End of school year - gifts

[mbarone54]

I need to pick some brains with 2 questions.

I'm the Co-Room mother in my DD's Kindergarten class. We collected roughly $70 from the parents to use for parties throughout the year, and we actually have most of it left over. We're trying to think of something we can get each of the kids to celebrate the end of Kindergarten. They do not do a graduation, so there is no official "celebration". I'm not a big fan of the t-shirt that everyone signs, so I'm hoping to come up with something else, but similar. They decorated a tote bag for K. Orientation, so that's out too.

My other dilemma is what to do for the teacher for the end of the year. We want to give her some class gift and need some ideas. If we don't get the kids anything, we'll give her the money in the form of some gift cards, but we're open to other ideas. We're thinking of making a book where each student contributes a page that reads "My favorite thing about Kindergarten was..." or "I really like Mrs. X because...", you get the idea. What else have you seen/done?

Thanks for any ideas!
~Michele

 

[MomofKatie]

Donate a few really nice, hardbound books for the classroom. Put bookplates in the front covers that say "to Ms Teacher from your 2019-2010 class".

 

[tommya60]

Love the donated books idea, if you have a Scholastic Warehouse near you (goggle it) they sell those oversize books the K teachers use. They have open to the public (volunteer) sales a few times a year. The teachers I know really love the personal notes to the teachers from individual students. Have each student make a page indicate the size (I would do 12 x 12) and the due date (a few days before you actually need it, and not on a Friday). Then collect all the pages and put them in a scrapbook, or hole punch them and use binder rings or ribbons to hold it all together.
For the kids, I would do the t-shirts. I know you don't like them, but it's a great memory of how they signed their name in kindergarten. Or get some extra 12 x 12 sheets, put a class picture in the middle and have each student sign them...you would want one per student.

 

[hesedshi]

I agree you make a book where each student contributes a page that reads "My favorite thing about Kindergarten is... I think this is a good idea.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...We're thinking of making a book where each student contributes a page that reads "My favorite thing about Kindergarten was..." or "I really like Mrs. X because...", you get the idea....

The K teachers I know would love that!!

Or the books for the classroom are always a great idea too!

I know what you mean about the T-shirts, because they grow out of them so quickly. But what about the stuffed animals that you can sign instead? They'd last longer, and I think I've seen one in Oriental Trading or somewhere that was a dog with a graduation cap.

 

[mjkacmom]

At our school, class moms pay for parties, and collect $10 for Christmas and end of school gifts - gift cards. In kindergarten, the class moms asked parents to donate enough dollar store summer stuff (buckets, bubbles, floaties, etc.) for each kid, and made up summer bags for the kids (we also have kindy graduation - very simple and cute - they make their own cap and gowns out of brown paper bags).

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

I LOVE the T shirts that my daughters class signed in kindergarten. (it was not with a sharpie It was one where you get the signatures from all the kids and they print the shirts with all the kids signatures) when I ordered hers I ordered her kindergarten size and an adult size she is in Jr High now and wore it the other day and all the kids loved looking at their cute little kindergarten signatures

 

[mjkacmom]

The K teachers I know would love that!!

Or the books for the classroom are always a great idea too!

I know what you mean about the T-shirts, because they grow out of them so quickly. But what about the stuffed animals that you can sign instead? They'd last longer, and I think I've seen one in Oriental Trading or somewhere that was a dog with a graduation cap.

Our school always does the signed tshirts, and dd13 still wears hers! Actually, only ds11 grew out of his. I kid you not, they are worn at least once a week, mostly as a jammie shirt. There is no way I'd ever throw one out. Ours are done professionally, with each kid signing his or her name, and a copy put on each shirt.