We have a pot luck each day of down home cookin'.(We are rural too ) We also buy them little gifts, but the parents bringing in food really does it for them. We started this a couple of years ago, the first time I tried to make it culteral diverse foods each day. We are just to plain for that. Last year I tried to make sure someone could bring a veggie, meat, or dessert. I was stopped a thousand times in the hall and asked was ask that I extend a great big thank you to the parents who brought in food. This is the most excited I've ever seen them get.
Bath and Body has a new 'at home' program. For Teacher Appreciation week we scheduled one of their representatives to come and teachers were able to try foot, hand or face products. It only cost us 25 bucks and the teachers still talk about it.
we like to spoil our staff all week with goody tray's in their lounge. Monday they'll get fruit trays, Tuesday meat & cheese trays, Wednesday bars & cookies...etc. We will also be tying helium balloons (with appropriate "teacher & staff appreciation" sayings)on every door in the school to make the week more festive.
For Christmas the pto and parents covered teachers lunch and recess duty.....it was such a HUGE HUGE HUGEEEEEEEEEEE HIT that we are doing it again for teachers again during that week......You can also cover staff members jobs for an hour or two. Doesn't cost a dime.
Our school had a BBQ cook off done by the parents. The winner got a prize and the teachers got food.
You could do a desert contest as well. I worked on a tiny convention once that had a desert contest at a mailing party. There were maybe 25 people there and we had 10 entries. Everyone loved it. Prizes were donated.
We recently had a mobil espresso van come to our school. We had a few parents on hand to take orders and deliver them to the classrooms. The staff loved it.
Try getting the kids involved in a week long event. Monday have them bring a flower for their teacher and a staff member. Tuesday, a sweet to eat, Wednesday a classroom supply (chalk, pencils, dry erase markers), Thursday, make a card day, Friday, Homemade gift. I don't know...get creative.
We have done a car wash. Great fun, but a lot of work. You need lots of volunteers to get keys and bring the cars around to be washer, washers, dryers. We did it in the school parking lot.
) We also buy them little gifts, but the parents bringing in food really does it for them. We started this a couple of years ago, the first time I tried to make it culteral diverse foods each day. We are just to plain for that. Last year I tried to make sure someone could bring a veggie, meat, or dessert. I was stopped a thousand times in the hall and asked was ask that I extend a great big thank you to the parents who brought in food. This is the most excited I've ever seen them get. 