venting about Kindergarten to-dos

[speedi-deedi]

I know at the end of the school year it's a great time to show appreciation for the teachers....and we are blessed with some of the most amazing teachers in this district. SO, I don't disagree with the principle of the idea....BUT

Last week was Teacher appreciation week (Monday - flowers, Tuesday - soothing, Wednesday - sweets, Thursday - note, Friday - free choice.) I participated in some of the days, not all.

Now, for the end-of-school party we are supposed to send a gift cert of our choice for the kindergarten teacher. I was okay with this too.

The part that put me over the edge was the voicemail tonight about a scrapbook for the teacher. It's coming home with one child at a time and we need to do one page THAT NIGHT because otherwise we won't finish....and this mom will be driving it around to different houses to use the weekend days too. Working parents with 2 boys...some nights we're lucky to get dinner and a bath!! I think it's the one random night thing that took the cake.

In the end, we're fortunate to have such lovely teachers. I just needed to vent!!!!

 

[AZKathy]

Good luck, I know your teacher will treasure the gift. Fortunately, we just sent in money for a big gift certificate our Kindergarten teacher and supply fresh fruit for the water fun day they had today.

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by speedi-deedi
(Monday - flowers, Tuesday - soothing, Wednesday - sweets, Thursday - note, Friday - free choice.)

WOW! I knew when Teacher appreciation DAY was but, a whole week?

Originally posted by speedi-deedi
Working parents with 2 boys...some nights we're lucky to get dinner and a bath!!

Boy, I know that feeling! Week nights are strictly home-time but, there's always something mixed in with that!

And, you're right, it's nice to have great teachers!

My 'contribution' to the Kindergarten Program this coming Friday (NOT graduation ) is going to cost about $40 so, maybe we're even? I was also planning on a personal end-of-the-year gift as well.

I know how ya feel sometimes.

 

[shortbun]

I think the scrapbook thing is overkill. We have appreciation
week here. As a member of PTA(we sponsor it), not all children
are expected to participate in each event. That's why it's
a whole week so everyone can pick their favorite 2 days maybe
and do something. At our school, we also send breakfast one
day to teachers and sponsor a parent potluck luncheon. We have
this at the end of the year on purpose so folks feel they've done
their thing with the teachers. If we give gift certificates, it's usually for teaching supply stores, office supply stores or similar
to keep teachers from spending their paycheck on supplies not
available from the school system. I'm sorry the crazy scrapbooker has included you in her chaos...it's not fair to
drag other people into things like this without their prior agreement.

 

[DoeWDW]

I do appreciate all the teachers my kids have had, but this sounds like a bit much to me.

My advice: just do what you can do and don't feel guilty about it. If you'd rather have the scrapbook on a specific day, like a weekend day, let the organizer know that. Assemble what you want to put on the page ahead of time so it won't take too long.

Good luck!

 

[Kteacher]

That is a lot We didn't get anything during During Teacher Appreciation Week, nor did we expect anything. At the end of the year, if a parent tells me their child enjoyed having me as a teacher , I'm happy-that's enough of a gift for me.

 

[swanmom]

Oh my goodness.........that's a lot. I do have a suggestion. We also do the scrapbook thing but we use a photo album that has removable pages !!! Each kid gets his or her 'page' to complete about two weeks before they are needed. They are then dropped off at the class parents house who only has to put the pages back in. Much less stress and less work for everyone!

 

[ScarlettO]

We do a whole week of Breakfasts for the teachers(Private School) and then small gifts like flowers, stationary etc. The scrapbook thing sounds way "over the top".

 

[lindajo]

I think that the scrapbook would have been a nice idea, IF the "crazy scrapbooker" had come up with it and started it A LOT sooner, like back in February. This is just too much to ask of some parents, everyone is so busy-how can she just drop it off on a certain day and expect it back the next? I haven't gotten into the public school system yet, that will be next year when DS6 starts 1st grade. Right now, at our little private school, it's pretty much up to the individual what to do for the teachers. The only organized thing was a luncheon given for the teachers for Teacher Appreciation Day. Otherwise, we just give our own little gifts throughout the year for whatever holiday, if we want. I hope that this is NOT the NORM!!! (some people are just WAY over the top, aren't they?) Good Luck with whatever you do!

 

[powellrj]

I feel they are asking way...to much from parents. What about people who don't have the time or money to help????

I use to help plan our teacher appreciation week. We would decorate each teachers door and bring breakfast in and have a catered lunch on Friday. One year one of the teachers came to us and said that they would really rather we do something that they would really enjoy like have each of their cars detailed and take them out for an expensive lunch. They wanted us to give them a check for $25 each to cover lunch and they would just pick the resturant and time. We would include the entire staff for lunch including non-certified staff members. That was the rub, they ONLY wanted teachers included not the staff members. After 6 years I said no more and now I only do what I want for the teachers that I want.

Good luck!!

 

[bballmom56]

CARS DETAILED!!

Now THAT is over the top for me! I personally love the scrapbook idea (and I'm not a scrapbooker). I would think the teachers would like it as it is a personal keepsake from that particular class. But it should be started much earlier. Wow, a week of sending in different items!? If you have several children in school at the same time, that's any awful lot of stuff to do.

 

[Spinning]

wow! That is over the top if you ask me! I didn't even know there was a teache appreication day or week!
We are doing a scrap book for the end of the year book. But I sent out the info about 3 weeks ago and just asked for a picture, have the kid write one short sentence and answer a few questions. Then I will do the rest! WOW!

 

[lindamg]

What a nice teacher appreciation week! But that's definitely NOT what the schools in our area do. I think ours is pretty typical. Our parent booster club set up a dessert buffet in the teacher's lounge one day, our administration treated us to lunch one day. I missed out on both because I've been on Weight Watcher's for 4 weeks now. In my classroom I was thrilled to get a little African violet from one student and an absolutely lovely note from a parent detailing the things she appreciated about me. Considering most of my parents can't stand me this year, that was quite a treat!!! (No, I'm not a witch. I teach gifted students and have a group of parents this year who all think that anything less than an "A" must be my fault and that school policy regarding homework and behavior is all wrong and totally my fault for actually following it! Most years my parents and I get along fine) For me, the best thing about teacher appreciation week this year, was that it was one week closer to the end of school! 7 school days and counting down rapidly!!!

 

[Az Pirates]

I'm afraid I usually pass on teacher appreciation week.
I willing donate items and volunteer in the classroom all through the year.
I do a Christmas gift and an end of year gift.
Is your room mom a brand new kindergarten mom with just one child? Could explain a lot.
Try doing it x4

 

[Talking Hands]

Our elementary school had someone come in and wash the teachers cars which was nice. They also had a breakfast on morning, lunch another day and apple pie with ice cream in the break room on Friday.
HIgh school had a nice lunch for all the teachers and coffee and pastries on a different day.
The scrapbook is a neat idea but the way it is being handled seems to be a problem. The person coordinating it seems to expect people to just put their life on hold to accommodate her. Over the top. Sad because if she had planned properly and used take out sheets if could have been done easily with no inconvenince to others.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Wow! That does seem like an awful lot to me!

My kids aren't in school yet but I'm thinking back to teacher appreciation days when I was in school--seems like we just made special cards for the teachers and brought in apples or cookies. There was no sending in of money or store-bought gifts---my parents would have freaked! There were four kids in our family and every dollar REALLY counted when we were little. Guess I'd better start saving $$$ for future teacher gifts!

 

[clh2]

This one would have put me over the top too. I am scrapbook impaired. I most likely would have told this person to take a flying leap - politely of course

 

[disykat]

Sounds like you've got some over zealous parents and probably some embarrassed teachers! I would be horrified if I felt like any of my students/parents were being put on the spot like that.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Wow I think that mom has definetely gone beyond the call of duty with the scrapbook idea. I used to be a classmom and was mindful of my moms who worked, had lots of kids etc. Also I dont know what your school policy is, but the prinicpal gave the class moms a little talk about privacy with phone #s etc. I cant believe that mom would even go over to other moms houses. That wouldnt be tolerated at my kids school, just a phone call is the limit. A note home too but thats it. I am cooking a main dish for teacher appreciation day on tues. The classmom also said she wants like a $10 donation from each family. I talked to the school bookeeper who handles the supervision of that. She agreed with me that the mom shouldnt ask for a specific dollar amount. This mom is well off and really doesnt relate well to others who struggle etc. If you want to participate, I would just tell her what a convenient time in your schedule is.

 

[lindajo]

Originally posted by powellrj
I feel they are asking way...to much from parents. What about people who don't have the time or money to help????

I use to help plan our teacher appreciation week. We would decorate each teachers door and bring breakfast in and have a catered lunch on Friday. One year one of the teachers came to us and said that they would really rather we do something that they would really enjoy like have each of their cars detailed and take them out for an expensive lunch. They wanted us to give them a check for $25 each to cover lunch and they would just pick the resturant and time. We would include the entire staff for lunch including non-certified staff members. That was the rub, they ONLY wanted teachers included not the staff members. After 6 years I said no more and now I only do what I want for the teachers that I want.

Good luck!!

Well, that's a new one to me!! Telling someone exactly how to appreciate you is pretty tacky, if you ask me. And (even though most teachers do deserve a nice recognition) doesn't that requesting teacher think highly of herself-detailing her car(not a cheap endeavor at all) AND a $25 lunch!? AND telling you who to include and not to include? I think that what you did was a very nice appreciation, and how tacky of them to suggest something they would REALLY like, like they DIDN'T LIKE what you already did for them?? I would definitely NOT participate in that, (I wonder how many parents would) AND I would be looking at that group of teachers in a totally different light from then on...Some people have no class,(no pun intended!) no matter HOW educated they are...

I can hear Emily Post turning over in her grave...(is she dead yet?)