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!

It's going to be interesting at school this year. DS in year 1 has just told me that him and his friend have been discussing Santa and worked out that it can't be real. I'm not about to say he's wrong so we've discussed it. I'm hoping he doesn't inadvertently tell someone who still believes in it as most of the class probably do 😫. I've asked him not to. I'm glad our school doesn't really do Santa stuff so parents retain control over the whole thing. One of the perks of a multi cultural and economically diverse pupil group I suppose.

This is a really bad idea. For a start, it's not inclusive of children who don't celebrate Christmas or whose families can't afford to get much from Santa. The whole thing is really just best left for families to decide how to manage for their DC.

Also, I used to teach year 2 and I can 100% guarantee that this would have wound my last class up into an absolute fever of overexcitement and I can't imagine deliberately doing that to myself 😆. I'm not meaning to be a Scrooge- I love Christmas and think it's nice to do some gentle activities at school close to the time. However, Christmas can be very overwhelming for children, especially young ones, with all the build up. I actually think it's best to keep things low-key at school so that they get a break from all the excitement.