We didn't get too elaborate. I wrote a "welcome back" poem and printed them in a book mark size then left them on each teacher's desk with a Hershey's Hug and Kiss. We did this on the day of Open House.
To make sure we gave our teachers something they would really use, we asked our lead parapro (All Around Great Teacher Aid & Manager of the Production Room) what she would suggest - but our budget was only about $2 per teacher. She immediately suggested Sticky Tack (reusable gummy adhesive). The teachers don't get it from the school, but all use it to hang posters, etc on the walls. We also added one black sharpie pen per person.
Each teacher, plus virtually all other staff people, got a package of sticky take ($1.19) and a sharpie (45 c). We tied them together with a ribbon and added a tag: "Sticking Together in 2004-05: XYZ Staff & Parents" The tag also had the names/phone of each officer, and the date/time of our first meeting. We gave the custodians and cafeteria ladies each a bag of lifesavers (You are Lifesavers for us!) instead. In all, it only cost us about $85 from our $800 Staff Appreciation budget. We've gotten several nice comments back already.
Here are some great ideas that teachers always seem to need to replenish and would be great in a Welcome Back Basket! Look over the list and I'm sure you'll find a few small items they will appreciate. Like the heavy dute magnets, highlighters, packages of Star Stickers, etc etc .
Boxes of Tissues,
#2 Pencils,
Pens (Black & Blue),
Highlighters
3-Page Hole Punch
Electric Pencil Sharpeners
3x5 Index Cards
Stapler
Scissors
Transparencies
Magic Markers
Correction Tape
Drawing/Colored Pencils
12" Rulers
Construction Paper - Large - , Small -
3-Ring Binders
Expo Dry Erase Markers -
Hanging File Folders -
Scotch Tape -
Paper, (plain, lined, reamed)
Calculators
Academic year desk calendar,
2 rolls clear contact paper;
Post-It-Notes;
Binder dividers;
Folders;
Liquid hand soap;
Clip board,
Hall’s Cherry Cough drops;
Paper Clips;
Large Magnetic Clips
Model clay
Feathers
Wiggly Eyes
Felt
Wallpaper Book
Magazines
Ziploc Bags (gallon size)
Wipies
Popsicle Sticks
Sharpie Pens (Fine, Med., Bullet Size)
Small Stationary (for writing notes home)
Colored Pens
Magnets - work great on chalkboard to hold things
Metal clips w/magnets to hang items along the chalk board.
Plastic Bins (for papers to fit in)
Calendar stickers
