Giving SPIRIT all year round...Show how to give by EXAMPLE!

Teachers are always giving to our children and let's face it the pay doesn't quite compliment the amount of time, money and effort that some teachers put in. Of the teachers that I know, the ones that are good... they teach because they LOVE the kids. So how do you teach kids - ALL KIDS - to show appreciation and "give back" to the ones who so willingly give to them? You lead by example!  2 years ago our school had undergone some changes with administration and curriculum and the atmosphere was somewhat bleak. Myself and 2 of my friends started a group called, SPIRIT made up of Paula, Roxanne and Tracy. It is an acronym for Supportive Parents Involved in Recognizing Incredible Teachers (and staff). Roxanne "by hand", made an award with her creative hands and mind and collectively we designed and painted a "SPIRIT Traveler Award" (spelling out the words SPIRIT in colorful display). We encouraged students to fill out  "Spirit Grams" or parents can go online to fill out a more formal "Spirit Gram (both of which were designed by Paula.)" www.schoolswithspirit.org . This gives students & parents an outlet and chance to express, in their own words, what their teacher means to them. "My Teacher is Great because...." Some I must say are quite touching. Each week we select some of the great SPIRIT Grams and pop into that teachers classroom to present the award and read the SPIRIT GRAMS to the whole class. We even have a SPIRIT song that all the kids know. We made pennants with the words SPIRIT on them and gave one to each teacher so that the SPIRIT GRAMS can be displayed in the classroom. On the SPIRIT Traveler Award are cards for which the teacher can write a quote that they like or something they like about the school. The SPIRIT Traveler Award remains in the class for an entire week. EACH month we are at the Student of the Month Assembly and pick out 2 teachers and present them with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Tracy, one of the parents worked for a florist and makes some incredible arrangements. Again... hand made and from the heart. And we have chocolates and memo pads, T-Shirts and other donated items for 2 teachers and 2 staff members chosen at random. All day the kids are to acknowledge the chosen teachers and staff and "Thank Them". Because "If you didn't have teachers... where would you be??" THAT is the question! And the staff runs the ship and keep things in proper working order and cleanliness! At the assembly I talk about the teachers, how they spend a lot of time, money and effort to make the classroom exciting and stimulating for the kids. I also purchase WALMART Gift cards and have them available at the front office for purchase. Teachers get lots of gifts every year... imagine being a teacher for 20 years... how many candles, apples, key chains can you collect over the years! If parents are at a loss for what to buy the Walmart gift cards are a great idea! THE TEACHERS LOVE THEM. Of course they always spend it for their classroom, but that is what they love to do! Roxanne and I also made a Coral Reef (to coincide with the FISH Philosphy at our school) where teachers can write a "FISH WISH LIST" of items they want for the classroom. Parents can take the note, buy the item and donate to that teacher. Sort of like the Christmas Wish Trees you see around the holidays, only this one is up all year!

I also mention some ways that we, as a community of parents, students and teachers can help raise money for the school. For instance Box Tops for Education... we raised more money in ONE MONTH than we did all last year, simply by creating a contest that stimulates awareness. This way the parents can feel like they are contributing without having to spend money. We also encourage parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles to link their grocery card to our school... again, another way to MAKE money (for the school) without having to spend money! (ie you have to grocery shop anyways... and if your card is linked, the store makes a donation to the school!) We also have done a directory and hit the pavement to get advertisers. Encourage the parents to use the services of the advertisers and the advertisers will keep helping the school. Another win win...

We also will surprise the teachers with a Holiday Chocolate Fountain equipt with angel food cake, bananas, marshmallows, strawberries etc...  AND our TEACHER APPRECIATION week is filled with gourmet lunches that is always theme-oriented! Last year was Italian, we decorated Italian, had Italian food, barista machine, Italian sodas, Italian music... etc... and we even would TALK ITALIAN! For the Hawaii theme we translated the teachers names in Hawaiian! Oh boy I could go on forever!!

Teaching your kids "HOW" to give without always buying a monetary item, is PRICELESS! ( Of course I always buy they something personal from our family, but I want them to be treated like it's the holidays all year round....)

Soooo when it comes to the holidays, I like to reflect back at what I've done for the entire year for the teachers... is a "store-bought" gift really enough when I can enhance the school as a whole and create a harmonious atmosphere? And WHAT BETTER WAY TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT THE ART OF GIVING THEN BY EXAMPLE! The three of us, Rox, Tracy and I are teaching the entire school about some very meaningful ways to give to teachers... sometimes its what you SAY and SHOW that is far greater than what have bought for them.