OK - quick etiquette advice after a bit of a cock up if you can be bothered (this is not very interesting).

[CRS]

I am a teacher. Every Summer, I write a list of kids who have given me gifts and what it was so I can send thank you cards out in September. This year, it's finally happened - I've lost the bloody list!

So I now have 3 options as I see it.

A: Get a class list and see if I can remember which kids gave presents and send cards to them not specifying the gift, and pray not left anyone out.

B: As above except thanking for specific gift in the cases (most) where I know who gave what, and just a thank you if I know a gift was given but not sure what, and still risk missing someone out.

C: Send no thank yous for fear of offending someone who I have inadvertently left out, but feel rude and ungrateful forever.

Which is best, or alternatively, am I missing a better solution?

[MissVerinder]

Send a thank you to all of them but not specifically for gifts/cards buy for trying hard and being good?

Presuming they did...

[tethersend]

C.

Now go and enjoy your holiday

[moonstorm]

Give a generic card saying you've lost the list, 'thank you' and please let me know who gave what so I can give a personal thank you?

[belledechocchipcookie]

B. Write a general: 'Thank you so much for your lovely gift, I looked at it over the summer and it made me smile.' Parents don't talk to each other (usually).

[Ragwort]

What about a general thank you to all members of the class - wishing them a good next year, thanking them for their enthusiasm as class members and for the very kind cards and gifts ............

[timidviper]

In all the time my DCs were at school I never once got a thank you (other than verbally on occasion) for end of term gifts. I think it's extremely nice of you to do it but IME is not an expectation so I would just leave it. I doubt anyone would notice.

[AgentZigzag]

D: Pour another large glass of wine and forget all about work.

(A would be the best option I think)

[sherbertdipdab]

gosh I think you are a very nice teacher.

Having taught KS2 for 10 years I have never written any thank you cards!

I do open the present in front of the child and say thank you, give a big smile and always found it was all that was needed.

Umm in your situation I'd do B.

[snippywoo2]

my kids have never expected a thankyou card from their teachers I dont think any kids do just forget about and enjoy the holidays the new term will come round quick enough

[browneyesblue]

Agree with MissVerinder - just write to everyone mentioning how much you enjoyed teaching them and giving a general thank you to everyone who sent kind wishes, cards or gifts.

[whackamole]

Well, if you will be having the same children in your class next year do a generic thank you to all of them.

Otherwise, don't bother. My mum always bought our teachers presents at the end of the school year, and aside from a verbal thanks on receipt we never got anything else! Generally, if you thank the person at the time I wouldn't send a card to anyone.

[LineRunner]

Dear Child,

Thank you so much for being in my class last year. You were all wonderful. Thank you also for all the lovely goodbyes I received, as well as my lovely hugs, cards and gifts. I am very grateful to you all for being so kind to me on our last day, and I shall treasure the memories of all our time together.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Flighty.

[eaglewings]

OK, it is nice to get a thank you note, but you should be making the most of the rest you have over the summer.
Go for C

[AgentZigzag]

If all of them didn't give you a gift, is it worse to leave a DC out, or give one a thank you card when they didn't get you anything and they go home and tell their parents you expect a present at the end of term?

[ivykaty44]

send a thank you to each and every child in the class for something you like about them rather than the actual present the parent purchased

[kittensliveupstairs]

Bloody blimey, DD has never received a thank you note, despite being an arselicker giving every teacher she's ever had a present.
Stop stressing and get on and enjoy the holidays.

[CRS]

I like option D! .

My mother was VERY strict about thank you letters when I was a child, and I still haven't got over it - there are always about a million quite a lot of thank you cards in the house for a range of situations!

I like the idea of the "thanks to all kids, and for the lovely cards and presents" idea - but a bit worried that this would then look like I was making some kind of pointed comment to parents who don't do teacher gifts!

Arrrggghh! The social minefield just got worse!

[SandStorm]

How about a sign to stick on the door at the beginning of term:

"Mrs X would like to thank everyone for their kind gifts at the end of term and wishes you all a very happy and successful new year"

That's been done at dd's school and all were happy with it.

[CRS]

Oh - I missed some posts there! Am now worried that many parents over the years have thought I was a complete bloody freak on receipt of thankyou card!

[beanandspud]

Wait for at least 3 weeks as the lost list will turn up eventually and you can write the thank you cards in a mad rush at the end of the holidays?

[DumSpiroSpero]

I really wouldn't worry too much tbh. We put a fair bit of time & effort into getting something suitable for DD's teacher at the end of the term as she was particularly fab, but it wouldn't have even occurred to me to expect a thank you card (and I'm quite fussy about them generally!).

[LynetteScavo]

You are over thinking....they will all have forgotten they even gave you anything by September.

LOOK WE HAVE AN ETIQUETTE TOPIC

B sounds like the bet option to me.

[CRS]

Sorry - have now also made a faux pas in terms of etiquette by not knowing there was an etiquette topic and posting in wrong place! Things are going from bad to worse!

I think I am going to go with C and live with the crushing guilt, no my mother's obsession with formal expressions of gratitude hasn't left me with any hang ups, no siree