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The Janitors at school do so much work during the lonely hours after school. During Janitor Appreciation Week have council members stay after school and help them spend time with them, and bring small treats
FLEETWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
This committee should be made up of members operating on a very informal basis. Activities include designing stationery with a simple smile logo. This stationery should be made available to all members of the group. Whenever a member enjoys a class, observes a teacher doing something special or ìgoing the distanceî on a lesson or project, the member writes an anonymous note of thanks with specific comments and puts it in the teacherís mailbox.This smile will become a real bright spot in a teachers day.
Cost: Just for the stationery.
Helpful Hints: Also include school secretaries, custodians, administrators, etc. Encourage members to look for good things and send out many smiles.
Have members write about their bus drivers. Choose the best and compose a newsletter to be distributed to all bus drivers in appreciation of their work. Complete the newsletter with artwork. Invite the bus drivers to a special THANK YOU coffee and donut gathering. Present those who attend with "You're Special" buttons or other school spirit items to recognize their service.
Cost: Coffee, donuts and buttons.
Helpful Hints: Make the newsletter a semi-annual project that the drivers will look forward to receiving.
Have members decorate the faculty room or any room to create a thematic atmosphere. Ask members to bring in baked goods, cheese balls, crackers and other goodies. Include refreshments such as coffee, tea or punch.
Cost: $10.
Helpful Hints: Avoid cakes and pies. Cookies, nut rolls, cheese, crackers or beef sticks work well.
CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
This activity usually takes place at Christmastime, but could be organized anytime of the year. Pair each faculty and staff member with a student member. Ask students to do something special for their Secret Pals each day of the week. Some suggestions include: homemade cards, a special poem, small gifts, homemade cookies, candy or lottery tickets. The students should try to remain anonymous throughout the week. At the end of the week, hold a special breakfast or tea so that the Secret Pals can be revealed. Each teacher or staff member should receive a final gift, this time in person, from his or her Secret Pal. Students could be reimbursed $10.00 for some of the cost of their gifts.
Cost: $10 - $20 per student. $100 for end of week event.
Helpful Hints: Be certain to include support staff such as secretaries, cooks and custodians. Students should be involved on a volunteer basis. No one should be forced to participate. Try to insure that each ìPalî is treated equally by providing some gifts which are the same for everyone.
COWANESQUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
HANOVER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SUSQUENITA HIGH SCHOOL
TYRONE AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Ask members to donate Christmas cards for the faculty. Address the cards to each member of the staff and deliver them the day before Christmas vacation.
SOUTHERN COLUMBIA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Ask members to nominate teachers for Teacher Of The Year. Have the group vote to narrow the list to 4 or 5. Vote again to determine a winner. Present this teacher with an award at the Senior Awards Banquet at the end of the year.
Cost: $40.
DUBOIS AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Supply teachers and staff with Survival Kits on the first day of school. Begin planning during the summer. Write to companies asking them to donate samples of their products for the kits. Look for other items on sale. Some examples of items to include are: shampoo, band-aids, pens, pencils, aspirin, candy or candy bars, lifesavers, post-it notes, crackers, Kleenex packets and Hershey Kisses. Make up clever sayings for each item. Include an inspirational welcome to the recipient from the group. Place all items in a brown bag and deliver them to the teachers and staff on the first day of school.
Cost: $100.
ATHENS AREA HIGH SCHOOL
CENTRAL CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL
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"Welcome Back"/"Let's Celebrate Excellence!" Luncheon
This Luncheon can be held for the faculty and staff at the beginning of the year or during National Education Week in November. Find a restaurant to cater the event. Ask a group of students to be in charge of making the desserts. This gets the students involved. Make daily announcements and a bulletin board to advertise the event. The bulletin board could include baby pictures of faculty members on one side and their current pictures on the other side. Make the headline ìGuess Who?î Give students the opportunity to match the photos. Also send out invitations stating the date, time and other details to the teachers and staff. Hold the luncheon during all lunch periods in the library. Station several students at the luncheon to greet and serve. Have the student helpers coordinate their clothes and wear apple name tags. Pass out a special poem or favor to those who attend.
Cost: $200.
Helpful Hints: Begin planning one month in advance. Coordinate with the home-economics department to refrigerate goods.
CHARLES A. HUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
TYRONE AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Make arrangements so that each time the teachers receive their pay checks, they get something extra to show student appreciation. These items can be placed in the teacherís mail boxes or on their desks. Some suggested items are: a Pay Day candy bar, Hersheyís Hugs, homemade cookies, fresh popcorn, etc. Each item should have a special message included with it. On special occasions, such as the first day of school, place a mug filled with candy or school supplies on the teacherís desks. Throughout the year, ask the teachers to leave their mugs on their desks for refills on special days and holidays.
Cost: $250.
Helpful Hints: Set dates and times and find reliable students to do the work.
KANE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
At each meeting throughout the year, choose two teachers to treat with special services. Have members place a card of appreciation and candy in the selected teachersí mail boxes. These teachers should also receive a certificate which allows them to choose two services. Teachers may choose from: a donut, muffin or bagel, flowers, free room cleaning, free school lunch or some other service. Give them goodie bagswith appropriate messages.
Cost: $10 per month.
Helpful Hints: Make sure the members follow through with the services.
STRODES MILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Have members bake cookies and distribute them to each faculty department. Place them in decorative boxes or on plates.
Cost: None.
SOUDERTON AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Draw a profile silhouette of each teacherís head on black paper and cut it out. To do this, have the teacher sit approximately 6 inches from the wall and project a strong light to cast a shadow. Cut these out and tape the silhouettes to a designated wall. Number the silhouettes and ask the students to guess whoís who. Offer prizes for the winners.
COWANESQUE VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Monthly Reminders Of Appreciation
Each month, have members give something to the teachers, custodians, cafeteria staff and secretaries. This can be a card with a message or some kind of gift. The gift could be food or a small gadget and can take on the theme for the holiday of the month. At the beginning of the year, give staff survival kits made up of items needed to start off the year. In October, small Halloween buckets filled with candy corn can be provided. In May, the members can prepare a staff luncheon. Create a slideshow of each teacher in action.
Cost: $30 per month.
NORTHEAST BRADFORD JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Advertise this event a week in advance by sending invitations or placing a large sign in the faculty room. The night before the event, ask students to stay after school and bake muffins, prepare the fruit and juice and decorate the area with school colors using balloons, confetti, table cloths, matching napkins, cups, plates, silverware and centerpieces. The morning of the event, set up donuts, bagels, muffins, cream cheese, fruit, juice, coffee and tea.
Cost: $150 (depending on the number of faculty and staff).
Helpful Hints: Have a committee for decorations, a committee for preparation and a committee for serving. Expect everyone to help clean up.
ATHENS AREA HIGH SCHOOL
NORTH ALLEGHENY INTERMEDIATE HIGH SCHOOL
TUSSEY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL
In November during each day of National Education Week, give the entire faculty a gift. The gifts can range from flowers to apples. If necessary, offer to clean and paint the teachers' lounge, decorate the faculty room, or even a free carwash.
Cost: $200.
Helpful Hints: Have five groups of students, one group responsible for each day. These students should be responsible for obtaining or making the gift and for distributing it. Contact local businesses for donations.
BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL
Divide the administrators, faculty, cafeteria workers, custodians and secretaries into 12 groups. Before the Christmas holiday, randomly select a winner from each group. The winners each receive a free 10-12 pound turkey. A winner from the previous year is not eligible.
Cost: $100.
Helpful Hints: Work with the local grocery stores for the best deal on the turkeys.
RED LION AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Have students vote during the lunch periods to determine the teachers who most deserve a turkey. Award turkeys to the top three vote-getters. Place all remaining teacherís names in a box and randomly draw a name for one additional turkey.
Cost: $50.
Helpful Hints: Be creative when making the ballots. They can be shaped like turkeys or turkey feathers. Run the project just prior to Thanksgiving.
CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
Before school opens, help with room set-up, pencil sharpening, and setting up for homeroom.
At faculty meetings, make a breakfast or lunch for an inservice day, put coffee and Danish on a cart and deliver to rooms, provide a boxed lunch for everyone,
serve a potato bar ("this spud's for you"), have a make your own sundae day.
Plan a Winter Holiday meal complete with appetizers, a pot luck dinner, and a multitude of desserts. Include some holiday singing and a visit from Sants.
You might also want to have a special meal for the kids.
Teacher Awards at the end of the year: best storyteller, nicest car, best handwriting, most organized, most punctual, and hardest tests.
Staff Gift Ideas
Staff Gift Ideas you can make: