Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to me (and my blog)!
It was a year ago today that I started this blog journey. After checking out my 'stats' and doing some quick calculations, I figured that I'm average about 8 views a day on the blog (thanks Dad!). Thanks for those of you that are reading - I hope I've provided you with a smile or two.
As another school year commences, I'm looking forward to sharing more stories with you all!
Thanks for your support!
Mrs. M.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Christmas in June...
I thought I'd do a mid-summer check in to slowly ease my mind back into the inevitable in a few short weeks! (Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about returning to work, I know how fortunate we are as teachers to get the amazing vacation time that we do.)
I sat down last week to write thank-you cards for the gifts that I received at the end of June.
I am always surprised and overwhelmed when receiving "thank you" presents at work. As a rotary teacher I never expect anything ... I only teach some of my students once or twice a week. (For the record, I never expected gifts as a homeroom teacher in the past, however as 'tradition' has it, they were always given).
While writing the 'thank yous', I reflected on some of the gifts I have received over the years. I've decided to break the memorable ones down into the following categories:
Thoughtful:
- a homemade apron made of my favourite colours (she took a quilting class to learn how to make it....she was 12!)
- beautiful beaded necklaces made by a student (that I still get compliments on today)
- anything music related (they know what I love!)
- homemade cookies (especially ginger)
- post-it notes, pens, stickers, etc (re. Sept 2, 2010 blog entry)
- homemade jam - delish!
- Christmas tree ornaments
- a wooden wall hanging, handmade and painted by a parent for my music room, with all different genres of music painted on it (LOVE IT!)
- Generally handmade ANYTHING. I have kept every homemade card or gift made by students (even the ones where they spelled my name wrong) :)
- a Snow White mug from the Disney store after being the Musical Director for "Snow White" the musical. It's still my favourite 'school mug'!
I'm Spoiled!:
- beautiful silver jewelery from a few families when I left my last school.
- a mani/pedi gift certiciate (loved it!)
- Gift Cards: movie nights out, grocery store gift cards, Tim Horton's, Starbucks (can they tell I need coffee just by looking at me?), Chapters, HMV, LCBO (double-thumbs up!), etc.
- homemade jam and cookies (see above!)
- Bath and Body Works - (nuff said!)
Interesting:
- random items that were likely found and taken from their house (brooches, pins, etc)
- a decade supply of bath salts
- many, MANY different versions of this candle contraption:
- chocolates... boxes of it! I'm not sure when the tradition of giving copious amounts of chocolate to teachers originated .... however my husband is thankful, as he eats 99% of them.
- a unwrapped candy cane (from a sweaty hand)
- a leopard USB stick (practical, yet a strange decorative pattern choice)
- an empty Starbucks gift card (that was an expensive $9.00 latte and breakfast sandwich morning!) :)
- Scary-looking figurines of Santa Clause or Frosty the Snow-Demon.
All joking aside, I am truly grateful for all of it. To know that a student or family has thought of me is very touching. Besides the gifts themselves, I cherish the cards and letters the most. I keep every single note or card. As my husband can contest, cards (and what's written in them) are truly my favourite.
So, as I wrap up this long post, (and hope that my thank you cards didn't get lost in the mail), I would like to thank all families and students over the years for their thoughtfulness!
Mrs. M.
P.S. I'd love to hear about other gifts that have either been given to teachers or received as teachers!
I sat down last week to write thank-you cards for the gifts that I received at the end of June.
I am always surprised and overwhelmed when receiving "thank you" presents at work. As a rotary teacher I never expect anything ... I only teach some of my students once or twice a week. (For the record, I never expected gifts as a homeroom teacher in the past, however as 'tradition' has it, they were always given).
While writing the 'thank yous', I reflected on some of the gifts I have received over the years. I've decided to break the memorable ones down into the following categories:
Thoughtful:
- a homemade apron made of my favourite colours (she took a quilting class to learn how to make it....she was 12!)
- beautiful beaded necklaces made by a student (that I still get compliments on today)
- anything music related (they know what I love!)
- homemade cookies (especially ginger)
- post-it notes, pens, stickers, etc (re. Sept 2, 2010 blog entry)
- homemade jam - delish!
- Christmas tree ornaments
- a wooden wall hanging, handmade and painted by a parent for my music room, with all different genres of music painted on it (LOVE IT!)
- Generally handmade ANYTHING. I have kept every homemade card or gift made by students (even the ones where they spelled my name wrong) :)
- a Snow White mug from the Disney store after being the Musical Director for "Snow White" the musical. It's still my favourite 'school mug'!
I'm Spoiled!:
- beautiful silver jewelery from a few families when I left my last school.
- a mani/pedi gift certiciate (loved it!)
- Gift Cards: movie nights out, grocery store gift cards, Tim Horton's, Starbucks (can they tell I need coffee just by looking at me?), Chapters, HMV, LCBO (double-thumbs up!), etc.
- homemade jam and cookies (see above!)
- Bath and Body Works - (nuff said!)
Interesting:
- random items that were likely found and taken from their house (brooches, pins, etc)
- a decade supply of bath salts
- many, MANY different versions of this candle contraption:
- chocolates... boxes of it! I'm not sure when the tradition of giving copious amounts of chocolate to teachers originated .... however my husband is thankful, as he eats 99% of them.
- a unwrapped candy cane (from a sweaty hand)
- a leopard USB stick (practical, yet a strange decorative pattern choice)
- an empty Starbucks gift card (that was an expensive $9.00 latte and breakfast sandwich morning!) :)
- Scary-looking figurines of Santa Clause or Frosty the Snow-Demon.
All joking aside, I am truly grateful for all of it. To know that a student or family has thought of me is very touching. Besides the gifts themselves, I cherish the cards and letters the most. I keep every single note or card. As my husband can contest, cards (and what's written in them) are truly my favourite.
So, as I wrap up this long post, (and hope that my thank you cards didn't get lost in the mail), I would like to thank all families and students over the years for their thoughtfulness!
Mrs. M.
P.S. I'd love to hear about other gifts that have either been given to teachers or received as teachers!
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