the cost of christmas school concert.

gettingtheresometime

meritaten wrote: »

How would that help? the school concerts/plays have nothing to do with the PTA or Governers. not being rude - but puzzled as to why you think they have any input here? its the teachers who organise the school concerts etc.

Because when I was a member of a PTA you built up relationships with the teachers and as a result you could talk to them about issues such as these - and on the one I was on senior staff also took part.

As for being a Governor you have access to the Head in an informal setting

Surely its better to be able to influence policy then just moaning about it?

Carfal

Go and speak to the teacher and ask for help with the costumes. Point out the cost and how it hits your family particularly as you have twins rather than a single child.

Yes, the list is rather long and very specific, but don't go in all guns blazing; you may, for example, find out that the school has the more expensive parts of the costumes already and your children weren't listening when that bit was explained to them.

If you don't get anywhere, then speak to the headteacher. The issue to me would be the waist coats and jackets as the other items are things you could buy and re-use, borrow or make easily enough.

If you get enough parents together to make a fuss, as suggested on here, then please do not then complain if the school simply cancels the concert due to lack of support. The hours of unpaid time that putting a concert together for the children and parents, for little thanks and a lot of hassle, takes for teachers at one of the busiest times of is astounding.

All you have been asked to do in return is to put together your children's costumes. If this is genuinely difficult, as it may be in this case, then go and ask for help.

meritaten

The school usually puts on amazing plays and concerts - and the parents do make an effort with the costumes. I know because I have helped with the grandkids costumes in years past. and the school teachers know dam well that this is a very deprived area! the PTA do a good job but they have no input with the plays etc.
This list of costume demands is a bit of a shock I think - always before its been a bit 'please supply a 'shepherds smock - headgear etc.
This is like a Hollywood production, from a 'blue/black velvet jacket' down to 'red fingerless gloves'? now where the hell do they think parents are going to get them from? its totally unrealistic. a teacher who has dreams of a 'Broadway style production'? and no - the school shouldn't cancel - the kids are rehearsing hard! just review the 'Wardrobe' requirements? shouldn't be hard - Oliver was set amongst the 'raggedy poor'!

Newly_retired

I am wondering if a new teacher is in charge of the production this year, and has no experience of how to go about things?
People often talk about "the school", but in reality things are organised by teachers.
At the last school I taught in, the Head had a rule that no letters could go home to parents without being seen and approved by her. We used to think this was a bit much, but it was to prevent an inexperienced teacher sending something inappropriate like the letter in this instance.

notanewuser

I was relieved that DD's concert appears not to include a nativity, but rather a lovely story about some teddy bears (suspect her teacher has chucked in as many religious songs as she can though - expecting much of the audience not to understand them. :rotfl:) Even so, I expect DD's costume will cost me around £15-20 to supply, even using as much stuff as I can from home. I'm still not getting the logic of not just having a set story each year and a box of clothes to go with it! It's not like 3 and 4 year olds are going to demand alternative creative directions!!!

theoretica

For fingerless gloves if you are willing to sew I suggest a tube with a thumb hole (ie wrist warmers) out of anything stretchy - an old bit of knitwear in the right colour could make up for the entire cast.

Waistcoats - could these be smallish sweaters with the arms chopped off?

onlyroz

Sounds bonkers to me. Our school did Oliver in the summer and I made a perfectly acceptable street urchin costume just by butchering some old school uniform. And that's what most of the other parents did too.

peachyprice

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Have you ever thought about joining the PTA or becoming a parent governor?

Surely the best way to put across the parents' pov is to get involved with the school on a regular basis so that these ideas can suggested beforehand

It doesn't require involvement of the PTA for a sensible head to realise that this costume list for a primary school christmas concert is ridiculous.

wiogs

meritaten wrote: »

How would that help? the school concerts/plays have nothing to do with the PTA or Governers. not being rude - but puzzled as to why you think they have any input here? its the teachers who organise the school concerts etc.

As already mentioned a PTA will, by its very nature, interact with the teachers and can represent the views of parents to the teachers and also talk to the board of governors.

I have known PTAs to be heavily involved with school shows concerts etc as they had help the teachers source material required.

ciderwithrosie_2

Done on the cheap for us too when DS3's year did 'Oliver'. He had an old pair of trousers cut off and made raggedy and an old shirt with the collar cut off, a neckerchief and bare feet - he was supposed to be an urchin after all and it's more the overall impression I thought rather than shelling out for expensive costumes. A knitted beret pulled on over a baseball cap so just the brim is seen makes a passable Victorian baker boy style cap (we've done this in the past for Victorian Days).


Shawls pinned with an old brooch would be easier to come by than velvet jackets surely.


When I was at school and we did fairly big productions, letters went home with every pupil asking for help with props and costumes - things that could be borrowed or donated.