Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

Last year I gave my DS's teacher a $50 amex card w/ a box of cookies, the assistant a $25 amex card w/ cookies and the sub a box of cookies ( only met her a handful of times)

This year he has the same teacher except the sub is now also an assistant so there are 2...

Last year we all bought our own gifts for the teacher...This year, there is a class mom ( the boy was not in DS's class last year)...Not quite sure how she became class mom , but anyhow, she called the parents and said that she would like to collect $20 from each parent towards gift-cards for the teachers from the class ...the break-down was $10 toward head teacher and $5 each towards the assistants


I personally felt that this was not enough, but who am I to go against the grain...Now I feel like this was innadequate for me to give after giving quite a bit more last year and because I truly appreciate what they do for my DS and feel that they deserve a bit more...

I went out and got them all nice Isotoner gloves and cards to go along with it ...




Has anyone else chipped in on a class gift and got another little something from their DC ? I don't want to be the only one

I don't think I'm crazy about this class gift idea because what if someone in the class doesn't have the $ to chip in and they are put on the spot...Kind of wishing it was a "do your own thing" again...

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

I bought Damien's teacher a pashmina scarf as an extra something. I chipped in $10 also. She goes above and beyond in my eyes so I wanted to get her a little something extra. I did the same thing last year with his kindergarten teacher.

ETA: the chipping in is optional but they sign the names of the entire class.

Message edited 12/18/2009 10:48:32 PM.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

i think the chipping in could be nice- cause the teachers could get a good amount........

if doing seperate in addition id think to stick to a gift- rather than extra money/giftcard.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

My DD's preschool class moms collected $5 for a gift for teacher and assistant and there is only 15 kids in the class. So I just got each of them a nice candle set and card separately.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

At our preschool I've contributed to class gifts and then given an additional gift card on my own if the class contribution wasn't as much as I'd planned on giving. I just tucked it into a card and had my kid give it to the teacher on the last day before break.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

I usually have a set amount in my mind on what I want to spend on DC's teachers. Last year in preschool, the class mom collected $25 for the teacher and $15 for the aide. I was comfortable w/ this amount and didn't feel I had to give anything extra.

This year DD is in kindergarten and I asked a lot of moms what they are doing gift wise and I got a lot of different responses. I actually asked the class mom if there would be a collection and she said no, but I could start one if I wished. I decided not to since it's a bigger class than preschool and I know people have their own feelings on what amount they want to give.

The class mom asked me what I planned on giving (DD's class has a teacher, a spec. ed p/t teacher and a f/t aide). I was planning on spending $ 25 on the teacher $15 on the spec. ed teacher and $10 on the aide. The class mom thought that was too much. So I could see that if I started a collection it would become chaotic.

I ended up buying Godiva chocolates for all the teachers, in different sizes, and spent what I had planned. I really wasn't sure what to give and I personally don't like giving gc's.

I understand your situation and would probably have done the same thing.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

I had sort of the opposite sentiment. Was approached about a collection at registration. They said they prefer that to each family having to shop/buy so I gave them a check then when we went in yesterday I found that at least 3 out of the 10 families if not more had little presents for her in addition to the gift cards that were purchased and I felt like a heel. Why am I giving you a $35 check if we're all just going to go buy things anyway. I guess I don't mind either approach but pick one and stick with it. I don't have the money to do both contribute and buy which turned out to be way more than I would've spent but I did it b/c I felt like I had too. btw this is nursery school so she's only there 1 1/2 hrs 3 days per week. Not daycare where you might want to do more b/c your child is there all day everyday.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

as a teacher, i usually get a class gift. it's nice because it's usually a gift card which is always put to good use!

many parents also give their own gift such as a box of cookies or chocolates, or a necklace, etc. it's always nice to get, but i don't think anything of parents who don't do it, KWIM? if the parents want to give something extra, i always appreciate the sentiment.

other parents don't contribute to the class gift and just get their own.

some of my favorite gifts have been letters telling me they appreciate me and sending a copy to my principal. they don't cost anything so parents who may not have extra money don't feel badly but can have a huge impact. maybe you could do that?

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

I also gave $20 toward DS 2 classroom teachers (class mom did a collection to put toward a gift card for each) and will get them a little something extra too. DS only goes two days so I prob wont spend more then another $10-15 on each teacher

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

Posted by browneyedgirl

as a teacher, i usually get a class gift. it's nice because it's usually a gift card which is always put to good use!

many parents also give their own gift such as a box of cookies or chocolates, or a necklace, etc. it's always nice to get, but i don't think anything of parents who don't do it, KWIM? if the parents want to give something extra, i always appreciate the sentiment.

other parents don't contribute to the class gift and just get their own.

some of my favorite gifts have been letters telling me they appreciate me and sending a copy to my principal. they don't cost anything so parents who may not have extra money don't feel badly but can have a huge impact. maybe you could do that?

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

i think it is perfectly ok that you did that!

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

Posted by browneyedgirl

as a teacher, i usually get a class gift. it's nice because it's usually a gift card which is always put to good use!

many parents also give their own gift such as a box of cookies or chocolates, or a necklace, etc. it's always nice to get, but i don't think anything of parents who don't do it, KWIM? if the parents want to give something extra, i always appreciate the sentiment.

other parents don't contribute to the class gift and just get their own.

some of my favorite gifts have been letters telling me they appreciate me and sending a copy to my principal. they don't cost anything so parents who may not have extra money don't feel badly but can have a huge impact. maybe you could do that?

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

Although not in a daycare setting, I did contribute the money for the class gift, then bought all her teachers separate gifts, as well.
As a teacher, I get a gift from all the kids and then tons of individual gifts, and I felt I wanted to give both this year.

Re: Spin-off to teacher/daycare gifts...Class gifts and feelings on them?

I've contributed to the end of year class gift and gone out and bought my own gifts as well.
I don't see the harm.