To be annoyed about School Nativity Play

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Every year DD'S primary school has 4 showings of the nativity - 2 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening.

Got a letter at the end of last week giving this years dates (for next week!) - only 1 evening and one afternoon. Neither of which I can make as I can't change my shifts at such short notice. Wheras if there had been 4 shows I would have at least been able to make one.

I've moaned to school and they reckoned that other parents in the past have said that 4 shows are too much. Am I being unreasonable to think in that case they should have asked all parents what they thought?

Also we're only allowed 2 tickets per child now rather than 2 per performance.

Our Christmas show is performed by KS1 only - every child in YR, Yr1 and Yr2. They do two afternoon performances only, max 2 tickets per family.

It's quite reasonable, and quite enough. The children are very little and two shows plus dress rehearsals on top of christmas excitement is way too much.

Having said that your school is unreasonable to have given you so little notice of the dates and this change in policy.

2 seems enough to me - but the notice given is pretty crap, ours came out in the newsletter the first week of this half term.

I think that 4 shows is a lot. Lots of schools only do 2 and some only do one which is during school time.
I'd be annoyed at the short notice tho, especially as it is a change from the norm.

I think 2 shows is enougth but the lack of notice is terrible. I have similar problems as am a nurse whose rota is done 6 weeks in advance but get 2 weeks notice for parents evening etc.

I can cope with it only been 2 shows - am just so annoyed and sad that I can't go. If other schoold can manage to give notice of dates some weeks ago then I think ours should have been able to as well. Its not like they don't know when Xmas is!

Hopefully next year they will give more notice.

DD's nativity is a whole school one (small school) and they do two performances: one in the afternoon of a day, the second the following morning. I think two performances are enough TBH.

However I think the notice you are being given is not on. We have kjnown since September the dates for the nativity.

We've been told today about the date for dd's nativity- 18th at 7pm, so 14 days' notice and only one performance.

Last year (p1) dd was sat in the front row of the angels, sucking her thumb, and struggling to stay awake!

What I'm cross about is that they're being taken by coach to the church to rehearse all day, (15 mins walk, max, but school don't want to risk bad weather), and the letter says, "we require all pupils to pay £1.50 towards the cost of the coach". We don't have a problem being able to pay, but it's a bit draconian! I would rather they'd said, "as children will be walking to the church whatever the weather, please make sure they are suitably dressed that morning".

And due to "seating capacity" if every child's parents wants 2 tickets for the evening performance not everyone will get them so tickets are been allocated on a "first come first served" basis.

I'd be even madder if I could make it but didn't get a ticket.

dd's school only has one showing of their nativity.

The KS1 children do the 'acting' & the KS2 & 3 do the hymns & narration.

The show is usually at 1.30 along with a mass & the children are allowed to go home straight afterwards

There are usually parents there who sneak out of work for an hour or so

Tissy I can just about understand the coach - having a child with SN a walk would be difficult (unless your school has no children with SN etc) and it could be dark, rainy weather with roads to cross (okay I dont know the route for your school but I can imagine there might be a road or two along the way). I (along with a dozen others) have walked 60 children to a park in the summer and that was stressful enough. Safety is important. Let alone if it pours down/snows or something. Then get parents complaining about being out in it. They cant win.

But... to rehearse ALL DAY would be more of an issue for me.

OP I can only agree that the lack of notice is terrible.

I think two shows is plenty for children. I'd probably complain about four as it seems excessive to me. You should definitely contact the school about how late they were in letting you know though, as that is very unfair on parents who need to organise work shifts, and they should know that. Sometimes schools let a few parents come in to watch the final rehearsals, if they really can't see the performance. Worth asking.

Definitely agree that the notice is too short. I can't see why they can't decide right at the beginning of term when it is going to be and tell you then.

dustyroad, I know I can just about understand the need for a coach, too! But -there is one straight road to walk along,a few quiet side roads to cross, but nothing busy. The one child in the school with special needs has an all-singing-all dancing motorised wheelchair, and he will have to go by taxi anyway, as it wouldn't get on a standard coach. they will be going in daylight hours, setting off at 9.20, and I would imagine not starting any kind of rehearsal till around 10. Then it will be lunchtime all too soon, and then a bit of pm rehearsal before them all piling into the coach to get back to school by 3pm.

Agree, probably too much rehearsal on balance, but not exhaustive. i think the kids could do with a walk!!

Not going to cpmplain, but think they could have worded the request for money a little more diplomatically!