Teacher Appreciation and Pick-Me-Up Ideas

We're SHOE-r glad you're an (SCHOOL NAME) Teacher!
(Submitted by Melanie Richter, Eugene Field Elementary, Mexico)

Attach this message to a cutout of a shoe and show your teacher's how much you appreciate them.  You can also put flowers into Converse tennis shoes and use them for a table decoration.  Add the poem below to add a finishing touch!

TEACHERS, YOU GO THE EXTRA DISTANCE FOR CHILDREN

Your daily walk alongside
children has taught
them how to walk and your
example...where to walk.
Your footprints will be the
stepping stones for their future.
THANK YOU!

YOU "HIGHLIGHT" MANY CHILDREN'S LIVES!
(Submitted by Melanie Richter, Eugene Field Elementary, Mexico)

Attach this saying to a new highlighter

PICK YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT!
(Submitted by Melanie Richter, Eugene Field Elementary, Mexico)

Invite teachers to pick their favorite type of dessert for a selection you set out during teacher appreciation week.  Display dessert personality cards beside each item so teachers know what their selection says about their unique style!  Dessert personality cards are listed below.

Carrot Cake:  You are a very fun loving person who likes to laugh.  You are fun to be with.  People like to hang out with you.  You are a very warm hearted person and a little quirky at times.  You have many loyal friends!

Lemon Meringue Pie:  Smooth, sexy and articulate with your hands.  You are an excellent after dinner speaker and a good teacher.  But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time.  A bit of a diva at times, but you have many friends!

Vanilla with Chocolate Icing:  Fun-loving, sassy, humorous.  Not very grounded in life; very indecisive and lack motivation.  Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker.  Others should be cautious of making you mad.  However, you are a friend for life!

Chocolate on Chocolate:  Sexy, always ready to give and receive.  Very creative, adventurous, ambitious, and passionate.  You have a cold exterior, but are warm on the inside.  Not afraid to take chances.  Will not settle for anything average in life.  Love to laugh!

Cherry Pie:  You have a sparkling personality with a wicked sense of humor.  You have an honorable idea of right and wrong and seek justice for all.  Your love of art and technology give you many hours of pleasure. You don't make friends easily, but your true friends are many!

Ice Cream:  You like sports, whether it be baseball, football, basketball or soccer.  If you could, you would like to participate, but you enjoy watching sports.  You don't like to give up the remote control.  You tend to be self-centered and high maintenance!

Angel Food Cake:  Sweet, loving, cuddly.  You love all warm and fuzzy items.  A little nutty at times.  Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day.  Others perceive you as being childlike and immature at times!

Brownies:  You are adventurous, love new ideas, and are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons.  When tempers flare up, you whip out your saber.  You are always the oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction.  You tend to be very loyal!

The 12 Days of Christmas
(Submitted by Delores Woodhurst, Center Elementary, Center)

Each day, pass out a new note and treat to your teachers and staff!  

On the twelfth day of Christmas,

My principal gave to me,

Twelve tasty crackers,*

Eleven snowman droppings,**

Ten chocolate Sixlettes,

Nine colorful bubble balls,

Eight ounces of cocoa,***

Seven peppermint candies,

Six jolly ranchers,

Five pieces of gum,

Four orange slices,

Three candy canes,

Two Hershey’s Kisses, and

A coupon for a free jeans day!

Happy Holidays,

Your Principal

*I bought the mini Ritz crackers that already had peanut butter in them and dipped them in white chocolate.

**Fill a small Ziploc bag with miniature marshmallows and add this note:
You've been bad so here's the scoop,
All you get this year is Snowman Poop!

***Attach the following poem to the packet of cocoa:
A cup of cocoa to say thank you
For all the things you've done,
And wishes that the holidays will bring
You happiness and fun. 

If you use tea, this one is great:
I cannot sit and chat with you the way I'd like to do.
So brew yourself a cup of tea and I will think of you!

BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION
(Submitted by Delores Woodhurst, Center Elementary, Center)

A Ralls County Bus Driver’s Hands

Into your hands we entrust our children

To take them from home to school and back.

You serve as parents and policemen, too,

With love and compassion, you seldom lack.

Your hands open doors to let children board

And you close doors safely to keep

The children inside the yellow mobile

As you turn corners or climb hills that are steep.

Your hands drive buses, but they also dry tears

And give hugs when a child is in pain.

They signal to children when they get out of line

And hold umbrellas if it starts to rain.

Your hands carry treasures each day of the year

And our treasure is entrusted to you.

For your safety we pray as you go through your day

And in everything that you do.

Dear God, guide your hands as you drive to and fro.

May these gloves keep them warm when they’re cold

As you transport the future one day at the time.

Tomorrow’s hope you hold.

With love and gratitude,

Ralls County Faculty and Staff

MISCELLANEOUS PICK-ME-UP

• Rainbow Seeds (Plant with Care!):  Create an inspirational message, print it on labels, and attach  to a bag of Skittles.

• Puzzle Piece:  To remind you that our school isn’t complete without you.

• Smarties:  To help you have all the answers when you need them.

• Crayon:  To remind you that your work leaves a mark.

• Charleston Chew:  To remind you why you “chews” to work in education.

• Equal Packet:  To remind you to treat everyone fairly.

• Peppermint Patty:  To help you keep your cool.

• Thyme Seed Packet:  So you can have a little extra “thyme.”

• Our teachers mean the world to us!  (Put a picture of the work with it!)

• Teachers are “fasten”ating!

• Teachers are “souper!”

• 100 Grand Bar:  Because you’re a grand teacher

• Almond Joy:  Because you’re a joy to work with.  "It's no secret.  Working with you is a real joy!"

• Milky Way bar:  Because you are out of this world!

• Thanks for your commit”mint,” encourage"mint," and involve"mint!"

• Thanks for you invest”mint” of time

• Thanks for making each day an enjoy-mint

• Thanks for helping to create a nice environ-mint!

• Hot chocolate:  A very warm thank you for everything you do

• Rice Krispie treat:  Here’s a special treat for someone extra sweet

• Potato Stix:  Because you’re helpful in a crunch, here’s a snack for you to munch

• Choc chip cookie:  For staying so “chipper” and bright , you deserve this rich delight

• Chewing Gum:  We think you’re really cool for ‘sticking’ with our school!

• Animal Crackers:  Sometimes it can be a real zoo around here!  Thanks for your extra effort!

• Banana Candy:  I went "ape" over your fantastic presentation.  Way to go!

• Bubble Gum:  After watching you in action, I'm really stuck on your style.

• Butterfinger:  When it comes to being an educator, you never drop the ball!

• Carefree Gum:  I don't have a care in the world when I know a child is in your class!

• Chocolate Anything:  Just "choc" up another great year!

• Cracker Jacks:  You did a crackerjack job on that committee.  Thank you!

• Crackers:  It's impossible to feel down with a friend like you cracking me up.  Thanks for keeping my spirits up!

• Crunch Bar:  Thanks for your help.  You always come through in the crunch!

• Extra Gum:  Thanks for going that extra mile.  It's appreciated!

• Fifth Avenue Bar:  Your teaching style is really classy!

• Fire Stix or Hot Candy:  Your classroom was all fired up with enthusiasm for learning.  Thanks for being a fire-starter!

• Fruit Roll-Up:  Roll out the red carpet.  You did an amazing job!

• Gummy Bears:  You're 'beary" special to our school.  Thanks for all you do!

• Life Savers:  Thanks!  You were a real lifesaver!

• Mars Bar:  I could look all over the world and not find a teacher as dedicated as you.  Thanks!  You're truly out of this world!

• Milk Duds:  When it comes to teaching, there's one thing you're not--a dud!

• Millionaire Bar:  I've recommended a salary increase for you, but until it's approved, this will have to do!  Thanks a million!

• Mounds Bar:  I appreciate the mound of work you do!

• Mr. Goodbar:  I had to let you know how I feel about you, so here goes--You're real good!

• Payday Bar:  On this special day, I'd like to let you know I notice the extra things you do for our kids.  Thanks!

• Peanuts:  I'm nuts about the way you conducted that parent conference yesterday!

• Raisins:  Congratulation on 'raisin' your test scores.  I knew you could do it!

• Snickers Bar:  I hope you won't snicker when I tell you how much your dedication means to me!

• Sour Balls:  I'm in awe of your ability to make learning a real ball!