Since all children in the UK wear uniforms, this is a huge business and very competitive. This was something that I was not prepared for. Our last assigment had us in a different area of the UK and the children went to an American school without a dress code. Uniform shopping was totally new to me. Come to find there is something in the UK much cheaper than in the US!!!
Proper socks to be worn with dress shoes are GBP 4 for 7 pairs! I could not even find proper socks for the boys in the US. The selection of tights, knee highs and ankle socks for Katie is staggering. They even package hair accessories. Next are white golf type shirts. For Jacob, I purchased a package of 3 for GBP 4 and for Cameron, who is a smaller size, they were 3 for GBP 3! (GBP = British Pounds) The girls all seem to be wearing skirts and not trousers, so I picked up another skirt for Katie at GBP 7 at a more expensive Department store and another white blouse for the same price. For the winter, they need sweats for P.E. and I found plain navy pullovers at the Grocery store for GBP 2 each. I am still stunned by the savings. I'll remember that next year! The Lands End and Gap pieces will wear much nicer and are softer, but considering the savings, I don't know if I can justify a whole wardrobe from those stores in the future.
All three don't mind the uniform, most likely because everyone is in a uniform. Believe it or not, the fleece pullovers have been worn every day this past week and a welcome part of the uniform. The temperature here is not over 65F. We are getting very accustomed to coming off the bus and going up to change into play clothes before getting a snack.
Besides a uniform, another aspect of school that is very different than in the US is that they are not allowed to bring their own lunch. The school provides the hot lunch and snacks for all the students as part of our fees. The kids have to figure out how to fill their bellies with the food offered to them. The first day of school was a pasta day which was a great way to start the year with my kids! Everyone was happy. The rest of the week went well as there always seems to be something they can find to eat. Cameron even tried the pork on Friday. This week on Wednesday is lamb stew. I am waiting to hear the verdict on that one!
The kids are back on a bus to school. We are actually 25 minutes to the school if we drive directly there. We happen to be the furthest out on our bus so are the first pick up. On a regular day, they are picked up at 7:10am for an 8:15 start. Wednesday is a late start day and they don't get picked up until 8am for a 9:15 start. We have to set the alarm, but Jacob would have been heading to the bus at that time anyway, so I can't really complain that I can't stay in bed until 7. Our bus driver is a great guy named Mark whose mother happens to teach at the school. There are only 5 other students on the bus and one happens to be another 4th grade girl in Katie's class. They all prefer the bus. I had the chance to drive them home on Thursday and they all asked if they could ride the bus instead.
Tomorrow starts the first full week. I hope we make it through without being too tired. Katie starts football (soccer) this week, but all other after school activities start next week. More about that in a future blog! I will also get my sea freight next Monday, Labor Day, so I will finally get to settle in the house. Lots to look forward to. Have a great week!
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