We usually buy all staff members brand new Desk Planners for the new school year. We get them from Positive Promotions. Teachers are either on a certain committee or attend many meetings these days; so we felt that they could use these planners. They absolutely love them! It has become regular for us to purchase this gift for them to start the year.
This year, I printed out a poem to use as a cover page for a calendar of events we have made for our teachers. I have bound them and now they have a month-by-month view of what all we are doing this year. They really enjoyed it and it only cost us paper to print it on.
I was invited to speak to the faculty on their administrative day today. After sharing with them what the PTO had planned for the new year, I gave each of them a bag of candy with a message attached. The clear celephane bag (bought in the Wilton section of Walmart's craft section) contained "treasures" candies. The tag attached was printed with the message "You are
Education's greatest treasure". They really seemed to appreciate it. I also had some postcards printed with a nice poem about teachers on it that I will give to them at the Back to School Luncheon that the PTO is sponsoring for them on the day before school starts back.
We provide cash before school starts for each teacher to use for class needs. We will also provide a breakfast for teachers and staff during one of the workdays before the kids start back. Later we have wish lists for them to fill out of items we can purchase for them. We also do small gifts throught the year of candy or items we leave in their mailboxes.
Cash or wish list item amounts can be adjusted to fit any budget.
Each year we purchase cheap laundry baskets or something similar at a local dollar store or Wal-Mart and fill it with boxes of crackers/snacks, tissues, wipes etc. The teachers love it.
Two years ago, we bought everyone a nice coffee mug from Big Lots, filled it with candy, and wrapped it in clear cellophane. We spent about $120. They were a big hit with the teachers & staff.
