Santa letter and school AIBU

[Myotherusernameisbest]

DD came home from school yesterday and told me the teacher had asked them all to write letters to Santa. Its still November, but hey ho.
DD is 6.
The teacher then told them she would post them off.
I thought nothing more of it as assumed the letters would be shown to parents, so we've an idea whats on them.
But today I have seen an email from the school detailing their whole santa letter thing.
Apparantly, the letters are 'sent off'. parents don't see them. And not only that they have the year 4's (so 8 year olds) read the letters and reply as though they are santas elves.

I didn't know if I'm over reacting but I think its a bloody stupid idea because:

1. I usually write the santa letter with the DC so I've some control to a degree of what goes on it. And then I know that they will get at least a couple of things from their list. I have no idea whats on this list and DD is being a bit vague as to what she wrote on it.
2. It now means we won't write our own letter to santa because you can't write him mulitple letters!
3. Not showing it to parents - for the same reason above, so we have a chance of getting something off it.
4. Its still bloody november
5. Having 8 year olds reply to the letters, knowing they are from year 2's. My older ones still believed in santa at age 8, so this is basically telling them its not real. And I consider it lying to a degree as they are opening deceiving the year 2's.
6. DD believes in Santa and they are given the impression the replies come from the elves. But surely all it takes is one 8 year old to say to a younger sibling, oh our class were the ones that replied to your letters, not santas elves, and it will spread round the year 2's like wildfire?

Its apparently an exercise in letter writing for the year 2's and also year 4's. Oh and the year 4's will also be reading the replies to the year 2's and it will be accompanied by a video of santa which the year 4's make, basiclly also replying to their letter. They sent an example of the video and its really shit. Its like a floating santa head, theres not even a body. Its as fake as it comes.

So, should I go to the school and say what a stupid idea it is, or just leave it, or something inbetween?
And also I''m thinking when DD is in year 4, if she still believes in santa then and they do it every year apparantly, she'll then know the whole letter thing she did was a big massive fake.

I have no issue with the school asking them to draft letters to santa, but surely they should then bring them home for parents to look at (and suggest adjustments where needed!) and not do the whole reply shite. I mean what if the year 4's promise them they'll get the stuff on their list and DD has put something really expensive on there!

That is a terrible idea. Lots more disappointed dc on Christmas morning, great one school.

Does seem a slightly strange idea on one hand, but quite sweet on the other. I'd probably go ahead with my normal plans and just say that the school one is like a practice run or something for everyone. I'd tell older ones it's to give an idea of what it's like to do the work of an elf.

Ridiculous idea, have you spoken to other parents at the school to gauge their thoughts on it ?

I really dislike santa stuff being done at school. Everyone does "Santa" differently and has their own limits on what's feasible.

Could you explain to your DD that school are just pretending to get them to practice their writing and year 4 are pretending to be Santa, and that you'll do the real letter together?

That's madness. There is 'writing for a purpose' and then there is this! The year fours will be all 'yes, you can have a unicorn that flies'.

I would just tell my child that they were really writing to the year fours and that it will be good practise for him, as it's NOVEMBER, to think about what he wants to write to Santa about when he does it with you. In December.

Another one for tell her it's practice and I'd reply to the school email and ask them to make it very clear to the children that it is practice.

I'd also be emailing to school to explain the issues it will cause

I'd be livid!

I'm sure our school have done something similar, they told the older ones that they are helping santa and the elves out as he is so busy. That keeps the ones that still believe happy and for the ones that don't then it's still a fun writing task.

Wouldn't hurt to do a second list at home.

A terrible idea all around

Of course parents need to know what goes on there! I had to talk mine down from wanting a PS5 for example, when we have a PS4 that no one properly understands how to use…

Also 8-9 yos are very likely to still believe in Santa - the majority will I’d think

Yeah, it's a terrible idea. Particularly bad to get 8yos to answer as Santa.

as a pp suggested, i'd tell my kids that the school version is all practice and let them do the real version at home which is the only true santa.

similarly, I always told mine that all the santas you see in shopping centres etc are pretend, but the real one still comes on christmas eve.

Agreed. Stupid idea: and what about those who Santa won’t being anything to?

What do the kids who don't celebrate Christmas do? It is a silly idea- as you say high chance of siblings giving it away. Although this would have the same problem, maybe it's better if year 6 did the letter writing or letters were swapped with another local school so there was no chance of an older sibling reading their younger sibling's letter? My kids were at a 2 form primary and everybody knew their friends siblings

I would tell the children that school are not really sending letters to Santa and y4 are replying to them.
It seems a terrible idea. They will wipe the magic from some of the childrens christmases and cause disappointment. The school themselves should be honest about it and say to the younger ones y4 are pretending to be elves for the day and get them to dress as elves or something, rather than cause all of the confusion by allowing the younger children to believe the letters are going to Santa.

Our school does a letter to Santa too
It's a bit strange when we do one ourselves but I can put that aside and ignore it as we do our one and she's never said anything about it being strange doing two
But I'd complain about year 4 pretending to be Santa!

That is a shit idea.

It is also a family responsibility.

I'd moan about it to school tbh.

Presumably the year 4s are told to keep this secret. Isn't keeping secrets discouraged these days ?

I can see why on first glance someone thought this would be fun.

But it's incredibly intrusive on traditions that every family who celebrates Christmas will do slightly differently, and especially crap for those who don't celebrate, or those who see Christmas as a truly religious celebration.

Not right from any angle!

Is it a letter to Santa like the list of things they would like? Or is it a letter to Santa telling him about them and if they've been good?

If it's the latter, you can still write a 'proper' letter to Santa with the ideas of things your DD would want.

I can sort of see why they think it's a good idea (two birds, one stone) but maybe it would be better to explain these as practice letters to Santa.

It seems like a silly idea, but I would check how it's been set up with the children before complaining. If it's been set up as older children helping santa out then it's probably no different than other 'real life' writing tasks where the teacher creates a situation that requires a piece of writing.

If it's been presented as Y2 writing to santa and Y4 are expected to pretend to be santa rather than being children who are helping, then it needs raising. I would raise with the view that not all children celebrate Christmas (so won't necessarily engage in present buying) and that having older children writing back puts the older children in an awkward position

Whatever you do, please don't go down the route that Christmas magic will be ruined for Year 4 students though

Get a grip people. What’s with all the ‘shit’, ‘stupid’, ‘terrible’, ‘raging’ etc. Ok it’s got it’s flaws but worse things happen at sea, you guys are overreacting.

If I was a year 4 parent, I would be so so cross if this actually happened. How dare they? Are you sure?

Imagine being a parent with DC in both classes and trying to keep a handle on who knows what and who can say what to the other one.

No thank you.

Such an impractical idea (even if it came from a good place).