End of year gifts?

[kitpuss]

Does anyone have any ideas for end of year gifts for teachers?

Especially if you are a teacher - are there things you get loads of and hate to receive, or would love and never get?

We usually make fudge, but I have to admit it doesn't always get as far as being given to the teacher

Sorry but we won't be giving anything. I will make sure i say thank you personally to each of their teachers as they have been great though. If they really wanted to give something I would let them but they are not bothered. I am hoping a genuine face to face thank you will mean more anyway than a box of chocolates.

The best gifts are the ones that the children have made themselves.

Failing that, wine usually goes down well

Least favourite (sorry) are toiletries, which I tend to be allergic to and which always end up in a charity shop.

I'm perfectly happy not to receive anything though.

My DS is making his teacher a cross stitch bookmark this year, and cross stitch keyrings for the TAs.

Wine always goes down well here! And I second/ third/ fourth...the posts about chocolates/ smellies/ ornaments/ mugs. Although of course I am very grateful for all the present I get, it's just that there is a limit to how many mugs I need and if I get the chocolates I feel compelled to eat them all!
If you really appreciate what the teacher has a done a card with a message telling him/ her how grateful you are would be fab. I keep all these notes - they mean so much more than a present.

I tend to go for one of the charity gifts, they do various school related items, such as pens/pencils for a class or a years school books for a child etc ... I think some of them are available with tesco clubcard points now too

Persuade the children to make a card, or buy one if time is short, write a nice message in it to say thankyou very much.

That's my favourite thing to receive - I keep them all.

I like wine and chocolates too.

I usually give gift vouchers

jobhuntersrus a thank you is always very welcome
(I get embarrassed by gifts but like home made cards)

As a teacher, I would say a home made card and a message that is written entirely by the DC with the sort of 'class in joke' that the parent doesn't understand-so that you know it is all the DCs own work from the heart and not dictated by the parent!
One of my nicest presents was a little notebook just the right size for shopping lists with wild flowers on the front-very inexpensive, I would imagine.
Flowers are lovely but very sad if you are off on holiday in the next few days. Wine is always good! (chocolate is very bad for the figure!)

I'd suggest avoiding any of the following....
out of date chocolates,
a flashing (and I don't mean illuminating!!) snowman,
a hologram clock with the scene of the last supper,
a 50cm sword in the stone pen holder
'mr and mrs' photo frame

The above have given me a giggle... and it's the thought that counts BUT a handmade card with a 'thank you', flowers, wine...

To be honest, a 'thank you' on the last day of term is all I really want!! You'd be surprised how many parents don't even bother!

I like a homemade card or a card with a message inside. Wine is always good with me. My own DCs like the chocolates I get. I quite like a thank you teacher mug - I put them on my desk fro odd pens and things or on a shelf in my class (and keep the gift label).
Please don't feel obliged to buy a present for the teacher if you feel one isn't warranted. I will NOT be buying my DS's teacher a gift (she is also retiring and has taught him for the last too years) - I just don't think she's done enough for him. However, I will be buying the HLTA a gift and my DD's teacher, as they are both fab.

I've done personal gifts as well as more general ones - I did a box of stickers, keyrings, lucky dip items that she could use as small prizes for the next school year as they often buy things like that from their own pocket - DS loved choosing a prize when he did well so I knew she would get use from them.

Wine is good but I dont know if they all drink so only buy it if im sure and I avoid charity gifts as they are about the person buying not the person receiving.

Used to put a lot of thought into present buying but I won't be doing any this year as the teacher DD has had for two years is a nasty piece of work who never even said thank you for the gifts last year. She can go whistle this year. There is very competitive present buying from the parents at my DDs private prep and I simply cannot be bothered this year as DD is moving on.

My ds will probably want to make a card.
Last year he was very hyper the day before last day of term and ended up writing a 'sorry for my silly behaviour' message. Bit embarrassing but he drew a picture too!
I have never done presents and that is no reflection on what I think of the teachers. Find concept of presents for teachers odd but hope teachers don't hold it against me or ds that they only get card at end of year.

Years ago when I was a student I wanted to give a little gift to one great lecturer. One of my student friends' suggested a bottle of wine. Apparently they heard he really liked alcohol and just loved such gifts. His wife was my lecturer too. Once she told us, the students, how terrible her husband's drinking was. It caused arguments at home etc. I wished I gave him chocolates instead :(
I think I am going to make a postcard. The kid is finishing RY. Should the message come from us parents or from the child?