End of school Hoodie given out too early

[Woolfatthedoor]

My son finishes primary school at the end of July. We have paid for special hoodies to be printed to mark this special landmark.
I was really upset to find that the PTA decided to give them out last Friday without consulting any other parents.
Obviously the kids are excited but I feel that they would have really marked the end of
Primary School if they had waited till the end of term. AIBU.

Ours were given out a bit early last year in case covid ended the term early. This does seem very early and it’s unlikely school would end early this year, but I suppose on the bright side they could wear them to school? I’m sure they will do other stuff to mark the end of term nearer the time. I’m surprised at people saying they won’t wear them after though- my DDs are in year 7 & year 9 and still wear theirs, and I’ve seen lots of their friends in them too.

Wonderful!

This

Loving the poem - too funny!

I don't think they can win. People at our primary school moaned when they were given out in July because the kids wouldn't get as much wear out of them.
Honestly, a non-issue really.
I'm sure there'll be lots of other stuff happening at the end of their year to celebrate. Covid royally screwed up our last couple of years' celebrations.

Our year 6’s put their orders in at the very start of the school year so they get the most wear out of them. We do a leavers polo shirt though. The on the last day everyone signs each other’s shirts.

Our year 12’s order their leavers jacket in year 11. We do a high quality bomber style jacket that’s quite expensive so this way they get maximum wear out of them.

YANBU about not being informed, but YABU to be annoyed about it. As others have suggested, the kids won’t want to be wearing these hoodies in the heat in July.

Many schools give them out (and should) during the final year so kids can actually wear them- most kids don't want to after primary school is finished. Given everyone 'graduates' from primary- it's not exactly a prize.

We organise the hoodies in school and the children regularly ask us when they are arriving. We keep it a secret that they have arrived - we have to check they are all correct first - then surprise the children with them. We get them all together to hand them out and they love it.
We would never think it necessary to inform parents that they had arrived and we were going to give them out. In fact, this year a member of staff with a child in year 6 did tell her child that they had arrived, who then told other children and it spoilt the surprise for them.

They’ll get more wear out of them. And in my experience, the kids enjoy wearing them to events, parties etc as they head towards the end of school.

if they get them right at the end, they’re less likely to ever wear them…

Ours gave them out at Easter - the kids lived in them they all felt very proud! They were allowed to wear them instead of jumpers or cardigan.

Summer term a lot of hot children still determined to wear theirs!! But it wasn’t worn again once school finished and it sits in the cupboard a year later forgotten! So glad she did get to wear it for a term!!

So much wasteful consumerism. When did a leaving hoodie become a standard thing? Madness.

DD got hers after SATS and I found it late as it got quite warm that year.
Now they are getting it after Christmas, the first term is used for organising it and then handed out the first day they are back and for Y6 it’s part of the uniform.

DD wore hers for years, I now took it away as it became a belly top.

saying that, I found the last year of primary just a disaster and overhyped expectations created by some parents and was glad it was over and not a sentimental experience.

I used to teach year 6.

It's totally normal to give them out now and for the kids to wear them as part of uniform as a year 6 'perk'.

My class used to hold a 'Hoodie challenge' where they would compete to be the last to abandon the Hoodie in the hot weather! Silly, but fun.

@ChezBomb1 I agree. I was just thinking the DC could all get a book which their classmates sign. They could easily still have a book sitting on a bookshelf in 40/50/60 years time. A hoodie? Highly unlikely. Don't they also sign shirts? It's all getting OTT really.

Is this another US-import 'tradition'?

• We Created leavers hoodies. Back in 1997 School Leavers Company was started offering predominantly Leavers Rugby and T-shirts for a few schools. We then expanded into offering Hoodies and in 1998 created the famous 'Rear 01' design with all the names in a number. The original and still the best.*

Not all things people disagree with(for whatever reason) are an US import. 🙄

Instead of whinging, volunteer for the PTA and get stuck in, OP.

It will have been decided by the school. The P in PTA have very little decision-making power. It's mainly the grunt work and organisation. Storing and sorting. And then fielding complaints from thankless people who don't see how much effort and labour goes on behind the scenes.

That depends on the school. In DD’s primary the PTA and several Y6 parents organised the hoodies, yearbook and party.

The school only agreed to the fact that the hoodies are worn as part of the uniform and helped with photos for the year book. All decisions were made by committee (the very reason I am never joining a committee ever again).

DD and her friends signed the yearbook, it was a migraine inducing work doing the book but it looked beautiful, and they were allowed to bring in a second clean shirt to sign on the last day. Clean so it could go straight into the memory box instead of needing washing and ruining it.

Kids love wearing them and it is better they wear them whilst they're still part of that school.

Sorry, I meant decision making in terms of when they were given out. The faffery and labour was done by PTA and volunteers. And I'm with you in regards to being on committees 😂