Cmas gifts - bus driver, dance teacher, etc. - The DIS Discussion Forums

bas71873 · 11-20-2009, 02:06 PM

This is the first year I am having to do this, so what is appropriate for gift giving for the following?

Bus driver - he's an older gentleman, I'd say 60's. I was thinking a gift card ($10/$15) to Cracker Barrel or Panera Bread Co. and a small tin of some homemade cookies

3 dance teachers - same as above but maybe the gift card to either Target or the movies. It's 3 female teachers, all single gals.

Book Buddy - this is a high school girl that tutors my DD 2x/week in reading through the school (so it's a free service, I don't pay her already). I was thinking same as for the dance teachers?

Thoughts? Am I on the right track?

The Mystery Machine · 11-20-2009, 02:35 PM

Bus driver...gift card to a gas station. Do you guys have a QT there? We give those out a lot. Everybody goes to the gas station at some point.

Darsa · 11-20-2009, 02:52 PM

I have a hard time with my DD's dance teacher; she's taught by a VERY nice man in his mid 50's. I have NO idea, every year, what I should do for him. Usually ends up a gift card to Dunkin Donuts since I'm told that he's never without a coffee

bas71873 · 11-20-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mystery Machine

Bus driver...gift card to a gas station. Do you guys have a QT there? We give those out a lot. Everybody goes to the gas station at some point.

The county pays their gas, so he's not using his own $$

. No clue what a QT is

. Care to share? Now I'm curious!

bas71873 · 11-20-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darsa

I have a hard time with my DD's dance teacher; she's taught by a VERY nice man in his mid 50's. I have NO idea, every year, what I should do for him. Usually ends up a gift card to Dunkin Donuts since I'm told that he's never without a coffee

I only WISH we had a DD or a Krispy Kreme. I miss MY donut fix

.

C.Ann · 11-20-2009, 04:38 PM

Something handmade by your DD.. It will mean a lot more to them and the gift is actually on her behalf..

Check out Oriental Trading for inexpensive craft ideas she could do..

dumboiu · 11-20-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Ann

Something handmade by your DD.. It will mean a lot more to them and the gift is actually on her behalf..

Check out Oriental Trading for inexpensive craft ideas she could do..

I have to disagree. I think a gift card to Starbucks, Barnes and Noble or a restaurant would be more useful. Maybe a nice handmade card to go with it though!

pearlieq · 11-20-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumboiu

I have to disagree. I think a gift card to Starbucks, Barnes and Noble or a restaurant would be more useful. Maybe a nice handmade card to go with it though!

Agreed. Sorry to be unsentimental, but if I had the choice between a gift card and a foam reindeer craft, I know what I'd pick!

It's not that I wouldn't appreciate the child's effort, but I'd much prefer to be able to get a little treat for myself than to get one more thing to clutter up the house.

C.Ann · 11-20-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumboiu

I have to disagree. I think a gift card to Starbucks, Barnes and Noble or a restaurant would be more useful. Maybe a nice handmade card to go with it though!

What some might consider useful, maybe - but I once worked as a school bus driver - as well as in a school cafeteria - and the handmade gifts were appreciated much more..

The Mystery Machine · 11-20-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bas71873

The county pays their gas, so he's not using his own $$

. No clue what a QT is

. Care to share? Now I'm curious!

It is a large gas station chain, QuikTrip or QT.

I am not saying you pay for the gas for the bus, but you get him a gas gift card for himself.

Do you a gas station chain that everybody goes into? We give those out alot for Christmas gifts.

aprilgail2 · 11-20-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumboiu

I have to disagree. I think a gift card to Starbucks, Barnes and Noble or a restaurant would be more useful. Maybe a nice handmade card to go with it though!

I agree- the last thing I need is another thing that someone has made. I would also steer clear of homemade cookies, most teachers, nurses etc I know that get those from families toss them out---never know how clean other peoples kitchens are!!

wilderness01 · 11-20-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Ann

What some might consider useful, maybe - but I once worked as a school bus driver - as well as in a school cafeteria - and the handmade gifts were appreciated much more..

That's really sweet that you appreciated them, but personally I wouldn't. I have my own kids to get that from, my mom has her own grandkids, my uncle his own nieces and nephews, etc. I would never dream of having my kids make the bus driver a craft and having him keep it. I personally wouldn't know what to do with 120 homemade crafts other than to recycle them. Give the bus driver either a gift card to starbucks, some lotto tickets, a movie ticket,box of candy, carton of nice coffee, etc. It is for the bus driver to enjoy.

We have collected money as a group in our neighborhood and gotten the bus driver a bigger gift card that he very much appreciated.

maslex · 11-21-2009, 01:07 AM

Let me jump in here..LOL

I am a bus driver and every year I get a few gifts from the students. They are usually gift cards (to Dunkin Donuts or Bakers Dozen) which works for me (they're usually worth like $10. I DON'T drink coffee AT ALL, but I will go there one morning during Christmas break and get a dozen donuts for the family)

Other gifts that I have received have been.....candles, gloves (always come in handy on those cold winter days), boxes of candy, a coffee mug usually filled with coffee or cookies or candy, a gift basket full of stuff( same mom would get me these each year and it was filled with homemade banana bread, candies, a gift card and usually some type of plant or flower). But I would say my favorite gift so far was from a family last year (I had 3 siblings on my bus) they got me a Christmas ornament that was the front of a school bus and they personlized it with "Ms. Pam 2008". I almost forgot about it until I was decorating the tree yesterday and saw it.

bas71873 · 11-21-2009, 05:46 AM

Thanks for all the scoop. Have lots to consider!

RunDanceSkate · 11-21-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aprilgail2

I agree- the last thing I need is another thing that someone has made. I would also steer clear of homemade cookies, most teachers, nurses etc I know that get those from families toss them out---never know how clean other peoples kitchens are!!

Would you throw them out if you know that the person giving them was a professional pastry chef?

We are on a tight budget this year and I was going to do cookie boxes. I would be making them at home, but my kitchen is as clean as any hotel or convention centre kitchen that I have worked in.

11-20-2009, 02:06 PM	#1
bas71873 October 2010 here we come. 2 years is WAY too long to be gone :) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 1,841	Cmas gifts - bus driver, dance teacher, etc. This is the first year I am having to do this, so what is appropriate for gift giving for the following? Bus driver - he's an older gentleman, I'd say 60's. I was thinking a gift card ($10/$15) to Cracker Barrel or Panera Bread Co. and a small tin of some homemade cookies 3 dance teachers - same as above but maybe the gift card to either Target or the movies. It's 3 female teachers, all single gals. Book Buddy - this is a high school girl that tutors my DD 2x/week in reading through the school (so it's a free service, I don't pay her already). I was thinking same as for the dance teachers? Thoughts? Am I on the right track? __________________ Me36 ; DH35; DD6 POFQ; October 14 - 18, 2010 HRH Club Level; August 21 - 28, 2009 Wilderness Lodge; Girls Only Trip - Oct 3 - 6, 2008 Pop Century, First Trip to WDW for DD - Feb 2008

11-20-2009, 02:35 PM	#2
The Mystery Machine Grease can't be good Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: In Missouri somewhere Posts: 29,656	Bus driver...gift card to a gas station. Do you guys have a QT there? We give those out a lot. Everybody goes to the gas station at some point. __________________

11-20-2009, 02:52 PM	#3
Darsa Has an active imagination Can't sleep with socks on! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Maine, ayuh! Posts: 1,854	I have a hard time with my DD's dance teacher; she's taught by a VERY nice man in his mid 50's. I have NO idea, every year, what I should do for him. Usually ends up a gift card to Dunkin Donuts since I'm told that he's never without a coffee __________________ Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss For my mom!

11-20-2009, 04:38 PM	#6
C.Ann We'll remember when... No time for green bananas When the going gets tough, she gets the Palmolive!! If I knew we were going to be graded here, I might try harder Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 28,920	Something handmade by your DD.. It will mean a lot more to them and the gift is actually on her behalf.. Check out Oriental Trading for inexpensive craft ideas she could do.. __________________ C.Ann ----------------- *"Scars remind us where we've been.. They don't have to dictate where we're going.."* "Life ain't always beautiful.....but it's a beautiful ride." "We won't be sad, we'll be glad for all the life we've had and we'll remember when...."

11-21-2009, 01:07 AM	#13
maslex DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northeast Corner of CT Posts: 1,551	Let me jump in here..LOL I am a bus driver and every year I get a few gifts from the students. They are usually gift cards (to Dunkin Donuts or Bakers Dozen) which works for me (they're usually worth like $10. I DON'T drink coffee AT ALL, but I will go there one morning during Christmas break and get a dozen donuts for the family) Other gifts that I have received have been.....candles, gloves (always come in handy on those cold winter days), boxes of candy, a coffee mug usually filled with coffee or cookies or candy, a gift basket full of stuff( same mom would get me these each year and it was filled with homemade banana bread, candies, a gift card and usually some type of plant or flower). But I would say my favorite gift so far was from a family last year (I had 3 siblings on my bus) they got me a Christmas ornament that was the front of a school bus and they personlized it with "Ms. Pam 2008". I almost forgot about it until I was decorating the tree yesterday and saw it. __________________ WDW 10/93 Honeymoon---5/01 1st Family Trip---6/05 All Star Movies---7/07 Pop Century---4/08 Disney Magic Eastern Cruise---6/09 Wilderness Lodge & Coronado Springs Resort

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11-21-2009, 05:46 AM	#14
bas71873 October 2010 here we come. 2 years is WAY too long to be gone :) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 1,841	Thanks for all the scoop. Have lots to consider! __________________ Me36 ; DH35; DD6 POFQ; October 14 - 18, 2010 HRH Club Level; August 21 - 28, 2009 Wilderness Lodge; Girls Only Trip - Oct 3 - 6, 2008 Pop Century, First Trip to WDW for DD - Feb 2008

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