Dd stopped from being in end of school show due to hsving to leave rehearsals slightly early

[Ledkr]

Hi all I posted before about dd and her end of school show.
She has a very small part no lines on stage in the first scene then no more.
Dd does dancing which she loves and is good at. Her classes are on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The school show is a big occasion and the main marker for the leavers. They anticipate it all yr and look forward to it.
The school pride themselves on all the chikdren being involved.
So the rehearsals have been set for tues and wed 3-5
I asked if I could collect her fifteen mins early so she could go to dancing as she has exams and a big show coming up.
The school have been totally unmoving and said if she can't do the entire two hrs she can't be in the show
I am leaving work early to pick her up and race her across to her class while she eats. She is always late.
This is for the one rehearsal she has done so far during which she sat down and watched other people rehearse.
I pay a lot for her lessons but it is entirely her choice not to want to miss dancing.
The show will run for a whole week they all get a t shirt and its very much the "leavers celebration"
I think the school are being petty and cruel in excluding her from the show for the sake of fifteen minutes.
I can't imagine for such a small part fifteenths will make this much difference

[RedHelenB]

It's for a short period of time that she will be 15 mins late for her dance lessons. Any dance teacher worth their salt would be fine with this as kids do have school activities to attend as well.

[Schmedz]

I can understand the school not wanting children to miss rehearsals or parts there-of, but in that case they should schedule them when the children are definitely able to be present...i.e during the school day! Very unreasonable of them to expect such a big out of hours commitment on a regular basis for something which is obviously well embedded in the life of the school. It need not be a problem for her to slip out quietly 15 mins before the end and then ask her friends if there are any messages or info given out after she left that she needs to know.
Can't believe how unreasonable the Head is being about this (and I am currently in the process of working with my own Year 6 students for their leavers show, so I think I know the difference between genuine problems with attendance and your DDs situation!)

[Ledkr]

Just been to toddlers with one of the teachers from the school. She was in hysterics at my story as it seems its a bit of a staff joke that the school take the show so seriously.
After all the fuss it would seem she is now not needed until after half term so I think we might have to just suck it up and be late for dancing so she can sit and do nothing probably.
Utterly ridiculous but I don't feel she should be the only one to miss it. Up to her though ill ask her later.

[lljkk]

:( to hear you're still dealing with this, Ledkr.

[Sparklymommy]

This is a difficult one and a subject that came up with my own DD just before Christmas. My Dd is in Yr5 and in December the whole school put on a big Christmas show. In September my DD successfully auditioned for our local professional pantomime and that meant being licensed and missing approximately 4/5 afternoons of school. Of course that meant missing both performances of the play (one in the school day, on in the evening which happened to be dds opening night in panto!). We spoke to the headmistress at the beginning of term and obviously dd couldn't miss out on the oppurtunity to be in panto and so it was decided that she wouldn't be in the play. She was upset by this, but when it actually came to it she was very grown up and spent time whilst the rest of the school were rehearsing making props/scenery and helping the others with their lines. The headmistress was very impressed with her professional attitude and she never moaned (at school!) once. When it came to the church carol service she was given extra to do as a consolation and she was more than happy with that!

It's about prioritising. My dd dances every night and has singing lessons that are the most important thing to her. Everything else goes by the wayside. That's her choice. She is still top of the class for maths and science and above average for English so I am happy to let her put her dancing and performing first. I do however see your point about the 15 minutes out of rehearsals not making a huge difference to your dd. however could she not be 15 minutes late for dance? How long are the lessons? It's only for a few weeks really. Is it worth tainting the end of her primary school education with this row? Hope it gets sorted!

[SilasGreenback]

I think it is unreasonable of the school, but also badly organised.

There is no way they need 90 kids for 2 hours each time. Someone just hasn't bothered to plan a rehearsal schedule.

My ds1 & 2 are in their secondary school play. They have a complicated timetable of which scenes are being done when. Ds1 has a big part and has to attend most of them. Ds2 is in crowd scenes, so only attends some rehearsals. Why would he want or need to watch hours of the speaking parts perfecting their lines? Some rehearsals have only 5 people going, some whole cast.

[Ledkr]

Chewing yes I think no matter happens I am going to inform ofsted.

[ChewingOnLifesGristle]

I would be wondering aloud to the teacher what Ofsted would be making of all this non inclusive attitude...(knowing how twitchy schools get about presenting a good impression to ofsted)

[Ledkr]

It's funny but the year 6 are going on a residential a week before half term and a week after.
They will all be missing rehearsals.
Dd isn't going due to a medical issue.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Totally agree. At dd's school they have been rehearsing one double period a week since just before Easter. Plenty of time.

[ChewingOnLifesGristle]

It's not as though the show is a production by an out of school time drama club.

It's a year 6 show. Year 6 are at school together during the school day, therefore the show should be a production based on that.

This is forcing a year 6 activity to become an out of school drama club. Join it or you can't be in the play? It should be done during school time.

[freddiemisagreatshag]

What would they do if there was a child with a chronic long term illness who was off school a lot and missed rehearsals because of that?

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Luckily for my dd it wouldn't work at her school. They'd have no one fircthecschool play as dance is 4.15-7.15 and there are several from school who dance.

[cathyandclaire]

I totally agree the school are being difficult and unreasonable but sadly the only one who'll miss out is your dd.
How many weeks would she miss 15 mins of dance for? Could you say to the school that you'll be outside waiting 15 mins early and if they find she's not doing anything and they can spare her they could send her out early? Could she limber/ warm up at the rehearsal so that she's ready to join in when she gets to dance?
I have older dds who dance and annoyingly they are FOREVER having to choose between school/dance/sports commitments, we just go with their instincts, things they just can't miss and try not to think too hard about the money chucked away!

[Ledkr]

It has crossed my mind pictures

[Ledkr]

Thanks Freddie I think you hit a nerve because I'm desperate not to come across like that as I hate "those mums"
I do think this is what the school think though which is a shame.
I also think they are merely sticking to their guns and being slightly unreasonable.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

You know OP she has so little time left and if the leavers play us such a big deal at school (which I know it will be) in your position is seriously consider pulling her out altogether and home edding her until she gues off to secondary

[freddiemisagreatshag]

ledkr I'm sorry if I've offended you - I really do agree with you on this one and think the school should let her be in the play, especially if she only has a non-speaking part.

I think you're flogging a dead horse though and they're making a point. Which they shouldn't do and is a shame for your DD.

I have DC's which have many and varied commitments outside of school in which they are part of a team.

Sometimes, that means they can't do everything and have to choose.

[Ledkr]

No it's a state school but they do think they are a bit posh itlyswim
Freddy you seem determined to make me out to be some kind of push parent. I gave not once said Anything to the school about her being in lots of shows. In fact she turned down the chance to audition for a main part because we knew it would be too much.
Her classes just happen to be at the same time as the rehearsals if it were any other day then it would be no problem.
You didn't answer my question about whether you have dc with commitments outside of school which are expensive and part of a team?
I can only imagine you don't.
I really do appreciate all your comments though.
I will ask dd again tonight and make a decision from there.
Shame though really.
I do evening hobbies and would never be forced to work outside my hours and give them up.

[ChewingOnLifesGristle]

I remember your previous thread and agreed with you. My dd does dancing too and the lessons are quite £ and prepaid. I wouldn't be happy to waste that.

I think the school are being ridiculous. It's a year 6 end of year show (so a bit of perspective wouldn't go amiss) and as you say your dd has a minimal part anyway. They need to realise that they cannot go about dictating your out of hours school life to such a large extent.

Why cant they sort out the show during school time like many others manange to do?

Maybe they could reimburse you for the missed dancing lessons.

[Katnisscupcake]

I agree that the school are definitely being OTT. But it sounds like they're not going to budge.

Ask your DD what she would prefer to do (and hope she chooses the dancing otherwise financially it'll be a nightmare if she chooses the school show) and make sure she understands the consequences of each option.

Dancing is a long-term commitment and something that won't finish when her time at her current school does. So absolutely she won't want to be letting down the other dancers.

It sounds like she isn't a crucial part of the show at school, if I was her I would opt for the dancing. Also agree that it's bizarre to expect 100% attendence for 2 days a week after school from 3-5pm because there must be others who do pre-paid after school activities.

[DeWe]

Personally I think the school is being silly, and a bit mean. And if it's a leavers thing then most of the rehearsals should be in school time. With dd1's leavers' play they waited until after SATS and then spent a fortnight solidly rehearsing in school time. The only out of school time was the sctual performances.

However I have in the past been annoyed when one of my dc has been in the position where they've been told "if they can't attend all of XXX" they can't do it." and I've sorted out them or other children to be late/not go to a usual commitment, or someone else to take their sibling-to find that at the actual thing A only came for half, B will always leave 20 minuted early and C says his mum says he can only come on Thurdays... if you see what I mean.
Me having asked politely if it's possible to leave early and been told no, but others with pushier parents just tell rather than ask, and get away with it.

So if they have told the children they must be at all and every rehearsal, I have a certain respect for them holding them to it.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

If the OP s dd is preparing for exams then the 1st 15 mins are important even if its just warm ups as they have to perform the warm ups in the exam

Also my dd is expected to do most of her warm ups now before class starts.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I agree the school are bring OTT

DD is currently rehearsing for her leavers show but rehearsals are all in school time. 15 mins atvthevend if a 2 hour rehearsal us nothing fir a choir/chorus part (I've run enough shows to know its possible.)

For what it's worth my dd would choos her regular dancing too. Apart from the actual show night she won't be missing any classes for school events and has missed school concerts in the past because she had to dance instead

It's incredibly petty.

[freddiemisagreatshag]

I think, without wanting to bring another thread into it, that the head is making a point.