<p>I sort of want to know what is appropriate/what you have done. I was thinking about a card and chocolate or something of that variety. </p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>We plan on doing the same thing we did four years ago when our S graduated, make a donation to the school foundation in honor of the teachers. The foundation provides grants to teachers for independent projects that enhance their teaching, and they truly appreciated the gesture then. S also gave them little potted plants at the end of the school year to show his appreciation.</p>
<p>My son wrote a thank you note to each teacher, and we made a donation to a local charity in each teacher's honor. I think the thank you note was the part that was most important.</p>
<p>My daughters have written thank you letters to each person who has written on their behalf. They did not give gifts. </p>
<p>For the guidance counselor, who also has had the children since grade seven, my older one gave him a mug from her college when she decided which one to attend in April. (I see it right on his desk) I think she has given him photos of her and him at graduation (his wall is adorned with such momentos). He told me recently that he very much wants a photo of my two daughters together. I think at the end of the year, maybe we can give him some sort of gift for all he has done for the children these past seven years. One year, we did give him a book (this was not related to college admissions but just for all he has done and for his caring ways). For teacher or other rec writers, we did not do gifts. </p>
<p>I think heartfelt letters from the students also are very meaningful. It should be more than just a simple thank you. </p>
<p>The gift that Little Mother describes seems like a lovely touch as well. </p>
<p>Frankly, often the NON monetary things mean the most. We have gotten a letter of thanks from our GC for all WE have done to support him during a trying time at our school last year. My daughter spoke on his behalf to the school board in front of hundreds of folks and was quoted in the newspapers and on TV and we have done the same. All of those efforts have touched his soul and no gift would have meant nearly the same as this support.
Susan</p>
<p>Don't forget the administrative assistant who does the grunt work ....</p>
<p>I think all that is needed (and it <em>is</em> needed) is a thank you from the student. Another from the parents is also appropriate but not as a substitute for the student's doing it.</p>
<p>My son had small gifts for all his teachers plus GC who wrote recommendations. For the GC it was a paperweight, for one of them a book on gardening and another an Oscar Wilde book that she loved. He also had cards and he wrote letters to each one. He visited some of his teachers who he knew and loved in his 12 years of schooling and thanked them, some with gifts (out of his own pocket money, not mine).</p>
<p>In addition to a thank-you, they really love hearing how the recommendees are doing at college. Give them updates, they truly appreciate hearing about them.</p>
<p>My two kids wrote thank yous to the guidance counselors and teachers who wrote recommendations. In addition, they gave the GCs and 1 or 2 teachers gift certificates to Barnes and Nobles. To that special teacher -- maybe the varsity coach or music
director, someone in their lives for all 4 years -- we bought gift certificates to a local
restaurant. We still see the teachers from time to time because our 3rd is in high
school.</p>
<p>My son's jazz band teacher allowed him to use the band for his scholarship project, which netted him the full-tuition merit scholarship he was awarded. As a thank you, we have jointly (family & son) funded a scholarship for the teacher to use for a needy or deserving student to pay for tuition to the annual jazz band competition, which is always an out-of-state trip.</p>
<p>Agree that a hand-written note is the most important thank you. My daughter also gave each of the teachers who wrote her recommendations a book. She selected each book with the particular teacher's interests in mind. It was fun.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Don't forget the administrative assistant who does the grunt work>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Only IF they really get the "grunt work done on time". Ours was a PITA. The work got done, but not without significant reminders. Sorry...that doesn't warrant even a thank you note.</p>
<p>The teachers all got thank you notes. One teacher who wrote a LOT of letters for DS actually got a thank you...but when he had his first baby we bought he and his family a HUGE thank you gift.</p>
<p>For the teacher that I asked to do my recommendations for colleges (as well as a scholarship), I'm going to be giving her a thank you note as well as a thirty dollar gift certificate to a nice restaurant in town. She has not only been a great help to me in my college application process but has also been there for me and pushed me on various occasions over the past four years. I have them set at my house, but I think that I'm going to wait until Friday or at least the latter part of this week to give them to her. I think that that will be a nice way to kick off the Christmas break for her.</p>
<p>One of the teachers who wrote a rec for my daughter collects pennants from the schools that kids she's written letters for have gotten into. She has no pennant so far from D's ED choice. So, if she gets in there, it's a pennant. If not, she'll have to check what's in the pennant collection when she gets in somewhere else...</p>
<p>Son also wrote thank you notes and I did too. He did give one teacher (his main advisor and recommender) a book at the end of the year that was peculiarly tied to their common interests. But that teacher always made clear that what mattered was the relationship with the student. In our difficult days of budget cuts in California, I don't think about gifts for teachers much anymore and put the money toward donations to various school sectors instead.</p>
<p>Concerneddad's generosity is a "wow!" but completely understandable under the circumstances. I never heard your son's story here (must have missed those posts) and how wonderful!!</p>
<p>Patient: Thank you. We found this site way too late last year. It was not until last April 1, as son was trying to decide between acceptances -- and most importantly whether or not he wanted to play football in college -- that we found CC. We got lots of useful input and support, and some very helpful hints. Ultimately he chose not to play football and thus left behind offers from Wesleyan, Wash. U. and Pomona, and selected Tulane. While at the time I had huge concerns about his choice, he is so happy at Tulane, doing so well, and using all his "free time" so well -- he is a new member of their student run EMS service (he is pre-med), that I am at peace with his decision and take great comfort in just how happy he really is. He had much greater perspective in the college search than his parents!! LOL</p>
<p>I have to second what Driver mentioned about teachers hearing from the kids once they are IN college. I have run into many teachers and the GC who all have commented how they have gotten emails from my freshman D at college and her sharing it all with them. I ran into a history teacher in town and I was teary eyed as I had to tell him that she had been telling me that so much of what she had learned in his class she is USING in a current class at college and having been a teacher myself, I know how much it meant to him to hear what an influence and impact he has had on my daughter's success or ease into college academics. I could tell he was moved. The GC has asked that he makes sure he sees my D when home on break and has mentioned hearing from her several times at college. I think she has also gotten in touch with elem school teachers who had an impact to let them know how it is going. I ran into the French dept. head at the store and told her my D is continuing with French out of choice in college (no requirements) and placed out of several levels there and is getting an A in her course and how obviously the preparation at our little school was meaningful in terms of her success in her academics at a selective college.</p>
<p>When you are a teacher, you often hear of all the problems and complaints and it sure is nice to hear this good stuff sometimes!
Susan</p>
<p>When I taught college, I used to write recommendations for students. The nicest thing that students did to thank me was to send me a handwritten note that not only said "thank-you," but also let me know how my mentoring or instruction had made a nice difference in their lives.</p>
<p>I had absolutely no interest in getting material gifts from students, though some gave me gifts. As is the case with, I think, most people who are educators, what I wanted to do was to see a student's eyes light up with inspiration or knowledge that they had gottten from my class or mentoring. </p>
<p>A reminder about "thank-you" notes: They should be done right after the teacher has done the recommendation. Don't wait until you find out if you got into the college or scholarship program. "Thank you" notes aren't rewards to teachers for your getting an opportunity: They are appreciation for the teacher's taking the time to try to help you.</p>
<p>If you do get admitted, etc., call or write the teacher so that the teacher knows the good news. The teacher really does care, and took a lot of time to help you reach your goal, so don't fail to share the good news with her/him. </p>
<p>Unless you're very unusual, you'll also get some rejections, and the teacher/GC won't think worse of you because you didn't get everything that you applied for. Certainly don't avoid the teacher/GC because you get some rejections.</p>
<p>It's fine, too, to let the teacher know about those. If you end up being in a very bad situation -- no acceptances -- that same teacher may be able to help you brainstorm a solution.</p>
<p>Princeton sells Princeton Thank-You Notes. How wonderful!</p>
<p>Son wrote thank you notes and then at Christmas I made little goody baskets for ea teacher & counselor. The GC got baked goods and a B&N gift card. The band teacher got a buch of low carb stuff and a book by a musician in WWII. I hoped that the home made stuff would be something from the heart. After son made his decision they received mugs from his choice-Univ or Redlands. The last day of school I gave the Principal's secretary a thank you note and a Univ of Redlands bottle opener. I told her I appreciated all the help she had given me the past four years and wanted to give her something that could be thrown into a drawer. I told her to remember that she was appreciated whenever she saw the opener. She was very touched and told me wonderful things about my son I never knew. One teacher was very sad when son did not get into the school she had written the rec for. She was very happy when she found out that letter was part of a scholarship app that son won.</p>