Christmas card sending in primary school

susan42

Monkey

How about every child purchasing a book, for say 50 p or £1 from the pta. Put christmas images on the front and back cover and the year have an afternoon where each child `autographs` the books and leave a message

You could purchase the books in £shop or asda very cheap and print or draw your own images. Leave a space on the front for each child to draw an image and their name.

You would also need to send out a flyer saying what your doing to the parents

lushlifesaver

I like Susan42's idea - you could easily get some nice Christmas books to use as 'autograph' books, at small cost you could produce some labels to stick inside, like book plates, to say something like '[school name]'s Christmas Annual 2013' I would be willing to pay a few pounds to purchase one for my child to have and keep for the future than send cards if you went on to produce your own in future years!

I think, as far as being an eco school goes, my primary school always had a card recycling post box and students were encouraged to take cards in to be recycled rather than seeing them go to landfill, could you not allow the children to enjoy the act of sharing their spirit via cards and encourage them to each bring in their whole family's acres to recycle? You could offer an incentive like the student and class who bring in the most gets something new for the classroom or a small prize (book or something)?

mrs_monkey

Thank you... am really liking these ideas... think is very doable!

jackomdj

We arrange for the children to make a card which gets made into a pack the parents can buy (although this is more for special people than school friends) it makes a nice profit for the pta. it may not be this company but i just googled school christmas cards. http://www.christmascardsforschools.co.uk/

Also this year we are thinking about giving parents the opportunity to buy a child's bauble. We will find out in advance who wants to buy so we order the right number. I did this st home last year, and will do it going forward if the school don't decide to do it. http://www.bakerross.co.uk/ceramic-baubles

whitesatin

Each child could bring in an item to put in a shoebox to be given to one of the many charities who accept these. Obviously this would need to be put to the school and the children but I think most chidren could see how that would be a kind thing to do. Let's face it, you can buy all sorts for the price of a card, especially in pound shops. Children like the idea of helping the less fortunate.

lushlifesaver

jackomdj wrote: »

I did this st home last year, and will do it going forward if the school don't decide to do it. http://www.bakerross.co.uk/ceramic-baubles

Just wanted to say a really quick thank you for linking to the site above - have had a nosey and ordered a catalogue. Already got some perfect ideas for budget presents for my co-workers! They all know I'm crafty and each got a little present at Easter (just weeks after I joined) so would like to do the same at Christmas with something homemade and quirky! Plus my nephew (aged 4) can come round and join in!

jackomdj

lushlifesaver wrote: »

Just wanted to say a really quick thank you for linking to the site above - have had a nosey and ordered a catalogue. Already got some perfect ideas for budget presents for my co-workers! They all know I'm crafty and each got a little present at Easter (just weeks after I joined) so would like to do the same at Christmas with something homemade and quirky! Plus my nephew (aged 4) can come round and join in!

That's ok. They have a linked site http://www.yellowmoon.org.uk/ which has similar stuff, occasionally different, sometimes one or the other is cheaper.

rosiek63

I gave my kids a set number of cards each - a dozen or something and told them that was all they had to send. It is a really good exercise in helping them to write and they love giving and receiving cards.

I know what people mean about waste, but if you keep it reasonable then surely that is OK?

juniper_berry

I always remember as a child receiving cards through our school postbox, it was so exciting posting them then in the afternoon finding out what had been given cards that day. It's a fun part of school. Why not look to recycle at least the fronts of the cards by asking the children to bring them all in in the New Year and then storing them to make pretty gift tags for the next Christmas?

stclair

mrs_monkey wrote: »

is there an alternative to sending xmas cards in primary schools, i know the kids love it but all that money wasted on cards could be better going toward pta. we are a c of e school and wondered if any others had tried alternatives. we are also an eco aware school so surely every child in every class sending one another cards has an eco impact too... even in a small school, 130 pupils, thats a heck of alot of waste.... any advice out there please?

I personally donate to charity rather than sending Xmas cards.