hi, we did birthday cakes every month. the staff loved it. [img]smile.gif[/img] I think the staff appreciation chair got 2 or 3 volunteers to bake a cake (the bakers changed each month) and then she had the cakes brought to the staff lounge.
maggie
We gave out Payday candy bars with a little poem about an extra payday because they deserved it. Also, another time 100,000 Grand bars with a poem. Sorry, I don't have copies of the poems.
Last year I came up with "Coffee In The Morning". I had all the staff members put down their preference of coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate. I purchased coffee, tea bags and hot chocolate packets, along with Little Debbie coffee cakes. I then took the list, and each morning I made 10 or 12 teachers and/or staff members their choice of hot beverage and a coffee cake. I delivered it to their desk, telling them that "PTVO thinks you're special". I did this on Mondays, and just kept rotating around the school. I could have just put the cup in their mailbox with the teabag or packet in it, along with the cake, but part of the uniqueness and special-ness was serving them. The cost was very inexpensive, and it took about 45 minutes on Monday morning. Teachers and Staff members alike loved being served morning coffee in front of their classes and peers.
I have made little bags of goodies and put them in the mail boxes of the teachers and staff of our school. You know how candy comes packaged in the plastic bags with the paper top- you can purchase the bags in the wedding area in WalMart. I like to use M&Ms but have seen a tea bag, sugar packet, stir stick in a bag with a cute snowman stamped on the tag with a cute saying on it. I like to do rubber stamp projects and this is one of my favorites. Everyone loves the little surprise as well as the boost a handful of M&Ms can offer after a long day! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Our teachers/staff sign up to bring breakfast items every friday -- PTO signs up for a couple of Fridays through out the school year and ask PTO members to donate items. You could also come up with some cute computer cards or fliers -- for example during teah. appr. week we had one with a chocolate candy bar and it said "Our teachers are better than Chocolate--well almost"--you could wrap a handful of hershey kisses in a colorful plastic wrap--Brainstorm at your next meeting -- I bet you get some great ideas.
Teachers need to know they are appreciated and it doesn't have to be expensive. We're planning quarterly lunches. One is "Teachers are Souper" with soups and breads served. One is "Mexican Fiesta" with make your own nachos or tacos. One is "A little added can be a lot!" which is a salad bar. And one is "You are all heroes!" with sub sandwiches. Parents donate the food and drink and it's set as buffet style so minimal at-school fuss. The other months you could do things like asking the students to bring in stationary supplies, cookies or sweets, candy, flowers (real, silk or drawn), bath stuff, etc... Or you could have prizes donated and each month draw a name for it. In my honest opinion, though, monthly may be too much. Between holiday parties, sporting events, special assemblies, we ask alot from our parents. I would be interested in what you come up with!!!! :cool:
