Christmas Jumper Day. And other school dressing up

[Jillyhilly]

Here we go again. Class message this morning about xmas jumper day, following last months dress up as a hero day, so that the school can collect £1 from each kid. The real beneficiaries are Primark and then landfill. It’s all cheap disposable rubbish, nobody makes their own jumper and do the kids really care past a certain age? I’d rather give the jumper money directly to the school if it’s about fundraising.

[iwillnevereatspaghetti]

Our school does a second hand shop just before. Raises funds, stops landfill and stops the stress of this unnecessary purchasing. Same for dress up days. Perhaps suggest to the PTA or friends

[AaandBreathe]

Just think, if they got rid of ridiculous school uniforms there would be no point to own clothes days and they could wear their Christmas jumpers whenever they wanted

[FizzyIce]

@AaandBreathe Oh god no, uniforms are a much better idea, imagine how much more washing you’d have to do if they wore their own clothes everyday as well as “I want these clothes because all my friends have them ” No child is envious of another’s school trousers !
It would be a nightmare if they got rid of it ,I shudder just thinking about it

[BottleOfJameson]

I wish schools would make a dress up cupboard to recycle all the costumes that get used once then thrown. I always donate my DC's Christmas Jumpers to a charity shop and since I walk past see that it always gets bought (and both DC will wear the same Xmas jumper since I never buy gendered ones so it's fine for a boy or girl).

[AaandBreathe]

But FizzyIce you can dress them for the season weather!

(My DC don't have a uniform and it is sooooooooooo much easier. But I do understand the British have a love for a uniform and think schools can't function without them!)

[FizzyIce]

Sorry but what a load of shite we don’t think schools can’t function without them ,uniforms are smart ,there’s no trying to outdo each other or being bullied for not wearing the right clothes (granted can happen with coats ) ,much less issue of dressing inappropriately and you’d get through normal clothes so much quicker ,a pair of jeans is much more expensive than a pair of school trousers .. and of course you can dress for the weather !
Dd wears school dresses and tights in autumn,trousers in winter ,dress and socks in spring and summer dress in summer ...

[NoSquirrels]

Perhaps suggest to the PTA or friends and offer to run it.

Fixed it for you!

I wish schools would make a dress up cupboard to recycle all the costumes that get used once then thrown.

Me too. But the reality is they don’t have anyone to do this (budget cuts = overstretched staff) unless a teacher, TA or admin volunteers - and they do so much already. So the parents need to organise it, via PTFA or Friends etc. But people need to volunteer to help do this, not just suggest it and then think that’s the job done.

[BottleOfJameson]

@NoSquirrels

Oh I definitely know I don't blame the schools for not offering this! It has been suggested to PTA but they're a bit of a closed unit and unless it's via PTA you can't really get into school to help.

[BottleOfJameson]

We actually used to have an amazing (Male - shouldn't make it more impressive I guess) reception teacher who would sew outfits himself for the school plays but he's had a baby now and very understandably doesn't have the time for this anymore!

[dogcrazy]

We’ve still got our Christmas jumpers from last year. The only thing we buy anything new for is children in need, and DS will wear the PJ’s until they fall apart/are outgrown. Charity shops can be handy, our local one has a whole rail of Christmas jumpers.

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

So far this term we have had

3 non uniform days (bring £1 each time).
Bring in tinned/packet goods for harvest festival.
Bring in a toy (specified not second hand) as a present for local refuge.
Requests to make/buy cakes for two separate school events.
£1 to take the kids to a carol service.
£10 for another trip.
Given two plastic bags and told to fill with sweets or chocs for Christmas fayre.
Bring a bottle for tombola.
Been asked to buy and sell raffle tickets.

Still to come we have

Christmas jumper day (£1).
Christmas disco (£1 plus everyone is supposed to bring a snack food item/drink to be shared).
The Christmas fayre itself which is full of stalls charging £1 for games, various tat etc
Children will be encouraged to exchange Christmas cards- not compulsory I know but most do and it's hard to be odd one out.
Just had an email from one of the mums organising a whip round for Christmas gifts for two teachers (job share) and the two TA's.

We're fortunate to be able to afford these things but there will be some families who really struggle and it seems to get more OTT every year.

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

But I do understand the British have a love for a uniform and think schools can't function without them

That's not why we have uniforms. I work in a secondary school and every time we have a non-uniform day I can predict which kids, all from very low-income households, won't turn up to school.

[Bluewavescrashing]

Bring a bottle for non uniform

£1 for Children in need non uniform

Bring a brand new present for toy service

Fill a jam jar with sweets and donate

Pay £6 for a nativity photo

Pay £5 for the book fair (book costs £2 in the Works)

£20 for school trips for the whole year

£25 for school photos

Bring in unused toiletries for the tombola

Bake a cake or buy one for the Christmas fair

Attend Christmas fair and spunk £20 in half an hour on tat

When will it end??!

Oh yes, in January we have to pay £150 deposit for a residential if they want to go. 😒

[CripsSandwiches]

I quite like Xmas jumper day but it would be great if the PTA could perhaps have people donate jumpers that have been grown out of then perhaps have a 2nd hand sale the following year. Less Waste and people don't need to spend as much. My Dc get quite a lot of wear out of theirs (although they're both in the believing in santa age so it's still exciting for them!).

[CripsSandwiches]

@Bluewavescrashing I get some of these things but surely you can just not buy the school photos (take your own) and not buy a book at the book fair? I give both kids £2 at the Christmas fair and then that's it. (Although luckily ours is mainly 20p a pop).

[Bluewavescrashing]

I know, they were really good photos though (I admit they're not necessary). Book fair is strategically placed in the hall after parent's eve so you reward your child--I fell for that one!

I do say no quite a bit to my kids really 🙂

[MistyCloud]

I would have said 'stop moaning 'grouchy pants McScrooge' at one time, but I am inclined to agree now. Seems like a waste.

YANBU @Jillyhilly Got to get all the other parents to agree though. (And then the school.)

[Bluewavescrashing]

It's not just the expense, it's the wife work remembering each individual thing on each day. Luckily I'm in a good Facebook group where people remind each other.

[Loopytiles]

I dislike all this too.

Back in the day we just used to sing carols, do a nativity with minimal costumes and props, make paper chains and be served the odd bowl of crisps to share while we did so (made by the school cooks). Nice times!

[NoSquirrels]

I quite like Xmas jumper day but it would be great if the PTA could perhaps have people donate jumpers that have been grown out of then perhaps have a 2nd hand sale the following year.

The thing is ... most PTAs have a small number of people actually willing to do anything.

So this is a great idea, and probably they’d love to run it, but everyone’s already on their last ounce of goodwill and can’t face co-ordinating another thing.

So if you’d like to see it happen, volunteer to sort it. Arrange the emails and the collection and man the stall selling it.

I bet your PTA would love it if you did.