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Original poster

Childrens University - reward scheme for joining and completing out of school activities

15 replies

Wotznot2know · 03/07/2007 11:25

Childrens University The aim to to reward pupils for joining and completing out of school hours activities. A min number of hours (ie 20 hrs) of clubs and activities. Like choir, sports teams, orhestra, swimming.

Ends up with an award ceremony for Graduates. Those who have not got any points or enough points, do not attend. The Graduation Ceremony held at a local college held within the school day. Excluded children do not attend.

Thoughts please? Any of your schools do it? FWIW Junior school.

OP posts:
fillyjonk · 03/07/2007 11:27

oh jesus, ffs

WHY?

don't kids do enough stuff already?

how about a reward scheme for going to the park and then baking cakes for tea?

Hathor · 03/07/2007 11:29

Let them play and get bored and learn about life by themselves. If we reward them for breathing how will they know the pleasure in just being.

DonutBouvier · 03/07/2007 11:31

ridiculous idea

MrsKrabadger · 03/07/2007 11:31

TBH rewarding children in an school-style way for specifically out-of-school activities sounds like a bit of a contradiction in terms.

Choirs and orchestras have concerts, sports teams have matches, swimmers have galas, each with their own recognition-of-effort awards, rounds of applause etc.
No need to make another big thing of it.

And what about 'non-sanctioned' activities? Can they rack up credit (what an awful expression ) by going to Cubs, ballet, riding, languages? Or non-organised homebased activities like craft or cookery?

Or only by doing things that are In The Programme?

Sounds like tosh to me.

fillyjonk · 03/07/2007 11:32

(reward for park tongue in cheek btw)

Original poster
Wotznot2know · 03/07/2007 11:36

By only doing the clubs that the school has signed up for.

Want to know as I am only found out yesterday about Graduation Ceremony (supposed to have been a school parent meeting - but first I and dd have heard)

She hasn't got any points! Were told in class who had points.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotznot2know · 03/07/2007 11:37

9 from her class not going to Graduation Ceremony today.

OP posts:
MrsKrabadger · 03/07/2007 11:46

Sounds like rubbish

if she's having fun out of school she's not missing out. Bet the 9 non-graduates will have more fun

bookwormmum · 03/07/2007 11:51

Oh fgs. My dd does 4 activities a week now - if we had to add in school-sanctioned activities, we'd never be at home. What about the parents who can't or won't pay for extra classes? How are those children supposed to feel now?

Original poster
Wotznot2know · 03/07/2007 11:54

I want to send this email.

What do you think? (Thanks for the text MrsK)

Could the school please explain to me about the Childrens University.

I did not know that there had been a parent meeting about this and normally I do attend all meetings. Please can you direct me to a school newsletter about the scheme on the website.

Choirs and orchestras have concerts, sports teams have matches, swimmers have galas, each with their own recognition-of-effort awards and audience approval (applause) which are also published in the weekly newsletters. I can not see the sense to make another big thing of it with a Graduation Ceremony and leave the excluded children in school.

How does the school manage to give every child a chance to attend clubs, and gain points if they not not show an aptitude for sport or music?

What about children with SN who may not get selected for such clubs?

OP posts:
MrsKrabadger · 03/07/2007 12:15

I'd be tempted to ask for details first (ie which newsletter they were in, where on the website they are) and read about it before wading in too hard, else I'd be bound to find DD left the letter explaining it all in her book bag and I'd look like a prat.

If it really is as it seems then I'd think about having a word.

MrsKrabadger · 03/07/2007 12:16

(oh and I'm only MrsBadger with a Simpsons name for today )

Original poster
Wotznot2know · 03/07/2007 12:17

Going to send this: see what happens.

Could the school please explain to me about the Childrens University.

I did not know that there had been a parent meeting about this and normally I do attend all meetings. Please can you direct me to a school newsletter about the scheme on the website.

Choirs and orchestras have concerts, sports teams have matches, swimmers have galas, each with their own recognition-of-effort awards and audience approval (applause). Results and achievements are also published in the weekly newsletters. I can not see the sense to make another big thing of it with a Graduation Ceremony and leave excluded children in school.

How does the school manage to give every child a chance to attend clubs, and gain points if they not not show an aptitude for sport or music? Some children can not attend after school clubs due to work commitments of carers/parents?

I can see the why it is a positive thing to encourage children to take part in school team clubs. But not all children are team players. Of course team participation will builds a child's confidence but for those not involved a Graduation Ceremony at Junior School age, can also be a significant sign of exclusion, especially those less confident to take part in clubs in the first place.

OP posts:
Hathor · 03/07/2007 12:18

Sounds good, but read it through for jibberish!

Original poster
Wotznot2know · 03/07/2007 12:19

Thanks MrsBadger, you are right about hidden newsletters and I am all for not sending in the heat of the moment.

I will see what dds day was like. FWIW she was in tears last week about something similar.

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