breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,895 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Sept 24, 2015 3:40:14 GMT
Earlier this evening I received an email from my kids school that informed us picture day was next week and not to purchase the class photo (not included in the portrait packages) because they were not taking one this year. That was the extent of the email, no explanation about why.
I would like to write something to the school saying that it was disappointing this was decided without asking the parents, or giving a reason. I would also ask if the school going to provide an alternative because I can't replace the class photo on my own...
Or am I being stupid and class photos are so 2014? This is elementary school if that matters.
UPDATE: The reason they are not doing class pictures is they don't have space to set up the photographer all day that is not already being used (gym, cafeteria, music room). The person who told me this didn't know if they were doing a composite.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 8:22:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 3:44:10 GMT
DS is only in 2nd grade, but his school hasn't done class pictures while we've been there. Our "class pictures" are 8 x 10 photo sheets with the individual kids' pictures on it, which to me isn't nearly as fun as actual group pictures we did when I was a kid.
In kindergarten, I asked why they do them this way and was told that they lose too much instruction time to have all of the students out of class at the same time to do group photos.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,895
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Sept 24, 2015 3:46:40 GMT
The way it was worded made it sound like there was no class photo period, even a composite. I'd take a composite over no photo at all...
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Post by freecharlie on Sept 24, 2015 3:49:49 GMT
Email and ask why they changed their mind and are they going to do a class picture later in the year.
My DS's elementary takes the class picture in the spring.
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on Sept 24, 2015 3:57:18 GMT
Send an email, but make no assumptions. Just ask if a class picture will be taken at a later date.
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 24, 2015 4:02:51 GMT
I would be very disappointed since I scrap that stuff. I wonder if something came up with permission to photograph other people's kids. I know it sounds weird since there have been school class pictures since the dawn of the camera, but school rules are changing so fast it is shocking. Perhaps something went down and they aren't letting parents know. I know that one or two very vocal parents can change the rules or traditions. So sad. Perhaps you should call and find out if spring pictures are even a possibility. That is when we had them. Maybe it is a misprint on the flier and the person who wrote the email did a bad job explaining the situation.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,895
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Sept 24, 2015 4:09:41 GMT
"We will not be having class pictures so please don't add a payment for one" was the exact wording. The other two lines of the email were which day picture day was, and something unrelated to pictures.
I will be disappointed if they don't do something else, my kids school scrapbooks are going to have a big empty spot this year.
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Post by jenjie on Sept 24, 2015 10:27:39 GMT
Don't tell me they request payment before you see the product? That doesn't even sound right.
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Sept 24, 2015 11:00:55 GMT
I wonder if there is a problem with the photographer and he or she can't do it.
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Post by gritzi on Sept 24, 2015 11:04:45 GMT
Our DSs' schools have never taken class photos.
Jenje, our school has always required payment first before the photos are seen. The photos are always horrific!
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Post by moonglowe21 on Sept 24, 2015 11:06:30 GMT
Don't tell me they request payment before you see the product? That doesn't even sound right. We always have to send in our payment the day the pictures are scheduled. We do have the right to request a retake if we don't like what we get though.  |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
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Post by AnotherPea on Sept 24, 2015 11:06:45 GMT
I'd bet that the wrong form was sent and that there are still plans for class photos in the Spring.
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Post by monklady123 on Sept 24, 2015 11:06:54 GMT
Don't tell me they request payment before you see the product? That doesn't even sound right. Yes, we always had to pay ahead of time (with Lifetouch, if that makes any difference). Then if you really didn't like it you could either have it retaken on make-up day, or you could just cancel and get your money back. Of course they had us all on a string because who doesn't want at least a few of their kids' school pictures, even if you think it's not a great photo? lol. I know I wanted them all because it's such a cute snapshot of their growth over the years. And our county always did class pictures and still does. I would have missed those if we didn't have them. |
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Post by jenjie on Sept 24, 2015 11:10:47 GMT
Hmmm I had no clue. We haven't purchased class pictures every year but I don't *think* that's the policy here.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 8:22:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 11:14:06 GMT
They would definitely be getting a polite email from me. I only buy the group photo.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Sept 24, 2015 11:18:18 GMT
Don't tell me they request payment before you see the product? That doesn't even sound right. We have to pay for ours before we get the photos. We can do a retake.. but if your kid takes a sucky picture you are stuck with it. |
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TheOtherMeg
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,541
Jun 25, 2014 20:58:14 GMT
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Sept 24, 2015 11:21:02 GMT
Don't tell me they request payment before you see the product? That doesn't even sound right. That's the way Lifetouch does it here (and the way it's been done for twenty years -- since my oldest was in ktg). You order and pay for the package you want before picture day. A few weeks later you get your pics and hope your kid looks decent. ETA I haven't had the option to buy a class picture in many years. I miss them. (We have been able to buy a huge picture of the Senior Class as part of the graduation package, though.) |
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Post by PenandInk on Sept 24, 2015 11:29:38 GMT
My daughter had a friend in elementary school whose parents were well off and the dad was an international business guy. They were very worried about kidnapping. Their DD was not to be in any kind of photo that might go home with other parents, be in the news, etc. it was a security issue. Rather than leave her out, there were no group photos done for any class.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 8:22:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 11:37:07 GMT
I have no class photos of me past kindergarten and none from the schools my kids went to. So I don't think no class photo is a new thing as much as having one might be a regional thing.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
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Post by raindancer on Sept 24, 2015 11:51:53 GMT
DS is only in 2nd grade, but his school hasn't done class pictures while we've been there. Our "class pictures" are 8 x 10 photo sheets with the individual kids' pictures on it, which to me isn't nearly as fun as actual group pictures we did when I was a kid. In kindergarten, I asked why they do them this way and was told that they lose too much instruction time to have all of the students out of class at the same time to do group photos. My fourth grade class photo is like this, and I'm 39. I actually like that one better because you can see everyone in the pictures and it's not a jumbled mess, with me always in the front and the middle kids sort of lost in the sea of faces. |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
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Post by AnotherPea on Sept 24, 2015 12:24:43 GMT
My daughter had a friend in elementary school whose parents were well off and the dad was an international business guy. They were very worried about kidnapping. Their DD was not to be in any kind of photo that might go home with other parents, be in the news, etc. it was a security issue. Rather than leave her out, there were no group photos done for any class. That's just ridiculous. |
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Post by cmhs on Sept 24, 2015 13:02:25 GMT
I work in a school and I would bet it's a privacy issue. Some parents don't want their kid's pictures out there for others to see. In my school, it has been a safety/custody issue most recently.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 8:22:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 13:13:15 GMT
I'm also betting it is due to at least some parent's not signing the photo/video release form that we have to sign every year to allow our child's pic to be published. And honestly, there are plenty of valid reasons parents choose not to publish their child's picture, especially on a public venue. And yes, (specific targeted) kidnapping is a valid concern for some parents. But I am kind of surprised that child isn't private schooled. That tends to be where most of the kids with those worries attend.
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 24, 2015 13:36:25 GMT
Our DSs' schools have never taken class photos. Jenje, our school has always required payment first before the photos are seen. The photos are always horrific!While this isn't appreciated when you get your photos back, years later they are awesome! |
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 24, 2015 13:56:19 GMT
Our DSs' schools have never taken class photos. Jenje, our school has always required payment first before the photos are seen. The photos are always horrific!While this isn't appreciated when you get your photos back, years later they are awesome!I stopped buying the school photo package around the time DS was in 3rd or 4th grade because I realized I never used the photos but my absolute favorite is the photo where a wellmeaning parent, who obviously has never dealt with curly hair, decided his needed to be brushed before the photo. He had pretty long, curly surfer dude hair that year and it looked worse than you can imagine. breetheflea we had the composite page included the first couple of years only and never a class group photo. At one of their schools we used to get a group photo on the playstructure every spring. I'm not sure who organized it, but it was probably the PTSA as they were used in the Yearbook and a copy of the photo was sent home with every kid (we didn't pay for it). |
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Post by tuva42 on Sept 24, 2015 14:24:54 GMT
At our public schools we have to sign forms allowing our kids to be photographed. So if a parent doesn't sign the child would not be allowed to be in the class photo. I think that would be a nightmare for the teachers, having to tell some kids they can't be included, possibly because the parents just didn't bother to send in the form.
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
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Post by happymomma on Sept 24, 2015 14:33:20 GMT
Our DSs' schools have never taken class photos. Jenje, our school has always required payment first before the photos are seen. The photos are always horrific!While this isn't appreciated when you get your photos back, years later they are awesome! Absolutely! I have a school photo of my ex-husband taken in the early 70's I'd guess. There is a FLY perched atop his little blonde crew cut. Priceless. |
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Post by giatocj on Sept 24, 2015 14:35:04 GMT
We always have to pre-pay for pictures that are awful, but I buy them every year anyway. Picture day is today and tomorrow for us, and my grandson's school is the ONLY school that couldn't pay on-line. I just LOVE giving a scatterbrained 15 year old an envelope with a check  . I love that boy with every beat of my heart, but right now his head is a big, giant empty shell sitting on his shoulders...LOL! Anyway, about the class picture. We got them every year through 8th grade, but now that he's in high school they don't do them every year. Only the senior class gets one and they actually have "senior class picture day" and are given a list of acceptable things to wear for it. I, personally, love this. |
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Post by mrsscrapdiva on Sept 24, 2015 14:47:52 GMT
We usually only get the composite at a later date after they have the retake photos.
But I realized after a few years at being at school, that the yearbook they do is not only for the 4th and 5th graders (I don't know why I thought that). The year book has a composite type photo for each class. Do you have a school yearbook?
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Post by giatocj on Sept 24, 2015 14:51:46 GMT
Our class photos looked like this... I'm in the top row wearing a red sweater that I hated. My elementary was Lincoln, too!! And our class photos looked just like that. What a great memory! |
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. I love that boy with every beat of my heart, but right now his head is a big, giant empty shell sitting on his shoulders...LOL! 
