<p>What are everyone's thoughts on Christmas gifts for teachers? Is this a common practice at BS or is it discouraged? I've actually never had to deal with this before as my daughter was home schooled before BS so I am clueless, any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>One thing to consider is whether the school's parents association gives teachers gifts on behalf of all the parents. My daughter's elementary school and middle school, which were private parochial, did this for holiday gifts. However, this said, many people gave personal gifts to teachers, as is common in many of the public schools, but not so much for public high schools.</p>
<p>Gifts are always appreciated, but the problem is choosing something that is appropriate. My D told me of families that gave teachers certain designer handbags (I had read this in the NY Times regarding Summit, NJ public schools a few years ago), and we would not consider a gift of that magnitude. You wonder what the teacher thinks, and how the coffee mug, candy or scarf that might ordinarily be given is viewed in comparison. I have heard teachers say that a handwritten note of appreciation is nice to receive.</p>
<p>When I was in HS, back in the dark ages, my close friend's mother taught in public school, and she got many bottles of perfume, soaps, bath salts etc. FWIW</p>
<p>I don't think you need to give gifts. In fact, I think most boarding school parents do not give them. </p>
<p>They were common at my child's previous K-12 day school, so for the first Xmas I gave small gifts to his Advisor, Dorm Master and Monitor. Only the Dorm Master thanked me, so I thought that I should take the hint. Also, I left these gifts in the school faculty mailboxes, and mine were the only gifts there. OP -- Do you know any other parents at your child's school? You might want to ask in case the culture at your school is different. </p>
<p>If you donate to the annual fund, see if you can make a gift in the name of a teacher you especially admire. Or do nothing except perhaps a hand-written note thanking a teacher for an exceptional job after the school year is over.</p>
<p>fif believes the PC expression is now "Holiday Gift".</p>
<p>In fact, we were just talking the other day about where to put the Holiday Tree this year.</p>
<p>I know some of you may have already seen this. It's been around a while. Still, fif reminded me and I thought I'd share...</p>
<p>Politically</a> Correct Christmas story [Archive] - Free Spirits of Project X</p>
<p>We thought we'd give a gift to the toddler son of the dorm parent, and to the dorm parents one of whom is also the advisor, but I'll ask my son and it may just be a gift for the child.
The last couple of years at a day/boarding school some gave some didn't.</p>
<p>We give a Christmas gift to my daughter's advisor and also to the house parents but not to teachers. Nothing big - a plant, a box of oranges and grapefruits seem to be appreciated.</p>
<p>We gave small gifts of chocolate or homemade cookies to the dorm mother and other dorm proctors when we'd arrive to pick up D for the break, but never to teachers.</p>
<p>D gave gifts at the end of the year to certain teachers and dorm proctors with whom she'd had a more personal relationship. It seemed more appropriate for her rather than us parents to recognize them since they "lived" together on campus.</p>
<p>My friend, a long time prep school teacher, told me that if he and his wife (who also teaches) receives one more expensive piece of crap, they will scream. NO dust catchers, please. Unless you know the teacher well and know their personal interests, stick to food.</p>
<p>what do you guys think about amazon gift certificates that you can email to teachers or advisors?</p>
<p>No holiday gifts. Holiday cards only. Nice, thoughtful, and doesn't cross any lines.</p>
<p>A thoughtful holiday card is what we are going to do.<br>
Gift certificate? How much is too much (or too less)?</p>
<p>Over the years, I have received my fair share of boxes of Godiva chocolate, silk scarves from Asia, flowery stationery, and bags of coffee from Central America...but the most memorable gifts have been the heartfelt thank-you cards from both students and their parents (all of which are saved in a special box in my office), as well as, donations to the school's parent or annual fund made in my name (the fundraising office sends me a very nice notice of the family's gift to the school honoring my work).</p>
<p>I think all teachers/dorm parents/advisors would greatly appreciate a short note thanking them for what they do...that is, if they've done a job worth thanking!!!</p>
<p>If a gift certificate is something that interests you, I would recommend Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Borders, because what teacher can't find a book/CD/DVD they want, or a local restaurant because what boarding school teacher wouldn't want a night off from the dining hall food (we're no different from the kids in that way).</p>
<p>This is the time of year when S begins taking digital photos of each teacher. He then photoshops the pics onto subject specific magazine templates (Reptile Weekly comes to mind for the science teacher last year), includes some crazy headline and puts the 8x10 in an nice frame. Teachers go nuts over these "magazine covers". I like it because it's affordable, creative, personable and appeals to the teachers' sense of vanity. Apparently, teachers have egos, too. Who knew?</p>
<p>Nylecoj007 -- that is such a creative and thoughtful idea -- I only wish I could get my S to take those pictures!</p>