gifts for a new teacher?

[PeachZucchini]

(using my "this thread is totally going to out me" username)

A young employee is leaving our place of work to become a teacher of modern languages (secondary). They are going to work at a school unqualified from January till June then hopefully start a PGCE from september.

We have collected circa £60 for a leaving gift but aren't sure what to get. Possibly a bottle of Teachers' Whisky and some leather elbow patches. But what would be genuinely useful for a fresh-faced and enthusiastic new recruit to the profession?

[makeitabetterplace]

Some personalised 'ms x thinks you are tres bien' stickers from superstickers.co.uk

A whistle with her name engraved on it (if she's ever going to do break/lunch duty)

A set of nice, and distinctively coloured pens for marking.

[makeitabetterplace]

Whiskey and elbow patches might be amusing - but not at all useful.

[woodychip]

Leather elbow patches?! Seriously? Is that mean to be a joke or just utterly "un useful"?!

[noblegiraffe]

A pencil case of nice stationery, including red pens.

[Noggie]

Get a stamper with 'me x says well done ' on it- I was given one years ago and still use it!

[PeachZucchini]

Yes the whisky/elbow patches would be the "joke" option. As opposed to whatever genuinely appreciated something we might come up with. Red pens and stickers could definitely be a part of that but not £60 worth! But thank you .

[Panzee]

I love the idea of leather elbow patches!
Nice pens, pencil case, etc. It's a cert that as a teacher they will have a stationery fetish. :o

[mrsmilesmatheson]

Tool kit/survival kit:
Stapler and staples
Staple gun and staples
Staple remover
Hole punch
Paper clips
Note books
Flash drive
Nice bag or box/trolley on wheels for marking etc to take home
Pens (most schools don't let you mark in red though)
Highlighters
Painkillers
Vitamins
Copy of national curriculum for subject area
Insulated mug for coffee
Gloves and hat for playground duty
Post it notes
Stickers
White address labels
Laminator and pouches
Zippy wallets
Sharpie pens
Subscription to somewhere like "teachit" or similar for their subject

I have most of this in my school kit at the moment and I use all of it all the time.