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Christmas

Four teachers!

37 replies

weebarra · 05/10/2019 23:17

DS2 and DD have two teachers each this year. One of DS2's teachers is fabulous, the rest are meh (not teacher bashing but DS1 had them too).
I don't want to buy mugs or candles, but don't know if alcohol would be appropriate. I previously bought wild flower grenades, will I just do that again?

OP posts:
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thistimelastweek · 05/10/2019 23:22

I think most teachers would really like a bottle of wine. Or chocs.
I don't know what wild flower grenades are.

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NeitherNowtNorSummat01 · 06/10/2019 01:15

I’m a teacher. You’re right, mugs and candle are a definite no. As are smelliest. Wouldn’t bother with chocolates either.one year, I got 17 boxes of chocolates. I took them to the food bank.
I always enjoy receiving a Christmas bauble for my tree (I always think of the child when I put my tree up)
As PP said, most teachers enjoy wine. I don’t drink wine myself but a few bottles in the house is always helpful for guests at Christmas.

With that all said, don’t feel obliged to buy them anything. We genuinely don’t expect it

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Ricekrispie22 · 06/10/2019 07:14
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ginforall · 06/10/2019 08:57

I always go for a £5 costa gift card at christmas as a teacher gift.

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Chilledout11 · 06/10/2019 09:00

Wine is a great idea. I usually buy flowers in the summer and wine at Christmas

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BeanBag7 · 06/10/2019 09:02

Gift card, wildflower seeds or just a handmade/handwritten card from a child is great.

I wouldnt get wine because some people dont drink, dont like wine etc. And I definitely wouldnt get anything non-consumable because they will probably throw it away in the new year after getting 15 of the same item over the years.

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OneOfTheGrundys · 06/10/2019 09:31

I’m a teacher. I write a letter on nice paper, going into detail about all the ways in which my children have grown and learned thanks to them. I acknowledge their hard work and let them know how it has had a positive effect on our family.
All gifts are nice though.

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OneOfTheGrundys · 06/10/2019 09:32

Didn’t see they were meh however 😂! A short letter thanking them then!

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Sooverthemill · 06/10/2019 09:35

Teachers genuinely do not expect presents. Neither do GPs incidentally. If you want to reward them, a bottle of wine is fine but a card written/made by the child is by far the best thing a teacher gets. I don't know where this rush to send money on Xmas presents for teachers comes from. We don't need presents ( former teacher here)

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LazyDaisey · 06/10/2019 09:36

I let my kids chose Christmas ornaments at homesense for their teachers and TAs (last year, one child had 2 part time teachers and 3 part time TAs so a £3 ornament that costs £10 elsewhere is a budget saver)

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MrsKCastle · 06/10/2019 09:38

A nice handwritten card would be appreciated. Don't worry about buying wine as the costs would mount up quickly.

One of the nicest teacher Christmas presents that I've seen is a family that bought a whole selection of different tree decorations and let each member of staff choose one.

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capsule · 06/10/2019 09:42

Please don't buy a tree bauble. I was given one by nearly every child one year. I live in a small two up two down and have tiny tree that was already decorated by the end of term. Consumables are always a better idea and can be regifted or sent to food bank. I would prefer parents donate to the school or buy a book as we are so short of money. A note of thanks is always much appreciated.

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LazyDaisey · 06/10/2019 09:47

Lol capsule, that’s quite funny. Why didn’t you just regift them? I noticed a lot of panettone shaped boxes in our class last Xmas. Grin

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Loveoddthings · 06/10/2019 09:55

Vouchers!
For local shopping Center so they can select shop

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Loveoddthings · 06/10/2019 09:58

We don't need presents ( former teacher here)
Not many of us need presents

I write a card of thanks and enclose £15 voucher

They do so much for my children. Day in and day out. This is my tint way of showing my appreciation

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MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 06/10/2019 13:05

We do Costa gift vouchers.

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Barbarara · 06/10/2019 13:21

In our school the parents organize a voluntary collection and get the teacher a card and gift voucher. Lots of parents say they appreciate it as it’s less stressful and we know the teacher gets something more useful than 24 boxes of chocolates. There’s no obligation to take part.

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Sooverthemill · 06/10/2019 13:32

@Loveoddthings if you have 30 children in your form you get 30 things to take home most of which you don't want. Plus the kids you teach classes to, so 5 x classes each week many of whom also give gifts. It's really really unnecessary. Vouchers for the local costa etc are nice I guess but I would have far rather had a card from the child than ££ from the parent. And no one needs stuffed things with 'best teacher ever' on it!
Of course all presents are unnecessary. Tbh we're not big present givers in our family either

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recklessgran · 06/10/2019 14:31
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Emeraude · 06/10/2019 17:39

How funny, @capsule. I was never given a single tree decoration and I think that would have been lovely. Wildflower bomb sounds great, as do Costa vouchers. Anything is nice to receive, although I gave away any smelly stuff. Unless it's from Selfridges, I'd rather have a nice card. Always appreciated the effort and remembered it though!

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shellysheridan · 06/10/2019 23:36

I've had a few tree decorations over the years and genuinely think of the children when putting them up. I can see how it could get too much though. I've probably had 5 over 15 years so it's manageable.

I appreciate anything handmade or a nice card with a note the most

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Ilovemyhairbeingstroked · 07/10/2019 12:20

I just wouldn’t bother to be honest . I used to, then one year I thought I would rather save the money and use it on our own Xmas stuff . I had the same problem as you lots of part time teachers and TAs so it mounted it . I always thank them in some way at the end of the school year anyway . I’m sure they don’t care . Infact , I’ve seen some teachers appear really unappreciative.

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neversleepagain · 07/10/2019 12:28

I give John Lewis vouchers every year. I am a teacher and would appreciate this myself. I would never buy a physical object for any teacher.

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Stompythedinosaur · 08/10/2019 00:05

We give a small box of chocs. Have to give something small as there are quite a few teachers and TAs who work with the dc. I personally couldn't care if they throw them away after, my dc just want to give something to their teachers.

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BakewellGin1 · 08/10/2019 21:39

Ohhhh well after reading this thread I might go for a costa voucher or nice notebook 😁

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