Two years ago during book fair I asked parents to send in a donation for each individual class that they had a child in. ANY donation, no matter how small. The donation would be given to the classroom teacher to purchase a book or books for their classroom library. I offered an ice cream party to the classroom with the most donations. The class that won was thrilled, and the teacher took time out of her lesson plans and had each student make a thank you letter. It was awesome to recieve approximately 23 hand made thank you's.
A thank you should be something that is required from chairpeople doing events! It is like a written rule for us, if they attend a meeting I send a Thank You, if they work an event they get a thank you, if they ran a fundraiser they get a thank you...you can never ever say it enough! It doesn't have to be anything fancy,but it does make a difference...that goes for teacher reps as well!
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
My husband was "Cool Racecar Driver Dad" when our son was in kindergarten. He took our racecars up to the school parking lot for show and tell. The next week he got 25 thank you cards from five year olds. He looks good in crayon. He felt so great after reading all of the cards that he said he wanted to quit his job and go on a cross country kindergarten tour!
I agree, including cards from the kids really is a special touch!
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
Since we're sharing "Thank you" stories. One year I received a thank you note for our thank you note.
We (the PTO) always send our donors thank you notes after our "Harvest Hoe Down". The year I was president we also sent a thank you card made by a child.
One of the businesses sent a note back saying how great it was that we were teaching the children to be thankful for the help that businesses gave them. He is now one of my "GoTO" people when I'm in a bind.
Those 2 words can mean so much and just aren't said enough!
I know I appreciate the notes of thanks after staff appreciation events. I can just imagine how much a simple thank you or note of thanks makes my teachers/staff feel!
I also try to make sure that anyone who helps me by volunteering for an event (be it chaperoning a dance to brining in treats for the teachers) gets a personal thank you from me. Not so they will feel like volunteering again, but because they helped make a difference in our school.
<font size=""2"">If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain - Maya Angelou</font><br />
<br><br />
<br>Life is an adventure - Seize each moment and make it your own!
At the end of each school year, I assess my children's academic experiences and decide how I want to thank their teachers.
Sometimes I contribute $5 to the class gift that is being collected by the class moms, sometimes I go out and get gift cards and personal gifts for teachers This past year I wrote a long e-mail to the superintentent of the school district citing 2 of my childrens teachers and examples of how they went above and beyond on behalf of my kids.
I know that my letter was read and appreciated by the responses I got.
Exclusive of making a difference and personal satisfaction, the core reason that I volunteer in school is for the teachers and staff to know who who I am and to know that I am a mother who takes my kids education very seriously.
