the cost of christmas school concert.

getmore4less

There seems to be a misplaced expectation of charity shops.

They carry the stuff that sells, even if the hardup valleys were getting this type if donation it would either sell or get moved on.
Chances if them having enough to cover a school play is unlikely in a week or two.

Decent stuff goes on ebay these days.

Charity shopping works when you go a lot and wait for the good stuff, no longer a shop on demand place. If looking for specifics it can take months.

gettingtheresometime

wiogs wrote: »

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.

Thank you! At least someone has seen the wood for the trees.

Its not about having one up on other parents - although I've no doubt that there are some parents who use it for that!

gettingtheresometime

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

Its not so easy to get involved on the PTA because the school already has a full PTA and its year on year the same people you can put your name forward, but unfortunately the school has its favourate clique of people and stick to the bitter end with them you have a better chance of winning the lotto than getting on the PTA in the valleys schools.


.

Things must have changed then as when my lad was in a valleys school you just turned up at the meeting - you didn't need to be voted onto the PTA - though I grant you it was the same faces that turned up at the meetings

Beckyy

Any costume hire shops near you?

meritaten

Beckyy wrote: »

Any costume hire shops near you?

Yes - but why on earth should parents pay 'Hire' costs? do you not understand that the OP has financial issues and cant afford to pay out for a 'costume' for his twins? and most parents at the school cant afford it either?

purpleshoes_2

Shen81 wrote: »

Speak with the headteacher if you are having trouble affording items for the concert. The school will have provisions in place to help people who can't afford them.

I dont think that's the issue, its not just the affordability, its parents being asked to spend a significant sum of money on items that will be worn on a couple of occasions if that.

My mum is a primary school teacher, I know from school to school these things will vary, but I cant ever recall her coming home saying parents had been asked to fork out substantial sums of money so their kids could take part in a play/concert.

If its a poor area, lots of families won't have the spare cash, the school should tone down the requirements for everyone in my view. I took part in a couple of school musicals, cant recall my mum having to break the bank to kit me out in the uniform they required.

meritaten

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

MAMAN
That's far too rational a way of dealing with it rosie as it would seem are many other suggestions given.

I think it must be very boring in the valleys as OP and his mum seem very keen to make a big drama out of it (excuse pun). All suggestions for working with the school and practical ideas have fallen on deaf ears.


How can you work with the school on the issue, when I only had the letter yesterday tucked in school bag and read it when we got home, I then priced things ups, and to that point it was too late to call the school and ask about it.




jaylee
I also think that the OP needs to take some of the advice on board. Although I disagreed with wiogs earlier in the thread, I do acually agree with them, that it would be a good idea to either talk to the PTA or join them, as you can put your twopennyworth in if and when something like this.
And yes, I would also be getting together anything I could, (eg from charity shops,) and they would have to accept that.
you disagree in a post then agree later!? do you not that caused WIOGS to respond the way they did? and then turn the thread into a fact finding mission.


I never said I wouldn't take the advice onboard, your assumption not mine.


Its not so easy to get involved on the PTA because the school already has a full PTA and its year on year the same people you can put your name forward, but unfortunately the school has its favourate clique of people and stick to the bitter end with them you have a better chance of winning the lotto than getting on the PTA in the valleys schools.


NOW onto the matter at hand.


The school was asked by my wife this morning, that is there any flexibility in the dress code.
and the response was weve had a few complaints about the dress codes already, and admittedly the school has made a mistake in requesting that specific of a list, and that anything that resembles the person in the film is acceptable.
The school didn't check the cost of some items, and thought many of the items could be had form charity shops, but it seems some mothers have checked out the local charity shops and has said its impractical to adhere to the specific dress code.
My wife also asked if anyone form the PTA questioned the list and dress code, and the answer was they don't usually have input on the plays because its a teacher derived ide but took the suggestion of having a PTA involvement form a costs and practical side of parents point of view.
The deputy head also said that they had not checked that they had vintage or Victorian style dress up clothing in storage, before they had OK'd the play and when they checked they didn't have many pieces that would fit the characters and were relying on parents to provide the kit, and there for why there is a specific dress code, but she has seen that affordability and availability is going to be an issue for many parents, and a meeting with the head tonight to raise the specific complaints received.


so as it stands now, the dress code is flexible and can make or source cheap as possible items, and that some items can be ignored due to cost and availability.

I have copied this as some people seem to have missed it entirely!

HELLO! the school now admit they were wrong and the kids will be doing the concert in whatever the parents can cobble together!

Richard53

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

lol I forget welsh terms are not known in genral.

And Welsh 'daps' are Northern English 'sandshoes', which are Southern English 'plimsolls'.


When I moved from Yorkshire to Wales I had to learn a lot of new vocabulary. And to get used to being called 'boy' when I was almost 40

themull1

The school should customise some of the stuff in their lost property for the kids.

Morglin

I would tell the school to do one - years ago, it was crepe paper efforts, and anything that anyone could rustle up (free).

Christmas plays were boys dressed as shepherds or wise men, in their dressing gowns and a tea towel on their heads, and crepe paper angels....lol

Cheek, if you ask me, and I wouldn't encourage their stupidity.

Lin