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AIBU?

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Original poster

To expect DS1's school to give me more than days notice about clothing for sports day

32 replies

Loueytb3 · 01/07/2013 16:03

Its on Wednesday. I've just opened his book bag to find a note saying his team has to wear a yellow t shirt.

I've just been up to his wardrobe to check (what I already knew) which is that we don't possess a yellow t shirt.

Am fuming - why could they have not told me this on Friday, when at least I have the weekend to sort something out. I'm working tomorrow and I don't have time to go and buy a sodding yellow t shirt.

FFS what is wrong with coloured sashes that they can bring out every year worked in my day

OP posts:
LifeOfPee · 01/07/2013 16:06

YANBU. We were given one days notice to find a green t-shirt.

Although I suspect the children were told previously but had forgotten.

Agree on the sashes though, much more ecological and economical.

Ilovesunflowers · 01/07/2013 16:12

When I used to teach I hated it when the office/head didn't get letters about things like this out with enough notice. I always tried to see parents with more notice but never got to see everyone. They don't see how hard it is to have a few hours notice to find a random t shirt. I sometimes got the same notice as a teacher - a yellow t shirt at a size 22! - not easy to find!

BackforGood · 01/07/2013 16:12

I suspect the children all knew this already.
At my dc's school they all wear their 'house' colour every year.
The school will not want you to go out and buy something new.
Just borrow something - or wear something as close as you can to the colour. It doesn't really matter, there are always children in what I'd not describe as a red / blue / yellow / green t-shirt at my dcs school sports day.

Original poster
Loueytb3 · 01/07/2013 16:19

They may have told them but they're only yr1, so hardly reliable at passing on messages and in any case, DS1 would be oblivious as he's got ASD. Its hard enough getting out of him what he has done at school that day, let alone anything else.

No houses at his school so its not that we had a warning about this. I get the impression that it has been a bit last minute. Last year they didn't have teams. I've texted my CM and she might have a gold football t-shirt we can borrow. Backforgood, we have literally nothing close to yellow, its not a colour I buy.

OP posts:
HorryIsUpduffed · 01/07/2013 16:34

I had the same fucking letter today - dated today, so not languishing in a tray or bookbag - and the right colour t-shirt has to be in school tomorrow.

Angry and Biscuit , school.

Another father is going to one shop on his way home from work, and DH will be looking at a different supermarket tonight when he does the big shop. But honestly!

HorryIsUpduffed · 01/07/2013 16:37

And DS didn't know when I asked him (Reception) so I doubt it is a word of mouth problem either.

On the other hand the letter does say it will be the same colour every year, and siblings are on the same team, so I shouldn't get caught out again!

ProfYaffle · 01/07/2013 16:38

Are we all at the same school, I've just had this letter today! I don't understand why they can't buy sashes or bibs.

ProfYaffle · 01/07/2013 16:40

"it will be the same colour every year, and siblings are on the same team, so I shouldn't get caught out again!" Lucky you! My dd's are in different houses so need different colours. Llast year the school decided to go with a commonwealth theme (Hmm) and put all the kids in new teams named after countries requiring different coloured t shirts yet again.

Original poster
Loueytb3 · 01/07/2013 16:59

And my DS's are at different schools who have completely different ways of doing things.

OP posts:
thebody · 01/07/2013 17:02

Yes an its never a bloody colour that your kid has in their wardrobe is it? I say late shop supermarket.

LastTangoInDevonshire · 01/07/2013 17:02

They can't use sashes due to elf 'n safety, can they? The children might strangle themselves, or others, with them !

tapdancingelephant · 01/07/2013 17:06

my school just did this too; it is infuriating.

School PE kit is white top/shorts, plus a t shirt in house colour for years 3 and above. dd is in year 1, thus no house t shirt, as per uniform guidelines.

letter home last week, giving 2 days notice, stating all children to be in house t shirts. Hmm

this following on from a letter earlier in the term stating that since the school shop was running low on sunhats, the children could wear their own. uniform guidelines say children to have 'own sunhat' Hmm Hmm

why don't the teachers/school admin ever read their own policies?!

Original poster
Loueytb3 · 01/07/2013 17:09

Really LastTango?? In that case, what about football bibs. They can't cost that much...

OP posts:
badbride · 01/07/2013 17:15

Nuts to the school, OP. They need to learn the consequences of failing to give you enough notice.

My passive-aggressive solution would be to find an old T-shirt of any colour, and write YELLOW on it in a big marker pen. If the school gives you any crap about it, claim you're doing an experiment to demonstrate the Stroop Effect. Grin

Original poster
Loueytb3 · 01/07/2013 17:20

I sort of agree with you but DS1 sticks out like a sore thumb as it is. I don't want to make it worse. I am sufficiently cross to complain though

OP posts:
Pixieonthemoor · 01/07/2013 17:24

YANBU in the slightest. Bloody ridiculous giving such short notice.

Is there still time to do an amazon order? I got a fruit of the loom t shirt in yellow a couple of months ago for a couple of quid.....

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 01/07/2013 17:26

Christ on a Bike, what is wrong with a sash, or a sticker??

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 01/07/2013 17:32

badbride

I love that Grin

I work in a school. Our little urchins have stickers on their tops with a coloured dot

zipzap · 01/07/2013 17:35

ds1 has his sports day tomorrow - it was on the list of dates that came home at the start of term but as parents can go I was expecting something from the school to say 'we're looking forward to seeing parents on Tuesday yadda yadda' with all the details on. Nothing. They expect everybody to have an older brother or sister already at the school and to know how things work without actually telling you.

DS1 was muttering about wearing black tomorrow - this has just made me realise that it might be his house colour - as his uniform colour is black pe kit with a red t-shirt. it hadn't occured to me that he wouldn't be wearing his pe kit IYSWIM so I was thinking well of course your jogging bottoms are black... Now wondering if I need to dig out a black tshirt too...

time for a few tactical texts to find out what the heck is going on...

badbride · 01/07/2013 19:17

Didn't want to suggest you make your poor DS stand out Louey, I was just fantasising about what sort of revenge you could wreak Smile But definitely say something to the school. JamieandtheMagicTorch's school seems to have a sensible approach to school colours--maybe suggest that?

McNewPants2013 · 01/07/2013 19:22

I hate short notice on things like this.

It's always has to be the colour t-shirt you don't have.

3MonthMaid · 01/07/2013 19:27

I got this letter too. But oh happy days. DD is on "white" team this year. Hurrah!

ChewingOnLifesGristle · 01/07/2013 19:32

A sash is better anyway. At least they're all the same. The different shades red veering into purple and blue veering into green just complicates it all. Mind you I find sports day a mystery anyway. I cheer and clap but I never know what the hell is actually going onConfused

HorryIsUpduffed · 01/07/2013 22:33

I'm the one who had to find something overnight.

Two panicking mothers; two problem-solving fathers; two supermarkets open late ... T-shirts found.

But it needn't have been like this.

5Foot5 · 01/07/2013 22:36

We just had coloured bibs that could be used for any team game.