to feel a bit sad about this

[gingernutlover]

my dd started reception in september and I just got the letter (today) to say that her nativity is next week, 2 performances on 2 days and I am working on both of them.

I think i will be able to arrnage other people to watch her although it is very late notice but I just feel so sad that I wont be there.

Worst thing is, I will be watching my own class do theirs, which is lovely but just feels crap

That is such a shame for you. It's a pity that people aren't allowed to video any more.

oh that is a pity - but I suppose it is in the nature of your job.

YANBU, that's a shame.

the school are going to video the dress rehearsal so I will buy the DVD, not the same though.

I cant help thinking that had they given me more than 1 weeks notice I know could have arranged a day swap (i jobshare), that makes me a bit annoyed to be honest but I guess it's a sepearte issue.

Our school allow time out for watching nativity at other local schools if you're a parent. Check before you say no.

sat here crying over it, must be a bit hormonal

unfortunatly there is a reason I have to be in school on both the days, loopyloops, as I said, if I had known a couple of weeks ago then I could have easily arranged it.

ah well, at least she will have someone there that's what really matters.

Could you go and see a rehearsal? This is what a friend of mine does (she is also a teacher) when she can't make the days of school assemblies, etc.

there doesnt seem to be that option on the letter, I know we offer it to our parents, we allow preschoolers along to our dress rehearsal

It is worth asking-as teachers they will know how you feel.

I sympathise, OP.
One of the real downsides to the job. My colleague asked permission to have half an hour off to take her DS for his first day at school in September and was refused.
Wouldn't mind but our head has six children himself and should understand.

YANBU for feeling sad about this, I would also be a little annoyed at your DD's school, I can't believe they didn't have a date for the school nativity before late November, you won't be the only parent having problems attending at such late notice. My DC's school give the dates in September! I would be chasing for a date in plenty of time next year.

stressheaderic, that is awful!

late notice is a bit of a speciality of theirs

i am pretty sure if I asked our head she would say no too - she has no children and has already told us we should think nothing of walking 5 miles to school if it snows, i sometimes wonder if there is a parralel universe LOL.

Do you work in a school? Are you reasonably close to your child's school? I used to be a teacher and the senior management were very understanding about these things as long as people didn't ask too often. They allowed colleagues to take a couple of hours off to attend very important moments in their child's life.
Most places my husband has worked have been equally understanding as long as it doesn't happen too often. He usually makes up the hours as well.
It is worth asking. You might even be able to ask a part time colleague if they could cover your class and you could try to cover theirs when they need it. You would obviously need to clear this with senior management first.
Good luck!

Ooops - sorry - just noticed that you have to be in school on those days. I would definitely ask the school if you could watch a rehearsal. I would also politely ask if they could give you more warning of big events in future so that you could plan around them.
Your child will be happy as long as they have someone there to wave at. You can let them know how much you are looking forward to watching the dvd with them and ask them to send you a special wave/wink etc for you to watch out for on the dvd.

Primary schools are often not good at notice I've found. Let the school know that more notice is needed.

our parents got given the dates in october.

not that that matters anyway. I wont have trouble getting to that nativity he he

what a shame
ds's school always had an evening show as well,

Poor you, I do feel for you as our school always notify for all sorts at last minute and parents don't get to re-arrange stuff. It's the lack of organisation that bothers them as if they had the time, they probably COULD watch!! Our school does evening concerts but not the nativity.

This was a perennial problem when my DC were at primary. I used to travel a lot when they were little and whilst I could plan my trips around their events if given enough notice there was no way I could change dates at a month's notice, much less at a week's notice which is all we usually got.

I did try to address this when I became a governor and discovered that the school set dates for plays, parents evenings etc well in advance but just didn't get around to telling the parents... I had limited success as they didn't seem to understand the constraints on working parents.