As we close the door on this lovely summer, the new school year is ready to greet us with open arms. Ah yes… nine glorious months of book-beating, boring teaching, exam-ridden fun. With of course a few holidays and breaks thrown into the mix. But before all this work begins, we first have to transition from the excitement of summer to the humdrum daily school routine. This is where the first week of school comes in. This is the period where we are expected to adjust to what is ahead, but each student in each form has a different experience for the first week. So for each student in their respective forms, here’s what usually happens in the first week of school:Welcome First Formers Just going through the motions (Second Formers) Preparing to buckle down (Third Formers)“She’ll be coming ’round the mountain…” (Fourth Formers) It’s Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Fifth Formers) 

For all those bright-eyed and bushy-tailed newcomers, high school can be a great experience depending on how you handle it. The first week of school is when you get acquainted with your new school and new teachers. Also, this is the time when you either reunite with past friends, or make new ones. But since you are considered ‘fresh meat’, don’t expect to get any special treatment from anybody in higher forms.

So now you’ve moved on from first form and finally have little authority over someone. You’ve already got accustomed to the school and should know most of the teachers by now, so the first week of school isn’t as hectic as it was in first form. Basically, the first week of school in second form is used to meet up with your friends from first form; nothing is taken seriously.

You’re finally in the last stage of lower school and things begin to get more serious. The work gets harder and CXC is in the distance. But as it pertains to the first week, there is less time taken to begin working and students start to get a bit more focused since this is the year to choose your subjects for CXC. However, there is usually still time to gallivant with your friends.

So now you’ve come to the realization that CXC is just around the corner and you begin to take your work more seriously. In the first week, it takes little to no time to dive into the work and gallivanting with your friends is exchanged for ‘serious talk’ about CXC and beating the books. There is little time for horseplay during this week.

It’s the same ol’- same ol’. Same ol’ books, same ol’ teachers and the same set of classmates . The work begins straight away, as you pick up where you left off. Not to mention those ever-present SBAs. The first month or week is usually when you have time to see your friends. The most precious time there is. At this point you’re thinking ” Where did the last four years go?”

The White Knights (Sixth Formers) 

The stress of CXC is finally gone, but a new type of stress emerges in the form of CAPE and the preparation for it begins instantly. But apart from beginning the preparations for CAPE, the first week mainly consists of owning up to the white shirt. From first to fifth form you respected these white knights roaming around the school, and the fact that you are now one of them fills you with pride. This first week allows you to ‘test out’ the white shirt and unveil its full power.

So as you embark on this new school  year remember to have fun, work hard and try your best to make the most out of the first week.