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Original poster

Should Christmas school shows still be going ahead?

130 replies

justamumseekingadvice · 12/12/2021 17:53

It’s not so much of a AIBU but just a general thought started by the imminent update from Boris tonight.

I have personally got my daughter’s school show coming up in a couple of days, but given the rising cases with this new strain and also people potentially having to isolate over Christmas which many people have been looking forward to after this last year…

Should school shows still be going ahead?

OP posts:
Deadcanary1 · 13/12/2021 11:35

Any teachers I know were delighted that sports day was parent free in the summer😀

RichTeaRichTea · 13/12/2021 11:38

That’s great - maybe we need a discussion about whether parents should attend any activities at all, covid or no, given that they are the only ones who seem to benefit.

ChloeCrocodile · 13/12/2021 12:01

I think they should go ahead where it is practicable. The hall needs to be big enough, properly ventilated and following the "vaccine or lft" plus masks rules which are required for other venues.

That said, I really don't blame head teachers who do everything they can to minimise the risk of staff catching it, given that supply teachers are almost impossible to get in some places. It would be outrageous for a school to have a nativity and then have to send class(es) home due to lack of staff. Nativities are nice to have, but education is essential imo.

toomuchlaundry · 13/12/2021 12:18

But most of the activities are carrying on, but parent free. So people saying children have missed out so much, most of them aren't missing out on activities this term, they may be slightly different this year eg not mixing classes/year groups, but still going ahead. It is mainly the parents who are missing out.

MultiSkills · 13/12/2021 12:51

Our secondary has now cancelled parents attending Christmas concerts this week. Instead they will be filmed.

RichTeaRichTea · 13/12/2021 14:15

@toomuchlaundry

But most of the activities are carrying on, but parent free. So people saying children have missed out so much, most of them aren't missing out on activities this term, they may be slightly different this year eg not mixing classes/year groups, but still going ahead. It is mainly the parents who are missing out.
I agree - but equally I think if people are saying that they shouldn’t go ahead because of covid AND ALSO it’s so stressful for staff and children to have parents present, then is there any benefit to having them in person again when the risks of covid are lower? I am not being facetious here - if there is overall benefit to children doing the performances remotely then why are we forcing them to do it in front of parents in normal circumstances? As a parent I want to see it in person, but perhaps I should miss out if I’m the only one benefitting.
Bobholll · 13/12/2021 14:20

Yes. Ours did last week with masks & it was brilliant. The kids loved it, my daughter was so excited to see us & wave at us 😁 we all wore masks & were asked to take LFTs. If I can go to nightclub, I can watch my child’s bloody nativity.

Absolute fucking scrooges to say they shouldn’t. I think schools have been ridiculous cancelling them. Delighted our school took a more measured approach.

Legoninjago1 · 13/12/2021 14:42

@Bobholll

Yes. Ours did last week with masks & it was brilliant. The kids loved it, my daughter was so excited to see us & wave at us 😁 we all wore masks & were asked to take LFTs. If I can go to nightclub, I can watch my child’s bloody nativity.

Absolute fucking scrooges to say they shouldn’t. I think schools have been ridiculous cancelling them. Delighted our school took a more measured approach.

Same at both my children's schools. Children, Parents - and yes Staff - loved it all.
toomuchlaundry · 13/12/2021 15:30

@RichTeaRichTea it might be that some events will be modified going forward.

However, the vitriol some schools receive when parents were asked not to attend events, has been horrific in some cases. Splashed all over social media, and the schools have no right of reply. Some parents really need to look at themselves. There are always some parents who can't make events (many teachers always miss out on seeing their own child's performance), so having a video available has been great for them.

ShepherdMoons · 13/12/2021 15:33

I'm amazed there are still shows going on with the numbers of children who have tested positive in the last few weeks. Really half of the children in school have had it or are testing positive. I imagine the entire school will have to close tomorrow following the nativity this evening. All parents can attend and in a small space.

Most of dds class is currently off with Covid.

Chessie678 · 13/12/2021 15:41

I went to visit a prep school recently. They put every event on with parents attending including whole school events and events with other schools as normal. Their children also seemed to have had minimal time off during the lockdowns and hadn’t fallen behind at all.

I think it’s completely wrong that adults can still be living a relatively normal life including going to nightclubs, gigs, pubs etc and children get everything cancelled (unless they go to an independent school which tend to value parents since they’re paying the fees).

Deadcanary1 · 13/12/2021 15:42

[quote toomuchlaundry]@RichTeaRichTea it might be that some events will be modified going forward.

However, the vitriol some schools receive when parents were asked not to attend events, has been horrific in some cases. Splashed all over social media, and the schools have no right of reply. Some parents really need to look at themselves. There are always some parents who can't make events (many teachers always miss out on seeing their own child's performance), so having a video available has been great for them.[/quote]
Yes indeed! A lot of these types of parents are on threads like this.There's one almost every day now . They're heartbroken wailing and weeping because they can't see their little darlings on the stage. FFS. Seems like some people. have very little to worry about!

Bitofachinwag · 13/12/2021 15:45

Yes they should. Cinemas and theatres are open.

RichTeaRichTea · 13/12/2021 15:46

“ Seems like some people. have very little to worry about!”

Is that what you think? You have no idea, have you. I’m an HCP and my husband is a secondary school teacher. If you think we haven’t been negatively affected by covid think again. I certainly wouldn’t kick up any sort of stink for decisions made that are beyond my control about school performances, but I am allowed to be annoyed if my attendance is cancelled. I’m human and intelligent and can think about big things and small things both at the same time!

RichTeaRichTea · 13/12/2021 15:48

FWIW my husband can’t attend anyway because he is a teacher. It’s like some posters can’t understand that you can hold complex thoughts in your head, that people or families can fall into a number of different “camps” at the same time.

Normandy144 · 13/12/2021 15:49

Yes of course they should go ahead. Our school asked for negative lateral flow and face masks but if rather that than not see it. The children have practiced so much and it was wonderful to see it and how much they loved performing it.

TheCreamCaker · 13/12/2021 15:49

My 7 year old granddaughter had hers last week. Everyone wore masks, and the numbers were limited.

This week, the 10 year old is doing her carol concert - outside, in the bloody playground. Sad

redferrari · 13/12/2021 15:50

Ours went ahead last week. This is to avoid anyone missing the Christmas as you will have enough time to come out of isolation if the worst happens. We also had video streaming link for those who preferred that.

Marianne1234 · 13/12/2021 15:51

Our nursery one went ahead last week. It was wonderful 🥲

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/12/2021 15:54

@ShepherdMoons

I'm amazed there are still shows going on with the numbers of children who have tested positive in the last few weeks. Really half of the children in school have had it or are testing positive. I imagine the entire school will have to close tomorrow following the nativity this evening. All parents can attend and in a small space.

Most of dds class is currently off with Covid.

Guess it depends on the school

We have 3 class entry in all years

4 cases in whole school. One in year 3&4. 2 in year 6

But one cough and get a call to pick up and pcr

Strict but how should be

Think dd has had 3 pcr this term - 3 over weekend so no missing school

CoffeeWithCheese · 13/12/2021 16:30

Ours is going ahead thank goodness - the kids have lost out on enough things that, while they might seem trivial to those with grown up kids who've had these events in their lives... are a big thing if you're small and going through it all for the first time. They've tweaked things a bit and moved the venue and are doing the show twice to reduce the audience numbers - but they're doing it, and the end of term carol concert is always outside around the Christmas tree in the playground anyway (school's too small to have a school hall so it's always been done that way).

MrsHamlet · 13/12/2021 16:37

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

Since my head gives not a fig for staff well-being, I tend to forget that some heads do

Mine doesn’t either normally but it impacts her if we’re all off with covid. Wink

A fair point well made :)
ichundich · 13/12/2021 16:39

@RichTeaRichTea

That’s great - maybe we need a discussion about whether parents should attend any activities at all, covid or no, given that they are the only ones who seem to benefit.
You're making quite a sweeping assumption here. All the children I know are mega excited about their upcoming Christmas performances. It's important for kids to learn to speak in front of an audience, and the Christmas play / drama is part of the curriculum, I believe.
RichTeaRichTea · 13/12/2021 16:52

ichundich I was responding to the comments on here about how much easier it is for teachers and children to do these events without parents present. I have no idea whether that is the case generally. My husband is a secondary school teacher but not involved in performances or sports, and my children are preschoolers. I am not an expert in this area. But if it is so detrimental having parents involved then why do we keep doing it?

Bobholll · 13/12/2021 16:59

@RichTeaRichTea - how is having parents attend a nativity performance detrimental? The kids practice at school & then we all turn up, sit down quietly, watch the show. I cannot fathom why or how parents get in the way?! Children ‘feeling pressure’ seems silly. That’s what performance is all about. An audience. It builds their confidence & ability to speak or sing in front of others. Surely teachers pick the kids that can handle being centre stage? My DD is shy & she wasn’t given lines & that’s fine. But she LOVED the singing and I’ve got lovely videos of her performing away happily! It really boosted her confidence, she was so proud of herself ❤️

Sports day I can see a bit more. I bet some parents are a nightmare & really competitive 😂