RobinD;129641 wrote: Holly Eighmy.. are the Walmart Gc's intended for school use, or for their personal use?
The gift cards are intended for school use, but we don't ask for their receipt or anything. We thought about doing gift cards at our local teacher's store, but they're so terribly overpriced that they can get things at Walmart for their classrooms at a better price--- more for their money!
Holly Eighmy.. are the Walmart Gc's intended for school use, or for their personal use?
We struggle with this question every year. We have about 30 classroom teachers, 30 teachers ( art, etc) and then about 40 support staff and aids.. We want to celebrate the teachers in a separate way, yet the support staff works just as hard, and they are probably working at close to minimum wage, and can use the " gifts" even more..............
We have tried little things in the mailboxes, food in the teachers room, the whole thing.. and we have been told that they would rather get something like a new laser printer than for us to spend $10 each on 100 people through the course of the week.. yes, the little things REALLY add up!
We give our teachers & staff items in their boxes each day of Appreciation week that kind of goes along with our theme for that year. Then on the Friday that we do their big luncheon, we give them a bigger gift that includes a $50 gc to Walmart for the Teachers and $10 gc to Walmart for the support staff. We spend about $1000 on appreciation week plus $2400 for the gc. The teachers & staff really appreciate the gesture.
It's funny, but teachers can sometimes get so excited over the tiniest things. Last year our chairperson had the teachers make a wish list and they tried to get things off of that. We never realized til then how much teachers purchase on their own since certain things are not covered by the school budget.
Happy stickie notes to give to students
tissues or anti-bacterial lotion
fun tac (the stickie stuff they hang posters up with rather than tape)
were very popular requests for the classroom
We also received coupons for a free cup of coffee from a local store
Candy bar wrapped in a paper with a saying in their mailbox
lanyards to hold their keys
Ice cream novelty treats in the afternoon or after school
were very much appreciated as well
Get crafty and try and get donations. Having the homeroom mothers do a class project "secretly" for their teachers and having selected children from grade levels work on projects for your special teachers (art, music, gym....) would create a one-of-a-kind piece to cherrish & would be inexpensive as well.
What about something small each day in their boxes? Things like a candy bar with a cute saying...or pop secret popcorn-its no secret your a great teacher, we appreciate you....Kudos bar-kudos to you for being a great teacher....anything like that. Also how about putting the money towards a catered lunch instead. Have the kids get involved by assigning something to bring each day, many could be free like a note or card or flower, even one picked from their garden. these might be more apprecited than a gift of soemthing they already have many of or dont need at all.
As welcome back to school gifts, we bought all teachers and staff wonderful coffee cups and mugs filled with candy for the new employees and assorted items like a pack of gum, tea bags, granola bar, pack of apple cider, pack of hot chocolate for the returning teachers and staff. We wrapped them in cellophane and attached a small card. We have 70 people to buy for and we spent less than $200.
You can also buy great gifts from Positive Promotions. For Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week this May, I bought everyone a tablet from Positive Promotions for under $30. I also purchased a banner and 5 vases for the teacher and staff lounge.
