Thousands of children across the region started back at school this week. Children's Express members talk about what their first day was like.
| You can write on the first pages of your book, you’ve got a nice new clean uniform, and you can use a nice sharp pencil for once. |
Paul Holland, 15, St Cuthbert's High School.
The only worry I had was just getting myself back to school. I've just gone into Year 11, so I've gone into a new class and a different part of the school. All the pupils are the same.
I was looking forward to doing chemistry again. It's a good lesson - there are practicals. We got our timetable and had to do a few lessons and that was it - a nice, easy day.
Emma Dickman, 10, Montagu Primary School
I'm now in Year Six. I had no worries about starting back but I was looking forward to being in the oldest class in the school. We did a bit of English and a bit of history (my favourite lesson) on the first day back. We learned about the Victorians in history. There were two new teachers at the school, but nothing really has changed. It's like it was last year.
Laura Gurkin, 13, Sacred Heart
I'm in Year Nine this term and I've gone to the upper part of the school. It's like a change of school as well. It helped that the same people who were in my class before went with me. We got sorted out with the teachers, got shown the building and did a few lessons.
My first day back worries were not knowing where to go, wondering if people were going to be alright and the new school uniform. It used to be grey but now it's blue and green. Some people turned up to school with the old uniform on which meant some of them got picked on.
I was looking forward to going to the dinner hall. They've just done that out and the food is much nicer too. The school routine has changed too.
Cheryl Paxton, 11, Kenton High School
I was worried about going to my new school because I had nobody to go with and I didn't know half of the people at school. I was scared, but I did have some friends. I was looking forward to finding out who my new teachers and making new friends.
On the first day we went into the main hall and then went into our classes. It was just the Year Sevens who went in on the first day so that we get settled into the school and know our way around.
Melissa Skinner, 10, Montagu Primary School
I like the first day back at school because you can write on the first pages of your book - you've got a nice new clean uniform - and you can use a nice sharp pencil for once. I'm in Year Six.
I wasn't sure about my new teacher because last year we had only had her for PE lessons, but she's alright. She's got a laptop that's connected to the board and when she types something in it appears on the board.
George McAthey, 8, Thomas Walling
I've started at a new school this term. I'm in Year Four and I've got a teacher this year who was my mam's teacher. She remembered my ma. I was looking forward to making new friends, but I got picked on a little.
Lyndsey Smeaton, 12, Kenton High School
I'm in Year Eight this term. It's a new school for me. My only worry was that everyone said you'd get your head flushed down the toilet. On the first day, the bell rung and we had to go to our classes, got given our planners and told what lessons we had to go to. We only had two lessons. We also had tests and I couldn't do them.
Carly Storey, 12, Kenton High School
My main worries about going back to school were making friends and all the Year Sevens looking at you. I was looking forward to meeting new teachers. We didn't do any lessons on our first day though.
Nothing really has changed since last year. My only advice to people starting up again at school is to be careful of the big ones picking on you. It does still happen but not much as it did.
About the team
This article was produced by Children's Express Newcastle bureau. Junior Jury is a weekly column published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
