Does your school organise anything special for Christmas - outings etc?

[bacon]

I just wondered what the norm is as our school doesnt take any children out for theatre trip, caves or anything slightly special.

Nice school, with PTA funding available surely they could make some effort to organise something special for the juniors?

[Ragwort]

Are you on the PTA, why don't you organise something?

I am one of those grumpy parents who thinks that schools should concentrate on the academic side. I was not impressed when one year my DS had in his final school week: trip to pantomime, two school plays, carol concert, special Christmas lunch, all day Christmas party, final afternoon was 'winding' down with a film .

We then moved and the next school just had one party which I thought was fine and the obligatory film on the last afternoon.

Nothing now that he is at secondary school .

[CaptainSweatPants]

Yes trip to the theatre but only until year 3
But we have to pay, it's not free

[Snowbility]

Panto but we all pay towards cost.

[kilmuir]

Not the schools job in my opinion. Our school has carol service, plays ,party and thats enough

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Omg far TOO MANY things.

Plays to parents
Choir goes carol singing to raise money for charity
Every class goes out for a panto
Christmas dinner one day in place of regular lunch
Christmas parties in class
Carol service at church
Decorating the Christmas tree
Book club watches Christmas films

And that is just off the top of my head!!!

[BikeRunSki]

Entire school (169, First School) are off to the panto. Two days later is nativity. Last night was PTFA fundraiser magician.

[randomquicknamechange]

DS's school are going to the panto. We are paying, they are also having a disco but that is after school.

[HowManyDaysUntilChristmas]

Did you see the recent post complaining about school trips to pantomimes? Can't win, can we!

[CMOTDibbler]

Kindergarten and reception have a trip, kg-yr2 do nativity plays, yr3-yr6 do a carol concert, christmas lunch one day, and christmas fair after school on one day (stalls some of which are thought up and run by yr 5+6, grotto, food etc)

[spanieleyes]

We have xmas party (PTFA pay), magician(ditto), xmas presents from Santa (ditto), visit to panto ( paid for but PTFA pay for transport costs), carol concert in church, carol singing to local church group, Christmas dinner for whole school, additional Christmas dinner for yr 6, parents and invited guests, Christmas performance by each class, plus a Christmas fundraising fete ( after school) and Christmas disco ( after school)
We're very busy!

[kimlo]

reception go to see Santa and the local Christmas display and the whole school go to the pantomime both of these are free

then there's a Christmas fair, nativity play, a carol service, and a Christmas dinner.

there's also a mass every Friday during advent

[PottyLotty]

They spend too much time out of class if you ask me but im in a grump because my children were refused 1 day off due to a late night flight home.

So far this term they have had 3 days at another school on an exchange, 2 x christmas parties and Father Christmas (1 paid by the PTFA and 1 by the church), 2 days off for bikeability, 2 days off on local explorations trips etc, 1 day off for pantomime, 1 day off for opening of a new local business and 2 days for a Childline programme, 1 day for Christmas play/performance.

So thats 15 days out of 'education' since September. Yet I cant have 1 day out of education due to the massive disruption it causes catching up with all the work they miss

However, in answer to your question, I think that 1 day out for Pantomime/Father Christmas type visit is perfectly acceptable. Why not suggest it ?

[Galena]

Panto, Christmas lunch, Nativity x 2, carols at church, singing at another church, not sure about the other stuff...

[Periwinkle007]

in class time they just have a class party with Santa for the younger ones and a nativity. carol concert for the older ones after school one night and christmas fete after school.

[bacon]

Wow I am seriously impressed with all the organisation that's going on in some schools and imo that shows the drive and enthusiasm of the leaders. Both my Ds are in a church school and I am disappointed in the trips & general effort.

I see a trip to the theatre as education its the arts, a trip out teaches all sorts of behaviours, listening etc. Surely it adds to the excitement of being part of the school for the last few weeks.

There is a lack lustre PTA which I did (and others participate in) but I could not handle them as too set in their ways but that's another story.

Our school has a nativity for infants and a party on the last day. Church also. There is also a fete after school.

I'm not sure how I'm supposed to approach this I seem to be bringing up all sorts of ideas but none of them taken up, surely I cant be the only one giving ideas, offering help, contact numbers for people who want to come in and do presentations.....just fed up!

[PeppermintScreams]

My son's school do a few bits which is paid for out of the voluntary donations.

Class Christmas parties with a visit from Father Christmas. (parents have to pack their child a party snack and drink)
A visit from a party entertainer/magician to assembly.
Christmas show/nativity for the foundation stage.
Carol concert for KS1.
Christmas films.
Christmas dinner for those on school lunches.
No trips though, but plenty the rest of the school year.

Maybe you could organise a panto trip with parents as part of a PTA fundraiser? Take advantage of a group booking discount price, and add on a £1 per ticket for the PTA? I don't see the point of a school run one if they are doing trips at other times.

[mammadiggingdeep]

Potty that is the saddest post I've read for a long time.

You consider exploration trips, bike ability, trips in the local community, theatre trips not to be days 'off'?? Off of what exactly??

The school were quite right to deny you an authorised day for a night flight. It's the law. That would have been a day off.

Honestly, I despair...

[mammadiggingdeep]

• to be days off...

[mammadiggingdeep]

• to be days off...

[BackforGood]

I'd say a nativity, a Church service and a Christmas Party is a nice balance.
At one point my dcs Juniors started trying to take everyone to the Panto but they stopped as a considerable number of parents pointed out that they were already going as a family / with the Scout Group / Grandparents were taking them, and they really didn't have the money to do it twice.

[sittinginthesun]

whole school trip to panto (pta funded);
infant nativity;
junior carol assembly:
christmas lunch - they make hats earlier in the day;
junior disco in the evening.

doesn't actually put much of a dent in the curriculum timetable, and children love the events.

[indyandlara]

Our Infants do 3 performances of their nativity for parents. The rest of the school come to watch the dress rehearsal. We have a trip to the panto in the last week. There is also a class party and the talent show in the last week. I job share and on my 3rd last afternoon I am giving my class a movie afternoon (squash, popcorn, biscuits and a seasonal film) as a thank you for working so hard in the last 2 terms. Parents pay £8 including coach for panto, £2.50 for the party and £1 for nativity tickets. I will pay for the movie afternoon.

[indyandlara]

Oh and Xmas lunch is next week but is same cost as a normal lunch.