that's a wrap

I don't know about you, but I often find myself thinking about Newtown as we approach the one year anniversary. My heart is breaking all over again.  And, as I mentioned last year, I find it important to thank all of the significant people that are in my children's life, especially around the holidays. It need not be a gift, a note of appreciation is often more meaningful.

This year for all of the special teachers, secretaries, the nurse and principal at my children's school I ordered these glittered letter ornaments from Pottery Barn.  I packaged them in red gift card holder boxes.  I  also ordered these custom cards from Jessica at Tulaloo.  The inside reads "Wishing you Christmas Blessings from A-Z!" I attached them to the box with some dark green grosgrain ribbon.

 

 

 

And, for our bus driver, I found a cute sandwich sized lunch box and tucked a gift certificate into it for lunch on us! We are so thankful that he keeps our children safe on the way to and from school each day.

 

 

And for my daughter's religious ed teacher I usually give some sort of an ornament. This year it's an angel ornament and I tied on some chocolate angels to the package.

 

that's a wrap

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Are you trying to check something off your list? I thought I would share the class gift that I have organized for my son's Kindergarten teacher.  My first plan was to purchase an advent calendar and then fill the boxes with Christmas wishes and some gift certificates from all of the students in her class, but the advent calendar arrived damaged and the boxes were tiny and would not hold much of anything. So, plan b was that I decided to make an advent calendar wreath instead! I purchased a fresh green wreath from Lowes for less than $10.  Then I bought some gift certificate boxes that look like tiny presents and attached them to some clothespins with my glue gun. I numbered them and attached them to the wreath. I also sent home tiny white cards and envelopes that the children are writing their Christmas wishes on. I will number them and attach them to the wreath in between all of the boxes. We are going to put some gift cards/other small gifts in the boxes and then give it to her when they start back at school after Thanksgiving vacation.  I even bought a command hook so that she can hang it on her classroom door or on a wall/chalkboard. I think the students will enjoy having her open the envelopes every day and hear the wishes that they have written for her. I tried to make the gift boxes on weekend days or vacation days so that the envelopes and wishes could be read out loud during the day. The parents in my son's class were appreciative that I organized a class gift AND that we can check it off our list before December has even rolled around. Win, win.  I will try to take a photo of the finished product when its done.

that's a wrap

 Two major themes that my daughter's class studied this year were trees and family.  Her teacher also loves to garden, so I tried to think of a nice class gift that would incorporate all of these things.  I asked each of the students to decorate a puzzle piece to look like themselves and attached clothespins to the back which I used to hang on the branches of a hibiscus tree.  I also collected a monetary donation which went towards the purchase of the tree, pot, supplies and a generous gift certificate to the local garden center, which is hanging on the back of the tree in a red envelope.  A friend made the "rm 17 family tree" banner and I think it was the perfect final touch!  This would also be a fun project to do this summer for a family reunion.

that's a wrap

Today was the last day of school for my son.  I can't believe he is going to be in Kindergarten next year!  Sniff, sniff.  After two children and four straight years at this school it is hard to leave.  Luckily my youngest will be back in another year.  We decided to give the teachers a gift certificate for pizza.  I thought it would be nice to add some plate and napkins so that they wouldn't have to do any dishes, a gift unto itself.  I packaged it all inside of a pizza box.  The heart tag read "We love you to pizzas!"  I love how it turned out and it would really make a great gift for any occasion.  I have lots more to share this week, so please come back and visit soon!

that's a wrap

Since my daughter's class is studying trees this year and it is also her first grade teacher's birthday this month I thought that I would organize a thankful leaf wreath like I did last year for my daughter's Kindergarten teacher.  I am having so much fun reading all the things that the kids are thankful for in regards to their teacher.  It makes me feel so lucky that my daughter is in her class!  To thank the kids and their families I am giving each of the students a pencil that resembles a piece of wood.  I put them in clear cellophane bags with a thank you note and tied them with twine. 

that's a wrap

Today was my daughter's last day of kindergarten.  Sniff, sniff.  All year the children in her class have been working on "filling up their classroom bucket" with kind deeds and good citizenship.  The idea was inspired from this children's book. I thought it would be nice to get her teacher a personalized bucket and have all of the children from her class write down one word about how she fills up their bucket.  They wrote the word on a white circle and I attached them to a potted hydrangea.  We also included a gift certificate to a local garden center since her teacher is an avid gardener. We spent the afternoon at swimming lessons and are having ice cream for dinner so I would say we are definitely ready for summer!

a "whale-y" good summer

Today was my son's last day of pre school.  I went in on the class gift, but wanted to give them each a little something else just from us too.  The school mascot is a whale so when I saw these adorable whale ice cream scoops I knew that they would be perfect.  I also included a small gift certificate to our local ice cream shop and a note that said "hope you have a whale-y great summer"!  I am still working on my daughter's teacher presents.  Her last day is next week!

teacher appreciation

When I turned thirty my friend and colleague, Hope, had each of my 15 students bring in two flowers for me so that by the end of the day I would have a beautiful arrangement of 30 flowers!  Hope provided the vase and put it in my classroom first thing in the morning and I was surprised and delighted when each of my students came in carrying beautiful flowers for my special day.  It was one of my favorite gifts and when I went home at the end of the day I had the most beautiful arrangement of flowers.  I thought this would be a great idea to use for teacher appreciation which is celebrated next week.  Since I am the room mother for my daughter's kindergarten class I bought the vase and asked each of her classmates to bring a flower to school on Monday for their teacher.  I got the vase at IKEA for only $2 and filled it with some wooden alphabet magnets that I found at the dollar store.  I asked the parents to send in a flower from their garden or one that they could purchase from the grocery store.  I didn't want it to be a lot of work or cost a lot of money.  But, I know that this small gesture will certainly make their teacher feel appreciated.  Do you have any fun plans for teacher appreciation next week?

teacher gift

Just like last year, we contributed money for the teachers year end class gift.  And, just like last year, I also gave them a little something special from us too.  This year I gave them each a small cube of Vera Bradley paper (my daughter signed her name on the first sheet) and a flower pen that we made and stuck in a terra cotta pot.  I included a note with this quote: "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust
It was just our little way of thanking the teachers for all they have done to make our daughter love school.