Help me come up with a menu for teacher appreciation...

[Vacation Lover]

We do a luncheon or snacks each month for the entire staff of our school (125 people). This month we're thinking about doing a Super Bowl party/theme. We might be able to get wings donated or at cost. The rest we'll need to purchase or have the committee help prepare. What are some easy/inexpensive items we can serve? Thanks!

 

[lovehoney]

We are doing a baked potato bar for our January teacher luncheon. We have different parents bringing 10 baked potatoes each and then other parents bringing toppings (cheese, butter, yogurt, salsa, chives, chili, etc.)

 

[skw444]

I'm in charge of our teacher appreciation luncheon too this month and our is a Super Bowl theme as well. We have 2 classes that provide lunches every month and we have a list of set things to bring for the lunch. I'm grabbing our list tomorrow, so I can give you an idea of what we're bringing if you're interested?

 

[ceecee]

We have always done a carry in for the teacher's. Fruit salad is always a hit, as well as other types of salads.

 

[loveabargin]

Pasta Salad- goes a LONG ways (I make mine with any type of pasta, various veggies in season such as tomatoes, cucks, green and red peppers, etc., a bottle of Italian dressing, sometimes I add cheese)

Nacho Bar- provide nachos and hot cheese (in a crock pot), then have things like peppers, sour cream, taco meat, lettuce, tomatoes, etc to add

Chicken Tenders or pieces- I've bought a 50 pc box many times from our local Wal-Mart SuperCenter, I think it's only like $30, but goes a ways and it's cheaper than any fast food place I know of

 

[kjs1976]

Several pizza places in town do really good discounts for teachers, students, and school-related events. We have a teacher who goes around town and asks when we have teacher luncheons or events for NJHS or student council. I know Dominos, Godfather's, and Papa Murphy's give killer deals since we buy so much at a time. They often throw in pop or other discount cards for return visits. It doesn't hurt to ask these establishments or even ask at your local grocer. We have two local grocers who donate up to $50 a month in gift cards for school-related events. It doesn't sound like much but it always takes care of the paper products and sometimes if we're buying other things from that store they will take 10-20% off of our total bill.

 

[MM27]

Wow, I want to work in a school where parents do that for the teachers. I hope the teachers appreciate what you do for them.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We also do a carry in. Some years we have done breakfast and had a local bakery cater, we've done the pizza thing with salad also, and we've also had a local deli bring in sandwich and salad platters. We have a school of 800 students, but don't have great parent involvement, so the PAC or PTA has always had it brought in that we we are not relying on someone who does not come through.

 

[momadis66]

Another idea we used is to do "Taco Bar" We did various types of tacos..soft, hard, tostadas and even tortilla chips. You can do beef and chicken tacos and there are plenty of toppings that go with it all. We also did corn, and some refried beans. Good Luck with whatever you do..I am a teacher and trust me..whatever you do will be greatly appreciated by your school staff

 

[Vacation Lover]

Thank you for all of the great ideas! I will definitely be using them at some point this semester! In case anyone else is in the same position, here's what we're tentatively thinking for the rest of the year. We have about $2,000 left to spend, and we provide lunch for the entire staff, not just the teachers. It's about 125 people. We generally pay for the main course (hopefully at a discount) and request donations from our committee for sides like salad or dessert.

January...Super Bowl appetizers
February...Continental breakfast on their teacher workday
March...Chili & potato bar or taco bar
April...Pizza & salad
May...Krispy Kreme Donuts (can get a great deal using their fundraiser donuts)
June...Catered luncheon on the last day of school

 

[nena]

Before Christmas break our PTC had a luncheon for us. They had sandwhiches, turkey wraps, chips, water and cookies. All of them from Costco. It was alot cheaper than ordering from Subway!!
In April the PTC catered from Olive Garden. They had plenty of salad, lasagna and breadsticks. For dessert they had brownies. Each teacher also got a 10 minute massage!!
The staff does a volunteer appreciation BBQ at the end of the school year. Each teacher nominates 3 parents that have volunteered someway in their class. The school provides a token of appreciation as well as a certificate.

 

[tweedlemom]

Why not have a "Souper Bowl" party and have four or five crock pots of different soups simmering in the teachers room?

 

[Parkhopper]

We are doing a baked potato bar for our January teacher luncheon. We have different parents bringing 10 baked potatoes each and then other parents bringing toppings (cheese, butter, yogurt, salsa, chives, chili, etc.)

I LOVE the idea of a baked potato bar. Do you think if they were baked in advance that they could be kept warm in a crockpot?

Suzi

 

[disneyfor3]

This is my first year chairing the Hospitality Committee for our elementary school's PTA. The first Monday of each month we have a different grade host either a breakfast or lunch for the teachers. For breakfasts some people have brought hot entrees, bagels, muffins, juices, waters, fruit salad.

For the teacher conference week lunch last month another mother and I made vegetarian chili, taco salad, bean dip, tostitos as well as sodas and water.

For the lunch I am planning this coming Monday hosted by the third grade I have parents bringing homemade soups in crockpots, cornbread muffins, fruit salad, as well as chips and drinks.

The principal makes an announcement thanking the grade for their hospitality over the PA. I'm really enjoying being in charge of this committee this year.

 

[Allabtprincesses]

neat ideas...subscribing!

 

[lovehoney]

I LOVE the idea of a baked potato bar. Do you think if they were baked in advance that they could be kept warm in a crockpot?

Suzi

We were just going to bake them the morning of and bring them in covered in foil, but I think your idea is excellent. I'm going to suggest it. I'm sure it will work. I guess the limiting factor is how many potatoe we can fit in the crock pot.

 

[toddlerhouse]

If anyone had a one of those portable roaster ovens you should be able to get alot of potatoes in that to keep warm and you could adjust the temperature.

 

[swilshire]

Pasta Salad- goes a LONG ways (I make mine with any type of pasta, various veggies in season such as tomatoes, cucks, green and red peppers, etc., a bottle of Italian dressing, sometimes I add cheese)

This is also good with rice instead of pasta.

Sheila

 

[Vacation Lover]

Thanks for all of these great replies. We finished up the details for our super bowl themed party...

Going to serve:
Wings (purchased from a local restaurant--400 wings + celery & dressing for $150!)
Celery & dressing
Meatballs
Ham & Cheese spirals
chips & homemade salsa
Cookies (donated by the restaurant)

We worded our invitation:

You’re invited to a Tailgate Party!

It’s a Super Bowl of an event
So put your game face on
And sprint to the cafeteria.
You’ll score some
game winning appetizers!

We'll be serving everything on football shaped platters, with football decorations on the tables. The serving table will have a green plastic tablecloth and we'll use white streamers to mark it like a football field

My other great news......
The restaurant that we're getting the wings from is going to DONATE 125 $10 gift certificates for us to give the staff as an end of the year gift! We'll be using them to cater a light luncheon in April and the end of the year luncheon in June.