What holiday gift do you give the kid's bus driver/matron?

[frannn]

DD4 goes to a preschool for delayed learners. I bought the large Yankee Housewarmers for the teachers and therapists (could be up to 7 people) for the holidays, but she also has a bus driver (male) and bus matron (female). Can I also give them candles, or would that not be appropriate, since the driver is male?

 

[BDDisney]

My daughter is new to riding the bus this year. I thought maybe a gift card to the movies. I would like to hear some other suggestions.

 

[patsal]

FOr the bus drivers I usually get a small gift card. For our area Tim Horton's gift cards for coffee and doughnuts would be a good choice. Depending on the driver--my kids are in MS and HS--the HS bus driver barely waits for my son to get out of school and I have to pick him up most days so no gift there! My daughter has the same bus driver my son had for the three years he was in middle school and she makes every kid on her route a littel ornament for the holidays as well as gives out candy for Halloween, etc. so for her we get a litle bigger amount form the craft store on a gift card. Now tht he kids are in HS and MS and are in contact with so many more teachers it can get expensive quick. I usually buy boxes of candy or something of that nature. Even if you only spend $5.00 per teacher you are upwards of $50 or more per kid easily once you put in the music, art, chorus, etc.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

Wow, you seriously buy your kids MS and HS teachers a present? I've never known anyone to do that, how kind you are. Come to think of it I've never heard of any sort of a gift exchange between bus drivers and students either. Maybe our area is different, or maybe it depends on the realtionship between the two. There is no relationship for my dd6 and bus driver, he has never said a word to her, so I don't think a gift is necessary do you?

 

[momxx5]

In the past we gave the bus driver gift cards, the past year we gave him cash. He is an older gentlemen.

Interesting......and very politically incorrect......
Many, many years ago when I was a bus rider, my mom would give the bus driver a bottle of wine for Christmas. We were Catholic after all.

 

[UMTerp]

I've given our bus driver a small cub scout popcorn tin, box of Pepperidge Farm cookies, small box of chocolate candy. Always something consumable.

UMTerp

 

[tinkarooni]

Our bus driver is very nice....in our small town every body knows her. I used my credit card rewards and got a bunch of gift cards. Hers is a BP gift card to the local gas station. After all gas is so expensive this year I know it's something she will use. It's a $10.00 card as I thought more might be inappropriate. More cash in her pocket.

 

[vassello]

Our bus drivers have all been women over the years. I normally give a bday gift (if I know their bday), teacher's appreciation gift, and a Christmas gift. Seems like a lot but I really appreciate them bringing and picking up our children from the end of our driveway and knowing that I don't need to worry about them. (One of our bus drivers loved our kids so much, she took them out to lunch before school started every year!)

Anyhow, a vase of cut flowers was REALLY appreciated by her since she enjoyed flowers so much. (Costco has really nice cut flowers - like 2 dozen ROSES for about $15.00!) Other times I give them candies or homemade cookies along with a handmade card from the kids telling her how much we really appreciate her.

Yeah for bus drivers!

 

[mlwear]

I only give the special needs bus driver and aide gifts, not the reg. bus. DH put his foot down about the reg. bus driver (the gift giving can get really out of control). I know many parents that do give the reg. bus driver a gift, though.
Chocolates for the bus driver and aide from me. I knew DS's first driver loved Lindt truffles, so I got him a large assortment. It just sort of stuck. Now he has a new driver and aide, but I continue with the chocolates. The driver and aide seem appreciative.

 

[4forWDW]

My DD's Girl Scout troop sold the tins of nuts, peanut brittle etc and I gave one of the cans of nuts to the bus driver. I thought giving him something he could snack on would be nice. He gave all the children riding the bus a candy cane and a pencil.

 

[dsnymomof4]

DH is a school bus driver and he really appreciates gifts from the kids on his bus. Of course, he likes getting money and gift cards (especially Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts), but he also gets lots of candy and homemade things. He also truly appreciates the cards - especially when the kids write their own special message thanking him for being a good bus driver. That makes him feel appreciated.

 

[Kelian]

My neighbor is a bus driver and she always gives me really good hints towards what my kid's driver likes...the most popular item seems to be gift cards-usually to McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts-reason being is that many of the drivers do "extra" routes around here and drive the older sports teams to away games or on field trips-they are on the road, and the 2 places you always find on the road (at least in the NE) are DD and MCdonalds.

 

[budbeerlady]

I gave the driver a starbucks gift card in a thankyou merry christmas type card. Even if they dont like coffee or the drinks, they have the desserts (and I think, muffins)

To me starbucks is a plus I often wont spend the money on and its something they can do whenever is convient for them.

 

[PaulaSue]

Great idea for the GS nut things. I just got the paperwork last night and now I have 2 brownies to buy from.

 

[mtblujeans]

Our bus driver is such a neat lady and we appreciate her so very much! We live in a rural area, miles from the school, which is how we qualify to put the kids on the bus without a fee. She gives the kids goodies for the Holidays and is very personable. In the past years, I have given her cookbooks, gift certificates, and B & BW products. I only give her a gift for the Christmas Holiday. However, I get a thank you card at the end of the school year and have my kids pass it around to get the other kids on the bus to sign it for her.

 

[mtblujeans]

....Can I also give them candles, or would that not be appropriate, since the driver is male?

I have given DS's teacher candles at Christmas time before. He said he really enjoyed the scent during the Holidays. If it is something you enjoy, I am sure he will too.