Question for teachers...best gift from principal at Christmas?

[riley2008]

I've read the running feedback about giving trivial gifts to employees. I really don't wanting anyone spitting in my coffee either. I work in the public education field, so I can't give everyone the afternoon off (my preference) or really even be able to schedule a nice lunch here in the office. I supervise people that make more $$ than I do. I would like to give them something acknowledging their hardwork, especially this year.

Last year I gave $5 gift cards, which was more that the previous supervisor, who always gave something from the dollar store - Christmas pins, socks, playing cards, mugs.... (I was usually the one tossing it or giving it away before we left the office.)

I was thinking about setting out a big basket of handsoaps from Bath and Body and then writing each person a personal card thanking them for their work and then letting them choose their fragrance.

Maybe I should just skip the token gift altogether? I would really like to hear what the best gift teachers have gotten from their principals at the holidays. (That's the closest position I can compare my role to.)

 

[happygirl]

I've read the running feedback about giving trivial gifts to employees. I really don't wanting anyone spitting in my coffee either. I work in the public education field, so I can't give everyone the afternoon off (my preference) or really even be able to schedule a nice lunch here in the office. I supervise people that make more $$ than I do. I would like to give them something acknowledging their hardwork, especially this year.

Last year I gave $5 gift cards, which was more that the previous supervisor, who always gave something from the dollar store - Christmas pins, socks, playing cards, mugs.... (I was usually the one tossing it or giving it away before we left the office.)

I was thinking about setting out a big basket of handsoaps from Bath and Body and then writing each person a personal card thanking them for their work and then letting them choose their fragrance.

Maybe I should just skip the token gift altogether? I would really like to hear what the best gift teachers have gotten from their principals at the holidays. (That's the closest position I can compare my role to.)

I wouldn't do the soap thing. I think that might cause issues so and so got the one I wanted. I know this are adults but still.


How many people are you buying for

cookie bouquet
a casual week, where they can wear jeans or whatever.
Pizza lunch, Pizza hut has the ten dollar larges right now.
Ice-cream social for them

You could call the local beauty school and see if they would send a couple of students up there to do facial and massage or pedicures or manicures. They are usually pretty cheap to get people to do that sort of thing.

 

[cookingqueen123]

A ticket for them to leave early/come in late and a card.

 

[jkearson]

I'm not sure of the particulars at your school, but I know I really appreciate when my principal gives us "duty free lunch". Could you give coupons that could be redeemed, with advance notice, so that you could give teachers a break either from lunch, recess duty, etc. the kids? That wouldn't cost you anything, but I know at our school it makes us feel very appreciated.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I'm a teacher and our principal always gives each us a bottle of wine at Christmas. We get to come into his office and choose red or white. I think he likes to have us come to his office to retrieve our gift so he can wish us happy holidays and thank us for our work. This is wildly popular with the entire faculty, even the non-drinkers who are happy to have something they can legitimately re-gift/bring to a holiday dinner/party.

That said, I would be equally as happy with a $5 giftcard to Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, etc.

 

[happygirl]

I'm a teacher and our principal always gives each us a bottle of wine at Christmas. We get to come into his office and choose red or white. I think he likes to have us come to his office to retrieve our gift so he can wish us happy holidays and thank us for our work. This is wildly popular with the entire faculty, even the non-drinkers who are happy to have something they can legitimately re-gift/bring to a holiday dinner/party.

That said, I would be equally as happy with a $5 giftcard to Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, etc.

What happens if they person doens't drink? Do they just not get anything? Or do they just take it and regift lol

 

[DizneyLizzy]

What happens if they person doens't drink? Do they just not get anything? Or do they just take it and regift lol

Ha - they re-gift! I rarely drink wine so I usually end up bringing mine to a friend or family's house for dinner, so my boss is basically buying me the gift of not having to go to a liquor store during the holidays and that is MUCH appreciated! (I live in one of those states where you can't just pick up a bottle of wine at the grocery store!)

 

[riley2008]

I'm a teacher and our principal always gives each us a bottle of wine at Christmas. We get to come into his office and choose red or white. I think he likes to have us come to his office to retrieve our gift so he can wish us happy holidays and thank us for our work. This is wildly popular with the entire faculty, even the non-drinkers who are happy to have something they can legitimately re-gift/bring to a holiday dinner/party.

That said, I would be equally as happy with a $5 giftcard to Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, etc.

While I think the bottle of wine would be the most appreciated gift, we have very strict rules about having alcohol on campus - even in your car. (So, no running by the store on your lunch break to pick up beer.) Hmmm....maybe I could park a couple of blocks away, pop the trunk and have everyone "stop by" to choose their favorite! (Just kidding)

 

[riley2008]

I'm not sure of the particulars at your school, but I know I really appreciate when my principal gives us "duty free lunch". Could you give coupons that could be redeemed, with advance notice, so that you could give teachers a break either from lunch, recess duty, etc. the kids? That wouldn't cost you anything, but I know at our school it makes us feel very appreciated.

I wish there was something like this I could do. Something where I could take on their duty/job for an hour or two, but unfortunately, these are specialists and they don't have duty. I can't allow them to leave for half a day, either, unless they take leave. (I would be violating districts' policies and be hung by anyone who found out.)

 

[girli565]

Anything you give would be nice, I've never gotten a gift from my principal in the 9 years I've been working at schools (3 as a paraprofessional and 6 as a teacher).

 

[jenlynn0808]

The best gift our principal ever gave us was time.

Once she had lower el go to the gym and watch a movie, then she brought upper el down and repeated it. It allowed us an hourish to shut the rooms before the holiday break, so we didn't have to stay after and do it

One year she asked the lunch Moms if they could come in and leave 20 minutes later. So everyone had an hour for lunch rather than the usual 40 minutes.

 

[middleofamerica]

I think a basket of Bath and Body Works Soaps with little ribbons on them would be a great idea. I also like that they could pick one, if you stick to main holiday favorites, with several of each choice I don't see how you could go wrong and the cost would be very affordable. Especially if you have a $10 off $30 coupon, I know I have tons of them. I would be thrilled because it is something I would actually use! If you wanted to spice it up you could have them pick one soap and also have a bunch of those holiday pocket bacs for them to choose with it. Everyone seems to use those and it would be no more than $3.50 per person that way, still a little less than a $5 gift card but seems like it cost more. Good luck!

 

[skysmom99]

In almost 20 years of teaching, I've rarely gotten gifts from the principal. I guess I'm happy with a card and a sincere 'thank you.'

 

[tweedlemom]

Hire a masseuse to hang in the teachers lounge all day so that teachers can get a free massage during their lunch/prep. This was used as a fundraiser incentive locally and it was a HUGE hit! People made sure to fundraise x amount of money so they could get a massage at the VIP tent before the walk event started. I'm sure teachers would love it too!

 

[riley2008]

Thank you for all the input. It does really seem the best gift would be the gift of more personal time...(sigh)

I'm thinking I'll start writing cards now, really telling them how much and why I really appreciate each and every one of them and all the work they do.

Maybe, I'll figure out a way to bring in a lunch or breakfast....

 

[disykat]

I have never gotten a gift or card, but I haven't felt unappreciated. The principals I've liked best, where I felt most appreciated, usually did something like cook a pancake breakfast for the whole staff some time around the holidays.

 

[v.t.]

I think lunch or breakfast, or even a snack in the afternoon would be great. For lunch you could do baked potatoes. Our grocery store sells the potatoes to us for 80 cents a piece, wrapped in foil and cooked. We just buy the fixings and the teachers love it. We have also served popcorn and canned drinks at the afternoon meeting which was greatly appreciated. Another thing our teachers love is an extra jean day pass. They love being able to wear jeans in the middle of the week. I sure anything you do will be appreciated.

 

[lulu2]

What about a card with a thought on what you appreciate about that person and a holiday lottery ticket?

 

[kirstenb1]

Thank you for all the input. It does really seem the best gift would be the gift of more personal time...(sigh)

I'm thinking I'll start writing cards now, really telling them how much and why I really appreciate each and every one of them and all the work they do.

Maybe, I'll figure out a way to bring in a lunch or breakfast....

Have lunch ordered in. Let everyone know a few days ahead.

 

[casjen]

Could you do a dessert tray of some sort? I know things like that fly out of our staff room. Even homemade cookies and brownies would be fabulous. Cake pops? Bagels and cream cheese isn't too expensive and yummy.

My Principals have never really gotten us anything, whihc was fine, I never expected it. One Principal got us another microwave in the staff room and another toaster. We loved this b/c in winter we're always standing in line to heat our lunches.