End of Primary School

I am absolutely with you. My twin granddaughters are yr 6 and I’m so sad for what they have missed . They will be gong to an independent senior school in Sept and there were all kinds of things planned, partly as a reward for their hard work in entrance exams.

Their junior school have done their best and have modified the end of year musical, prize giving and sports day as shortened versions with no audience filmed for adults to see on you tube but it is not the same. They went back to school when the government allowed in their bubbles , again not the same but the difference in their mental health was astounding, they were getting depressed.

Senior school have done video presentations for them to meet the head of year and are hoping they can have some kind of socially distanced meet in late August if possible but their anticipated fun year was spoilt

Not as bad as some families have had to deal with I know but I love them and feel sad on their behalf

I don't think that any of us who have a DGC leaving primary school will be anything other that grateful that they are alive and well, nor will we think that their entire lives will be blighted because they haven't seen their friends since March, and in my DGC's case, will be going to a different secondary school from them.

My DGC has now left primary, as term ended this week, but was given a family party at home to mark the occasion, and as I said before, a couple of achievement certificates from the school. Nobody is "harping on" about anything, Hetty58, and I don't know why you think a bit of mild regret that they are missing out on what their siblings may have had is a problem. Of course children are adaptable, and they have no choice but to adapt, as is true for all of us just now.

My grandson is leaving Year 6, and has missed a school trip to Normandy and various other things. It is such a shame, but I’m not sure that he minds as much as I do!

DIL said something about a Yearbook, so I’m hoping that will have photos and details of their final Junior School year. It is a milestone and I feel quite emotional about it. There goes childhood.

We bought DGD a backpack of her choice.

We bought GD a large tote bag to carry her school books in, a really smart grown up one.
The school GD is only allows smart black.
GD2 is year five and will not be returning to her primary school, instead she will start an independent school in September.

It is exactly as corner says. Well, apart from the flooding!!

Regardless of whether we agree or not, these rituals are what happen now. Dgd's older brother left the school 2 years ago she is disappointed that it will not happen for her. The school don't have a prom or anything over the top. And, dgd1 has not picked up this feeling from the grown ups. She has been excited about it since she started year 6.

As I said, DD1 and other mums have taken on what they can manage in lieu of the school.

Anyway, does anyone have any good ideas of something we, as her grandparents, can give her to mark what is a big step in her young life?

It's been all about saving as many lives as possible. Disruption of schooling is far less important.

They are all in the same situation as the rest of their year group.

Children are very adaptable - but tend to follow your lead as an adult. Therefore, I don't think it's helpful to make a big deal of it - or harp on about it.

A matter of fact, relaxed manner is the way to go.

After all, dealing with disappointment is a key part of growing up.

Same for one of ours kitty. She was so excited to do all the things big sister had done and now her disappointment is painful to see. There is also high anxiety about changing schools without the usual bridging visits. The school staff are supportive but to make matters worse the primary school is closed after flooding with face to face contact impossible. So many children and young people are being adversely affected, maybe not life long trauma but certainly short term negative impact on wellbeing.

We can feel sorry for them as well as feeling for those who are leaving school and don't know what is happening next.

One doesn't preclude the other.

DGD was Y6 last year and end of primary was made really special by the parents and the wonderful Y6 teacher.

No disco or glitz or stretch limos, though! A special assembly and then an exciting surprise followed by a bbq organised by the parents.

I feel so sorry for your DGD and all those Y6 pupils, especially as some will be going their separate ways next year.

Are there any class photos, photos with friends and classmates of memorable events throughout her school years so that parents/grandparents could get together to compile a keepsake book of memorable times for each child?

You say the school has let them down but what did you expect them to do? Of course it's disappointing for her but this is unprecedented. By the sounds of it, there are some celebrations planned. However I'm at a loss to know what the primary school could do, given the circumstances.

This whole graduation from primary school prom lark is a bit of a recent phenomenon, signing a shirt was about as much as my kids got and I can’t even remember my last day at primary school - can anyone else? So to pretend it’s going to lead to lifelong trauma is a bit much imho.

Such a shame that there'll be no celebrations at school. I've got some lovely pics of when my GGC had their school prom 3 years ago, but never mind the child's health counts for more than dressing up and disco's while this virus is hanging around.

its sad but really if her primary school is local then she is not going to have to lose her friends, just celebrations which are a fairly recent invention. (My parents removed me from school for the last term and sent me on a swap arrangement to a french state school for the whole of the summer term!!!!!!) I don't remember being upset, in those days we just did what we were told!!!! ( also ended up speaking fluent French which is still a great skill to have).

Lexisgranny

Personally I feel most for the 18 year old school leavers. These young people finished school early, lockdown giving them little prospect of finding temporary jobs. Instead of two months revision before A levels which the rest of us enjoyed, they have to depend on assessments to determine university places. Those with plans for a gap year Travelling before university are likely to be disappointed. Those seeking jobs are going to be facing an extremely competitive job market, and just to add to it all they have missed out on the big Prom, the right of passage from School, to the big world out there. ( I know of some young girls who bought their Prom dresses in the New Years Sales). These young people have my sympathy.

And does this preclude you from sympathising with Kittylester's granddaughter and other year 6 pupils?

I sympathise with the young adults leaving school also, but I don't feel more sympathy for them, or for the year 6 pupils, or even for the little ones leaving foundation and starting the more serious business of KS1 in September. This pandemic has caused sadness for all of them, having to deal with huge transitions that even at the best of times can be daunting.

Sorry, should have mentioned that they are doing photo books already.

geekesse I am extremely grateful that all 9 of my grandchildren are alive and healthy but she is 11 and missing out on what she thought her final year would be. She is too young to be anything but disappointed.

Personally I feel most for the 18 year old school leavers. These young people finished school early, lockdown giving them little prospect of finding temporary jobs. Instead of two months revision before A levels which the rest of us enjoyed, they have to depend on assessments to determine university places. Those with plans for a gap year Travelling before university are likely to be disappointed. Those seeking jobs are going to be facing an extremely competitive job market, and just to add to it all they have missed out on the big Prom, the right of passage from School, to the big world out there. ( I know of some young girls who bought their Prom dresses in the New Years Sales). These young people have my sympathy.

She’s alive and healthy. Be grateful for that.

A photo book is a good idea. Take pictures at the picnic. Maybe get lots of quotes from the classmates to include. Get a picture of each child so she can look back on it. It is a sort of autograph book but put together electronically.

Is her mum in touch with all the other mums in her class? Via a group WhatsApp or FB page? If so you could ask her to organise selfies from all her classmates, and a little one liner message from each one. This could all be made into a photobook as a keepsake for her.

Sorry I misread the OP, didn’t realise you were speaking about Primary schools

My GD is in the same position and is leaving her school to go to a 6th form college where she doesn’t know anyone, it’s such a shame.

How about a photo book ( available over the internet) made up of school events that she was involved with, plays, visits etc.
Photos from her mother could be sent via the Internet. A page could be left blank for autographs at a later date.
If they’re willing her friends parents could send some as well.

The end of term for year 6 is a special time and I feel sad for those who have missed out.

My GCs had T shirts printed with Class of (whatever year it was) and name of the school. They were proud of them.

What about a good quality ballpoint pen to use at the new school? Not a fountain pen as I don't think they use them now.

The trouble is pens get lost so easily so I wouldn't get one so costly that you'll be disappointed if it disappears.

I am sorry for the children leaving Primary School this year but we had no induction for the new school or discos etc. and we all seem to have survived.

I hope your granddaughter settles well at the new school.