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.
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.
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.
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.
Trust me, nobody checks. I’ve given $50 gift cards before.
Anonymous wrote:Do not ignore the $20 rule.