In the past we only showed our appreciation during Appreciation Week. Being this is my first year at this school, I asked the principal for his input. He stated they would really enjoy the appreciation when they least expect it throughout the year. So this year, we are doing just that. On the 1st day of school we gave each a Survivor kit with a poem on the outside. When the 1st Progress Reports and Parent/teacher meetings were scheduled, we gave each individual packages of microwave popcorm with a poem. Just before Winter break when the kids started getting antsy (we live in the midwest), we gave them a fresh fruit arrangement by Edible Arrangement for their fruits of labor. This week, we did the candy poem. We will also do a variety of things during Teacher Appreciation Week as well as other times later this year. I just love seeing their eyes light up when they walk into the classroom or teachers lounge and see what we have for them. We are a small school of 120 students (Pre-school - 8th) with 18 teacher/staff members and have a budget of $400. We have one person in charge of Teacher Appreciation who also gives out gift cards for local restaurants in their Birthday cards. There is a $300 budget for the birthdays.

>What do you do?

Catered lunch

>Just one week or all year?

One day. Not enough volunteers last year during the day. Too many work.

>Do you have a dedicated committee?

No, just me last year.

>Do you give teachers $$? (Set amount of cash or reimburse with receipts?)
Any other insight you can provide about your group's experience here will be much appreciated.

No. (Had a drawing. 6 Gift cards. Everyone else got a large candy bar). Budget was $1000. Spent $700. Lunch came in under estimated cost.

We LOVE our teachers and we let them know. This will be the second year that we have a certified massage therapist come in and give our teachers a 10 minutes massage. We spread this over a two-three day period so each teacher gets a chance to come in on their break-time. So that covers two-three days, one day we have lunch brought in for them. Our classified staff brings them breakfast on the fifth day. So our teachers are celebrated for one entire week. Once during the year when they don't expect it, they each get a grant of $100 to use in their classroom, as they see fit. They also get a card with some chocolate.
On secretary's day, our three ladies, get lunch delivered and set up at a pretty table by us and the principal makes sure that one or two of us mans the front office so the three of them can take lunch together which is something that normally does not happen.
Last year for bosses day, each teacher (and others) hung a tie from the ceiling in our principals office. It was such a cool thing to see. He was thrilled. Even better was to see this man actually wearing some of these ties!

Ok, I also forgot, we do have a dedicated committee that puts this on every year as well.
It has been our 2 Head Room Parent Chairs plus all the PTO Board members that put this together. Thanks

We have a budget of 1,000 for our Teacher Appreication.. which includes all staff member (janitors, secretary's, principal and our specials teachers) We have Teacher appreciation for a whole week. We have a breakfast spread on Monday and a luncheon on Friday.
Each year we change things up a bit as well. We never give out money directly-- too many staff members for that-- over 50.
One year we had daily drawings for prizes that we had gotten donated-- Gifts cards, gift baskets and such-- everyones name was out into the hat once and we draw so many per day-- just about every staff member won something by Friday--
We also have done themed appreciation weeks-- all around the world in 7 days-- where we gave the staff something everyday representing different countries with a luncheon that hard a variety of food representing several countries. This went over Big.-- We've also had a walk of Fame where each staff members name was on a star and they were placed all over the entry to the school. This event is always a work in progress and we are always lloking for new a great ideas that the teachers and staff would love.

Hi All -

Interested in hearing about the experiences at your school re: teacher appreciation. Feel free to provide any feedback, but some general questions:

What do you do?
Just one week or all year?
Do you have a dedicated committee?
Do you give teachers $$? (Set amount of cash or reimburse with receipts?)
Any other insight you can provide about your group's experience here will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Tim