Are school events becoming family events?

[Jaycee]

Our school is about the entire community, not just the teachers and the children attending school. I don't believe a child has the opportunity to reach their full potential without collaboration between the school and the home. I also believe that it is very valuable for children to see their school community function effectively on a social level - that is, parents, siblings grandparents, uncles, aunts... all getting along and enjoying each other's company.

This is exactly what I wanted to say! To me, being part of the community and participating in community events is a big part of learning as well. At our school (a smallish rural school), younger siblings are encouraged to come in to the classroom and explore, they're encouraged to go and sit on the mat with the children at the end of the day etc.

Sure it can get a little chaotic, and perhaps your school could of managed things a little better, but I really think it is extremely important to have family input, not just from parents, but from siblings of all ages, and extended family too!

[diannescruffy]

Our school is also big on Community involvement in school events and when it's well organised it's absolutely fantastic for the kids and for everyone else. Do you know any parents on the School Council? I'd bring it up with them so that further events can be better managed.

Regards,
Dianne

[~Kim~]

Our school population is a little bit different than most city schools. Here the emphasis is on attendance first, then participation and community.
Our sports days are family events, and families are encouraged to dress in team colours and cheer, but the kids have to sit with their house until lunch time. However, there is a core group of parents only at every event. All the kids know us at least lol. Even my little kids are encouraged to join in the carnival events that the infants school do.
I also have trouble with DD1 participating when I'm there but the school is small, and her teachers are great. I want her to see that we can both have a great time.

PS I hope your DD still enjoyed the day

[LuluHB]

I think parents and siblings should definitely be encouraged to attend. I attended my first sports carnival yesterday when DD1 was in pre primary. There were lots of parents and younger siblings there, but the school kids all stayed together for the running races. Then they were divided into groups for other activities like tunnel ball etc and the parents/siblings all followed around their own kids. It was great - I got to talk to my DD but there was great organisation so everything kept moving. She was thrilled that her mum, dad, younger sisters and grandparents were there to watch her - she's a bit of a show pony though so maybe not all kids would feel that way!

My kids go to a Christian college, so I think that in itself means that families are always going to be a big part of any school event, and its something I really love about the school.

[Snacks]

It's a shame that the families weren't getting involved in the event as such (ie the kids were competing on the oval and the families were enjoying their picnics without paying attention to what was going on). I think its reasonable for families to be there though and would feel a bit miffed if we were asked not to attend.
I must admit, the cross country carnival I attended last year felt a bit like this at times. We made sure we watched DD's race & cheered her and her peers on, took lots of photos. But the rest of the day was a bit of mayhem. The athletics carnival was a bit better I felt, with the space (and event) more conducive to spectatorship.
It's really tough for some kids to sit in their house groups when their parents are present though. At the athletics carnival DD got very upset when I told her she couldn't sit with us & I ended up relenting and sitting down with her in her house! I couldn't have done that though if DH hadn't have been there to mind DD2.
It's a hard balance to reach, but primary school is all about finding that school/family balance I think, especially infants/early primary. I think overall it's beneficial to the kids to have family involvement in carnivals though.

[Snacks]

double