What can we buy as leaving presents for staff?

[Catsycat]

Hoping you have some good ideas! I'm on the Friends, and was asked by a member of staff if I could organise a collection for two staff members who are leaving at the end of term. One is male and is emigrating, one is female and is retiring after being at the school forever. We were planning to add the money we raise to the staff collection, as they know the teachers who are leaving better than we do.

However, due to reasons beyond my control (!) it now appears we may have to buy something separately, but I have no idea what... The only suggestions I've had are a photo of the school, signed by the children (there are only 42 children in the school), or a photo of all the children inscribed with names etc. Not sure about this last one, as we just had school photos a few weeks ago, and the teachers will presumably have bought these if they wanted them.

We will likely have around £30-40 to spend on each teacher (small school). Because the male teacher is emigrating, we need to get something that he can take with him easily. I need to be able to get whatever we decide by 23rd July...

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance :)

What abot an amazon voucher for the male emigrating teacher that he can use abroad.
For the retiring teacher what about a nice vase (inscribed?) or voucher too?

Currency for the country where the male teacher will be going?

We bought book vouchers for a retiring teacher and wrote something about him finally having time to read a book. When I saw him several months later he said he'd spent all of the money on one expensive, gift edition book so that he would always have it (rather than buying a dozen disposable paperbacks), which I thought was a nice idea.

Thanks for the ideas everyone! :) Will suggest to the other Friends and see what they think.

I think you have to buy a separate present because of how it shows in the accounts when they are assessed. If money was just given, then there wouldn't be enough of an audit trail.

What about getting each child to do a drawing and then put these in a scrapbook together with photos of the school? If you have a mum who is good at scrapbooking then it could make a lovely momento.

Amazon vouchers
itunes vouchers
john lewis vouchers

stuff that they can get what THEY really want at their leisure

for younger teachers : nice big mugs - you can never have too many in a house!

I don't know any teachers who buy school photos. they are usually given a copy of their class photo.

Best idea is probably a framed photo of all the children in the school with a message from each in either a book or especially large card. Vouches are always appreciated.

Please avoid mugs! Teachers are given far too many!