holiday gift question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
holiday gift question
14
Wed, 11-16-2005 - 2:36pm

Sylvia is in preschool; she's in a class with a teacher and a classroom aide -- plus, 5 or 6 students in her class have one-on-one aides, and it appears to me as though all the aides tend to interact with all the kids. My question is, what's the holiday gift etiquette here? I'd like to get a little something for the teacher (is that appropriate?) -- maybe even something that Sylvia has made, or cookies she's helped decorate. But I'm not sure if I should get something for ALL the aides? Just the classroom aide? And what about the bus drivers? She has a different driver to and from school -- plus each bus driver has an aide, but there tends to be a lot of turnover among those aides and there's often a different one each week, so I'm not as concerned about them. I was thinking of just giving a card to the bus drivers -- is that okay, or am I supposed to give a small gift as well?

Anything we'd get would be very small, since we can't afford to make a huge deal out of these gifts. But I just don't know what's appropriate here. I don't even know the names of all the classroom aides, although I can find out. Maybe cards for the aides, and a little extra something for the teacher and classroom aide? How do you all handle the holidays?

Another question I have is this: Sylvia takes the bus to school, so unless I cram everything into her backpack, I'd need to come to school to drop everything off. Is this appropriate? I sort of wanted to keep everything subtle, and bursting into the classroom like Santa Clause would be the opposite of subtle!!! Can you tell I'm totally clueless about a) school things and b) Christmas (I'm Jewish)?

Jennifer

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Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 11:20am

Wow... I REALLY appreciate all of these amazing ideas. I like the idea of giving the teacher a gift certificate for a store where she can get something for the classroom (office supply store, craft store, etc. -- even Target!) And I love the idea of Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks gift certificates for the bus drivers -- that's a really excellent idea. I might even do Starbucks gift certificates for the OT and ST. Then for the rest of the aides I'll either do a packet of useful things like pencils, little notepads, etc. -- or else I'll do some kind of non-sweet edible gift (Cooking Light always has great recipes for rice mixes, pancake mixes, etc. that you make yourself and give along with cooking instructions). But I guess I'd really better get cracking on all this so I have it all ready by the holidays!

Thank you all soooo much -- I love hearing what everyone does for the holidays.

Jennifer

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 11:53am

I got a black one with the 5 burners. It doesn't have the double oven because neither one of those I thought were big enough to put my turkey in, but it does have the warming drawer.

Best thing about it, when you set a temp to cook at, IT COOKS AT THAT TEMP!!!!

It was a lower end jenn Aire but it was the one with all the stuff the way I wanted it. I got mine last year just before the holidays (october I think) and I couldn't wait to put it to use. It bakes the best cookies.

Renee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 11:57am

Heck, how did I forget! I should post this separate because it was a great idea out of the NEA magazine. It said a great gift was a positive letter about the teacher and to give a copy to the principal to go into the teachers file.

I did something similar only I posted it as an article on my website and sent a link to the teacher and principal. The teacher, principal and aide all cried. The principal asked to send it on to the director of special education.

Here's the link http://www.asdrendrewolf.org/worldnews/thanxteach.htm

Renee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 9:12am

Great questions! so many people to remember, so few funds this year!

We make big batches of caramel corn and chex mix and give small bags to each person. On top of all the aides, therapists and bus drivers we also do the same for our Sunday School teachers, choir directors, music/ballet teachers, etc. We try to remember the principals and office ladies that do so much as well. We have also done easy to make dipped cookies or peppermint almondbark, and other things candy kinds of things as well. The kids just make up a small reproduceable gift tag (or use my stamps to make quick gift tags) and a curly ribbon. The kids hand these off to each of the people (but I like the receptionist idea as well, my kids are old enough to carry more). For the teachers, I usually bake loaves of bread make applebutter or other fruit preserves and make up a breakfast basket.

Betsy

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