Any teachers here? End of the year gifts question

amother

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 7:00 am

What’s the standard amount received or a gift that you’d prefer a check vs gift card vs a cutesty mug or something nicely wrapped up that might be $10 ?

amother

Peru

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 7:13 am

If your budget is tight, a chocolate bar and $5 gift card to a local coffee shop will be under $10 but is nice and useful.
$10 to a local coffee shop is also nice.
A small gift card should be to a place where a small amount is all that is needed- it should be enough to but what's there. (Don't give me a $10 gift card to a restaurant where the cheapest meal is $25).

amother

Blueberry

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 7:56 am

amother Peru wrote:

I agree a nice chocolate with a letter is appreciated when budget limited. Please no mugs or cups 😅

amother

Hawthorn

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 7:58 am

Gift cards are so nice! I started giving gift cards when invited out for Shabbos meals and my friends love it! They feel very appreciated and have told me that the manicure or fancy coffee is a treat. I give gift cards to my kids teachers too. We do smaller amounts to local coffee shops when we are stretched and larger amounts to local restaurants when we are able.

amother

Gardenia

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 8:15 am

Im giving gifts today before shavuos because I don't think I will see the morahs again before school ends. Is it weird if I give a small gift with a babka? Like a nice tray or diffuser with a babka for shavuos? Or rather just give a gift card?

amother

Peru

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 8:17 am

amother Gardenia wrote:

That totally works. I hate diffusers, but if that's a thing in your community, go for it

amother

Apple

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 8:22 am

I'm doing a nice plant with a nice poem for shavuos, I don't do tips for teachers for end of year. I tip by chanuka and purim, gift by end of year. For rebbiem depends on how the year went, some I tip, some nothing. I do tip by chanuka, very nice shalach manos and tip by purim.
I'm in the education field and get tips/gifts. My favorite is the meaningful card. I don't expect anything at all, money is nice gifts are nice but the pictures and cards... that is what I hope for

amother

Zinnia

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 8:30 am

amother Gardenia wrote:

Same

Giving cheese cakes today with a card

amother

Navy

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 10:04 am

For me personally- any amount gift card is great and will be used.
If not a gift card, I'd go with food/drink. Chocolate, a danish, iced coffee... if it's not something I eat, I'll give it to my kids or bring it to the teacher's room but it will be used, unlike another mug Wink

amother

Glitter

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 10:20 am

Gosh. I feel like I just did the meaningful note and all that (money too!) at Chanukah and Purim. I do not have time or patience to write another stack of cards. Teachers, assistants , bus drivers… Do I really have to?

amother

Canary

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 10:40 am

amother Glitter wrote:

Im not. I said a very heartfelt thank you to the teachers at the yeshiva dinner.
Not sure why a sincere thank you wouldnt be enough

ValleyMom

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 10:48 am

I am a teacher and I am thrilled when parent and child take the five minutes to handwrite a note of appreciation. It makes us feel valued and our tireless work is being acknowledged. All humans like to be "seen".

Someone wrote about sending in a homemade babka... I think that is such a thoughtful and loving gesture!

In this economy I do not expect people to hand out gift cards- but a handwritten note goes a long for to nourish the soul of an exhausted teacher.

ValleyMom

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 10:53 am

amother Glitter wrote:

In a word: YES!
It's that teachable moment for your child when s/he distributes them.

That being said- nobody will know if you write the same thing to 20 people.
It's a THOUGHTFUL gesture that should be repeated frequently and often.

I gave a colleague a warm soft decorative blanket with a Thank You note for Chanukah. her respnse: "Don't get me wrong Ilove presents but WHY are you giving ME a gift?"

I gently explained thatshe needs to share it with her children and show them that her hard work as a resource specialist is appreciated! believe her chikdren need to understand that their momis a very special staff member at our school even if she does not have a formal 'class' of children. He hard word is appreciatednand acknowledged.

amother

Glitter

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 10:54 am

ValleyMom wrote:

What about the parents who have already sent you two or more handwritten notes this year? Do you notice if you don't get from them? (Asking genuinely. I really don't want to but if the teachers will feel bad I will.)

amother

Lemon

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 11:16 am

In past years, I have given a small plant. Shoprite usually has mini orchid for less than $10

However this year I have a lot going and I don't have the headspace or energy to deal with gifts. I gave for chanukah and purim and wrote long detailed cards then, and I really can't do it again now. I did say a heartfelt thank you to teachers at the the end of the year events

amother

Maple

Mon, Jun 10 2024, 8:16 pm

I'm a teacher.
I do not expect anything.

Today, of my 40+ students (2 classes- I'm not the main morah), I received 3 desserts for YT (like muffins or cheese babka) with notes.

it is so sweet and thoughtful, but not expected.
I might get 1-3 more tomorrow.

They already gave chanukah and purim!!

As a mother myself, I don't usually give shavuos gifts.
There was a year when I was younger and had less kids and gave morahs and rebbeim either flowers or store bought cheese danish.