Fairfax County teacher gifts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former teacher here - please, do not feel obligated to give anything, and if you do, it is appreciated.

In my years of teaching, I have received - an apple with a bite out of it, several bottles of Avon perfume - some partially emptied, plates and tins of homemade cookies, gift cards (never for more than $10), Christmas ornaments, and a few handmade Christmas decorations. All of these were appreciated, but, truly, my favorite gifts have been notes that my students had taken the time to write (on their own - with mistakes included), and heartfelt notes from parents. These are the ones that brought tears to my eyes and that I still have today.

You're a former teacher so nobody cares about what you have to say.

Where are the REAL teachers? The ones who put in the real blood, sweat and tears? The ones who do more than teach our children? The ones who inspire them, make them believe they CAN as they struggle? The ones who cry when our children surpass expectations? Who reteach and reteach again until our children gain some understanding?

Those are the teachers who realize the true gift is in seeing our children excel but who also realize they are worth their weight in gold.

Where are the teachers who will be HONEST enough to say that yeah, notes and emails are touching but you can give those at anytime. During Christmas, the season of giving, it feels really good to know that you thought enough of me to give to ME in addition to your friends and loved ones?

I'm so tired of the "a letter is enough and I still cherish them till this day" BS. You're anonymous for goodness sakes! Admit that you were thrilled to receive that $100 or nice handbag. The old "a hand drawn picture is all my heart desires" is bullcrap. Everyone likes to be appreciated. Stop trying to play the martyr role.

I'm a teacher and I can tell you with 100% honesty that I really do NOT want 100 or a nice handbag. I would much prefer a letter detailing how great I am, copied to my principal. I also like chocolate, a small ornament to remember the child by, something like that. Expensive gifts and money make me very uncomfortable.

I do like the detailed letters stating how I have helped their child or what they like about my teaching style. The letters are seldom copied to the principal, but I have requested admin to place them in my local file. I don't save letters and notes. In 24 years I have never saved a note or card.

Things like ornaments, mugs, and other knick knacks get tossed, but I wait until I get home. The same happens with most food items.

The gift cards get used, unless they are for a place I don't frequent such as Starbucks. Those can be traded. Of course it's nice to be able to go out to eat, go to the movies, or use that Visa gift card to replace an old TV without having to pay for it. That I can't deny.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I'm okay with anything and would rather have $5 then yet another box of chocolates. I can only eat so much. Also, $1 gets my favorite piece of candy. That paired with a homemade (printer paper and markers) card with the student's own words (misspellings, thoughts only a kid would write) and signed "love" will absolutely make my day.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here who appreciates any and everything.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I appreciate any gift/note. Being thought of is what's most important especially if you think to remember your mail delivery person, hair stylist, and others. As a parent, we give a $25 dollar gift card usually to Barnes and Noble and some baked goods with a note from my child.
Notes and baked goods also go to specialist teachers. It may take some work but I KNOW how hard they work for our children every day.

[Anonymous]

My favorite gift ever was a handwritten card from a student. He let me know how much I meant to him that year and the difference I made in his feelings towards that subject. I will always remember him.

As a parent, I give $10-50 gift cards to Amazon, Target or Starbucks. I write a note letting them know something particular in their class that my child likes and/or that I appreciate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm feeling cheap now, too. We gave the 3 teachers each a $25 gift card and a thank you letter from the kids.

Those are lovely gifts!!
- teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite gift ever was a handwritten card from a student. He let me know how much I meant to him that year and the difference I made in his feelings towards that subject. I will always remember him.

As a parent, I give $10-50 gift cards to Amazon, Target or Starbucks. I write a note letting them know something particular in their class that my child likes and/or that I appreciate.

I am an ES teacher; in my early years out of school, I made a lot of money founding and selling a business; at 31 I was rich and wanted to do something meaningful. The answer was teaching. I say this, because monetary gifts are of little consequence to me.

A note from the child is much more meaningful.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing wrong with gift cards. Outside of being independently well-off, for most teachers they are nice to have. If I receive a gc to a place I wouldn't typically go to such as Starbucks or Barnes and Noble, it is easy to trade with someone else.

[Anonymous]

My comfort level is a $25 gift card to the main teacher. Anything more would feel like a bribe.

$10-$15 gift cards for others but we don't give to everyone. that's just too many..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My comfort level is a $25 gift card to the main teacher. Anything more would feel like a bribe.

$10-$15 gift cards for others but we don't give to everyone. that's just too many..

THIS. If I give more than $25 it would be at the END of the school year assuming we don't need anything else from the teacher where it might seem like paying for a rec or something. I think $25 is the limit for government workers so we stick to that. The last thing we want is for a teacher to accept a gift that might get him/her in trouble if admin or the local paper to find out. People get very feisty when it comes to those paid by tax dollars. Even private schools impose limits because there is too much risk of it looking like paying for love.

[Anonymous]

Is there still no gift limit for fcps teachers?

[Anonymous]

No one wants your dubious home made cookies, guys. If you don’t want t do a gift card, just write a nice note.

[Anonymous]

What is the gift limit for fcps teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the gift limit for fcps teachers?

Use your best judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS (partial) regulation:

VII. GIFTS TO SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEES
Students and their parents shall be discouraged from the routine presentation of gifts to school system employees on occasions such as Christmas. A school system employee shall not accept an elaborate or expensive gift even if a student should feel a spontaneous desire to offer one. The School Board shall consider as always welcome, and in most circumstances more appropriate, the writing of letters to staff members expressing gratitude or appreciation. No school system employee shall solicit, demand, accept, or agree to accept any gift or valuable benefit of more than nominal or minimal value (including commissions, fees, discounts, rebates, special privileges, and the like) from any person selling or seeking to sell goods or services to the school system or to students as part of a program organized by the school system (such as from a vendor of band instruments or gym uniforms).

Thank you. I will pass it along to the room parents soliciting and giving over $100 gifts. Teacher’s favorite gift is a spa treatment (in her own words)