can I contact this student?

[slowangels1]

I just was wondering if it's acceptable for me to do this or not.

I'm a secondary teacher on mat leave and have recently (10 weeks ago) had a baby. I heard on the grapevine from staff where I work that an ex student of mine has just had a baby. She left school a couple of years ago. I work for a small school so everyone knows everyone and I taught her as part of a small GCSE class so knew her quite well (for a student I taught IYKWIM) and the class she was in were a nice group and we all got on well. I've snooped and found she is on facebook and I'm really tempted to send her a message saying congrats etc but I don't know if this is over stepping the boundaries of acceptability and professionalism and would really appreciate any opinions. I probably wouldn't even think to usually msg a student in this situation but since I've just had a DD feels quite close that she's just had one.

I know it's a pretty insignificant question but am really wondering whether it's OK to do this or if I will appear a bit odd to her.

if she has left school, there is no problem surely?

I wouldnt do this tbh - feels like crossing a boundary to me.

yeah, just wondered if people will think it's an unprofessional thing for me to do

that's what I wondered about cat. I don't mind not contacting her at all, just wanted to but not sure whether I should/could. Thought I needed some other views on it as have been thinking about it for a few days but something stops me from doing it.

She's left school, it's not an issue, she's just a mum now!

Bad idea. Bit stalker-y and more importantly she has left school, but lots of her friends will be at school/have younger siblings at school etc.

Really bad idea - and the school would not like it. Lots of sec schools advise their teachers not to use facebook at all!

yes, i wondered if it was a bit stalkerish which is why i hesitated. just to put this in context so i don't look too odd - the sdhool i work at is very small and one of its strongest things is teacher student relationships - we really do know lots about students and take a real interest in their out of school lives - i've never worked in a school like it, so i can see why people who work in larger schools not like this wouldn't understand why i thought to congrat her

I don't think there is any reason why you can't say congratulations to an ex pupil but I would probably leave it there.

By all means, I'd contact her. Especially if your school if very much based on close working relationships between teachers and students. I'm friends with one of my old teachers on Facebook and we go and visit my DH's old form teacher when we visit his home village. Nothing strange about it at all if you ask me.