In the past we have given teachers individual gifts as well as a luncheon one day/bagels & spreads another. This year, instead of the little gifts, we bought a hot/cold water dispenser for the faculty room and paid for 500 gallons of water. We spent about $500 but the dispenser will last for a long time and the water should carry well into next year. We also filled a basket with hot chocolate, tea, international coffee, cup-of-soup, instant oatmeal, etc. The teachers were very appreciative!
We had a teacher/staff appreciation luncheon. Our scholl has about 50 teachers/staff. This small gesture cost us more than $300. I am also giving small gifts to home room teachers at the end of the school year.... I also have a delemma. Some of the certified teaching staff (ESL, Reading Tutors etc) got wind that the home room techers are getting small gifts and are upset.. I didn't think that everyone need something outside of the catered luncheon and our thanks. Seems we have lots of petty people at our school. Anyone else run across this?? By the way the same people that are complaining have done nothing with or for PTO, not even a Thank-you for lunch.
Our PTO usually does things like breakfast one day, lunch one day, desert dish(sundaes) one day. However, some of the teachers have mentioned how they appreciate these gestures, but would really like things they can use in their classrooms like dry erase markers, etc. We are already planning some different things for next year that won't involve much money. Our teachers, for the most part, are really about our kids, not about receiving "gifts" for themselves. They are just great.
Our school does a big luncheon for all the teachers and staff, usually on a Wednesday. The food is donated by the parents, and since we are such a diverse school it can make for an interesting buffet.
Teachers get a little gift, usually under $5 each, its written into our budget each year.
Support staff & etc are usually recognized on Administrative Asst Day, not sure what they have been given lately.
On Valentines Day the school does a Volunteer Breakfast, where the teachers cook for us, the kids do a little show and we get pins or magnets or something like that.
All the food for out teahcer luncheon is donated from local restaurants as well as the gift cards. We may spend at the most 200 dollars on the event and everyone gets a gift and lunch including all support staff such as janitors.
We also ask parents to donate food items for our Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. The PTO provides a 6 foot sub and drinks. We also ask parents to help with set up-serve and clean up. Teachers & staff really seem to enjoy this each year.
