Is anyone sending end of year gifts

[SJa11]

What do you think

I don’t usually (more disorganisation than anything). But I’ve actually been so impressed with how all the staff at school have managed the ongoing situation that I definitely will this year. I understand why doe wouldn’t if they’ve not heard from a class teacher since March though.

In particular our headteacher has been exceptional and accommodating.

What do I gift

It’s a good time to stop end of year gifts. Just email the Head if your DCs’ teachers have been doing a good job. Copy the teachers in to show that you appreciate their efforts.

I want to show my appreciation to my children's teachers because they have been brilliant both before and during the crisis. However, I am concerned that sending anything in might just be seen as an extra risk to the staff and children in school. Neither of my two will go back to school until September, so my family's germs could potentially be avoided completely. Even a card with a thank you message could carry the virus in.

I would like to get the headteacher a Union Jack cushion is that OTT

We’ve always sent end of year gifts, but won’t be doing do this year. We’ve had minimal contact from the school, for the first 11 weeks the ‘home learning’ was a list of generic links on the website for BBC bitesize, Oak Academy, etc., with an additional suggestion to do 20 mins of mathematics a day.

We emailed in copies of work we’d done at home anyway (mainly from Twinkl and workbooks), but received only occasional ‘well done, you’ve worked hard!’ type replies.

In the last fortnight they’ve set more structured tasks, but haven’t even acknowledged them when we’ve emailed them in.

I’m very disillusioned. Youngest child isn’t especially academic and requires a lot of coaxing to do the work, but has worked very hard and put a lot of effort in, but had nothing back.

So my end of term ‘gift’ this year will be a detailed breakdown of how disappointing their home learning provision has been.

No , we've done an online card for the teachers. But no gift.

SENCO and TA for secondary child yes. They have been amazing.

Year 5 teacher no. Barely heard from him and this is not in line with other teachers in the school.

We’ll send the usual one organized by the class reps, and an extra one for the SLT and the facilities team (organized. Y a group of parents for the whole school)

Yes. I'm going to buy very soon and wrap, then put in a bag and seal it with the date. That way everything inside is already quarantined and virus free by the time I give it to them.

I am going to send an amazon gift voucher code in an online card. My dc teacher has been great.

I comment on this sort of thread every year saying, please don't.... teachers get paid, we don't need you to spend your hard earned cash in gifts for us too. The best possible gift any year is to say thank you, especially if you tell the head what a good job you think they're doing.

Then drink the wine yourself because I'm guessing you deserve it!!

@holidaydisaster2020 our school has gone above and beyond. All classes back fulltime (primary), almost perfect curriculum with to s of feedback and interaction during lockdown. Normally I agree with you, but this year they’ve worked all hours, they’ve really, really earned a bit extra!

I would like to as the school has been great. And DS teacher is also going on maternity leave.

I like the giftcard idea. I think I will do that. As well as emailing the Head to tell her how great our teacher has been.

@SJa11

I would like to get the headteacher a Union Jack cushion is that OTT

I don't mean to sound rude, but why? It just seems a bit of a random thing to give them.

@holidaydisaster2020 our school has gone above and beyond. All classes back fulltime (primary), almost perfect curriculum with to s of feedback and interaction during lockdown. Normally I agree with you, but this year they’ve worked all hours, they’ve really, really earned a bit extra!

Fair enough then, lovely to see some positivity towards teachers
I work in an area where almost all the parents are struggling for money and I get hugely uncomfortable then when I receive gifts that I know will have stretched them financially although it's lovely that they want to.

Please don’t. We are in the very fortunate position of having a secure job. Put the money into a charity of your choice.

If you do feel your dc’s teacher has gone above and beyond, write a letter to the head. I’d prefer that (although my teenage dc see my end of term chocolates as an important perk).

Please suggest a gift to a headteacher

I appreciate all that said. My son has Autism never been settled in school until lockdown and enjoyed the provision he has which has a positive impact on his overall health.

I would like to say thank you and we appreciate you

@holidaydisaster2020 in our school its usually class gifts with anonymous donations. So nobody feels obliged to gift beyond what they can afford (or at all)

A heartfelt card is a lovely gesture.

Right now, more than any gift, kind words will be very much appreciated in most schools.

We are lucky enough to be receiving positive words and comments and we always share them in our weekly memo. It's so so important at the moment when the news and social media are blaming teachers for what's happening. Those weekly reminders from parents are really uplifting and are a big boost to finish and start the week. More is than most gifts to be fair.

Headteacher: wine, whiskey, gin. If they don't drink, they can easily re-gift it or keep it for visitors. If they do drink, they will like you a lot.

Union Jack cushion might be a bit of a niche taste.

I usually do but won’t be this year. I feel very let down by the school.