Sweet and Simple

Our kids aren't the only ones who can break out the creativity this school year!  Give a sweet and simple gift to your student's teacher for back-to-school, their birthday, holidays or just a thank you to show your appreciation.  Be creative and don't spend alot...it's the thought that counts!
A couple of years ago, the PTA gave the teachers a package of pencils with a cute note attached.  You'd think they'd won the lottery, they were so excited!  Teachers are always in need of basic supplies and can definitely use anything for their classroom from pencils to paper.

June Rhoades, our awesome bulletin board specialist and last year's teacher appreciation extraordinaire gave the teachers and staff a sweet gift each day during teacher appreciation week.  Her ideas show that something as simple as a package of gum or bag of cookies doesn't cost alot but mean alot.

A box of tissues, hand sanitizer and pencils really help a teacher out!

At the beginning of last year school, I wrapped a $5 jug of hand sanitizer for a lil' back-to-school gift.  Not only was it a gift for the teacher, but for me too as I hoped my kids would use it to keep the bugs away during the school year!  It's the gift that keeps on giving :)

It's all in the packaging...wrap up some Swedish fish with a cute tag!

Sometimes, a teacher wants nothing more than to keep an ice cold Diet Coke on their desk to sip on during the day!  Give them a drink holder filled with supplies that they can then use for some caffeinated relief.  Here is how you put them together...

Ever wonder where the whole,"give the teacher an apple" idea came from?

Well, there are few different theories:

One idea is a religious theory from the biblical book of Genesis that tells the story of Adam and Eve. In the story, Eve eats an apple from the tree of knowledge. As a result of this reference, the apple has become a symbol of knowledge, and children give teachers apples to thank them for knowledge.

Another theory says that from 1700 to 1900, children in Denmark and Sweden gave teachers apples because they came from poor farming families that were unable to pay for school. Children also gave teachers apples because teachers didn't make very much money and families wanted to provide them with extra food.

Finally, giving an apple to a teacher is also the origin for the term "apple-polisher," which was first recorded in the late 1920's. Apple-polishers weren't always favorably looked upon by other students and these days they might be know as "brown-nosers." I'm sure a teacher wouldn't mind though if your student brought them a yummy apple covered in cinnamon and sugar or crumbled Oreo.  And yes, that's a bite out of one of them.  I wasn't able to snap the pic before the kids got to one of them!

Remember, keep your gift sweet, simple and inexpensive and you'll have no problem showing your student's teacher how much you appreciate them this school year!