PTO Today

Does anybody have creative ideas for doing something for teachers that are retiring? Flowers seem to be the idea that everyone comes up with, but I thought for teachers that have spent over 20 years in our building, they deserve some sort of unique recognition from parents.

I always thought that flying a flag over the building for a day and then framing it and presenting it to the teacher with a brass plate stating that it was flown on such and such a date in the teachers honor was a nice idea.

There was a post on here just yesterday with a really cute idea that someone did for teacher appreciation. It involved having the children provide things they here the teacher frequently say in the classroom and then doing an artistic collage in a frame.

Scrapbooks are also great and if the school doesn't do it, then have the parent group throw a little retirement party at the school some early evening.

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Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.

How about working with the Principal to put a dedicated plaque, gifted by the PTO, up in the main lobby. A personal, simialr plaque can be provided to the individual, but the fact that that dedication will remain for years will truly mean something to that person.

This is similar to something that we did for the Principal who retired two years ago. The Library was named in her honor, with a dedication ceremony, name painted above the Library, and even reginstered in the town's records.

PresidentJim

We have a similar situation in our elementary school - the principal just announced she's moving on after several years. Some of the better online gift registry's like MyRegistry.com let visitors contribute to a Cash Gift Fund for someone.. and we may end up trying that.

Last year we had three teachers retire and we got them Tiffany and co. tear drop pendants they were only $130 each and it is was so nice parents actualy thought we spent way more than we did. This year we have two teachers retireing, both have over 30 years so we are getting them Tiffany and Co necklaces with apple charms engraved with thier initials. they cost $ 130 and $10 for engraving. I don't know what you budget is like but we always keep $600 in a slush fund for retirement, administrative proffesionals day, nurses day or just incase god forbid theres an unexpected death. We did a small fundraiser to start the slush fund and know we just budget it in every year. It comes in handy!

Good luck

We have a tree plaque in our lobby with 100 leaves on it. We have their name placed on it and position. It is more of a staff plaque for those that retire from the building. The teachers really appreciate it. It has in the corner that it is in remembrance to all staff for their years of hard work and it is from the PTO. The plaque was over 1000.00 to start but well worth it

We purchase books for our school library that are favorites or used for that teacher's grade level and put a book plate inside them. The kids think this is really neat when they check them out of the library. Then for them personally we give them a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or something they really like.

Does anyone have any great "poems" or articles for a retiring principal? She has been great to work with, and need a thank you from the PTO. Hoping someone can help instead of surfing the web all day! Thanks! You can email me at elfdunn@aol.com please put subject line: PTO