Teacher gift question

[mommyatty]

DS has a very sweet male teacher who is a practicing Jew. Hanukkah is really early this year (begins Dec 7). Sooooo…. Would you send his holiday gift in early to coincide with Hanukkah or wait and send it as an end of year gift? I’m wavering between feeling like we are singling him out and wanting to honor his religious holiday.

Also, gift ideas (especially for a male teacher) appreciated!

[waverly]

I don't give gifts to our teachers anymore (public school). But I did when they were in daycare. They were in a generic holiday card so didn't reference Christmas and was a gift card typically to something like Target or Dunkin Doughnuts (which was across the street from the daycare). I gave all the gift cards at the same time. I didn't necessarily know anyone's religion as it wasn't something that came up in conversation, so it was just kind of like today is the day I am taking gift cards to the daycare for all the teachers.

For public school, I don't do gift cards but I do participate in Teacher Appreciation Week which is the beginning of May. So I don't do anything related to holidays now.

I feel like gift cards to Amazon, Target, of whatever store you have that has teacher supplies and other kinds of supplies would be most useful.  

[mae0111]

mommyatty, I think I would just wait until the end of the year before winter break. I don't know why - just feels nice to give a gift heading into a vacation, I guess? But I think it would be fine to give it to coincide with Hanukkah..

I also have a question... I haven't given gifts to teachers in years because the previous school had general funds that families contributed to at the holidays and end of year. The fund was then divided up among the full staff - so special teachers, admin staff, grounds and maintenance - everyone received a gift, and people weren't having to buy small gifts for every teacher and staff member.

This year, kids are at a new school. DD1 has 6 teachers and an advisor; DD2 has 4 teachers. There are nurses, security guards, groundskeepers, admin staff. I cannot possibly get everyone gifts - that's insane. I don't *think* we have room parents, though I know the PTO was trying to get that going this year. So... what do I do?

[waverly]

mae0111 , and this is why I stopped giving gifts. Daycare teachers were a lot but at least around 5 teachers for both kids, but now DS has 6 teachers, and DD has 4. Plus I don't think teachers want a mug from every student or anything like that. I was a teacher, very briefly and did not get presents, and I was totally fine with that. Gifts are definitely not my love language or anything like that. I don't do anything for the holidays, but I do try to volunteer and I did send in requested items for Teacher Appreciation week. The PTO spearheads that week, and stocks the break room etc.

If you wanted to do something for the holidays, maybe a heartfelt card and a piece of candy that fits in the card. Something very small.

[sandandsea]

We always do it the last day before winter break and it’s a winter break gift not affiliated with any specific holiday. I think of it as celebrating the break and a thank you for the first semester. So I’d wait until the last day.

[sdlaura]

I agree with doing end of school before winter break rather than thing in specifically with a holiday.

I do give gifts (cash or a gift card they’ve said they like) to my kids’ elementary school teachers and small gift cards to other people like aftercare staff, front desk person. Not sure what I’ll do next year when DD is in middle school and has a bunch of teachers.

[dglvrk2]

I too would just give a gift the last day before the December break.

Gift cards are alia safe bet for teachers. I'd do something where they can get a complete item or experience with the card, eg $40 for a movie theater or $20 for a coffee shop. In other words, not $25 for Nordstrom:)

In terms of Hanukkah, do adults get gifts? I was under the, perhaps inaccurate, impression that they didn't.

[erbear]

Nov 10, 2023 10:58:49 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

We always do it the last day before winter break and it’s a winter break gift not affiliated with any specific holiday. I think of it as celebrating the break and a thank you for the first semester. So I’d wait until the last day.

This. I'm Jewish and no one has ever given me a Hanukkah present. Kids just bring stuff the last day before our break and it's much appreciated.

Male teachers like the same thing as non-male teachers. Gift cards, coffee, cards, socks, things having to do with his hobbies.

[pittpurple]

I'm Jewish and I think it would be so nice if you gave him a card from your kid for the holiday but I'd do the gift at the end of the year as a thank you and just make sure not to give him a Christmas card with it.