Another preschool gift question - when it’s a pool

[Anonymous]

One of the parents collects contributions for gifts to my DD’s preschool teachers. How do the teachers know who contributes and who didn’t? I don’t know how this works. I’m wondering how much to contribute and if I should just buy gift cards for them separately.

[Anonymous]

The teachers don’t know who contributed and who didn’t. The card will read: Merry Christmas from the MWF twos class.

[Anonymous]

One of the points of having a pool is the anonymity of contributions. If the organizer hasn't suggested a contribution amount, I'd suggest you contribute the amount you would have otherwise spent on gift cards.

[Anonymous]

The point of the pool is that the teacher's don't know who gives what. You give what you are able and don't worry about others. Then have your kid make a card for the teacher so they have something personalized.

[Anonymous]

This is shocking, really. How wil the teacher know your child is connected with richer and more important parents than everyone else?

[Anonymous]

I hate pools because they validate all the bad tippers, when it’s meant to provide anonymity for those that can’t give or give much.

Contribute what you would if you were giving an individual gift and make some personalized cards. The teachers know the drill. Please don’t make hot chocolate gifts.

[Anonymous]

At our school, the parents contribute to one pool across all classrooms and the gift is a check. One person collects all the money (cash, check, venmo, paypal, whatever) and then writes the checks to each teacher. The parents in the classroom all write on one card for each teacher, and include the check. (not all parents remember to write on the card, but the teachers know the gift is from the parents, and assume that all give money. How much each family gives is private and that's best - some can afford way more money than others!

Most parents don't do anything in addition - the teachers really appreciate the cash at this time of year.

The reason it's done this way is that the teachers in the classrooms with fewer children wouldn't get as large a gift OR those parents might feel they need to give a larger gift than they are comfortable with. The parents value all teachers equally, so this is what's done at our school.

It works really well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school, the parents contribute to one pool across all classrooms and the gift is a check. One person collects all the money (cash, check, venmo, paypal, whatever) and then writes the checks to each teacher. The parents in the classroom all write on one card for each teacher, and include the check. (not all parents remember to write on the card, but the teachers know the gift is from the parents, and assume that all give money. How much each family gives is private and that's best - some can afford way more money than others!

Most parents don't do anything in addition - the teachers really appreciate the cash at this time of year.

The reason it's done this way is that the teachers in the classrooms with fewer children wouldn't get as large a gift OR those parents might feel they need to give a larger gift than they are comfortable with. The parents value all teachers equally, so this is what's done at our school.

It works really well.

This is so smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school, the parents contribute to one pool across all classrooms and the gift is a check. One person collects all the money (cash, check, venmo, paypal, whatever) and then writes the checks to each teacher. The parents in the classroom all write on one card for each teacher, and include the check. (not all parents remember to write on the card, but the teachers know the gift is from the parents, and assume that all give money. How much each family gives is private and that's best - some can afford way more money than others!

Most parents don't do anything in addition - the teachers really appreciate the cash at this time of year.

The reason it's done this way is that the teachers in the classrooms with fewer children wouldn't get as large a gift OR those parents might feel they need to give a larger gift than they are comfortable with. The parents value all teachers equally, so this is what's done at our school.

It works really well.

This is so smart.

I wouldn’t like this system. I’ve had some fantastic teachers whom I want to give more to, and some really bare minimum teachers who I’d like to acknowledge with a gift, but not as great a gift as for the teacher who puts in all the extra effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school, the parents contribute to one pool across all classrooms and the gift is a check. One person collects all the money (cash, check, venmo, paypal, whatever) and then writes the checks to each teacher. The parents in the classroom all write on one card for each teacher, and include the check. (not all parents remember to write on the card, but the teachers know the gift is from the parents, and assume that all give money. How much each family gives is private and that's best - some can afford way more money than others!

Most parents don't do anything in addition - the teachers really appreciate the cash at this time of year.

The reason it's done this way is that the teachers in the classrooms with fewer children wouldn't get as large a gift OR those parents might feel they need to give a larger gift than they are comfortable with. The parents value all teachers equally, so this is what's done at our school.

It works really well.

This is so smart.

I wouldn’t like this system. I’ve had some fantastic teachers whom I want to give more to, and some really bare minimum teachers who I’d like to acknowledge with a gift, but not as great a gift as for the teacher who puts in all the extra effort.

Do both? You can always add a personal touch. Write a letter, have kids make their own cards or scribble on one you make.