Star of the week :(

[ramblinrose]

Ok, this may seem petty, but I just want to get it off my chest.

DS3 is 7 (yr 3). One child in each class gets to be star of the week. I would imagine it is for good behaviour, trying hard, being helpful etc.
There are 27 children in his class. They are at school for 40 weeks of the year.

Now, DS hasn't had star of the week at all this year.
His recent report says that is behaviour is very good, as is his effort, progress etc.
He is meeting his targets, and on the whole, in my opinion has had a pretty good yr3.

He is not one to really bother that much about these things, and, normally I don't either. Things would have to be a lot more serious than this for me to go into school all guns blazing.

I suppose it's just niggling me a bit.
Does anyone think that children of middle ability who don't misbehave can sometimes slip under the radar?

Does anyone think that children of middle ability who don't misbehave can sometimes slip under the radar?

Yes, without a doubt.

Maybe it's just me, but I give the star of the week award to whoever deserves it that week, rather than an "everyone should have it over the year" rota system. So some children might get it 3/4 times a year, some children might not!

Snowball I agree in some ways that the star of the week should go to "whoever deserves it". However that definition often seems to be the child who has misbehaved Monday to Thursday and not been so bad on Friday. (ie their goodness on Friday is noticed, rather than being expected)

The child who is generally good to very good, never in trouble, always tries hard but doesn't do outstanding work, often gets missed out-any one week they could have "star of the week" but never one particular week iyswim.

I had a friend say that on their child's report it said "I cannot be more enthusiastic about X. She always works her hardest... is always kind and helpful... produces consistantly outstanding work... A top child in all ways."... but never had had the "star of the week" equivalent. That seems to me to be sending the wrong message to the form.

Snowball, I guess it depends what you're looking for. Do you recognise the children who are naturally good and naturally hardworking too?

I have to admit I never expected my daughter to get awards because she's naturally good and hard wired to be helpful, but she has got it probably twice both years. She's also got a very strong sense of fair so she knows that everyone gets to have a go. I'm surprised she doesn't get more Politewise awards as they're given to loads each week and they keep saying they want to give them to the whole school one week. She never forgets to say please and thank you etc.

I also hate attendance awards. She has CFS and has hardly been in since March, she's building up to full time at the moment (summer is badly placed!) so won't even be 100% next year. Even before the CFS her asthma affected her attendance.

Funny you say that Doom, my son has also not received an award for attendance, despite his having been 100%.... My fault really as I noticed on his report that it was showing as just under so someone must have made a mistake one day, but didn't realise you got a certificate so didn't bother getting it corrected.

(Just to add, I know a certificate is hardly life and death, but when you're 5 it is apparently quite important!!)

Snowball, I guess it depends what you're looking for. Do you recognise the children who are naturally good and naturally hardworking too?

They're the ones who tend to get it in my class, either that or because of some exceptional work. I don't award it to someone who is generally badly behaved and manages to hold it together for one day!

maybe it should be taken at face value ie it is awarded to a child who has done something exceptional (for them) that week, rather than something they all have to have a turn at, as of right?

'I don't award it to someone who is generally badly behaved and manages to hold it together for one day!'

Why not?
How do you know it isn't the encouragement that one child might need to improve?

Not a big fan of star of the week either. I see the point of it, to encourage children, etc and I agree with that. However, DS1 has consistently done well, never had a bad word said about him, all parents' evenings and school reports have been excellent. He's had star of the week once in Y2 and that was after he was upset at missing out again and I had a quiet, smiley word with his teacher. He's just finished Y5.

DS2 has just finished reception. Has a TA to help him with his various issues but has blossomed so much, more than I could have hoped. Never had star of the week.

The DC don't notice though - other than that one occasion in Y2 - so I never say anything to either them or the school. I should really let it go .

The way the school that I was in did it was to have all the names in a bag and pull one out each week-everyone then thought of positive things about the child, it went on a certificate on the wall and home at the end of the week.