Hi! Last year we did two lunches for our teachers. The first one was during the week teachers set up and on the day everyone came to pay school fees and find out who they had. We served Sandwich Rings from Sam's Club, pasta salad, chips and homemade salsa, brownies and cookies. Tea and water. The teachers loved it and were very appreciative.
The second lunch we did was during Teacher Appreciation week. We served Homemade lasagna (three kinds, meat, veggie, and seafood alfredo), green salad, garlic bread and cake. With tea and water. We served about 55 people and had TONS of leftovers. Doing it again we could do it for under $100 but we did it at about $125 with lots to send home with people!! LOL! We set up in a conference room and let the teachers take it back to their rooms to eat or go where ever. (This is normal practice since they don't have a "lounge" that fits more than about 3 at a time!).
Kind of getting of the subject but...when we do our Teacher Appreciation luncheon we have someone stay to refill drinks, keep food platters filled and cleanup as they go along so the teachers can feel like they are in a restaurant having every whim catered to. I guess my tip is to have someone who is a regular in the school that the teachers know isn't going to "blab" any conversations they hear. Our parent volunteers have strict instructions not to share student information and it just follows that teacher info is not gossip either!! I feel priveleged that the teachers trust me enough to share their feelings and opinions and know that I'm not going to pass that on.
You're getting good tips on menu ideas, so I'll pass along a different kind of suggestion - get the room set up and then leave the teachers alone to enjoy their lunch.
This tip comes from my sister, a teacher. At their staff appreciation lunch last year, the parent volunteers stayed in the room during the lunch, presumably, to tend to the food dishes, refill drinks, etc. However, from a teachers' perspective, it was awkward to relax with their colleagues while parents are in the room. Lunch is about the only time during the day teachers have to sit and "chit chat" with each other. Having parents within earshot keeps lunch at a formal level, rather than the relaxing break most teachers would like.
We have in the past had a teacher appreciation week instead of one dinner, and one of the days we do a potato bar.We keep baked potatos in a warmer and supply all the goodies to top them with and the teachers love it. [img]smile.gif[/img]
We fed 70 last year, teachers, parapros and staff. We went to Sam's and bought in bulk the cheese, pickles and chips. We bought a huge meat tray with a variety of meats and rolls, that we cut in half for them. Added a tray of tomato's, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and dressing for dipping. We used plates, napkins, and forks that were left over. The whole thing was less than $100. We borrowed plastic cloths for the tables and used flowers from home and baskets to decorate. The teachers loved it.
Our PTO has used several different ideas- this year we did huge sub sandwiches from Wal Mart and of course salads. We keep it really simple and use leftover plates, napkins, etc from other functions. The teachers never mind that things don't always match- they really appreciate the food though!! In the past we have done breakfast for them, barbecue and pizza. Just a few thoughts! [img]smile.gif[/img]
