Year 6 leavers 2020

[Annierose293]

I just wondered what everyone's experience of this has been this summer with the difficult situation?
I know it will be different for different schools, depending on the size of the school etc, but due to the space restrictions only a certain number of my DC's Y6 class were allowed to return early June (more returned than didn't though).

My DC couldn't have returned due to shielding my youngest DC, but there were some that wanted to go back but were unable to.

For those of you in this situation, how have the leavers assemblies worked? Has this been done virtually with those at home being invited to Zoom with the class?
Have those at home being invited in to sign end of school books etc, and how has this worked with the current situation?

I feel so sorry for both the children and the staff.
The staff have done their best to include all children in what has been an impossible situation.

My DC is thankfully looking forward to high school in September, (the high school staff have been amazing too, putting them at ease through virtual meetings).

I just feel so emotional about the way it has turned out.
My DC actually had his last day at primary school in mid March.
I have such clear memories of my own last day at primary school, and I feel sad that they have been denied that, albeit no-one's fault.

I just wondered what others experiences were and how they feel about it?

I'm glad the school have put so much into planning it.

I agree OP my dd school has cancelled everything they won’t get to sign shirts or have their party, play or assembly, she’s finding it really hard. She won’t be going to secondary with any of the others so it’s unlikely she’ll see them again. My last day of primary was great we had a big party and lots of photos and signed shirts, our year 6s will never get to experience that and it’s really sad considering half of their childhood has been spent there.

I don't remember anything about junior school as it was then. Leaving secondary was a few outings after exams and I distinctly recall cries of 'good luck, have a nice life'. School is a busines transaction, doesn't meant it needs to be unpleasant but all this emotion - FFS.

later in my working life I did a job working with lots of late teens/early twenties. Couldn't work out what the business with end of job hoodies was until I started using MN, which made it clear it is a school thing. Impractical garments that get worn for a couple of weeks and then shoved to the back of the cupboard. Very odd.

There has been nothing other than parents self organising to get leavers hoodies printed.

There has been nothing from our school, we’ve not even got the hoodies that were ordered at the beginning of June (as an after thought has they usually get them before May half term).

They haven’t been back to school due to shielding and I’ve been promised they will be included in any transition work which so far seems to be non existent. They both feel very forgotten about.

The school hasn’t managed well through lockdown. We have only be sent lists of links to things like BBC Bitesize etc so I didn’t expect much.

DS school were fantastic. All the children that wanted to go back were able to. In the last week they had Sports Day, prize giving (live streamed for parents), a picnic and shirt signing on the last day. The PTA also arranged leavers hoodies and books which they all signed.

The leavers disco has been postponed to September.

‘All this emotion’ 😂😂😂

I liked that school is a business transaction

DS leaves today. Our county didn’t allow schools to take more children until 22nd June and DS’s school only took back 1/2 of year 6 each week so DS has had 2 weeks in school. School have done their best but there’s been none of the usual things. They’re not even allowed to sign shirts. They’ve made a year book and They should get their hoodies today. I’m quite glad in a way as both of us hate big goodbyes and past trauma always leads me to have an over the top reaction, which is embarrassing! I don’t know how this afternoon will go but I had some bad news yesterday and am already feeling emotional 🙈

Sorry to hear that @LadyCatStark but I think you’ll be in good company as lots of people are feeling extra emotional already.

Our school have done loads for them, but they had space for everyone that wanted to go back.

I think the things they’ve done were actually better than the original plans. Apart from the trip they’ve made up for everything else.

I don't think it's a big deal, and I think the best thing for the children is not to make them think it's a big deal. I just wouldn't really mention it, tbh.

They might notice they are leaving 😁😉 seriously though I know what you mean, kids do work off their parents emotions but I plan on blubbering but happy blubbering if that makes sense.

@PablosHoney thanks 😊 I’m sure there’ll be a few others, I just hate crying in public and I hate that I have such a strong reaction to goodbyes. A lot of the mums were getting sentimental in the what’s app group last night. They’re a fab group, there’s been absolutely no cliquiness (sp?) or bitchiness in the whole time DS has been at the school.

Most of the class are going to the same (non local) high school but DS is going to the Grammar school in the opposite direction. We don’t live in the same village as his school either so he won’t see a lot of his class again 😢. He’s also having a wobble about going to an all boys school having been sat next to the girl that he likes all of this week 🙈😂.

I was relieved there was no leavers assembly as I knew I'd be a wreck after it but luckily DS has been back st school since june.

We've organised a leavers picnic for those that are at school and theres an assembly outside next week.

As their PGL residential was cancelled we've organised a week long activity at our local outdoor pursuit centre so that has softened the blow a bit.

DS is going to secondary with quite a few of his classmates including his two best friends so that helps.

I'm far more bothered about him leaving than he is!

My DC isn’t bothered, neither am I. When my oldest left y6 she didn’t want to go to the leavers’ party so didn’t.

If it’s any consolation I have no memory of my last day in primary school.

Yeah same for me red, We've been a family of our primary school for 12 years so this feels like a right rubbish end of an era. It just all feels a bit shit, not helped that DS1 is year 11 so his end of secondary school has also been a damp squib

We were all really looking forward to this year, I have a big birthday too so we'd planned a big summer, and now most things have been cancelled

At our school the 2 bubbles are having seperate leavers assemblies on the morning of the last day.
They've already had their camp last September.
Both bubbles signed each others shirts this morning then on Monday they will switch them over so they can sign the other bubbles ones.they will then take them home on the last day.
They will still walk out the front door as normal for the year 6s on the last day as both bubbles finish times are different.
There's no special treatment at lunch time though that they would normally have&no end of term disco for the school.

The class as a whole are all going to have a social distance picnic at our local big park after school on Tuesday weather permitting.

Were only allowed 1/3 max of our classes back at once, and have to limit cross contamination between groups.

Parents wanted an outside event socially distanced on our field where they could sign shirts. But due to regulations it exceeds what we can legally do in wales at the moment and the kids can't be touching each others shirts if they did bring them in anyway. Several parents are unhappy and are accusing us of not caring or wanting to mark the occasion.

I've made an online page for them to leave comments for each other. And parents have organised leavers hoodies (the parents always sort that). We will invite them back for a session as and when we are allowed to freely mix and they can socialise and sign shirts then.

My daughters school are giving them leavers hoodies and class of 2020 school teddies. It's been really sad for us she's my youngest and the village school has been part of our lives since 2004! It's a whole end to an era for our family. My daughter is off to a senior school with noone from her year group of 30 and as a working mum I had missed so much of the special events and justified it that the lasts were more important and then they didn't come! We did shirts back in March when we wasn't sure when they would be back and have an ice cream van for them this afternoon but they can only queue in their separate bubbles of 5. I know in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal to miss the usual things I'm just sad that she didn't get the same leavers time as her older brothers.

DC3 is in Y6. She went back as soon as Y6 could for 2 days a week just her class (2 form entry school, the other Y6 class went in 2 different days) then this week was 1 day as the school are trying to get all year groups back for 2 days each.

Next Monday is her last day, both Y6 classes will be in. There will be tents on the school field and the leavers assembly and awards will be given out by the head and the local vicar standing at a safe distance. There is a small slope at the top of the field and sound systems can be run out there.

They are going to have a special lunch and year books will be given out. Pictures will be taken so the parents can see even though we can't be there.

The school is trying their best it isn't perfect but as good as it could in the circumstances.

DC3 is disappointed to have missed SATs (strange child!), the Leavers play, disco, School Journey and seeing her friends in the other class or even friends in her class who were in different bubbles to her.

I am trying to talk positively about the future and get her excited about September but she will never forget her Y6.

I still remember that when I was in Y6 we had a new head teacher who cancelled the School journey for my year, so he could get a feeling for the school before big trips were organised, I moan about it at least once a year, still.....over 35 years later!

My Yr6 went back full time 5 weeks ago. 2 more weeks to go. It's a small rural primary though with acres of land, woods and a forest school. Most of the class is back now. They did 5 weeks of teaching but are spending this week and the last couple of weeks just having fun.
The school have been brilliant - they've swapped discos and services for bbq's, picnics and water fights. They are coming home filthy and stinking every day but will have great memories.

@frustrationcentral argh- so difficult at both ends of the family?

mencken when I say 'emotional' I mean I'm having actual feelings, quite a number of different ones. I'm certainly not weeping and grasping the school gates while they lock them and drag me away! I am not a crier in any way, the last time I cried was when my colleague died two years ago, and before that? Maybe 2008 (miscarriage)?
Yes it has been a financial transaction- an enormous one. We've spent more on their schooling than on housing! And now we no longer are doing so, so some of my feelings are relief tbh. I can start saving for university now...

I've never heard of hoodies from one's employer!

My DD was sad not to do the SATs too, they worked very hard towards them I guess.