Oh I love this idea. I am looking for new TA ideas and the mascot one is a keeper.
Thought I'd pass along one idea that our teachers loved: My kids go to small elementary school and the teachers have to monitor recess themselves. We gave teachers a gift basket before PT conferences and along with bake goods and gift cards we give them a certificate for 5 passes for Recess duty Replacement and emails of parents in their classroom who have volunteered to help. They said they love this idea.
I love the mascot idea-- I'm going to have to steal that one--- this year- our theme is: "Thanks for making Fox Rock" and we are doing everything rock and roll related-- we'll put a light breakfast on monday to start the week off-make pins one day--- - using a magnetic clip we found on sale right after school started and attaching a note in it-- a back stage pass invite for our luncheon on friday-- and several other items are in the works-- all found on sale throughout the year to use at this time-- we have found when we plan ahead - we can find some great items on sale.
I think these little "suprises" are a great way of showing appreciation. I must say though that in our district I do feel the PTO went a l ittle too far. They have had members donate food and the teachers have had "luncheons" for them. However, we were asked to bring cookies and I feel as well as several other moms that since we are no longer allowed to bring in cupcakes (by new principle) or cookies for our children seriously why should we bring them in for the teachers. I am not being "angry" but, our PTO has gone way down hill this year. Our president combined all committees into fewer committees without a vote. there have been other voting rights taken away because the president says "she took it upon herself to do this" There are only a few select members who are being notified for functions. A field trip that has been a "tradition" to 2nd graders has been taken away by the new principle because she said "she is not putting her kids in danger if a child walks into the bathroom with a chaperone and comes out and says guess what happened" mind you this is a very small town and we as chaperones basically all know each other and each others children. We were basically called predators and took offense to it and now the children who only get to go to this location because of a school field trip don't get to go now. Sorry, I did really like small suprises !!!
This year we wanted to show the love more often as well. So we've sporadically had our mascot land in the lounge and leave surprises.
We have a big poster of him (Torrence the eagle) in the parent room, so we move it into the lounge and put a poster next to him like a thought bubble. One month is was "Dear Staff, I think you're all that and a bag of chips! Love, Torrence" And we filled the room with snack size potato chips of all kinds from Sam's Club. Another month his thought bubble was the candy poem and we left candy all over.
One of the things I like best about it is hanging up laminated signs (the same ones each time) on the doors the teachers enter the building thru. The signs simply say "Torrence has landed in the lounge!" and it builds some excitement as the teachers make their way thru the building.
