Holiday Gifts/Gift cards for teachers, day care center, school bus drivers etc (pre-school, classroom)

[kww]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

Thanks for your replies. And I agree about Amazon card, not Starbucks card.

For teachers, they probably buy lot of things from Amazon on a regular basis. So, it's very appropriate to give them Amazon card.

Sorry for the slight derailment of thread. My SO prefers homemade items from her kids, even just a card. Means much more to her than a gift card. If she gets a universal gift card (visa, amazon), she uses it for classroom books/games.

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by kww

Sorry for the slight derailment of thread. My SO prefers homemade items from her kids, even just a card. Means much more to her than a gift card. If she gets a universal gift card (visa, amazon), she uses it for classroom books/games.

Thanks for this information. I will use it from next year.

I felt a nice looking Hallmark card with Christmas/holiday theme would look perfect and bought a bunch.

But your suggestion is much better as the teacher would get to see his/her students hard work and love.

[car54]

I drive a bus and I have always felt funny about Holiday/Bus Driver Appreciation/end of year gifts. I'm a retired electrical engineer and in a very good place financially....but I don't know how to decline the gifts. But, these nice folks have no way of knowing that I drive a school bus for fun...it's my hobby! LOL

Anyway, my kids like me a lot and the gifts get pretty crazy. I've had whole neighborhoods take up a collection....resulting in a pretty serious wad of cash. And OMG, the gift cards! Dozens of them from every imaginable store/restaurant, etc. I distribute them all to my less fortunate colleagues, single moms mostly that are actually trying to make a living driving a bus. And don't get me started on the candy, cookies, brownies, and other goodies...they must be trying to kill me!

Like somebody mentioned, my favorite gifts are the ones the kids make. I keep every single one of them in scrapbooks (13 years worth!)! Except for a special one...my first week driving, a kindergartner drew me a picture that I put in a protector and it has hung on the wall of every bus that I've had. I feel like it brings me good luck!

Today, that sweet little girl is well into her college years!

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by car54

I drive a bus and I have always felt funny about Holiday/Bus Driver Appreciation/end of year gifts. I'm a retired electrical engineer and in a very good place financially....but I don't know how to decline the gifts. These nice folks have no way of knowing that I drive a school bus for fun...it's my hobby! LOL

Anyway, my kids like me a lot and the gifts get pretty crazy. I've had whole neighborhoods take up a collection....resulting in a pretty serious wad of cash. And OMG, the gift cards! Dozens of them from every imaginable store/restaurant, etc. I distribute them all to my less fortunate colleagues, single moms mostly that are actually trying to make a living driving a bus. And don't get me started on the candy, cookies, brownies, and other goodies...they must be trying to kill me!

Like somebody mentioned, my favorite gifts are the ones the kids make. I keep every single one of them in scrapbooks (13 years worth!)! Except for a special one...my first week driving, a kindergartner drew me a picture that I put in a protector and it has hung on the wall of every bus that I've had. I feel like it brings me good luck!

Today, that sweet little girl is well into her college years!

Thank you. This beautiful country needs citizens like you. You keep up the good work you do. Happy Holidays.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by car54

I drive a bus and I have always felt funny about Holiday/Bus Driver Appreciation/end of year gifts. I'm a retired electrical engineer and in a very good place financially....but I don't know how to decline the gifts. But, these nice folks have no way of knowing that I drive a school bus for fun...it's my hobby! LOL

Anyway, my kids like me a lot and the gifts get pretty crazy. I've had whole neighborhoods take up a collection....resulting in a pretty serious wad of cash. And OMG, the gift cards! Dozens of them from every imaginable store/restaurant, etc. I distribute them all to my less fortunate colleagues, single moms mostly that are actually trying to make a living driving a bus. And don't get me started on the candy, cookies, brownies, and other goodies...they must be trying to kill me!

Like somebody mentioned, my favorite gifts are the ones the kids make. I keep every single one of them in scrapbooks (13 years worth!)! Except for a special one...my first week driving, a kindergartner drew me a picture that I put in a protector and it has hung on the wall of every bus that I've had. I feel like it brings me good luck!

Today, that sweet little girl is well into her college years!

This post is so wonderful! You know exactly what this season is about! Happy Holidays!

(and I'd rep you but I have to spread some around, first.)

[LynchburgLover]

Car54 -- I'd rep you too but same spreading problem!!

Merry Christmas!

[acgood]

Something like Staples, Michael's etc. also would be popular with many teachers. Agree with others that Starbucks seems to be a default choice (for better or worse)

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by kww

My SO is a teacher and loves coffee. i'll buy them off your mom

I'll sell you mine! They stack up.

My wife traded $15 in Starbucks cards for a $20 Maggiano's card.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

This is not just related to NoVa. But I wanted to get the opinion of people in my region which is why I am posting this here....

During the holiday season, how much do you all normally gift for school teachers/bus drivers/day care center teacher/assistants?

Just wanted to get an idea so I don't gift lesser than normal.

TIA

Seriously? I don't want to sound like a scrooge but when did people start buying gifts for all these people? I know we would provide a small gift to our kids teachers in the elementary school level but I never purchased, or knew anyone who did, for all these other professions. Sounds like this could get expensive.

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Seriously? I don't want to sound like a scrooge but when did people start buying gifts for all these people? I know we would provide a small gift to our kids teachers in the elementary school level but I never purchased, or knew anyone who did, for all these other professions. Sounds like this could get expensive.

Not sure how old are your kids now. May be they are all grownup already...

This has been a common practice, at least since my kid was in pre-school few years back. I have seen other parents giving gifts to teachers during the christmas party in the classroom. Lately, classroom moms started collecting funds electronically and hand over gift cards to teachers at the party. This is totally optional.

But I always wondered how much do they give, never had guts to ask them. But this is an anonymous forum where you can ask such embarrassing question and don't get judged.