To think I have not read the school newsletter wrong

[Pumpkinette]

DH dropped DD at school this morning in her tartan dress (burns day celebrations) and apparently she was the only child not in school uniform.

The newsletter states:

'Children are encouraged to wear something tartan that day but it will not be the non uniform day which will be the first Friday of the month, Friday 6 February (not January - too many demands on funds!)'

I read this as wear something tartan if you want, but is not the usual non uniform day (as in it won't cost you £1 like it normally does). Have I got this wrong?

I should also say I suspect DH is being overly dramatic with her being the only child in the whole school. He said he did see a boy with a tartan scarf on - I suspect some will be wearing tartan things in other classes and perhaps not visible under coats etc.

Sorry first world problems - I know.

I bet her friends all wished they had a tartan dress on. Take the theme to the max and stuff the consequences

I read it as wear something (anything) tartan but you don't have to fork out a quid for the priviledge.

I'd have sent mine in a tartan dress if she had one - which she didn't so it would have been tartan hair ribbons if I was organised enough!

Agree with Shakes I bet all the other girls wished they had a tartan dress on instead of boring old uniform

I think tartan dress was fine. I would have read it as wearing tartan is allowed but wearing normal clothes is not. Hence the clarification for when the actual non-uniform day is??

What of the only tartan item you had was the tartan dress? I think what you did was fine. Presumably she didn't get in trouble?

Themed clothes days can get very expensive, not the £1 but finding, making, or buying something appropriate, especially at short notice so you don't have time to scour the charity shops in advance.

This sort of thing is the reason I was so relieved to no longer have children still of primary school age.

Communication was often poor non-existent at our local primary school too, and dressing up days were a total PITA.

That newsletter is so badly written that whoever produced it could do with an English language lesson.

Badly written letters with ambiguous statements seem to be the norm for schools.

DH and I frequently puzzle over ours to try to work out what they meant to say. It would be far better if they started with the statement 'the purpose of this letter is XYZ' as that might force them to actually convey what was most important first.

How many kids have tartan accessories hanging about?
Unless you're in Scotland in which case it might be more likely, I don't know?

The teachers won't be writing these newsletters. Which is a relief.

I read it as a uniform day.

I remember having a similar thing on Xmas jumper day - the teacher said kids could wear their own clothes plus Xmas jumper but on the day ds told me off when I picked him up as he was the only kid in jeans!!!! I also got the day wrong originally

We get the ambiguous newsletters too. For example, end of term party, message comes home "Could all parents please provide a light packed lunch on Friday as we will be having our party food in the afternoon"

Does that apply to everyone, even those who take school meals???? (it didn't)

I read it as you did

I took my DCs to school once and they were the only ones there, except the caretaker. I'd read the newsletter wrong and it was an insert day.

We used to offer toast and a drink to the several children who always turned up on an INSET day whilst we phoned home.

'It would be far better if they started with the statement 'the purpose of this letter is XYZ' as that might force them to actually convey what was most important first.'

A Learning Objective for every letter sounds like a good idea! No, teachers don't usually write the news;letter, but perhaps they should proof read it for clarity.

It clearly said it was NOT non uniform day

Clearly it didn't say it clearly at all :).

What is said was it wouldn't be the non uniform day which many have said they would take to mean not the one where you have to pay £1.

Our newsletter has got considerably easier to understand since the year 6 class has been given the job of producing it!

I would have read it as a tartan accessory such as hairband, scarf, socks, or something similar, but still with the school uniform.

Argh we have had similar to this for comic relief in the past along the same lines encouraging kids to wear red, I can't remember the exact wording used but some parents that it was non uniform, and others thought it was wear uniform and red accessories. Made further confusing because the uniform is red!! i read yours as either wear tartan or school uniform (or both, so uniform with tartan accessories) so those who don't have any tartan wear uniform not own clothes. But a tartan dress is perfectly acceptable! The a,ternate ve would have been non uniform day with tartan encouraged, meaning those without tartan could wear what they like.

I think you interpreted it fine!

If you have a tartan dress it's a pity not to wear it. I would have read it like you OP. Tartan up, but you don't have to pay. Nor can you turn up in non-uniform non-tartan clothes.