Year 6 Leavers Ideas / Presents

[Ihearticecream]

Hi,
Someone has mentioned trying to pull money together to get a lasting present for the school. Is this a good idea? Is there something else we should be organising?
This is my eldest and I honestly don’t know what we should be doing. Want to make it special for them. What do parents usually do in the year 6 arrangements?

I don't remember buying anything for my school, unless the family I was living with at the time paid for something without telling me. I remember buying my teacher a present but that's it.

Our year 6 bought young trees for the edge of the playing field . We consulted the school first and an expert from the tree nursery . Parents donated what they wanted anonymously: The aim was one tree and the school got 4 in the end. Small entry rural school.

When I was in Y6, everyone pooled in and donated money/supplies to paint a huge mural - all the Y6s painted it together on a big wall of the school. We thought it’d be there for years to come. I visited the school about a term later and they’d painted over it. I really wouldn’t bother.

If you want to donate something then ask the school specifically what they need but it’ll be something very mundane like glue sticks and it won’t feel very “gifty”. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your money.

Never heard of this. Most parents would be saving for secondary school uniform costs I'd have thought?

My eldest left primary last year and we had a committee of parents who organised a leaver’s party for them for an evening in the final week of term. They had giant inflatables, rodeo bull, BBQ, music, photo booth with props etc. They had a brilliant time! The committee were provided with some money from the PTA, but the rest was paid for by the year 6 parents. The PTA also bought them all autograph books so that they could get their teachers and friends to write messages in them. My daughter loved year 6 and some of those things really did make wonderful memories for her.

Apologies, I have realised that they have asked you for something for the actual school not for the kids…now that’s a bit odd and not something we have done.

We haven't done anything for the school ever.
They get leavers hoodies (paid by parents) and a party organised and paid for by parents.

We gave the teachers a nice note and gift but I can't imagine buying the school a gift.

It was suggested on the WhatsApp group to save a donation of 20 bottles of wine choc mugs etc to the class teacher . We organised one card with the kids photos onto the teacher . One parent took it on in organising but we knew each other fairly well . As I recall only one family didn’t bother or contribute but we ensured that child signed the card too and didn’t mention it or obviously chase. It was a case if you fancy contributing this will make life easier but feel free to do your own thing . Everyone was quite happy to let one person sort it ! The tree are a lovely legacy . From little acorns to mighty oaks and all that ..

Our PTA do some fund raising events to fund the leavers dance and hoodies etc nothing really from parents to the school.
And really its not something to start.

And really its not something to start.
Agreed, particularly when so many families are struggling.

The year below my daughter’s bought a bench for the playground, with a little plaque saying something like “Donated by Year 6 Leavers, 2023.” They checked with the school first. I have never heard of any other year doing this.

@sparkles82 Thank you all the information was very helpful. I will talk to the school about what they have planned as the parents might be able to help as unfortunately we don’t have a PTA at the moment.

Thank you all for the helpful comments. I will definitely talk to the school and the mum again. The bench idea is nice.

The bench is a nice idea but the issue is once these things start, the years who follow feel they need to do the same.
We are hitting a recession and people are really going to feel it across all sectors of society.

You'd be better seeing what money needs raised to benefit your own kids, leavers party, year books, hoodies. Let the school present them with a tie for secondary.
Take the burden of that off the school and let the school redirect their funds to where they are needed.

When I was a primary school the leavers gifted the school a book. A nice hardback edition of a classic or similar. Everyone signed their names inside with the year date.
My year bought the hardback full colour edition of Lark Rise to Candleford.
When the school had it's 30 year anniversary (about 20 years after I left) they had an open evening and I looked for the book - it was there along with others from the other years on the special bookshelves by the head teachers office.
A nice hardback edition of a book can be bought for about £15. Average class of 30 means 50p donation each.

I think it's a really nice idea and don't particularly think it sets a precedent, especially if it's in lieu of individual teachers presents.

Starting up or helping to start a PTA for fundraising purposes would be something that could last longer than anything else. There will be parents who have younger children in the school.

Talk to the school about it as part of the conversation you are going to have.

Be careful what you start because subsequent years will be forced to continue the tradition. Our leavers gifted a bench for the last number of years, there’s only so many benches you can gift! This year the school asked for some percussion instruments.

I personally think it’s all a bit much, we already gift teachers end of year and Christmas gifts, then the Y6 party needs to be funded by parents, as well as the leavers hoodies and the yearbook. Oh and we also fund drinks/nibbles for the end of year Y6 production.

Donate a ‘cup’ for kindness or similar?
Raise some funds for those who can’t afford the leavers stuff that’s organised?