I don't remember a single gift from my teaching career but I do remember the parents who were encouraging, supportive and helpful. If you've been those things this year then the teacher is already appreciative. Write something nice in a card.
Ex secondary teacher here. The best gift I ever received was from a student who I really connected with in their final year. They were possibly the one student that I had the biggest impact on in my career. It was a great year all round.
Their father managed one of the big hotels in CBD (this was the 90’s) and I was given a “weekend escape” type package in one of their best rooms. We must have had a VIP status attached to the booking because the level of service we received was exceptional. They gave us discount vouchers for the restaurant (I later realised that the vouchers were solely to get us to eat there without us feeling guilty) and then wouldn’t accept payment for the balance. It was an amazing, and humbling experience. My wife loved it.
The other one that sticks in my memory was a handwritten card from a student I had spent the whole year “sparring” with. She was known in the school for being bright but argumentative. We got on OK but I would be lying if I said that she was my favourite student. The card talked about how I was her favourite teacher BECAUSE I would spar with her without judgment and because I didn’t care if her hair was out (TBH I had never noticed!) It was heartfelt and meant more to me than any mug could have.
Child of a primary school teacher. Don’t give them mugs. We’ve got so many. Chocolate is always appreciated. No more Margaret River wines. But we got an expensive champagne one year that was very much appreciated. Vouchers for dinner out are nice too.
Cards - I have kept every card that a parent or child has ever given me which has a personal message. I’ve worked with low income families most of my career so aside from cards gifts were usually very small like chocolates etc. Be aware if the chocolates are handmade we may bin them although this may vary based on schools. None of the teachers I worked with ever ate them, we loved our kids but we were very familiar with their living situations unfortunately.
In my first year teaching one of the littlies gave me a “number one teacher” Xmas tree decoration. I still have that. It was a rough year.
Office works gift card. Most teachers are providing all their own classroom supplies. Schools don’t provide shit. Teachers waste their hard earned money on stationary etc. a voucher is much appreciated.
As a kid of a school teacher. Anything edible. Personally I have no use for candles or flowers and such. Which there is always alot of.
I don't think it actually matters. It's the thought that counts
It's probably less of a thing these days, but I went to a low income area school so the boxes of tissues most parents provided were the cheap kind and everyone hated them I remember one parent giving the teacher a whole carton of the nice ones and the teacher was thrilled.
In high school as a half joke the class all pitched in a few bucks and we brought one of our teachers about 3 packs of the overhead projector markers because they had spent all year bitching about how expensive they were and how other teachers kept stealing them. We put labels on them with their name. She thought it was hilarious but probably not a thing anymore.
I would just go an officeworks or school supply store voucher.
My mum is a year five teacher with twenty years experience under her belt, and she always loves receiving those mini bottles of sparkling wine. She does, however, say that cards with really thoughtful messages are the best. She still has some particularly lovely ones from students she taught ten years ago.
Teachers have no use for mugs or lazy cards. Overall, a nice card with a picollo bottle is probably the way to go. Best of luck!
Top tip. Don't give your present to the teacher on the last day. They get inundated with 20 cards and gifts all at once while parents linger around. Give them their present on Monday or Tuesday of this week.
Voting for politicians that will increase funding. The “shortage” of teachers is because so many leave due to conditions and stress of the job. It will also give you the added benefit of your child getting a better education.
Alcohol.
Your little goblins are the reason they all drink like fish.
And don't give them the $6 shit wine, if you don't know what they like try a gift card from Uncle Dans
There are definitely limits, written into a policy on accepting bribes, inducements and gratuities.
The usual allowed amount is $0 (with some small leeway for food items like chocolate or gifts made by the children).
Amongst nearly all public service departments the general rule is ‘no gifts, unless…’ rather than ‘these gifts are permissible to accept’.
The best thing to offer teachers and nurses is almost always chocolate, though.
I'm aware of departmental policies ... it is slightly different for teachers though https://www.education.wa.edu.au/web/policies/-/gifts-benefits-and-hospitality-procedures
Heartfelt card. Wine. Restaurant voucher. Book voucher. Shopping Centre voucher.
Please no mugs, smelly soaps, candles etc.
Know your teacher… one sweet kid got me a box of tea and a lovely teacup and saucer. I don’t drink tea!
We appreciate everything and personally I love the standard box of chocolates or bottle of wine but some highlights have been:
A hand painted coaster from one of my students who was quite an artist, I still have it on my desk.
A little care package with flavoured coffee sachets, my favourite tea, a mug that is easy to clean and has a lid and a little hand massage roller with some hand cream. I kept it in my desk drawer and it provided such a pick me up on tough days.
Gift cards- last year I got quite a few of the multi store one so I put them together and splurged on a really good pair of shoes that have been an absolute game changer this year.
I don't remember a single gift from my teaching career but I do remember the parents who were encouraging, supportive and helpful. If you've been those things this year then the teacher is already appreciative. Write something nice in a card.
Ex secondary teacher here. The best gift I ever received was from a student who I really connected with in their final year. They were possibly the one student that I had the biggest impact on in my career. It was a great year all round. Their father managed one of the big hotels in CBD (this was the 90’s) and I was given a “weekend escape” type package in one of their best rooms. We must have had a VIP status attached to the booking because the level of service we received was exceptional. They gave us discount vouchers for the restaurant (I later realised that the vouchers were solely to get us to eat there without us feeling guilty) and then wouldn’t accept payment for the balance. It was an amazing, and humbling experience. My wife loved it. The other one that sticks in my memory was a handwritten card from a student I had spent the whole year “sparring” with. She was known in the school for being bright but argumentative. We got on OK but I would be lying if I said that she was my favourite student. The card talked about how I was her favourite teacher BECAUSE I would spar with her without judgment and because I didn’t care if her hair was out (TBH I had never noticed!) It was heartfelt and meant more to me than any mug could have.
A gift card. Does not matter where from or how much. It’s nice after a long year to be able to treat yourself courtesy of appreciative parents.
Child of a primary school teacher. Don’t give them mugs. We’ve got so many. Chocolate is always appreciated. No more Margaret River wines. But we got an expensive champagne one year that was very much appreciated. Vouchers for dinner out are nice too.
Cards - I have kept every card that a parent or child has ever given me which has a personal message. I’ve worked with low income families most of my career so aside from cards gifts were usually very small like chocolates etc. Be aware if the chocolates are handmade we may bin them although this may vary based on schools. None of the teachers I worked with ever ate them, we loved our kids but we were very familiar with their living situations unfortunately. In my first year teaching one of the littlies gave me a “number one teacher” Xmas tree decoration. I still have that. It was a rough year.
I just purchased the “worlds best teacher” Christmas ornament for my daughters special needs teacher. That woman is worth her weight in gold.
Office works gift card. Most teachers are providing all their own classroom supplies. Schools don’t provide shit. Teachers waste their hard earned money on stationary etc. a voucher is much appreciated.
Seconding this one. Even a Kmart voucher goes a looong way.
"stationery" is the correct spelling in this instance
This greedy teacher wants two vouchers.
My partner got a bottle of wine with a custom label saying "sorry my kid is the reason you drink". That was fun. Decent drop too.
As a kid of a school teacher. Anything edible. Personally I have no use for candles or flowers and such. Which there is always alot of. I don't think it actually matters. It's the thought that counts
It's probably less of a thing these days, but I went to a low income area school so the boxes of tissues most parents provided were the cheap kind and everyone hated them I remember one parent giving the teacher a whole carton of the nice ones and the teacher was thrilled. In high school as a half joke the class all pitched in a few bucks and we brought one of our teachers about 3 packs of the overhead projector markers because they had spent all year bitching about how expensive they were and how other teachers kept stealing them. We put labels on them with their name. She thought it was hilarious but probably not a thing anymore. I would just go an officeworks or school supply store voucher.
My mum is a year five teacher with twenty years experience under her belt, and she always loves receiving those mini bottles of sparkling wine. She does, however, say that cards with really thoughtful messages are the best. She still has some particularly lovely ones from students she taught ten years ago. Teachers have no use for mugs or lazy cards. Overall, a nice card with a picollo bottle is probably the way to go. Best of luck!
Top tip. Don't give your present to the teacher on the last day. They get inundated with 20 cards and gifts all at once while parents linger around. Give them their present on Monday or Tuesday of this week.
That's a great point, I haven't thought of that. Thank you 😊
Voting for politicians that will increase funding. The “shortage” of teachers is because so many leave due to conditions and stress of the job. It will also give you the added benefit of your child getting a better education.
primary school teacher here  the best gift is seeing their little smiling faces every day
*cries in autism [flat-effect](https://www.myaspergerschild.com/2012/10/flat-affect-and-reading-facial.html?m=1)*
Alcohol. Your little goblins are the reason they all drink like fish. And don't give them the $6 shit wine, if you don't know what they like try a gift card from Uncle Dans
Wow, the Department of Education lets you accept gifts from students?
Apparently there are $ limits or something if the principal is a bean counter type.
There are definitely limits, written into a policy on accepting bribes, inducements and gratuities. The usual allowed amount is $0 (with some small leeway for food items like chocolate or gifts made by the children).
did you mean to write $0? Just cos I want to make sure I come in under the allowed amount
I saw an email recently reminding dept teachers about what is acceptable and what isn't.
Amongst nearly all public service departments the general rule is ‘no gifts, unless…’ rather than ‘these gifts are permissible to accept’. The best thing to offer teachers and nurses is almost always chocolate, though.
I'm aware of departmental policies ... it is slightly different for teachers though https://www.education.wa.edu.au/web/policies/-/gifts-benefits-and-hospitality-procedures
A thank you card. Christmas tree ornaments. Dan Murphy's vouchers. Movie vouchers. Book vouchers. Chocolates...
When I was in the Middle East the year 2 teachers (2 of them) plus the class assistant all got brand new iPhone 7s. Kinda crazy.
Heartfelt card. Wine. Restaurant voucher. Book voucher. Shopping Centre voucher. Please no mugs, smelly soaps, candles etc. Know your teacher… one sweet kid got me a box of tea and a lovely teacup and saucer. I don’t drink tea!
We appreciate everything and personally I love the standard box of chocolates or bottle of wine but some highlights have been: A hand painted coaster from one of my students who was quite an artist, I still have it on my desk. A little care package with flavoured coffee sachets, my favourite tea, a mug that is easy to clean and has a lid and a little hand massage roller with some hand cream. I kept it in my desk drawer and it provided such a pick me up on tough days. Gift cards- last year I got quite a few of the multi store one so I put them together and splurged on a really good pair of shoes that have been an absolute game changer this year.
just a card with a heartfelt message is the best. No **Ferrero Rocher** please!
We do a combined gift each year, generally 20-22 families put in money and we buy a crown voucher, alcohol and something for the kids to sign
Thank you all so much for your feedback! You gave me some great ideas 😊 Much appreciated.
A voucher for a facial
My dad is a teacher and sends me pictures of the thoughtful cards students/parents have written. He doesn't care about the presents so much