I am looking for ideas for Christmas gifts for our Teachers and support staff. Currently we have 11 teachers and about 24 in-house staff. I would like to make sure that we give everyone a gift but not go over board on the budget. We have to also remember our traveling staff, as we have 2 other elementary schools in our district. We thought maybe a nice small gift for them.

Last year the PTO spend a bit more than expected. Previous years they have done plants and ornaments for support and traveling staff. Teachers have received gift certificates for various things.

Any ideas would be great, we have a meeting on Tuesday the 13th. Thanks

What we are doing this year is relatively inexpensive...I went to Big Lots and purchased a few cases of Mason jars and we are layering all the ingrediants for cookies in them. You decorate the top with small squares of Christmas type fabric and can print labels. We typically never do big x-mas things we usually wait for teacher appreciation week and recognize all of our support staff them too.

Thank you but that idea was done last year. We would like to do something inexpensive but creative. Please keep all suggestions coming. Thank you

Have you all ever done a sleeve of gourmet popcorn (red and green for Christmas)and a coupon for a movie rental attached? That is what we are considering this year at our school. Historically, we have not given a Christmas gift from the PTO. However, we did budget for a small gift this year and will save the big stuff for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Last year for TAW, we arranged to have 5 minute massages for all of our teachers and gave them a gift bag from Bath & Body Works with a bar of soap, lotion and shower gel. The teachers could sign up for the massage during their conference or lunch period and received the gift on the way out. We also had a different parent (one for each day) sign up to send a token gift for the teacher during Teacher Appreciation Week. This part was not received so well because it was just two weeks before school let out and then they were faced with buying an end of the year gift as well. It also caused confusion with the parents that did sign up because it was not made clear if they should sign just their name to the card or include the whole class. We are considering just having the kids write notes of appreciation and thanks and do away with the daily gifts. The massages and B&B gifts were a huge hit with the teachers!

Look under "Free for All" there are some ideas there also.

Thanks for the suggestions, really appreciate them. We have finally come to a decision for christmas gifts. First I did a breakdown list of in-house staff and traveling staff. We decided to do something a little different this year, instead of the gift certificates. Actually this suggestion came from one of the teacher's. We implemented an accelerated reading program last year and the kids are really in to it this year but the problem is we don't have enough books or test kits. So the PTO wrote a brief script in the newsletter the we had a great gift giving idea if their kids were looking for a gift to give. It is set up so that a family can purchase a book, test or both in the child's name for their teacher. Also the PTO will purchase a certain # of books and test for each teacher as their gift from us. The teacher's have expressed that they would really like to receive something that they can use in their classrooms.
For our Teacher's Aide we will be making soup in jar gifts. Our traveling staff are those who are only in the building once or twice a week, will receive a snowman candycane holder ornament.
Last year we did a baked good exchange for Teacher's Appreciation week and they all loved it, so we would not want to break something they are looking forward to. Will let you all know how well everything is received.