WTF is a Commendation from the Headmaster?

[Nockney]

Other than a reason why we have to try to manage to have one of us at Assembly on Monday?

I'm v proud of DS1, really, but I never attended a school with a headmaster, never mind commendations from one ... is this a normal thing? Am I meant to know what it is? I thought his teacher was telling me he was in trouble, at first!

So is nobody replying because this is really normal? Or because it's really weird?

I've thought about it, and it seems quite nice that they do this, so the headmaster isn't just someone you see because you've done something wrong.

We have headteaher awards at dd1's school
She gets it when her teacher thinks she has done so well that she should go and show the headteacher the piece of work and then she gets a sticker that says'Headteachers award'

they also get certificates for very good work that get handed out at the monday assembly by the headteacher(we don't have to be there though)

It's a jolly good thing that's what !

Something to be celebrated and congratulated !

What do you mean you never had a headmaster ? Did you have all headmistresses ?

I don't have to be there, but as DS1 is in Reception, it's rather much a Big Deal him getting a commendation. (Although others from his class have had them ... I just gather the pre-prep lot don't get them often.)

Actually, it's nearly impossible for me to be there, as I have a co-op shift that day (and every Monday). But DH can probably make it, and the neighbour who brings DS1 to school will probably go, too. And when I asked DS1 who he wanted to have there, he said his dad or the neighbour, more than me. Fair enough, I spend enough time at the school, what with pick ups and all.

Oh, yes, no headmasters, only principals.

You work in the Co-op ???

Oh no! No, DS2 goes to a childcare co-op. (Well, technically, we're not a co-op, we're a charity, and a parent-run nursery, but co-op is shorter.) And parents do shifts. I normally work on a Monday.

Thank God for that !!!

You must go - this is a big deal for him !

Well, he's not bothered about me going. And I'd have to change my shift around to another day or swap with someone or something, which is a bit tricky on short notice.

I'm sure I'll make it sometime when he's got a commendation, just not this time. Well, I will if nobody else can, but he'd rather have the neighbour or DH, so if one of them can make it ...

There are headmaster's commendations at my children's school. They are every half term, awarded for academic work, art, sport, music, ict, anything basically. We don't get to see them awarded in assembly, but it gets mentioned in the newsletter and a laminated certificate is sent home.

Ah, it does seem that some people have it, at least. DH had no idea what it was about, and he went to a similar sort of school, albeit a while back.

This is once a week, in assembly. DS1 gets to have a chat with the headmaster tomorrow, and assembly is Monday. I don't know if there's a certificate or what.

(Oh, his is for 'literacy'. Apparently he made up and wrote out a sensible two-sentence story. Which is rather good given he's in Reception and only started reading in October.)

That's a shame you can't go - at our school it is a very big honour to get one of these and to be specially invited in to see your child receive it. I wouldn't refuse such an invitation myself - work or no work.

headteacher awards are common place at dds' school. Just livens up assembly a bit and 'celebrates achievement'. I wouldn't worry at all at not being there.

They do this every week at DS1's school, although someone from his class isn't chosen each week. (I have made it to every nativity play, singing in the cathedral, etc etc.)

The co-op isn't like normal work, if I want time off, I have to find someone else to cover my shift, and make it up later. And given DS1 is supremely uninterested in me attending ... I suspect both the neighbour and DH will be there, though.