what did your primary school do about nativity in the end? and how do you feel about it?

[seethesuninwintertime]

We had our KS2 nativity in the church today. It brought much joy and an occasion for the children to rise to. It was filmed too for those preferring not to attend.

rightly or wrongly, I felt glad we'd gone ahead.

It went ahead - 2 performances - audience split in half - only 2 adults per child

My daughters school filmed it up not seen it yet.
I know it isn't the same as being there in person but don't have to take time off work to go, they do it in the church so of you end up sat behind a pillar you can't see anything anyway and means family that otherwise wouldn't get to see it can

Ours was rearranged to outside and then cancelled because some parents complained. They filmed it but haven't bothered to send it out to anyone. Frankly I think it's shite. Ds is y1 so he's never got to do anything like this before. By the time it's allowed he will probably be too old

Mine all went ahead. 1 last week, 2 today and a theatre trip in-between with my preschooler (I was a chaperone)

Negative LFT and masks for all.

DC2 now has a hacking cough and a temperature (she was genuinely fine when I left after her performance this afternoon) so we are all done for Christmas now. PCR ordered for the child with symptoms.

Praying I've not taken the school down before the festive break.

Ours was filmed in the end.

I'm super sad about it really. We've not given permission for our son to be filmed or photographed and so that meant he had to sit on the side and could only participate by singing :(

It's the right choice for us to refuse permission but I hope DS was ok about it.

Ks2 did carols round the Christmas tree it was about 30 minutes on a beautiful sunny afternoon and the kids were fantastic. They also sold hot dogs, burgers and hot chocolate and a tombola. I’m so glad it went ahead and we got good weather.
Ks1 parents had to make do with a daily video of each class singing.

Not primary but nursery. Ours has been filmed but no parents allowed. I'm sad I've missed her first nativity but at least she doesn't know any different and is just excited about all the songs.

I think parents are feeling the pinch on this more than the kids to be honest.

Cancelled it the night before for everyone but the oldest children’s parents at nursery, didn’t see the email to a few hours before. Frustrating when I’d spent the entire evening sewing a bloody goat costume and both taking the day off work. We are moving next week so it’s sad we won’t see it again in the lovely little church.

I don't think schools can win really can they?

It’s actually much harder work for teachers to film and send it out than it is to just let parents in to watch. Dh has spent about 6 hours this week editing productions to send out to parents. He’s a deputy head so already really busy so this is 6 hours he really didn’t have spare. It’s absolutely not a case of ‘not being bothered’. Comments like that are just bloody infuriating to read! He was still editing and uploading one of the productions at 9pm last night so that parents get a good quality video. It would have been much easier for him to not bother at all.

Each class each did 2 separate performances. Each performance was attended by 30 parents each time. Socially distanced chairs, masks and LFT requests for the parents who attended. 1 x laminated photograph sent home with child. No charge.

@Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep

A nativity themed call concert in the playground, strung all about with fairy lights. It was fucking beautiful, short and sweet, the kids and teachers did a cracking job and my very adhd boy was able to join in just like all his classmates for once. Reader, I cried. Just a little bit. And nobody knew it was me with a hat, puffa coat and mask on!

That's so wonderful for you!

Ours is being recorded. Despite being planned for separate classes, and despite 19/24 in one DS’s class having covid in September and 20/26 in the other having it the end of November (so everyone and their family has previous exposure).
I’m gutted, I was really looking forward to it, as was ds8 who has his first ever speaking part.

We weren't allowed. We are waiting for a video.

Filmed and shared online. I was very happy with that as it's the only way my autistic child, who hates crowds, would take part. And we got to share it with the grandparents who live far away and never usually get to see things like this.

@ChocolateRiver

It’s actually much harder work for teachers to film and send it out than it is to just let parents in to watch. Dh has spent about 6 hours this week editing productions to send out to parents. He’s a deputy head so already really busy so this is 6 hours he really didn’t have spare. It’s absolutely not a case of ‘not being bothered’. Comments like that are just bloody infuriating to read! He was still editing and uploading one of the productions at 9pm last night so that parents get a good quality video. It would have been much easier for him to not bother at all.

Well it would have been much easier for us to go stand in the playground and sodding watch it, wouldn't it? Presuming your snarky comment was aimed at me. It does not take long to edit a video of 30 mins if that of 5 year olds singing Christmas songs. I am not expecting a block buster film for crying out loud. Maybe your husband is creating a masterpiece, I don't know, I just want to see my child sing because he's been so so excited to show me and he's absolutely gutted I couldnt be there.

Continued, almost exactly as normal but with masks for parents.
I was very happy as were all the parents I spoke to about it.
Another local school cancelled all theres.

I do work in both schools and there weren’t any major differences in circumstances. It’s more just the particular attitude of the head.

Dd2 is in year 4. They started rehearsals for the nativity and cast it. Then they were going to perform judt to other year groups and then they just cancelled it. Our primary was in dfe led covid measured by then.

School had no choice but it felt shit. Would have been better to not start at all.

It does not take long to edit a video of 30 mins if that of 5 year olds singing Christmas songs

If more than 1 camera has been used, it absolutely does. In the last year and a half I have made a lot of films at school to replace concerts and events. 30 mins of film is easily 6-8 hours of editing.