to give teachers a 'snack pack' for trips?

[WhatGoesHere]

so - my son is due to go on a school residential for 3 nights.
Do you think it would be weird to send him with a box/bag of treats for the teachers - to help them "get through" the ordeal long days? I'm just thinking some biscuits, hot chocolate sachets, box of celebrations - that kind of thing.

I think it might be better than a thank you of the same thing after the event? I will ask DS to write a thank you card too - as teachers are giving up time and i gather it's actually really hard work taking kids away on these things?

do you think the admin staff should get a few treats too for their office? As they presumably did lots of prep work too??

When DD went on her Year 6 Residential, I gave the coach driver a bag with 2 x wine boxes in it and said give it to the teachers at some point, not realising they’d not get a chance to drink it.

Teachers are ‘just doing their job’…no they are not. Their job is to teach kids during school hours. They are giving up loads of free time ( often with their own kids) to give your child a great experience for no extra money or time off in lieu.
i have 30+ years of teaching and have done numerous trips, in the UK and abroad. A box of treats would be so well received and hugely appreciated. It’s not ‘sucking up’, it’s being appreciative. If my hairdresser fits me in after hours I take her a bunch of flowers, if my washing machine repair man comes in the evening to help me out, I get him a bottle of wine. It shows how much I appreciate them. I think it’s a lovely gesture and I know Is appreciate it.

Full disclosure, haven't rtft but enough of cringe, weird and ott !

These responses are ott! I see the point about extra to carry so why not drop it off a day or 2 before!

I would definitely take my own snacks so this would save the job of buying them! Great idea

This.

It would never have dawned on me to do this, very ott. It’s part of their job. End of term, fine.

I take a residential trip to Germany every year for a week. On call 24 hours a day for a whole week, including weekend. Hours and hours and hours spent doing risk assessments, booking flights, dealing with admin, all while trying to teach, plan lessons for and mark work for 11 classes. Setting about 25 hours' of cover lessons before I go, taking my laptop with me and working while away. It's not a normal part of a teacher's job. Trips are extra work. So yeah receiving a box of biscuits from an unusual grateful parent who understands the extra work involved - totally cringe and unreasonable

I haven't voted either way, but I'll try to answer as I'm sat on the fence lol
Immediate reaction is it's honestly a lovely thing to do, but seems a bit "try hard" in the nicest possible way?!
Not to mention if your kid is handing out a "thank you " pack to the teachers, it's singling them out to have the piss ripped out of them (sorry but kids can be little shits)

That’s a nice idea! I’ve never done it but think they would appreciate the gesture.

I gave dd’s teacher a bottle of wine and box of chocolates and a thank you card when I collected her after the residential. They must work really hard on those stays.

As a member of school staff literally about to board a bus for 19 hours I'd bloody love you for it!

Why does anyone imagine it's my lad that will be making some grand ceremonial handing over of a massive gift box or something?
I was just going to find a teacher in the morning at drop off, one that looked easiest to grab quickly, (ie not one herding kids, or in the middle of lugging bags or whatever) , and hand over a box of chocolates or whatever saying "these are for the staff to share, have a great trip and thanks in advance!" or whatever.

Yes nice idea but there'd totally be a thread on here lol
"AIBU the teachers drank wine on a residential?!"

I’m sure the finance team would also appreciate it. Organising trips is a total ball ache and half the parents don’t pay its the bain of my life.

Oh my goodness, I am a teacher with years of experience on residentials, and would LOVE this! Do it OP!

I'm a primary teacher.

I'd be really touched if a parent did this!

This is why I thought a similar gift to go into school office? I think there's about 8 admin staff? Maybe 10? Thinking maybe a box od nice biscuits or something.

I hope you do this OP, and think of my suggestion of coffee bags!

I had noted that! Just need to find some :D

Thanks!

Glad to hear it 😊

I always sent DD with a box of celebrations etc for the staff when she went on school residential and brownie/guide camps.
Been there, done that with school trips and it is hard work! Anybody who thinks looking after 60 9 year olds on Dartmoor for 3 days is a holiday, when the last ones don't sleep till gone midnight and the first ones wake at 5am, is welcome to volunteer as a helper. Bare in mind you will be sleeping in tents next to the children, cooking, serving and clearing up after 3 meals a day as well as having to run activities from 8am till bedtime.
I think a box of chocolates would be very much appreciated.

Teacher here- I only read the first page but I’m going against the replies.
I think this is an amazing idea! It is “not within my job” to go away for residentials and leave my family for up to 5 days- I get nothing in return for spending nights up with children that aren’t my own!
I do it because I think it’s an amazing experience and my children loved it at school.
Also, I always under pack and would love treats, quite often we stay in places where we can’t get treats and I haven’t brought any away with me/ don’t feel it’s appropriate to leave the children to get some so I would love a parent supplying us all with some.
So thank you OP for highlighting this and appreciating the staff who give up their nights and families for others.

😂 fair enough. I just literally used commas instead of slashes. My mistake!

I guess snack pack wasn't the right term too. More of a "snacks in a carrier bag" I guess 😁

I did say I'd be giving a selection of stuff to the reception staff to share in the office(s). We always make sure they're included in things like end of term cakes and stuff. I trust that they make sure all support staff get some. :)

I shared my puddin' with you man!
I gave you my SNACK PACK!"
Now you act like YOU CAN'T EVEN HEAR ME!"

😂

Sorry. As you were.

I have done it previously and it was never a sucking up mission.
Also I would LOVE it if it happened now as parents are always "I don't know how you do it" when we are 20 minutes into a day trip (with junior school kids so not even residentials)
It's nice to be nice.

noted ;)

Ignore the grumpy ones. It's a great idea and would be much appreciated. Why is being thoughtful always turned into 'sucking up'. Most teachers take snacks in their bags but will always appreciate more!