Last year we had a breakfast on Monday and a luncheon on Wednesday. At each meal we had a raffle prize (baskets with various small gifts that parents had made) Then I painted small terra cotta pots (3 or 4" size) which we filled with Hershey's kisses and hugs. Most of the food was brought in by parents, and the pots cost very little to make.
I like all the ideas! What about the rest of the staff? When do you appreciate the principal, secretaries, custodial staff, nurse? We appreciate all the same week. That way we won't miss anyone.
I hope the ideas keep coming because it is always nice to do something new.
We have had this dilema also. The way we handled it last year was to forgo gifts and have a HUGE carry in lunch from the PTO for the staff. We also covered all the lunchroon and lunch recess duties that day. This freed up whoever normally had these to truly enjoy the meal and time with co-workers. One other cute idea our principal did last year was a flashlight in each teachers box with a note about being a beacon of light for the children. This was also a very practical gift because now all rooms have a flashlight for emergencies/storm drills, etc.
Last year we did the same type of thing in conjunction with National Teachers Appreciation Week. The first day we arrived at 6 in the morning and put a Krispy Kreme doughnut on each teachers desk with a pick in it we made that said "you are the Kreme of the crop" --on Wednesday we put 100,000 Grand candy bars in their mail boxes with a sleve that said "your worth a million but the budget only could handle $100,000"
On Friday we had a blow out breakfast in the teachers lounge and each teacher recieved a gift package from the pto. They contained movies passes(donated by the cinema) blockbuster certificates (donated), candy , a 'entertainment book full of buy one get one free coupons (donated by the company we had agreed to fundraise with this year), and a candle with a poem about how their light could reach every child and light the fire of understanding. they where done up with cell wrap and curling ribbion ect... looked good== well recieved. We did something each day of the week, I just can't remember all that we did. Our reoccuring problem for the last two years has been the classroom aides. although we did include them in the doughnuts and candy and gave them an entertainment book we did not tie them up with a bow, or include movie tickets. Our board see this as a difference between a degreed teacher, and their aide. The teachers put in so many hours planning and extra meetings while the aides go home as soon as those kids hit the door, we see a difference in time and energy given. Although we do not forget the aides during this time we also recognize it as TEACHERS appreciation week. Any one else have this dilemma?
We want to show our teachers that we really appreciate everything they do thru-out the year for our kids. We have set aside a whole week in May for teacher appreciation week. We want to do something special for them each day, but need some ideas. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are looking for inexpensive things. Thanks
