My First Day at St. Mary’s College

1 Sep 2023

As we prepare to welcome our new Year 7’s for their first day at St. Mary’s College in September. We spoke to our current Year 10’s (soon to be Year 11) to recall their first day at the college.

Harry

Can you remember your first day at St. Mary’s?

Yes, I remember getting ready and my mum and dad driving me to school. We got there really early and we were waiting in the O’Halloran Hall ready to be selected into our forms. I got selected into 7G. We then all took a class photo and individual photos before going into our first lessons. I can’t remember the lessons I had but we all had the school to ourselves on that day and the lunch was a roast dinner.

How did you feel at the beginning of the day vs the end?

I felt really excited but a tiny bit nervous as well. I felt all the same throughout the day, it was all a new experience, getting to know new things, it was really exciting.

How do you feel now after so many years at the College?

I pretty much feel the same, learning new things is quite exciting. I feel more confident now. I’ve been at the school for about four years now and I’ve got a really good friendship group.

Any advice for anyone starting in September?

Don’t panic. St. Mary’s is a very hospitable school, everybody is nice and once you get to know a few people you are sorted!

Lola

Can you remember your first day at St. Mary’s?

Yes, I walked with my mum and brother because my brother hadn’t started school yet and then I think it was Miss Thomas on the gate. She said ‘hello’ and I said ‘hello’ back. We stayed on the yard, then we got called into the hall. I remember sitting behind this girl and she turned around, shook my hand, told me her name and said ‘nice to meet you’ which I replied ‘nice to meet you too’. Then they called out all of our names to go to our form and stand in our groups. I can’t remember who I met first but I do remember meeting Annie that day. I met her previously on the open day and we also ended up being in the same form, so I was speaking to her before having our photos taken. After that, I remember staying in our forms and getting ready for the year looking through our planners.

How did you feel at the beginning of the day?

I was really confident going into the school because I loved school and it met my expectations. I was really happy.

How do you feel now after four years at the College?

Still the same. I’ve grown in confidence since then and I’ve got a lot more friends. I’ve always had a couple of friends but I’ve never had this big of a friendship group before and we are all very close.

Any advice for anyone starting in September?

Don’t be shy, all the teachers are really welcoming and everybody is really nice. I was expecting to come in and not speak to anyone but I spoke to like five people before I even entered the school, so don’t be afraid to talk to people.

Issy

Can you remember your first day at St. Mary’s?

Yes, I just started in January this year and I joined during exam week so I was in the hall doing exams on my first day.

How did you feel on your first day?

It was weird because I’d been in Merchant Taylors’ since I was four, so I’d never been in a different uniform, so wearing a different uniform was really bizarre for me. As soon as I got dropped off I went into the exam hall. There wasn’t much of a social opportunity as there were exams that whole week I started but I already knew quite a few people before I came here. I grew up with two of them since reception as they went to Merchant Taylors’ too, so they introduced me to a few people.

How did you feel at the beginning of the week vs the end of the week?

I felt quite nervous at the beginning of the week because I only knew a few people and I didn’t know how people would react as I was told the friendship group was quite big. In the end it was fine because once I was introduced to everyone I realised how lovely everyone was.

How do you feel now after six months at the College?

I’m quite settled now, I feel like I’ve been here for a long time.

Any advice for anyone starting in September or new starters throughout the year like yourself?

Don’t be afraid to make friends, people here are nice and they are going to talk to you.

Evie & Edward

Can you remember your first day at St. Mary’s?

Evie – Yes, I was completely new and I didn’t know anyone because I came from a new school and it was quite scary but thankfully I made lots of friends as everyone was really welcoming.

Do you remember how you felt on your first day?

Evie – I was very nervous but luckily I bumped into someone, who knew someone I knew, so I quickly made friends and all was good.

How did you feel at the beginning of the day vs the end of the day?

Evie – At the beginning of the day I felt quite alone and scared but at the end of the day I was very happy and I looked forward to the next day!

Do you remember what you did on your first day?

Evie – Yes. We had photos at the beginning of the day, then we were sorted into our forms and had an induction. We went around the school to familiarise ourselves with where we needed to go and received our planners and timetable for the year. We were then paired with our guardians from the upper sixth. We were given our ICT log ins and even had a few lessons at the end of the day.

Year 7’s get paired up with a group or a single upper sixth student who is assigned to show them around. I found it really useful because it’s always someone you can talk to and show you where to go.

Edward – The thing with having a guardian is they know exactly what it was like to be a year 7 so it’s really useful to be able to speak to them. They made me feel really comfortable and welcome. Especially for those that are new to the school environment, like someone who didn’t go to The Mount before coming here.

How do you feel now after four years attending the College?

Evie – This is the best school. Genuinely a really, really good school.

Any advice for anyone starting in September?

Edward – Get involved with the school, what do you have to lose? On the first day, no one knows anyone really, so you may as well just try and talk to everyone you see. Join any clubs you might find interesting because you might find something you really enjoy. Don’t be afraid to talk to older people.

Evie – I would recommend you talk to everyone even in your form and year group because everyone is in the same situation as you. You don’t know many people so it’s best to talk everyone and make friends quickly.