tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268585065649434701.post7584926281089041135..comments2011-01-25T23:54:38.587-05:00Juggling Frogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572259373523756647noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268585065649434701.post-72396529132816987062007-06-29T12:29:00.000-04:002007-06-29T12:29:00.000-04:00JerseyTeacherMom,<BR/><BR/>Our school did not have a huge budget for this, and I'm notoriously frugal, especially with PTA funds. (Hey, after cramping my hands cutting out and sorting 'Boxtops for Education' for hours on end for every dime, how could I waste even one of those dimes on something frivolous?) <BR/><BR/>It's so important to do this. The parents are modeling hakarat hatov, and respect for the teachers. <BR/><BR/>Even something free, like plastering the school with educational quotes on regular paper, makes a difference.<BR/><BR/>If there is any way I can be helpful, please don't hesitate to have the PTA leadership (or one interested parent) contact me. <BR/><BR/>All the best,<BR/>CLKLJuggling Frogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572259373523756647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268585065649434701.post-67391662642310695892007-06-29T10:06:00.000-04:002007-06-29T10:06:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for your kind words and practical suggestions. I was thinking about approaching someone, but you know how the frum world is--you tell someone, she tells someone and so on and so on. What was it--an Alberto VO5 shampoo commercial? I am getting old. Anyway, I think your post has made it easier for me because I will use it--minus my comment--to show the PTA Presidents what a great idea teacher appreciation week or some form of it is. I am a parent at this school too, after all. I will suggest the Hot Cocoa, etc. It's about Spirit and unfortunately many do not get that a school is a small culture in itself. The tone is set from above in so many ways and we can do so many positive things within a school culture in addition to the classroom learning. Yashar Koach to you and to your school! Have a great Shabbos.jerseyteachermomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268585065649434701.post-18330495193658984802007-06-28T21:12:00.000-04:002007-06-28T21:12:00.000-04:00JerseyTeacherMom, your comment breaks my heart. <BR/><BR/>I wish I had a way of communicating with the parents/PTA at your school. I'm so sorry.<BR/><BR/>We also don't give the Upper and Middle School teachers a formal class gift from the PTA at our school. Only the Elementary School classes have a formal end-of-year gift. We set it up this way, because the Elementary school teachers have the same class all day, while the Upper and Middle school teachers have many different students in a complicated mixed-up-roster of a schedule. Organizing parents to donate to the teachers separately at the end of the year isn't practical. <BR/><BR/>However, throughout the year, we do teacher appreciation activities, we have the Teacher Appreciation Week, various lunches, mishloach manot, Hot Cocoa Day, etc. from the PTA.<BR/><BR/>Are any of your PTA parents approachable? Is there a way you could communicate this to one sensitive PTA volunteer, in an off-the-record way? If you feel this way, then there is likely a whole bunch of teachers who feel similarly. Often, just one sensitized, informed and determined parent can change the atmosphere at a school.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for all you have done for your students. They need you and your devoted efforts. You are giving them the tools to repair the world.<BR/><BR/>I just wish I could make this better. {sigh}Juggling Frogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572259373523756647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268585065649434701.post-36273418678945060422007-06-28T20:56:00.000-04:002007-06-28T20:56:00.000-04:00Very nice. Much appreciated. In 20 years of teaching in Yeshivas/day schools, I have never experienced a teacher appreciation week, or even a day. In fact, this year, my first in the particular school I am now teaching, I did not receive an end of the year teacher's gift from the PTA. I was told by my colleagues that the Junior High teachers in our school do not get these end of year gifts. Of course, I gladly chipped in for my children's teachers as the PTA solicited. I have to admit something. While the greatest satisfaction I have experienced this year was born of some very heartfelt and specific thank yous by a few difficult students and some small successes by those who struggled all year, the lack of formal acknowledgment by parents and PTA hurt. Thanks for showing me that others get how difficult the job is even though we teachers absolutely love doing it. Have a great summer.jerseyteachermomnoreply@blogger.com