We have had a cookie exchange for the teachers. The PTO pays for the boxes and tissue paper and parents bake cookies. The teachers come and pack up cookies to take home.

Flowers are another great idea, the PTO buys a vase for each teacher and each student brings in a stem to put in the vase.

I am a distributor for Mia Bella Soy Candles and soy soaps - I would be happy to put something together for you for Teacher's appreciation!
www.jarsoflight.scent-team.com

Several years ago items were purchased for every day of T.A. week for the Teachers. Some days the Staff received gifts as well, but not on all the days. The response we got back was "Teachers do not need any more coffee mugs, mouse pads, candy, etc" and "if the Teachers are receiving something then all the staff should too". SO, we changed what we do for T.A. week. For the past two years we ask for volunteers to cook food for every day of the week. Every day has a different theme. Parents who signed up are able to pick which day they want to help with, etc. The teachers and staff love this!!! We decorate the teachers lounge with the theme for the day, like picnic day we had checkered table cloths, some wicker baskets, flowers, etc. Soup day we had Campbell's soup decorations.
Two years ago we passed out large balloon die cuts to every student in a envelope and asked them to write something nice about their teacher. The die cuts were sent back to us in the envelopes so it was kept secret from the teachers. Sunday before T.A. week we came into the school and decorated a huge bulletin board in the lobby to look like a flower garden. When the balloon die cuts were fanned out into a circle and a med. size circle die cut placed in the middle they looked like flower petals. We cut out 'terra cotta" looking pots with tag board, each teacher had a pot with one or two flowers growing out of it (depending on class size). The staff members I had went around at lunch time and asked the students what they liked about every staff member. These quotes were written on butterflys and placed amongst the flowers with the Staff Members name on them. The principal was the sun with quotes on the rays about him. This was loved by all!

Last year we purchased the classroom quilt kits from Oriental Trading. Again these were sent home thru envelopes and kept secret. The kids were asked to draw a picture on their square. The quilts were tied together and hung up on the bulletin board on rope to look like a clothes line. This year the teachers all have their quilts hanging outside their classrooms.

Just some ideas,
Marty

Hey everyone,

Thanks for some great ideas. Several have gotten my creative juices flowing again!

T

For anyone in the midwest, you know Meijers. Today I found their store brand of Altoid mints. A nice tin. They call them "Astonish-Mints". There has gotta be a way to incorporate these into a teacher appreciation gig.

Awesome ideas! I am new to the PTO thing, my daughter just started school this year and I have joined her school's PTO. I was disappointed that they do not really participate in any teacher appreciation activities (of course parents do plenty on their own), but it would be nice to see the PTO do something as a group.
So, I am going to gather some ideas from these boards and see what we can do... so I guess I will be chairing that committee!
I LOVE THE CAFE IDEA... SO COOL!