end of term - Doubled Up

I want to share an idea before Christmas gets too near. Because we are an eco school, last year the staff agreed not to send each other Christmas cards, but instead to give the money they would have spent on this as a donation to a chosen charity.

Word of this spread and some parents decided that they would do the same. Instead of spending a fortune on cards that would end up in the bin, we sent an email with Christmas greetings and news to friends and family and gave the cash to the same charity.

This year staff have suggested that the children do not give their friends individual Christmas cards, but that each class makes a large card that they all agree on a message for, sign and read out in assembly. Parents are then asked to donate the money they have saved by not buying the cards.

Hopefully, the children will learn that they can spread a lot of Christmas cheer to people who need it, whilst still letting their friends know that they care about them. And as a bonus, there is less rubbish at the end of the Christmas period.

I have just read the SENCO blog and I can really empathise. This week seems to have been a killer for staff, pupils and parents alike. Waiting to drop off the children, the parents are all talking about how they can't wait to have a break from the drop off/pick up routine (I know that I have had enough of nagging about cleaning teeth, getting dressed, putting on shoes etc). At the end of the day, at least one child per classroom greets their parent with either tears, a strop or a stamping of feet (or, in Milly's case, a mixture of all three!). And the teachers all look drained of every ounce of energy, although they are battling on with smiles on their faces!

As a parent, you hear about what is going on in the last week of term and may be tempted to think that it is a bit of a 'jolly' for the staff - music competitions, sports day, final assemblies etc. Yet, if you look more closely, the usual teaching and learning is going on and all of these extra things need organisation of their own. And, of course, the children are tired and grumpy too.

Our Kindergarten and Reception children had their sports day today. Unfortunately, the rain started about ten minutes before kick off. It drizzled while the children each completed one race, then the Head called off the remainder of the event. Of course, the rain stopped about ten minutes after the children had gone back in! When my own little one wasn't racing, I watched the staff and was impressed by their enthusiasm as they herded the children to the start line, collected them at the end and jollied along those who had not won a sticker. And, of course, once the rather damp parents had disappeared, the staff was left to deal with the tidying away of the sporting equipment and chairs and the disappointed children.