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Gift Card For Teachers

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous in Parenting' started by startinganew, Dec 20, 2019.

  1. Mehana

    Mehana Platinum IL'ite

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    I am unsure do they accept cash? Gift card should be good. You going to give $40 for all other 4 teachers? Cookie or chocolate boxes are more cheaper compared to money you spending.

    99c shop or Walmart shop has small gift bags in the birthday section you can use those bags and cover with thin color sheet we use for birthday parties.

    Costco or Sam's club has bulk Christmas gift chocolate and cookie boxes .I usually buy 3 or 4(each comes with 2 or 3 boxes) Christmas boxes, if I buy 3 big boxes(each has 2 or 3 smallsmall ) so totally I get around 9 and distribute among teachers and aides in gift bags.

    My personal opinion but if you prefer to give away more cash it's up to you.
     
  2. MalStrom

    MalStrom IL Hall of Fame

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    Cash is fine and the teachers prefer it to getting cookies or candy because their pay isn’t high. I give a nice handwritten card, an envelope with money and a small candy gift in a little gift bag. This time I found some nice chocolate snowmen at the grocery store, so that’s going in all the bags.
     
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  3. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    I wish I had thought of the cash option back when I gave gifts more often to teachers. General thoughts/ questions:

    1. Is it OK to give cash to teachers beyond preschool years? Like in public school? While I wish I had done it in the preschool years, I would have felt funny gifting cash to my child's elementary school teachers. I read the school district guidelines, they are allowed to accept gift of up to a certain amount from a parent, but never checked if cash was also ok. I have felt more comfortable gifting cash to people whom I pay directly for their services.

    2. The cookie/candy to accompany the cash. Or buying a bigger box and distributing it with smaller festive bags: Would it be unhygienic if to re-pack into smaller bags, one touched the cookies? And, even if the cookies/candy are individually wrapped, does it look tacky to buy a bigger bag and distribute into smaller? Or, no one cares?

    3. The accompanying note: matters as much as the gift itself. If one is not the kind who can write warm notes, that is fine. But, googling some templates or reading others notes online helps. It feels nice to take the time to compose one and write it. I used to look back at the child's artwork or weekly newsletters or recall some of the times I spoke with the teacher about my concerns and how she helped.

    And adding some less-generous vibes to the holiday season : ), my attention to the gift was also based on what I wanted from the teacher later that year. If child was going through a tough phase, and I needed to meet teacher more often, I would give a bigger gift. In elementary school, I went big on the December gift as there were 5-6 months of interaction remaining with that teacher. For the end of year gift, I went big on the note (3 pages one time), and for every extra-helpful teacher, I wrote an email summarizing the year or 1-2 major help's from the teacher and cc'ed the asst. principal or the principal. Sometimes, for the not so great or downright mean teachers, I told myself they get enough of a pension, and have a cannot be fired job-security, and skipped the year-end gift.
     
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  4. startinganew

    startinganew Gold IL'ite

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    Thank you all for the detailed sharing!

    So complicated - this thin line between being appreciative and not going overboard. We are new to this school so didn't want to overdo and make anyone feel awkward.

    Read online that some schools have 'teacher's gift giving guide - so I checked with ours, but they did not have one. I will request school owner for this so that next time - we don't have to make guesses on especially which source for gift card (Amazon - don't they have to pay shipping if they don't have Prime? Also they can't use it immediately for gifts since it's too close for online shopping for Chrtistmas gifts.)

    I avoided the cookies/candy route because I thought everyone might be bombarded with quite a few of these big-store packaged goodies during this season and it might just be +1 that everyone is trying to get rid of (pass-the-parcel to the next "giftee"). If it were home-made or something special that I could find - I would have gone for it, to accompany gift cards. Too late for this time - next time I will be on the lookout for special candy to go along. :)

    I went with 100 gift card for primary teacher and 25 gift card for the next-door teachers who assist now and then. The "other" teachers - other than warm hi/bye - there is little interaction.
     
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  5. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    I'd think you'd avoid them just for the sugar in them. ; )

    Home-made.. nope. Not unless it is a scarf you have knitted. : ) My 'hatké' neighbor gives jams, preserves, olive oil, balsamic vinegar from a 'hatké' well-known local store. Going to copy her next time.

    Good job. : )

    hatké - removed from others.
     
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  6. startinganew

    startinganew Gold IL'ite

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    How nice, Rihana!! :hearteyes:
    I had been maintaining a drive doc noting down some of the endearing things my little one had to share about school - that I wanted to convey back to the teacher in a letter. I will try to finish that up and give it now before the holidays. (oh! reality note: we won't write about the crying and the convincing and why we are always late to school.:innocent: )

    I think I am like that too (replace teacher with person) and please add "unintentionally" to make it easier on me. :-( I feel less good, more real now - reading the above line again and again. Raw and real. Grounds me. :facepalm: (Two weeks ago my goals for the holiday season was volunteer and exercise - and now that's not figuring in at all - only my returns-expecting-gifting is underway) :neutral:
     
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  7. startinganew

    startinganew Gold IL'ite

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    Gosh, you know me too well! It is true. :kissingheart: :thumbup:
     
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  8. MalStrom

    MalStrom IL Hall of Fame

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    For public school teachers I would not give cash. Gift cards are better, because it is a more formal setting than daycare and unless they are subs these are relatively decently-paid professionals with job security and good benefits.
    I have learned to stick to boxed goodies only. People can be reluctant to try home-made items and with all the risks of allergies and whatnot I can’t blame them. I get small individual boxes even though it costs more.
     
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  9. Mehana

    Mehana Platinum IL'ite

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    I always prefer small candy or cookie boxes ...mostly costco as they have varieties. Always prefer store brought and in sealed boxes. Here most people avoid homemade ..make sense bez of allergies and their tatse differ too. Godiva or syarbucks (mug with coffee set) are my favorites..

    I usually give gift cards which looks better and more professional.
     
  10. Sunshine04

    Sunshine04 Platinum IL'ite

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    Gift cards , I prefer Amazon because it's used by everyone.
    When I had checked previously with my elementary and middle school teachers, they preferred cash.
    This year I gave cash in cards with a nice note .
    Avoid cookies or candy.
    Teachers don't get paid much .
    So please give maximum cash or Amazon gc according to your financial ability.
     

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