thank you gifts for teachers

themaccas

I just wondered if there are any teachers here or parents with any ideas for end of term thank you gifts for teachers and after-school-care helpers?

My dd is leaving her school at the end of the term and there are 5 teachers/helpers I want to buy for and 6 for my DS's teachers/helpers. I've never bought any before but really want to this year as it has been a difficult time for both children and the schools have gone out of their way to support and help them.

I've thought about chocolates, bottle of wine, flowers, candles, and thought about starting to buy now as there are so many!

elle_gee

I think I've seen threads with ideas on the Special Occasions board..

themaccas

thanks I'll take a look there

richardw

Just say 'thank you' or a card may be just as appreciated, without going over the top on gifts.

tealady

Hi. I know one or two teachers and I feel that a small inexpensive gift would be appreciated. There is no need to spend loads.
As most of them spend a lot of time standing I'm sure a bottle of foot lotion or refreshing spray would be appreciated!

barnaby-bear

tealady wrote: »

Hi. I know one or two teachers and I feel that a small inexpensive gift would be appreciated. There is no need to spend loads.
As most of them spend a lot of time standing I'm sure a bottle of foot lotion or refreshing spray would be appreciated!

...or imply a fungal / BO issue....

There used to be a website showing off the finest pound shop offerings teachers got...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3334051.stm

pandora205

When I was a teacher the most treasured gifts I received were those genuinely made by the children themselves. One lad who had had a lot of problems that we'd overcome carved a heart and his initials on a piece of wood (he was 9 by the way!) and gave it to me. I still have it somewhere.

I also treasured hand written letters and notes of thanks written by parents saying what they had appreciated. These are few and far between for most teachers!

Janepig

What we do in DD's class, thanks to one of the other mums, is have a whip-round amongst the parents at Christmas and the end of summer term - we usually put in £5 each and the mum who organises it gets some M&S vouchers, that type of thing, and gives the most to the teacher and divides the rest between the LSA's. That way they get something a little more substantial.

Jxx

Poppy9

When my DD left primary school I bought gifts from CAFOD as DD went to a RC primary school. I bought a school pack for each of her years in school and wrote a card thanking the teachers for their efforts over the years etc.

At the end of Y6 I also organised a whip around from the class for teacher/LA. After I had bought the gift I had a few pound left over so I took a class photo on sports day and put it on a cake from Asda and it was given to the school staff. It was a first for the school and I hear they have continued the idea. I also bought a second cake with their picture on for the Y6 class to devour!

Don't worry about how much you can afford to spend, it's the thought that counts.

andyrules

pandora205 wrote: »

When I was a teacher the most treasured gifts I received were those genuinely made by the children themselves. One lad who had had a lot of problems that we'd overcome carved a heart and his initials on a piece of wood (he was 9 by the way!) and gave it to me. I still have it somewhere.

I also treasured hand written letters and notes of thanks written by parents saying what they had appreciated. These are few and far between for most teachers!

Definitely second that. That you want to bother is lovely and it's that sentiment which is appreciated the most. So, a handwritten note/card thanking them plus something from the child (homemade card etc) is all you need - it isn't necessary to spend over that cost. I'd say the thing I treasure most is a homemade card from a boy I taught 4 years before he left, and he gave it to me personally with verbal thanks and written ones that he had struggled with inside. He was a child with a lot of problems including a fragmented background, so that meant a lot to me. Don't fall for the commercial hype and guilt trip:D:D

Gingham_Ribbon

pandora205 wrote: »

When I was a teacher the most treasured gifts I received were those genuinely made by the children themselves. One lad who had had a lot of problems that we'd overcome carved a heart and his initials on a piece of wood (he was 9 by the way!) and gave it to me. I still have it somewhere.

I also treasured hand written letters and notes of thanks written by parents saying what they had appreciated. These are few and far between for most teachers!

I agree. I have a painting a year 11 did for me, some cards and drawings and notes still, though most of the gifts have disappeared over the years.

A letter of thanks from you and a present from the children that they've made themselves would be something to treasure.