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School asking for souvenir?

33 replies

Honeybeesintrees · 28/08/2024 18:58

DD is starting year 1, they've asked the kids to bring in a souvenir from their holidays. Not sure what to bring, we went to a beach holiday within the UK it was lovely but we didn't really buy any souvenirs, what would you bring? We bought her a bucket and spade there and also a little net for rock pool fishing that's about it

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NewName24 · 29/08/2024 22:44

Holiday doesn't just mean the six week summer break. It has the connotation of a holiday away from home.

We'll have to agree to disagree.
Perhaps it is different for those of us whose lives work around the school holidays. Maybe in an office / factory / other adult job, someone having had 2 weeks AL, and coming back with a tan, you would assume differently, but,
In September, in schools "What did you get up to in the holiday" very much implies 'the time off since I last saw you'. Of course, for some that might include going away, but for many, it might not.

Lovelysummerdays · 29/08/2024 22:49

NewName24 · 28/08/2024 22:52

The question is "what holiday?" for many children.

No. The children are starting Year one, which,(in England I am assuming, from the term 'Year One') means they have all had a holiday {from school} since they broke up in July. There is no question about what holiday when they are on their first day back from all being on holiday for 6 weeks.

When a school asks for a souvenir from the students' holiday the assumption is that the students went on a holiday.

Not in any of the schools I've taught at. I mean, some dc would have, but there would absolutely not be any assumption that the children had all left our City, and that would have been very clear when the staff were talking to them about the idea, in July.

Better to ask the children to ask what their hopes are for the coming school year, what they hope to learn, books they hope to read, how they hope they will feel in the classroom and the playground.

You are being somewhat optimistic there for 30 x 5 year olds in a new room with a new teacher on the first day back in routine of coming to school.

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Our school does two stars and a wish. Do two things you liked about the holidays and a wish something you want to do next summer.

Pieceofpurplesky · 30/08/2024 02:12

Those poor kids that hate being at home. There are many children for
Whom school is a sanctuary. I hate it when teachers do this (or childhood memories).
I am a teacher by the way.

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yellowsun · 30/08/2024 19:04

I think many of you may be unaware of what the summer would have been like for many families living in poverty or with other disadvantage. Many of them won’t have been on any day trips. Many would have had a distressing time and will be looking forward to the stability of school. Regardless of how the request is phrased, the parents of many children will likely not engage with the request and this will be additional disappointment for those children.

NewName24 · 30/08/2024 22:12

It is disappointing how many of the replies are assuming that the staff at the school are not very much aware of the circumstances of families of the children they look after.

yellowsun · 31/08/2024 13:05

NewName24 · 30/08/2024 22:12

It is disappointing how many of the replies are assuming that the staff at the school are not very much aware of the circumstances of families of the children they look after.

I speak from experience as a school
leader who has had this conversation with staff countless times as they have indeed not thought carefully about the needs in their class. How disappointing you aren’t listening to the teachers on this thread.

NewName24 · 31/08/2024 22:50

@yellowsun

I am a teacher.

Aside from the Special (as that obviously covers dc from all sorts of backgrounds), ALL the schools I have taught in have been in areas where most of the dc would not have 'gone away' for a holiday. Which is exactly why I know that staff would be aware of that and talked at the time of the request about what they would do in the holidays. It would also have incorporated road safety and dangers of railway lines, and local bodies of water, and also safety from people, and generally looking after themselves.

Maddy70 · 31/08/2024 23:10

A shell from a beach, a hair bobble , a fan, etc. Dont read too much into it. Its s talking point

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