So as we’re approaching the end of the senior year, there are a number of folks at DS’ BS whom we’d like to thank for everything they did for DS – and by extension, our family – over the last 4 years. One couple, in particular – have truly facilitated a transformation in our son! Do you have suggestions of what we might do for them? We are so deeply grateful, and the “gift card to Starbucks” feels so un-equal to that, if you know what I mean! Very much at a loss…
I’d have your DS write sincere personal thank you letters, that’s the best way to communicate how much they’ve done for you and your son. Then find a book that they may like, a gift card, or another memento to include with the letter. If your son is going off to college something related to his chosen college would also be a nice touch 
There was a good thread about this subject a year ago.
If there are a number of people you are grateful to, you can write a letter to the Head of School singing their praises and include a gift in their honor to the Annual Fund.
But really, heartfelt thank you letters (from students and parents) trump all. They really do.
For one faculty member who wore many hats in my child’s life I got a gift certificate from one of the nicer restaurants in town and child wrote a personalized note.
Thanks all. If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know. Unfortunately, @cameo43, I’ve already done my Annual Fund gift this year. @doschicos, I’m leaning toward that option. DS will certainly do his own thanking, but this couple in particular (husband/wife) played very different, but equally critical roles which DH and I may appreciate even more than DS at this point. (Those things that as adults, you realize are game-changers.) And I feel like a lot of what both of them have done sort of flies under the radar, and I’d like them to know how grateful we are not just for what they did, but also how masterfully they did it!
@gardenstategal how lucky for your DS (and you!) to have had such wonderful people in his life; I can only hope the same will be true for my DC as we head into our own BS adventure. As for gift ideas, we have given nice bottles of wine for special teachers, but only after clearing with administration first.
Over the years, DH and I have gotten some amazing gifts from students (we’re a teaching couple). The ones that have meant the most are the letters (we keep them all in a file and pull them out when we’re discouraged) and the truly personal presents (ethnic, hometown related, inside joke/meaning) even if they aren’t our taste. I cherish some “dust collector” gifts that are not remotely my style, but they represent the student and are prized possessions. They all live on a special shelf. It’s the personal touch that matters. We rarely use the gift certificates (forget about them, lose them, etc) and couldn’t begin to tell you which family gave us a card to starbucks/nice restaurant/movies, etc, but can tell you exactly who gave us each item on the special shelf.