Has anyone else had a good teacher/staff appreciation week?

Just to address the "teacher" vs. "staff" appreciation, I absolutely consider instructional assistants and the like to be included in "teacher appreciation."

Our PTO does a wonderful job making us feel appreciated; we'd like to see more appreciation from our admin.

We got lunch from the school board/admin yesterday - at least most of us did. The superintendent under ordered so there was not enough food for everyone. All staff were included in the "appreciation" but some didn't get anything. So he will be ordering more for them on another day, I guess. He told the school board tonight to expect another bill for it.

Our parent group is doing lunch for us one day next week.

We have an incredible PTA! They do something for us every day of the week. Lots of potlucks though, so if you're afraid of homemade food, you wouldn't like our teacher appreciation week! We had a taco bar on Monday, we had fried chicken and all the fixings today, we have a hamburger grill out on Friday. Yesterday, we had gourmet popcorn (Homemade)-- lots of sweet and savory flavors. Tomorrow is our sonic drink day – my favorite day!

Our speech therapists got the same email as the rest of us. I will say thank you for all you do. You guys are amazing!

I got extra gum and cookies. I appreciated both and they made me smile

WOW!  that is terrible.

When I was with the PTO, all staff were included in staff appreciation as all have their part in the education process. One day we had some breakfast items (muffins, fruit, coffee, juice, etc.), another day we had Subway sandwiches, veggie tray, etc. and another day, we had desserts along with coffee and tea. We always made sure that the afternoon janitor had food set aside for him. For the day we did breakfast, we brought in a Chipotle dinner for him.

Each staff member's door was decorated in a unique way, usually the room parent coordinated it for the teachers. For all the other staff, other PTO members and other parents picked a door. It was everyone (principal, nurse, office, guidance counselor, speech, reading recovery, all the unified arts). I always liked to do the custodians door. One year, I asked random students "What you do think the custodian does?" and I got some unique answers. The kids drew a picture of what they thought the janitors did "after hours". Many children mentioned putting down the "puke sawdust", others noted that both janitors really enjoyed when Flat Stanley and the mischievous leprechaun went around the school. Apparently the janitors were notorious for their Flat Stanley and Leprechaun antics. Others wanted to know what the janitors' work area looked like and drew a picture that the janitor's area was a behind the scenes water park. One little boy was fascinated about why the janitors rubbed the floors with the tennis ball on a stick.

One parent (for the art teacher's door) one year had the students do an interpretation of famous art works.

The lunchroom door was GREAT each year: really the best. The mom that did those doors was an artist and she painted pictures of each lunch staff member in a unique theme. The "lunch ladies plus one lunch dude" always wore a different theme outfit each day of staff appreciation week. Stereotype of a lunch lady outfit one day, Hawaiian luau, Ghostbusters, 80's neon (with the lunch dude rocking the WHAM! look). Oh we had such fun that week. My son's last year at the school, I had the PE teacher's doors. I put his face on famous super heroes and also famous athletes.

It was fun. I tried to do the doors in a way that when it was over, I could take it down and put it into a little scrapbook and give it to the person.

Not much has happened for teachers at my school this week.
We got travel mugs in our mail boxes Monday--got mine Tuesday morning as I was off Monday for doctor appointments.
Yesterday, we got a school pen.
Nothing in our boxes today.
Tomorrow the PTSA is hosting a breakfast.

So far, that's all I know that's happening. We just came off of 2 weeks of our second round of PARCC testing. We're all in a bit of a tense mood. I swear, all we want is a week to TEACH without all the crazy interruptions, assemblies, etc. I'm so far behind in my classes with high school exams (I teach a HS class in middle school) coming up in a month...I'm worried for my students. I want them to do well, but I'm not sure I have the time to make that happen.

Our central administration sent up cookies on Monday with the same letter they print out every year (they just change the date on it.)

Our principals have done nothing, but in their defense were told by the central admin that they were not allowed to spend money on teacher gifts.

Our PTA could not be more wonderful to teachers. They have done something especially kind for us every day this week. We've gotten lunches, hats, books, beach towels, cake, cookies, you name it. We feel like we are being treated like royalty. I don't fuss too much about what the administration does. I think they show us their appreciation every day by being supportive and providing great leadership. Everyone is included in the celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week. If you work at the school, you are appreciated and I like that very much!

Out PTO had a fabulous lunch for all of the staff today.!

Maybe after the email that will stop.  There is a really good quote about getting the most out of people when they feel valued.  Perhaps that should go in their next boss' day card.

At my son's elementary school, the principal (and some parents) wash the teachers' cars one day. I always thought that was a fun idea.