Another School Procedure Question

[CamColt]

Since DS started Kindergarten this year, Ive had a bunch of these questions. Im such an amature.
Does your kids class do a joint gift for the teacher? And if they do, when do they let the parents in on this? I have had DS's teachers gifts for well over a month now and today I got a call from the room mother asking me to contribute to a gift. Is this the norm, or do they usually give more notice. Actually I think the joint gift is a great idea, however I would think, 11 days in advance, most people would already have a gift bought.
Am I just a crazy, over anxious shopper, or do you think asking now for a gift to be given on the 20th is short notice.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

the class mother called me yesterday to ask for money towards the teacher gift. usually the class mother sendsa a notice home the week after Thanksgiving.

 

[aahmom1]

We usually just buy our own gifts for the teachers.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If you didn't buy a gift already, then this is a blessing! Just chip in. The teacher usually gets a far nicer gift this way.

Generally, folks give teachers gifts like candy or coffee mugs or picture frames. How much of this kind of stuff do they really want? Especially if they're getting it year after year?

Hopefully, the class mother is planning to pool the money and give the teacher cash or a gift certificate. Put yourself in the teacher's place. Wouldn't you prefer a chunk of change over a bunch of small gifts?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would think that most folks would chip in for the gift for the teacher and also give a seperate gift for your kid to give to the teacher.
DD would not understand her not giving the teacher a gift.

That being said our room mom has not offered to do anything for us so we are on our own this year.

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by JerseyJanice
If you didn't buy a gift already, then this is a blessing! Just chip in. The teacher usually gets a far nicer gift this way.

Generally, folks give teachers gifts like candy or coffee mugs or picture frames. How much of this kind of stuff do they really want? Especially if they're getting it year after year?

Hopefully, the class mother is planning to pool the money and give the teacher cash or a gift certificate. Put yourself in the teacher's place. Wouldn't you prefer a chunk of change over a bunch of small gifts?

I totally agree JJ,I would definitely prefer a nice gift like that over a bunch of junky stuff. And if I hadnt gotten a gift already I would think it was great...definitely a blessing. However I finished all my shopping yesterday and the teachers were the first gifts I bought quite some time ago.

I will still chip in and give the original gift too("12 Cocoas of Christmas"), but I just think this is sort of last minute for them to be asking. I know if I hadnt bought a gift and waited in hopes of this happening, it never would have.
And I know this teacher doesnt have a collection of stuff because she is fresh out of college and returning in January for her masters. She is just filling in while the real teacher is on maternity leave.

 

[RitaZ.]

In my experience, it's really up to the Room Parent if it will be a collective gift. I have received notes and calls in the past about 3 days before the holidays!

It would be nice to get a note right after Thanksgiving, but I understand that people lead busy lives especially at this time of year. It's not mandatory that you contribute if you have already purchased the teachers' gifts. Even when parents can't contribute (for whatever reason), the teacher just knows that the gift is from the entire class (she doesn't know who contributed and who didn't).

So far I haven't heard anything from any of the Room Parents, so I'm getting the teachers their gifts.

 

[EROS]

We purchase gifts separately ..........

 

[Cindy B]

I was a room parent last year, and we (the other room leader) decided that Christmas was opytional.

(We had a few other faiths/cultures, so we opted out of that)

But we did collect for year end though

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I always buy my kids (elementary school) teachers gift certificates to a teacher supply store. They always need the extra at that level because they never have enough $$. You can buy it for whatever holiday. DD#2's teacher sent home a letter about gifts, suggesting "class gifts" they can open together like stickers, etc. but I'd already bought the gift cert. They always get too much stuff like mugs, etc. Next year DD#1 will have 8 or 9 teachers in middle school, so if they get anything they might get some of my secret recipe fudge.
Robin M.