Anonymous
Post 04/07/2023 11:37     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


I have been ignoring this rule for the past 10 years. MCPS has lots of silly rules and this is one of them. We are at a lower-income school and we are not wealthy by DCUM standards (if we were, my kids would be in private).

But teaching in MCPS is hard. MCPS doesn’t seem to support teachers the way it should.

So, when my kids have had a good teacher, I do a $50 gift card at the end of the year with a nice note and sometimes a nice note emailed to the principal to go into that teacher’s file.

MCPS can suck it. $20 is ridiculous. When was that rule even implemented? With inflation and how much things cost now, I have even upped how much I give elementary aged kids gifts for birthdays. Used to do $20 or $25 and have upped that up to $30. Why wouldn’t I do the same for teachers?


I would think it puts teachers in a bad spot to receive gifts over the allowed amount.


There is no way for anyone to know. How would a principal ever know?

I give a sealed envelope. The teacher opens the envelope. How would anyone know what I give her? It’s between me and the teacher.


I mean ethically. They either have to break the rules, or tell you they can’t accept it, which is awkward.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2023 06:43     Subject: Re:End of year gift for teacher
As a grown child of a teacher- dont give them a mug- they have what they need. Just do a gift card- people can always use them. When I was in college my mom would save her gift cards and do something special with me (coffee, nails) and use them.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2023 20:51     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Teacher here- I have received many gifts worth far more than $20 in value as well as bottles of wine. I always pay it forward and give my sons teachers very generous gift cards to Amazon, Target, and Starbucks- usually in the $50+ range depending on the teacher. No one wants chocolate.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2023 19:16     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


I have been ignoring this rule for the past 10 years. MCPS has lots of silly rules and this is one of them. We are at a lower-income school and we are not wealthy by DCUM standards (if we were, my kids would be in private).

But teaching in MCPS is hard. MCPS doesn’t seem to support teachers the way it should.

So, when my kids have had a good teacher, I do a $50 gift card at the end of the year with a nice note and sometimes a nice note emailed to the principal to go into that teacher’s file.

MCPS can suck it. $20 is ridiculous. When was that rule even implemented? With inflation and how much things cost now, I have even upped how much I give elementary aged kids gifts for birthdays. Used to do $20 or $25 and have upped that up to $30. Why wouldn’t I do the same for teachers?


I would think it puts teachers in a bad spot to receive gifts over the allowed amount.


There is no way for anyone to know. How would a principal ever know?

I give a sealed envelope. The teacher opens the envelope. How would anyone know what I give her? It’s between me and the teacher.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2023 19:14     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


Trust me, nobody checks. I’ve given $50 gift cards before.


I would have thanked you very kindly and donated them. I can not keep them.


That would be fine with me. It is a gift and you can do whatever you choose with it!
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2023 09:00     Subject: Re:End of year gift for teacher
I’m a teacher and the answer to this question is honestly individual but I appreciate thank you notes from kids and families and chocolate. Honestly anything is nice.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 22:36     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We give a bottle of nice wine. [/quote]

Don’t do this. Many people aren’t drinkers and alcohol is now allowed on school property. Gift card to Amazon/target etc is the way to go.[/quote]

That's such a lame gift. [b]We make sure the teachers drink which we know by the end of the school year[/b], and I'm sure nobody is going through every teacher's bag to make sure they're not taking alcohol out of the school. What they really mean is they want no alcohol consumed at school. Giving it to them at the end of the last day is fine. If you don't want to do it, then don't. I'll keep doing what I want.[/quote]


You might be a <s>redneck</s> alcoholic if..
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 22:31     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


The 20$ rule has been in effect for the 12 years my son has been in mcps, and probably before. Have your expenses gone up at all during that time?
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 21:33     Subject: Re:End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you for the suggestions. I would definitely not feel comfortable gifting wine as I'm not sure the teacher drinks and would not want to break any rules regarding alcohol on school property- so will probably go with a gift card - but was also looking at a personalized swig or yeti travel mug. If anyone has ordered something like this from a good website, please share. As far as the email to cc to the teacher - I guess I feel a little odd about that, but if you all think that's really important I will do that. However, this teacher has been teaching for decades and is probably not looking for letters in her file for advancement so not sure this will be helpful if that makes sense. Thanks again for your insights.


The email is not to advance , jsut show appreciation and to acknowledge her to her boss
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 21:29     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


Trust me, nobody checks. I’ve given $50 gift cards before.


I would have thanked you very kindly and donated them. I can not keep them.


It depends on the principal.

If you want to do $50, you give $20-25 for teacher appreciation week and end of year.


Principals do not ask nor care what gifts their staff are receiving. Anyone who’s posting otherwise is a troll
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 21:27     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


I have been ignoring this rule for the past 10 years. MCPS has lots of silly rules and this is one of them. We are at a lower-income school and we are not wealthy by DCUM standards (if we were, my kids would be in private).

But teaching in MCPS is hard. MCPS doesn’t seem to support teachers the way it should.

So, when my kids have had a good teacher, I do a $50 gift card at the end of the year with a nice note and sometimes a nice note emailed to the principal to go into that teacher’s file.

MCPS can suck it. $20 is ridiculous. When was that rule even implemented? With inflation and how much things cost now, I have even upped how much I give elementary aged kids gifts for birthdays. Used to do $20 or $25 and have upped that up to $30. Why wouldn’t I do the same for teachers?


I know more than one MCPS teacher who gives away all gift cards over $20...so you might think you are being super wonderful but he or she may get no benefit at all.


Teacher here- nobody gives them away!! The rule is ridiculous and nobody asks or enforces it at all.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 17:04     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


Trust me, nobody checks. I’ve given $50 gift cards before.


I would have thanked you very kindly and donated them. I can not keep them.


It depends on the principal.

If you want to do $50, you give $20-25 for teacher appreciation week and end of year.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 16:50     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We give a bottle of nice wine.


Don’t do this. Many people aren’t drinkers and alcohol is now allowed on school property. Gift card to Amazon/target etc is the way to go.


That's such a lame gift. We make sure the teachers drink which we know by the end of the school year, and I'm sure nobody is going through every teacher's bag to make sure they're not taking alcohol out of the school. What they really mean is they want no alcohol consumed at school. Giving it to them at the end of the last day is fine. If you don't want to do it, then don't. I'll keep doing what I want.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 16:46     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


Trust me, nobody checks. I’ve given $50 gift cards before.


I would have thanked you very kindly and donated them. I can not keep them.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2023 16:09     Subject: End of year gift for teacher
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.


Trust me, nobody checks. I’ve given $50 gift cards before.