Anonymous wrote:well, since Valentine's Day is for St. Valentine, I could see there being a problem. Although, I would probably file it under "get over it." Halloween and Valentine's are the only holidays they're allowed to talk about, it seems.

Friendship cards, I get, but come on...

Seriously? I dare you to find the religous aspects of Valentine's day.

Anonymous wrote:They could always just call it the Hallmark Day party...

ITA. The school has apparently decided to jump on board with/create a brand new type of card-giving tradition. Thereby giving Hallmark a great new opportunity to create a market for "friendship cards" so parents don't have to sit over their kids while they hand-create 25-30 "friendship" cards.

And did the school tell parents not to buy the cards with hearts on them? It's not like a heart is a religious symbol like a cross, star or crescent, or even a tree. Most kids probably have no clue there was a saint associated with this. And it's not like the kids parents - of all faiths - are going to stop celebrating Valentines Day at home when Daddy brings home the chocolates.

Red Letter Group Card Day, as we call it in the commie filled public schools.

Definitely not an MCPS policy. Nor are Halloween parties vs Fall Festivals or whatever else they might be called. It is a school-by-school decision-up to the principal.

We're in MCPS and no name change at our school (or at least not in DC's classroom or so that I've heard otherwise.) Might just be one teacher or principal, and while it stretches my imagination, maybe there are special circumstances that validate the name change? I'm dubious but if this isn't an MCPS-wide policy then it really shouldn't influence anyone's perception of public schools - just whatever school/teacher/principal made such a silly decision.

Well, I just don't know if this is an MCPS thing or something from our acting principal. She's changing a bunch of things in an annoying way.

Although I can't imagine this really being the deciding factor in public vs private. $30K so they can have a Valentine's party? Puh - lease.

We keep going back on the private vs. public school debate in our house. I think this tips the scale to private. Come on! The kids can't have a Valentine's Day party? Do most elementary school kids even know or care that Valentine's Day comes from St. Valentine?

Let me guess......there are a group of children that won't participate (which is fine) but the school doesn't have the resources to cover the alternative party for those children and doesn't want them to miss a day of school (as parents take them out) forcing everyone else to give up Valentine's Day as a holiday and have a party to make the group happy.
Aww, somebody got their feelings hurt......let's make it all better for you since you feel bad. What about the rest of the children whose feelings are hurt because they can't celebrate Valentine's Day?
What a bunch of hooey!

They could always just call it the Hallmark Day party...

They did this at my DS's day care too. Ridiculous. I just went and bought Valentine's Day cards anyway.

well, since Valentine's Day is for St. Valentine, I could see there being a problem. Although, I would probably file it under "get over it." Halloween and Valentine's are the only holidays they're allowed to talk about, it seems.

Friendship cards, I get, but come on...

Seriously?? What is wrong with Valentine's Day? What school is this?

Political correctness gone wild.

Weird....what's up with the anti-valentine?

At our school it's now the winter party and instead of valentines, they exchange friendship cards.