OT-Holiday Presents for school staff?

[2poohbears]

I found some small pedicure sets at WalMart by Ms. Pedicure---they are travel size and under $3 a set. I'm getting those, along with a bottle of Petites fingernail pollish, for each of the assistants in my boys' daycare. I found some cute little mesh bags at the dollar store to wrap them in, too.

I'm giving their teacher a gift card in addition to that...just haven't decided which restaurant yet...

 

[drag n' fly]

Every year we give Starbucks gift cards to teachers, dog groomer etc. The teachers told me they really appreciated it because they get so much chocolate they end up giving it away.

 

[Karalynn]

Between my ds and dd, we have about 17 people to buy for!! My dd has 1 teacher and 2 para's, 4 therapists, bus driver and monitor, ds has teacher, student teacher, para, reading teacher, 2 resource teachers, 2 therapists.... What I usually do is buy a few bags of lindor truffles and wrap like 5 in a small candy bag, decorate with pretty ribbon and give them to the support staff, and get a little something extra for their teachers. Its easy, but I worry that they will say, "oh these again!" So, I was looking thru the Lang catalog the other day, and they have these cute note pads that are $3 each. I think I may get those. Except for Charlie the bus driver, He'll probably get goodies!

It is getting a little out of hand, I may think on this a bit, I liked the idea of making a donation to a worthy cause in the name of the school. This is a good way to show the kids the true meaning of the holiday season! Charlie the bus driver willl still probably get goodies!

 

[texasthree]

I only give the teacher a gift. A gift card to barnes and noble. She can buy herself a book, the room a book or starbucks. She can choose.

 

[sskem96]

I usually get the teachers a pretty notepad, like the magnetic ones you can find at Michaels or about anywhere for about $1. Maybe I'm cheap, but I figure it's something they can actually use since they're always sending little notes home or jotting things down to remember for later, and when it's gone, they're not stuck with something they have to figure out what to do with. Last year I found a nice Boyds Bear teacher notepad with matching magnet in the hospital gift shop.

 

[PaulaSue]

I am doing for the 2 women in the front office.

 

[AMaloy314]

I can't take credit for this idea, but I love it anyway.

Someone said that they are taking their childs class picture and making a color copy of it. They then cut out each child's face and make a bubble magnet. They put the magnets around a metal frame and gave it to the teacher. I thought this was a great idea. He/she could use the magnets in the classroom or at home.

Teachers, what do you think of this one?

 

[LuvOrlando]

For Christmas I usually give $5 gift certificates to the local sandwich shop to the teachers & principal and desk type stuff to the 2 ladies in the office who are often forgotten. The bus driver gets a box of chocolates, a Duncan Donuts coffee & a doughnut. As for the staff(Art, Music, Gym teachers ect.), once winter vacation is over I always put together a dollar store bought basket filled with hot chocolate, teas & coffee singles with a note that its from our family in thanks for them taking care of my children all year. On teacher inservice days & parent teacher nights I send the kids in with a Muffin from the bakery or a small gift certificate for a bite to eat, or even $2 for a school lunch.

 

[daisyduck123]

Someone said that they are taking their childs class picture and making a color copy of it. They then cut out each child's face and make a bubble magnet. They put the magnets around a metal frame and gave it to the teacher. I thought this was a great idea. He/she could use the magnets in the classroom or at home.

Teachers, what do you think of this one?

Hi! Teacher here.....while it does sound REALLY cute....it would just be more STUFF for me to find a place for. I would much rather have a gift card (even just a $5.00 one). I've been teaching for $16.00 years & just have so much stuff.

Of course, there will be other teachers on here, especially newer ones, who will love this idea I'm sure.

 

[maddi]

What do you do for the support staff at your childs school? I know about giving gifts to teachers and assistants, but what about principals, assistant principals, office assistants, resource teachers, etc?

Just curious what others here do. Last year I was in the hospital before Christmas and didn't have to worry about it, my little guy only gave a present to his teacher.

Thanks for any input!

We buy gift certificates from the local teaching supply store for the teachers and aids. And also as a present we purchase different styles of games for the classroom. It seems as tho the teacher enjoys both. One for her as a person and several for her to open for those rainy/cold days when the children have inside recess.

 

[lntsmom]

with about half that time as a classroom teacher and half the time in other teaching roles. Here is my take on this.

I would never ask families to not send gifts. It just seems wrong to anticipate a gift and reject it prior to it being offered.

I don't have much use for mugs, bowls, magnets, etc. Like other teachers here, my family has asthma and allergy issues. The lovely spendy candles and hand gels get given away when my church asks for donations for holiday baskets.

I do have an assortment of ornaments I've been given over the years. However, most now stay at school and go up on our classroom tree. We decorate it with schoolwork and the gift ornaments.

As to homemade food...well, that will depend entirely on who it came from. If it's a family I know well and have known for years, it will go home with me. The rest, yes, is headed for the trash can.

I have really appreciated the handmade items. I recieved a personalized apron one year. Another year a mom knitted/tied handmade dusting mitts. However, there have been more misses than hits in this category.

Another idea is to give items for the classroom. Board games for inside recess days are one good idea. A subscription to Disney Adventures for the classroom is another. Or, a subscription to any other kid appropriate magazine. One aside, check with the school before giving playground equipment, though. The school around here now have lists of approved games and many familiar toys wouldn't be allowed.

My thought is, ask your PTA to collect teacher information and distribute it upon request. One of my son's schools sends this list...for all the teachers the child has contact with...to all parents who volunteer to help or send materials for parties. For instance, one teacher said she likes diet coke and pretzels. That would be an easy enough gift bag to toss together...along with a note of appreciation.

If you don't have that available, you might consider only gifting the classroom teacher at Christmas and sending something like a storebought cookie platter or a couple of cases of soda to be placed in the lounge during teacher appreciation week. That way it could be shared by all the teachers.

As to the office, I'm not sure they're in quite the same position as teachers. I think it's more rare for them to be remembered. A $5 gift card to a local grocery store that does video rentals along with a note of thanks saying that movie night's on you would be very nice. The truth is, if they want to use it for that, fine, if not, they can put it towards groceries, etc.

Mind you, these are just my ideas. But, I would say one thing, teacher's often hear from parents only when there is a problem...so most teachers would value a heartfelt note of appreciation. Make it specific, "Thank you so much for helping Paul learn the months of the year. We have enjoyed doing the "month-erana" with him!"

If you want to go over the top...write a letter to the board telling them about the wonderful things the faculty and staff have done for your child this year. I've never heard of a parent going to the board to praise a staff...it just might be a first, lol! Buy some dollar frames and give everyone you want to acknowledge a framed copy...I guarantee they'd love it!

Beth

 

[camdensmom]

This is a good way to show the kids the true meaning of the holiday season! QUOTE]

What a wonderful idea! You can cover lots of people at once and the money won't be wasted and it will teach your children through great role modeling!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Mind you, these are just my ideas. But, I would say one thing, teacher's often hear from parents only when there is a problem...so most teachers would value a heartfelt note of appreciation. Make it specific, "Thank you so much for helping Paul learn the months of the year. We have enjoyed doing the "month-erana" with him!"

If you want to go over the top...write a letter to the board telling them about the wonderful things the faculty and staff have done for your child this year. I've never heard of a parent going to the board to praise a staff...it just might be a first, lol! Buy some dollar frames and give everyone you want to acknowledge a framed copy...I guarantee they'd love it!

Beth

Because I want my childrens educators to hear me if there is a problem I go out of my way to speak up with praise. I've written glowing notes to the Principal when something extraordinary happens and given the teachers a copy. EX, when my kids get out of school early for a flu shot or Dr appt they have me race home so they can finish out the day Seriously, how many kids do that? Not me when I was a kid to be sure. But, to be honest, it never occurred to me to send a CC to the school board too. Next time I write a letter I will make sure to do this. I bet this is the best gift I could give.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

And teaching children about the joy of giving! Sorry to all the teachers who are then forced to write thank-you notes for gifts they don't like.

 

[daisyduck123]

And teaching children about the joy of giving! Sorry to all the teachers who are then forced to write thank-you notes for gifts they don't like.

I may be wrong, but I haven't seen even one teacher on this thread (or other similar ones) complain about "having" to write thank-you notes.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

I always give the teachers a $5.00 GC to Walmart with a pack of stickers (I know they need stickers. Our PTO had the teachers fill out a wishlist at the beginning of the year so they (the PTO) or parents could supply the teachers items if they want to - and at any time of the year, not just Christmas.

 

[HGD24]

Sorry to butt in here...as the daughter of someone who started out as a janitor and worked his way up to the Director of Maintenance for the school system I attended, I couldn't help but notice that the people who seem to include everyone (teacher, office & cafeteria staff and bus drivers) in their gift giving, didn't list the maintenance staff. They are so underappreciated. Something as simple as a pound of coffee, some homemade cookies or even just a card saying "thank you for all that you do" would be so nice for them to receive. I'm just saying that if you're going to give to everyone else that comes into contact with your child(ren), please try to remember the maintenance staff as well, they do a lot for the school and your children.

I just had to share my .02...

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I'm glad you mentioned them...we'll be doing something for them as well. Plus the school nurse (who DS has had to visit a few times already, and he's only in second grade!) and the guidance counselor.

Last year we gave holiday picture frames to the teachers and assistants and made bread (cranberry and banana) for supporting staff. After reading this thread, though, I may rethink the bread and come up with something else.

At the end of the school year last year, I bought cooler bags (the kids that you can wear as a backpack) and filled them with water bottles, the single-serving flavor packets you can add to water, a freezie, and a hand-held fan for the office staff, specials teachers, and a few others. They went over really well with everyone!

For the classroom teacher at the end of the year, I had each child drew a picture on a fabric square and then I sewed them into a quilt. For the assistants I traced the kids' hands onto squares, and I made a smaller (lap-size) quilt for each of them. The teacher and assistants absolutely loved them, since each child put so much into it.

 

[suffolkprincess]

I'm just putting in another vote for the B&N/ Starbucks cards. Another good one might be a Chik Fil A calendar paired with a gift card for there. (Chik Fil A is very popular in SE VA where I live.)

I did all Starbucks cards last year (ballet school and preschool teachers) and everyone seemed to really like them. The one exception was the TA at ballet school, because DD3(then) spotted a toe ring on the counter at the Hallmark store that Miss Autumn just really needed. I have been gratified to spot it on her toes on several occassions since when we have run into her out and about in her flipflops, so I guess DD has good taste in gifts...

I get gifts from employees quite a bit (I work in staffing) and I LOVE small increment gift cards-- think about it-- put together 4 $5 cards to Starbucks and you can take two girlfriends out for coffee and split a big cslice of cake! And that *is* a nice gift. Or, you can just have a special coffee every Friday for a month. Either thing is a nice treat.

I was super surprised about the tossing of the homemade goodies because I always give them with my gift cards. Yikes!

 

[vhoffman]

I give everyone a present every year--its called our school taxes!!!!

Come on--with 2 kids, times 8 teachers times 3 administrators times 6 office ladies = 2 x 17 = 34 gifts! Also, lets not forget the bus drivers, lunch room ladies, custodians, etc.

Now I read on this board that teachers don't even want/appreciate those gifts, we're somehow butting into their personal lives with our presents!

I always give a nice gift for each kid's homeroom teacher, that's it. If I start trying to give gifts to everyone on the payroll I'd spend my payroll and I'd run the risk of forgetting someone and offending them. Its truly better my way--no one expects anything from us and that's what they get!