If you were having a september newbies get together over the holidays would you invite the teacher?

[scaredofthegarden]

Or would you/they think that was odd and awkward?

yes
let em haev a break

Never.

Unusual idea.

Not sure the teacher would come.

I think that would be really odd.

no way!! are you mad?

I think that's a no.

no way

As a teacher, if invited, I'd have a subsequent engagement. You need to get together and share and bond as a group. It's a different relationship to one with the teacher.
Join your PTA as well, lots of opportunities to get to know staff socially then.

Err, no - would you go into a meeting at work in the middle of a weeks holiday where your presence was not needed?

Don't mistake a teacher's professional interest in your child as a personal one. My teacher sis finds it REALLY awkward when parents assume she is as interested in their kids as they are - she has a life outside of school and wants to live it free from pupils and their parents if possible.

Maybe for her its different as she teaches overseas and its hard within an ex-pat community to avoid parents and kids she teaches - but she tries her hardest to!

definitely not

As a teacher, myself and a colleague were annually invited to a certain boy's birthday party.

Let me save you any more thought on this matter: 100%, categorically NO!

'Don't mistake a teacher's professional interest in your child as a personal one. My teacher sis finds it REALLY awkward when parents assume she is as interested in their kids as they are'

Good point, and the parents sometimes find it hard when you move on to your next class and put the same amount of effort into them.
Back to the 'present thread' and all that stuff about photos of the children as gifts, or pictures painted by them. I have children of my own, that's who I spend my free time with. No offense intended.

As a teacher. NO!

Perish the thought!

no way. The teacher would hate it!

Good - I should say that it was not my idea. I thought it would be awkward for her. Two of the other mums think we should and I didn't want to make myself too unpopular before school even starts by disagreeing if it was the thing to do.

tell them teachers are required to keep a professional distance

I can't see how they could have ever thought it was a thing to do. Are they wanting to be teacher's pet?

I think probably because at the open day she said she couldn't wait to hear all about what they did over the summer and mentioned a few times that it would be good for us (parents and children)to try to meet up so that the children know each other.

Wondering how I say I think its a bad idea. Might just ask whether anyone thinks it might make her feel awkward and hope that some of the other parents agree with me. One of the mums already has a child at the school though and is quite dominant alreday.

I don't think it's anything sneaky or underhand FBG, they just don't know how the system works yet, and they're trying to be inclusive and friendly. Get to Know the Teacher Day.
But s/he isn't their friend, it's a professional relationship and hopefully the teacher will be skillful enough to help the parents work it out without hurting their feelings.
Or s/he could just say '£27.50 an hour please'

If she's going to survive as a teacher, she'll need to be a vertebrate. Don't worry, let them do what they want and let the teacher extricate herself. Not your problem.