Try Pizza Hut--they're trying to get their new pasta line out there and they are selling the trays of pasta for 11.99 with breadsticks. Let them know what you are doing and see if they'll cut a deal based on the new line. Then with donations you could do a "Trip to Italy" day for lunch. With some dollar store checkered placemats and some italian music you'll be golden....
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All these ideas are great. We have a very limited budget ($130) and not a lot of time to plan but I hope to give the staff a nice week. I will for sure be planning something earlier and more involved next year but for now I'll do with what I can.

My frustration is this...with that limited a budget I was hoping that we could get a lunch donated one day but so far no luck...I went to 3 local restaurants and 3 local business today and no one could/would donate. We have 13 classroom teachers but a total of 35 on staff so with a $130.00 budget that is approx. $3.00 per person.

Any suggestions for a limited budget & time frame are welcome!

Thanks-
Dawn

We are planning a full week of activities for both teachers and staff at our school. Traditionally in the past, a breakfast was held or something similiar on one day- but we really wanted to start to foster the relationship between parents & teachers this year and say thank you in a big way. Our distric had some rough spots this year with budgets, etc.. and the teachers have been througha alot- We want to make sure they knwo that we support them fully!

Our theme is "Thank you for helping our students grow throughout the year. "

We have created an apple tree grove to display in the hallways of the school - We made large trees ( from art rolls of paper) that will hang in the hallways with apples on them --- families signed up to fill out foam shaped apple thank you notes that will get placed on the trees to our staff and teachers. ( TIP: we cheated and orderd the apples from oriental trading company ) Over 500 were filled out so far!!

Then each day the staff & teachers will get a small inexpensive token from us to say thanks -

Day one is an apple shaped stress ball we orderd from Oriental Trading Company.

Day two is a bag of lifesavers with a note saying - You are one of our schools lifesavers! We appreciate all you do.

Day three - Wild Flower Seed packets that say Thank you for helping our kids grow!

Day four - Tootsie rolls packets that say- Thanks for the role you played in helping our kids learn and grow.

Last day- We sponsor a lunch for the teachers with the snacks & sodas provided by parent volunteers and then our committee provides the lunch - small sandwich trays, wraps, salads, etc...

I am hoping that our teachers & staff feel appreciated this year! That they know that we recognize what they do every day to mkae our kids lives better!

We are thinking about having "Around the World in 5 Days" as our theme this year. We are doing a Mexican themed taco bar 1 day, Italy themed with pizza another, Hawaiian Luau with smoothies and fruit with a chocolate fountain, English with Tea and cookies but are stuck on a 5th day. Also, we would like to pass out small gifts related to each days country, but are stuck on that also. Any ideas????

I don't think we do anything different from what I have all ready seen posted but normally this is how Teacher Appreciation week is laid out....

Monday ~ Breakfast
Tuesday ~ Pampering: such as having nail techs come and give many pedi/manicures during lunches, message therapists give neck messages, etc.
Wednesday ~ Lunch
Thursday ~ I can't remember (This isn't my committee and I can't even find my notes!)
Friday ~ Sundae party

I know one thing we did last year was have door prize drawings throughout the week for assorted things. Some small gift certificates and some larger items like a day's spa treatment. All teachers were nominated by the board and then the students could each make one nomination as well. The teachers loved it.

In the past the aides and support staff had been sort of tossed in with Teacher appreciation week but it was never anything official and so they received only the tail end bits. But, there was some concern among board members about changing "Teacher Appreciation" to "Staff Appreciation" for assorted reasons. So, to resolve that issue this year on Administrative Professionals Day we are doing an all day snack station, lunch and door prizes for the aides and support staff which is a combined effort from the PTO and the teachers.

I'm sure you are truly appreciated by your teachers, how nice of you to put all this hard work in for them. We are also doing a "Stars" theme. I am sorry to say that our teachers have never had their PTO do anything for them for this week, the secertarys would do the luncheon for them, so this year (my 1st year as Pres) we are doing it really big. We are having a luncheon catered for them ,also on this day they will all get a "swag" bag filled with goodies( I am finding out that most companies will send you promotional items & coupons if you explain what you are doing & how many you need, I do this vai email I have received things from Monster, Old Orchard and a few others, these things will go in the bags) we will also add some things ourselves. They will also get alittle something in their boxes every day, and we will have a movie triva game where they can win prizes. Our budget is $1,500 for 110 staff members, I know this alttle much, but we have a wonderful staff and they really deserve this. The majority of our volunteers for our events this year have been staff members and I have had several of them ask if they are doing enough to help PTO this year. It has truly been amazing. Thsi is my 1st year at this school (5th&6th grades) and I really love it!