teachers - what would you like as an end or year present please?

[mckenzie]

I remember reading a thread this time last year about this but my searches have proved fruitless.

About 7 or 8 of us mums will be clubbing together. Last year we bought M&S vouchers and a bunch of flowers.

What would you most like to receive from your pupils and their parents?

TIA

Message withdrawn

Eidsvold, will you share your fudge recipes please? Really like your idea of fudge maybe in a mug or something for each teacher and assistant.

blu i agree with you. I don't get it. Are supposed to buy gifts for the dinner ladies too. Surely a thank you is enough to give someone who has done their job.

white choc cranberry fudge

3 375g pkts of white choc melts
2 tins - 395g sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup icing sugar - have to check this
1 cup chopped dried cranberries ( aka craisins)
(I also put in sultanas and would do some sort of nut if I knew the person did not have a nut allergy)

1. In a double boiler ( I just use saucepan inside another that has boiling water in it ) over a low heat - melt and mix the sweetened condensed milk and the white choc melts

2. when melted and thick, remove from the heat, add the icing sugar and the friut/nuts.

3. pour into a baking paper lined slice tray.

4. Chill in the fridge until set ( I leave mine over night)

5. CUt into fingers/squares. Arrange in a bowl/mug/dish etc. I then cover it with cellophane. I have also wrapped the fingers in cellophane individually.

I don't rememmber as a child doing this, when did it start anyway.

Do teachers think any less of those that don't give a gift ?

I don't have enough time to make homemade stuff for all club leaders, teachers PTA staff....

Cards, yes - as dds can do them on their own.

rocky road

choc melts - 2 pkts - white/dark/milk - whatever you like
2pkts marshmallows
jellies or gummy sweets
coconut
nuts ( but not if they are for presents)

Melt the choc in a double boiler
cut up the sweets and line the slice tray with them
pour over melted choc and smooth it over
refrigerate until sets

cut into squares

*choc melts are cooking choc

Definitely alcohol, nice wine - I think my DS's teacher needs it after a year with him!!!

i now get somethign that all teachers and staff can share - in the staffroom - i used to get individual presents but there are staff in the school that we may forget. i spose it is up to the teachers to hand out the gifts... but i am thinking biscuits

totally misread question
how did i do that?

bUT good point about brownies... never ever remember.. will try harder

Thanks eidsvold! Will be having a go at both of those!

I certainly don't think any less of those who don't buy pressies - but I certainly do enjoy and appreciate the ones I get!
The only time I feel a bit miffed is if a particular child has warranted a lot of special attention and there has been more than the normal amount of parental involvement - if, by the end of the year, I feel that real progress has been made, issues overcome etc and the parent doesn't even acknowledge it I feel a bit put out. But only mildly, and again it is my job I suppose!
Staffroom sharing pressies are great too - but remember to hand them in a week or so before the end of term so we have time to eat them! That way everyone can share inc TAs, SENs, cover teachers etc.
A mum from our class gave the clerical staff choccies this year which I thought was nice, as they deal with sooooo much and really keep the place running but no-one ever remembers them!

DD1's Yr1 teacher has been fantastic; she has inspired DD1 in a rush home and paint a Monet-style picture, put on a show about the lifecycle of a butterfly, tell us about adjectives or look up about Nelson in the library kind of way. She is also hugely affectionate with the children who quite reasonably adore her. I was going to buy her champagne but, having read this thread, book tokens might be better. However, I think probably the most important part of the gift has to be a carefully crafted letter telling her the ways in which she has made Yr1 so special for DD1. She's in her late 50s so she's probably got a sackful of those types of letters, but you can never tire of hearing that you are wonderful. Can you?

Never!!! She will have no way of knowing that DD1 has been so inspired so tell her!! What a fab teacher you must be so pleased.

Also teachers please tell me, I was thinking of writing a note to the head saying what a great teacher DD1 has has - as she has really brought her out of her shell in the two years she has had her - do you think that is good, or a bit crawly?

As a retired teacher I can look back at many presents from pupils and parents. All were precious, but the best ones were mementos made by the students, and sincere letters of thanks from students and parents, which I still have. Also a rare, but delghtful letter years later to tell me how they have got on in later life.

you are kidding
i dont want OTHER kids crap
i ahev my own kids crap to store

As the daughter of a teacher, I would say try and steer clear of 'stuff'. Picture frames, ornaments, etc. The teacher will have nowhere to put them and they almost certainly aren't her taste.

Cards, letters, etc are lovely. They can be put on display and then binned (or boxed up in the loft).

Think perishable - wine, chocolates (I know what others have said, but you can usually find a home for them), flowers (even if going off on holiday the next day, still appreciated)- or in the teacher's control (e.g. voucher).

Her absolute favourite present - a voucher for a facial from a group of children. She was totally overwhelmed.

Havent read all of this, but I like to get bath stuff personally. Or wine.
chocolates are nice, but we all feel guilty when eating them - most teachers I know are on diets!
And a letter telling your teacher how they have inspired your child is wonderful. I got one once, and it is so appreciated. We never hear the good things, just the bad things, so it makes a lovely change.

one of my students asked me last week if i'd like to contribute money to his form tutor's end of year present !!
I really appreciate getting cards, letters or emails from parents whose children you have helped. i think some of these suggestions are lovely though - i obviously work in the wrong place!

For christmas I gave a voucher off one of the charity sites which bought a child a library ticket in Ethiopia. Came with a gorgeous card inside.

Not probably the thread to point out that teachers do actually get paid from our taxes in the first place. Cant you tell I am having a bad day!

I always loved home made presents. One of the nicest I had was a vase, which had been painted with the child's favourite things which had happened over the year. Other parents have clubbed together to buy vouchers which was great as I could really splash out, but to be honest the cards are usually the things that I treasure the most.

Interesting comment about scout leaders not getting pressies even tho' it is voluntary.
Teachers get paid!
Last Xmas we gave all of ds2's cub leaders a small box of chocs - didn't cost much. They were delighted.
No-one else gave them anything. They give up an evening a week and go CAMPING!! Voluntarily!!

just bought those little egg things that u can crack open and water and plants grow out, and cake stands and I am not buying anymore, not for the bus driver cos she is a girny cow who never cracks a smile and not for the ballet teachers cos the are young thin and gorgeous, will get wine for the school secretary cos she printed out a homeopathic remedy for dd1 when she had warts on her hands