Gifts to school staff who do you give?

[love2disney]

DO you give only to your child's class teacher or to every1 like Art music etc and the school nurse? How about the principal?

What is usually the gift value?

 

[lemondog]

My DDs attend a parochial Catholic school. Room moms collect $$ to give a group gift to the classroom teacher, although you are welcome to just give your own gift if you'd rather do that.

The school collects $$ at the reception desk to be distributed among the "specials" teachers -- Spanish, computer, library, music, art, etc.

Our principal is a nun, so really she doesn't "accept" gifts although I would imagine she could take baked goods back to the convent to share with the other Sisters.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I am a music teacher. I would say that most people do not give to the special teachers. I allow my own children to give to their classroom teachers and any of the special teachers that they really love. It gets to be too much trying to give to all the teachers.

 

[Cinderella94]

When I was in elementary school (I'm a junior in HS) I only participated in the collection going toward the classroom teacher. If the room mom was not doing a collection, I just gave the teacher a gift card on my own. I never got anything for the music, art, etc teachers. However, now that I'm in HS, I give $5.00 gift cards to all 8 teachers.

 

[aprilgail2]

We give just to her teacher- a 25.00 gift card someplace (this year itsa movie gift card). I USED to give the office staff and principal a platter of chocolate (not home made- it was store bought)...but this year the schol board pass this healthy school crap for the kids (staff doesn't have to follow suit) but as far as I am concerned if the kids can't have it I am not giving it to the staff- so they get nothing this year. For BOE recognition week all the schools used to get together and put out a big spread of foods and desserts for them-well this year since they are so concerned about everyone being healthy they got a big party with granola bars, water and veggies---we took the dip out since that was not healthy!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I give gifts to my boys' classroom teachers. For my older son's specialized school, I include classroom aides who work directly with him. I don't think it's necessary to give a gift to the principal unless he/she has really gone above and beyond for your child in some way.

 

[love2disney]

So none for the school nurse or lunch lady too?

 

[Nancy]

I only gave to their main classroom teacher and that stopped after 5th grade. Usually it was just a small gift..no more than 10.00 in value

as for the nurse or lunch lady they probably wouldn't even have known my kids names so why give them a gift?

 

[SereneOne]

I bought gifts for her teacher, teacher's aide and the school nurse. The school nurse tubefeeds my daughter everyday and keeps an eye on her as far as her health issues. We did not have a lot of money for gifts this year, so we purchased snowman cookie jars and I assisted my daughter in making cookies--chocolate chip, sugar cookie, oatmeal raisin and put them in a separate container. My daughter was very excited to give her gifts to her teachers and the school nurse. She even said, "Ho, ho, ho" as she handed them out.

 

[aprilgail2]

So none for the school nurse or lunch lady too?

I never give to the school nurse and the lunch lady I want to punch in the face so I certainly don't give anything to her!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I give to the classroom teacher, LD teacher, Speech teacher and the bus driver.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

My DD's are in 4th and 2nd grade. We only buy for their classroom teacher and that is usually under $10. If there is an aide or student teacher, we will also buy for them. My oldest does have an aide in her class and she always sits with my DD and her friend at snacktme and shares her crackers with them. So aside from the little gift i usually give,my dd asked if we could get her a box of crackers too.

 

[golfgal]

When the kids were in elementary school we gave to their teachers and classroom aides and that was it. We didn't do anything in middle or high school.

 

[2cats1kid]

When mine was in junior school (that's up to 11 years here) I gave to the two class teachers for the year (as they both had DD for some things), her head teacher, and her violin and piano teachers.

She is now in seniors (11+) and this year I gave to her class teacher, violin, piano and saxophone teachers (she has taken sax up since going into seniors) and also the bus driver as he has been known to wait while I dash home for forgotten homework/violin so I want to keep him sweet! Value is about £10 ($15-16).

 

[N&B'smom]

I contribute to the class gift for the teacher and aides. I also give something personal to the main teachers for both of the kids and anyone they REALLY enjoy having as their teacher.

For my DD6 I'm giving to her main teacher, music teacher and one of the school aides/secretaries.

For my DS10 I'm giving something to his home room teacher, his favorite teacher and the man that does the band and gives him private lessons.

 

[lewdyan1]

My DS is in high school and I filled a Christmas tin with all kinds of treats and left it in the teachers lounge. My DD is in middle school and she chose a couple of teachers to give gifts. I will also make a treat tin for her school staff.

WhenI was a teacher, my favorite gift was a mom who would take an order for lunch from a local restaurant and bring in lunch!

 

[CBCJ1979]

We give presents to their main teacher ( I have a 4th grader and Kindergartner). My daughter is giving a present then also to the following: Music teacher, art teacher, librarian, gym teacher, computer teacher, guidance counselor, gifted education teacher, orchestra instructor, band director and school nurse. My son in addition to his teacher is giving to the following: Music teacher, art teacher, librarian, gym teacher and speech teacher. Jointly they are giving a gift to the Principal, Asst Principal and their favorite teacher’s aide. Now that is a lot of people and I don’t have a money tree in my back yard, so each teacher got a bath and body works hand santizer, a homemade glass ornament (we took paint and swirled designs inside a glass ornament and then glued the top on and tied pretty ribbon through the hook) and put both inside a pretty Christmas box. They started handing them out yesterday and they love the hugs and thank you’s that they receive from the teachers, it makes them feel good and the teachers appreciate the thought.

 

[H&Hmommy]

My son, 4th grade, will be giving to his classroom, art, gym, music teachers. I'm his computer teacher and I will just take a hug! lol. He will also give a small gift to both secretaries, the principal and school nurse.

 

[minkydog]

So none for the school nurse or lunch lady too?

When I was the school nurse in a big middle school I had a few kids bring in something at Christmas. Mostly they were the kids I saw everyday for diabetes, asthma and ADHD management. One of special needs students came from a very poor family. She was the sweetest thing and she always had her grandmother help her make me a plate of Christmas cookies and a handmade card.

My son is in a self-contained special ed classroom (severe/profound intellectually disabled.) He has two teachers and two parapros, plus various speech and physical therapists. The teachers and paras work intensively with Christian every day--I wish I could give them what they're worth. We don't have a lot of extra money this year, so I am giving them my recipe for New Orleans Bread Pudding with my special handmade bread crumbs, homemade vanilla flavoring, an apple and raisins. I found some pretty little Christmas cactus at Publix, 5 for $10. I'm giving them to the bus drivers and the therapists.

 

[Bearvet]

I'm an elementary school librarian so just my 2 cents. I'm thrilled beyond belief when someone takes the time to think of me during the holidays. Even if you take a bag of Hershey's Hugs or Kisses, put 5-6 in a festive bag and tie with ribbon - you could do this for all the specials and not spend much money. It doesn't take much - just to let them know you appreciate them!