We do something special for the teachers each day of the week. Here are a couple of ideas. We've had special magnets made for one day, I designed custom candy bar wrappers that we had printed for another, we've provided them with a "dessert day" where the PTO members brought in home made desserts, or serve the teachers a lavish homemade breakfast before school,etc.
They love it when TAW comes around, just to see what we will do next. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Thanks JHB for that helpful website. Do you think it's okay to change everything to read PTO instead of PTA. I am planning our celebration as well and these letters are one less thing that I have to come up with. We also do a little something everyday for our staff. I really liked
the idea of letting them all go to lunch at once and having a parent volunteer in the room. I just wish I had enough volunteers to go around.
The first week in May (May 6-11 this year) is the calendar date.
As far as ideas, our group has become known for doing little things during the week and spending around $200-250 on a BBQ for the entire school staff! We serve lunch outside (so the students won't bother the teachers, learned from the past!!) and I bring in our BBQ and serve burgers and chicken breast sandwiches. SO MUCH FUN! I honestly do not rely on too many volunteers or donations for this as it has back fired in the past (I had six volunteers pull out at the last minute because their teacher's contract was not renewed! I know!!) Monday we served muffins in the teachers lounge, Wed. we handed out apples and an invitation/reminder about Friday! Simple.
We do include the staff because they are just as important (if not more some weeks!!) to the success of our group!
Make this fun!! It shouldn't be work or a burden!
I actually look forward to BBQing for 3 hours for these people that make our school the best!
Our Teacher Appreciation week is this one upcoming. We're having a sit down dinner on Friday. We're dressing the tables, catering the dinner, etc. Moms and Dads volunteer to monitor the classrooms for the 1.5 hours that the teachers get for themselves. They also each get a favor (this year flowers and handcrafted luminaries).
It's always the first full week in May. This year, I believe the nationally recognized date is May 5-11. I'm not sure who "set" it, but I think it may be either the national PTA or the NEA. Here's the PTA's link for it:
Since there's a lot of public hype and recognition that week, most schools seen to go with that date. But some do pick their own time frame, especially if there's some big conflict that week or they have something else they are tying it into.