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Christmas

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Original poster

School xmas fair, how much to see santa ??

94 replies

nutcracker · 01/12/2006 16:33

Have just got back from ours, total chaos but thats another story.

It was 20p to get in, for kids aswell as adults, drinks and crisps and stuff was generally 10p and 20p and then there were stalls with bits and bobs on ranging from 50p to £3.

Anyway, you could visit santa too, how much do you think it should be ?

OP posts:

SchneeBallFight · 01/12/2006 23:43

ours was £1 and they got a selection box which I thought was okay.

unknownrebelbang · 01/12/2006 23:45

Lol Cod - location's not relevant really is it??

HuwEdwards · 01/12/2006 23:46

Nutty, I have some sympathy with you - sometimes thes kinds of events should be breaking even and be there for the community, not the money-making side all the time.

We have a 'carols' round the xmas tree' next week. 50p to get in with mulled wine/squash and a mince pie and a voluntary collection for Shelter.

Love it.

fussymummy · 01/12/2006 23:48

I actually do lots of the organising, thankyou very much.

Due to health problems, have been unable to attend the last few meetings.

I have as much right to moan about having two santas as anyone else.

JennyLeevesmilkandcookiesforSa · 01/12/2006 23:50

mine today was a pound to get in and one pound fifty to see santa or 2 quid to get picutre taken at same time, santa gave ds a beyblade for a gift, ds liked it. there were stalls with things for 2 pounds at the most and some things 50 or 20 pence. but there were crafts your kid makes for 50p 2 pounds and one pound fifty that you just had to buy or your child would be upset, and there were tombolas for 50p a go

JennyLeevesmilkandcookiesforSa · 01/12/2006 23:52

my ds just reasons that there can be many santa's as he is magical and so busy so he makes lots of himself, ds is 7 yrs old

unknownrebelbang · 01/12/2006 23:58

Am sooo glad we don't have a Christmas Fair, cos I'd be the one organising it, then spending a fortune whilst there.

I do understand that it's yet more money at an expensive time of year (although it's for the schoolchildren, so IMHO worth it) but truthfully, if we couldn't afford it, then we wouldn't go, even if it means walking past a queue of children.

As for two santas - agree it might be confusing for the children, but it is a practical solution to a problem. And everyone knows they're not the REAL santa........they're just helping him out cos he's soooooo busy this time of year.

Original poster

nutcracker · 02/12/2006 08:58

Don't tell me what to do southeast, exactly what is your problem ??? I have just said that I cannot help and take Ds with me as it is impossible to watch him and get invovled.

So you can help at yours, and afford to spend cash on it at this time of year, great, I can't so sod off and stop picking at me. I didn't realise you could only moan about certain things on here now.

OP posts:

foxtrottothefestivegrotto · 02/12/2006 09:22

I have some sympathy with you nutcracker, this is my first term with a DC in Reception and i have been quite surprised by the requests to buy stuff, sell raffle tickets, donate prizes etc from the PTA. (Although i have been helping out with one of the fundraisers myself, so i know how much free time is donated in order to raise some cash) But with 3 DCs to go through the school, they will reap the benefits.

MulledRubyRiojaWine · 02/12/2006 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 02/12/2006 09:37

Ours was £2.50 (with a time slot) but kids entry was free, £1 for adults with a raffle ticket. Most stalls were 20p or 50p a go for the games and tombolas plus others selling cakes , books, accessories, crafts etc.

HoraceWimp · 02/12/2006 09:40

£2 seems reasonable, it is to raise funds for the PTA afterall

smittenkitten · 02/12/2006 10:00

i think this is v interesting. my DS is only 6 months so i'm not experiencing any of this as a parent, but am a govenor at a primary school in a v poor area, and we make a real effort for the xmas fair to be an enriching experience for the kids as well as a bit of a fundraiser. We are v conscious that a lot of parents can't afford (or choose not to spend their money) on these things so make it really cheap. I don't know if some of you are at schools in areas where it's assumed that everyone has spare cash, but i was surprised by prices.

Nutcracker - completely understand that you can't get involved in organising, but why don't you speak to one of the parent governors or write a letter to chair of govenors setting out your concerns?

Also really object to school santas handing out gifts made in the 3rd world by children no older than recipient! as another poster said, we are a spoilt country.

mummyhill · 02/12/2006 10:11

DD's was last night 20p entrance for all including the baby. We didn't bother with santa as the queue was huge. Most activities cost about 50p and was all stuff we had bee coerced into sending in. There were a few stalls with new stuff on but prices were extortionate.

Didn't mind too much about it but why charge for a baby to go in??????????

largevirginbirthandtonic · 02/12/2006 10:38

I have 5 children 4 of whom are at school. In the last 2 weeks we have had non uniform day if you took in a donation of a pound each, tombola gift donation (something new) Children in need donation, two xmas fairs held after school so unavoidable to desperate pleas from children. I cant help so always bake cakes for them to sel and make the ones they can put in the raffle.

The xmas fair costs 20p each to get in and lots of stalls were selling things like glow sticks for a £1, tatoos for £1, raffle tickets, treasure hunt 50pand a bloody posh jewellery stall with the cheapest thing on there being about a tenner! Its crippling at this time of year. We have not even started the supply a costume for the xmas play ( i have 3 seperate ones to attend) or bring in something for the xmas party! Im no bah humbug by any means but it is bloody ridiculous to expect so much from parents. We are new to the school this sept so i had no idea how full on it would be, last year they were all in the same school. This year the juniors and infants have seperate schools, it is very hard to keep up with the onslaught of leaflets and notes in the 4 book bags each evening. The dts have just come home with disco invites and a workshop, so thats £2 a ticket each for the disco plus money to spend there and the workshop is £1.80 each!!

Sorry it's such a long rant. Was going to make an excuse then but thought not....

southeastastra · 02/12/2006 11:33

sorry nutcracker not picking on you just got carried away. sorry again

santasaltire · 02/12/2006 12:32

My gripe about the school fair isn't the cost - although our school are good at asking for money nearly every day in the run up to Chrismtas. Its the lack of space. They cram it all into the hall, with stalls down all four sides and in the middle, with approx 6ft gap all the way round, so the result is that people stop at stalls on both sides, and everyone behind them have to stop as well as there is no way to move round them.
We don't pay to get in, but pay £1.00 per child to see Santa, £1.00 per play on things like the tombola, raffle, guess the teddys name etc.

poinsettydog · 02/12/2006 12:50

£1.50. Just finished helping at mine (not on PTA though).

Tell kids in advance they are only allowed to spend £3, £5 whatever your budget is. It's up to them to choose.

You probably won't see Santa anywhere else cheaper.

I get a bit hacked off by parents who moan about PTA events. It involves loads of work for very little in return.

poinsettydog · 02/12/2006 12:53

Write a note to the school if you think there are too many money raising activities. They should be understanding.

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 02/12/2006 12:55

Will let you know later Nutty - going at 2.30

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 02/12/2006 12:57

I don't think you should complain about the number of fundraising actitives - just don't donate to everything.

The PTA are not trying to make life difficult for people, they are just trying to raise money to buy things for the children and have a good time/create a good school community spirit at the same time.

We do quite a lot of things but, as a member of the committee, I quite understand that people cannot donate to, or attend, everything. It goes without saying.

WigWamBam · 02/12/2006 12:58

The assumption that those of us moaning don't help out isn't entirely accurate. It's quite possible to support the PTA whilst still thinking that they are ripping parents off.

Dh and I are always involved in some way with the things the PTA organise. He marshalled the fireworks, put all the tents up for the Summer fair, I helped set up the fair yesterday afternoon and dh went to clear it up afterwards, I will be there on Monday packing everything away, I am wrapping 100 books for the children's Christmas presents, I will be handing them out on the last day of term ... don't tell me that I should get involved rather than complain, because I already am.

It's not the organisation I am complaining about, it's the cost. It cost me over £15 last night, it cost me £20 two weeks ago supporting their Christmas do for parents, it cost £15 on Bonfire night last month - and that's with only one child. I know that the PTA need to fundraise, and I appreciate that they do an awful lot for the school, but the costs have gone up over 100% for each event this year compared with last year, and I feel that the PTA (of which dh and I are both very active members) are now getting to the point where they are actually ripping people off in order to extract maximum cash.

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 02/12/2006 13:01

No, no, I didn't mean that WWB - I know people help but when it comes to spending, everyone has a different budget and it's perfectly acceptable, imo, to not buy things to donate etc if it just gets too much.

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 02/12/2006 13:03

I'm pretty sure I didn't say get involved or stop complaining. I hope that's not the impression I gave as it's not at all what I meant

WigWamBam · 02/12/2006 17:58

No, I didn't mean you, Glitterygook - it was more the comments further down the thread suggesting that we shouldn't moan because some people put a lot of effort into these events. I do put a lot of effort in, and I appreciate the fact that other people do too. I also appreciate the fact that parents are the only source of income for the PTA but I still think that our PTA treats the parents very much like cash cows and never stops trying to get that extra little drop out of us.

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