Book Day dressing up. I am getting angry again.

[AfroditeJones]

So, triggered by another thread, I have just remembered how upset I was last week when was Dd's book dressing up day.

It was last Friday the 28th (every other school in the area is either today or tomorrow), but Dd was off sick on the Monday before (24th) and we did not receive the letter they sent out on that day. We did not receive any letter at all any other day of the week, but on the Tuesday when I asked the teacher about the new timetable for after school clubs, she called Dd in the classroom to give her a letter about it, as the after school club letters were also sent out on the Monday that Dd was off.

I did not think of asking if there was anything else or any other letter I should be aware of and now I kick myself for it.

I am absolutely sure they did not send a letter any other day prior and the info was not on the website, neither a received any txt or email. I am pretty organised and I always make sure I know what is going on and support Dd and the school

On the dress up day, Dh dropped her off at school and went straight to work, he didn't call and mention anything about other kids being dressed up, the school never called me and never lent Dd any costume.

When I arrived to collect she was very sad and I could see she was angry inside. That night she cried before sleeping as one girl at her class was teasing her. She still mentioned it a few times during the weekend.

She said a T.A apologised for not remembering to let us know.

I never complained to anyone, but parent's conferences are coming up in 2 weeks time, should I mention anything or just let it go?
Maybe is worth talking about the teasing the other girl done?
Should I mention the website should be updated more often?

Or is it my fault for not asking the school for letters that were sent out when Dd wasn't attending?

Right.

Got a reply from the HT, thanking me for my input, sorry that Dd missed out and blablablah.

Also saying that NO letter were sent out but they did advertise the WBD during that week (not sure how exactly? no letters, no txt, no info on webpage) , and saying that a 'huge majority' of the children dressed up (more than previous years), and they did reminded the children every day of the week too.

So I am now feeling that it is clearly my fault for missing this mysterious advertisement and Dd's fault for forgetting to let me know.

She is taking on board all of the recommendations on my letters.

She says the school already has 'parentmail', but I am not sure if this is for the SMS only or email too(?).

I had a look at the parentmail website and to have further info as a parent I have to register.

So I have one question before registering: Do I need a code from the school or can I just register and look for my school there? I can register only once and I don't want to make a mistake.

I just don't want to ask the school and look stupid.

I hope I didn't become "that" parent, the joke of the staff room.

I forgot world book day. Dd was not dressed up. She survived. It really isn't that big a deal. Tbh I think it would be better to simply say sorry to your dd as you forgot and move on.

I haven't forgot.
The school didn't comunicate properly.
I am over WBD now. I am just trying to improve communication between school and parents.
Thanks but RTFT

It was like there had been fire drills on Drury Lane on world book day...DD school is so competitive when it comes to this sort of thing.. Worse at Xmas..each class does a production.. the teachers seem to be competing against each other for best class production. It is a fab school though, and to help me with communication we nave a diary that goes back and forward between myself and class teacher...

Similar thing happened to me at DD's school when she was 5. I'd had no letter about sports day and she was one of the only children without family to cheer her on. When I arrived at the school at 3.30 to collect her, the other mums told me how well she'd done. DD was v upset I'd missed it, I was gutted for her . Apparently the letter had gone out the week before when she was off sick.

School weren't in the least bit bothered when I complained.

Fire drills on Drury Lane - that is genius glucose and I might have to nick it for next year.

Have to admit (before your update) I was going to say that it was a bit odd that DD hadn't heard anything at school. By 7, I think schools do start expecting children to relay messages home, particuarly for unimportant things (and sounds likes this was a "you can dress up as you want to - perhaps the school trying to make parents not feel obliged to get costumes). So either every other child in DD's class managed to relay the message home, or there were plenty of other children in normal uniform.

I dont want to argue with the HT so I will let this go since she took note of my suggestions for improving communication but I am really curious to know how WBD was advertised.

There were no letters, no txts, no mails, no mentioning on the web page or school board....I don't think that playground gossip and using children as messengers are efficient ways to communicate with parents.

She should have aknowledged this instead of implying everyone but us knew somehow.

Yes you do need to register to get parentmail emails. It was a while ago I did mine, so I can't remember whether a code was needed to register. Could you ask at school?

reds there was a big assembly and prizes too.
They didn't do anything last year so I wasn't expecting much this year, never mind one week earlier than every school right after the half term.
And Dd is not 7 yet she is 6 in Y2 and even if she was older, I don't think this is children's responsibility, to take messages regarding school calendar celebrations home.
Specially with all the technology availabe.

Ha
Tried to register on parentmail just to find out school is not yet registered.
Maybe the HT is talking about something else.