As another school year comes to a close – this week to be exact, one thing we like to do is think of our teachers and classmates. The children spend so much time with these amazing beings we are so fortunate to call teachers that it’s nice to give them a little something in form of a gift. Also, their classmates, the children that have sat with them for hours and days on end, sat in class with them while they felt at times sick, sad, happy, they laughed and learned together. They comforted each other the very first days of school and now all have the hard task of saying goodbye. So, here are a few things I put together for my little one’s teachers and classmates. I like to give thoughtful yet useful gifts – an easy DIY and not to mention affordable!
Here’s what I found at my local craft store, it was all affordable and I was able to use online coupons before check out.
End of the year teacher’s gift
End of the year teacher’s gift
For the teachers:I used ‘Thank you’ cards to write a message for each one – you can find packs of 8 in most craft stores, I got a large pack of gift bags, gift tag stickers, mugs with the teachers initial, I also alternated with some teachers receiving a pack of pencils or a pack of rose gold paper clips and lastly a few Lindt Lindor chocolates I got at the grocery store. I placed everything in the gift bag with tissue paper – and again, these items were on clearance and I was able to use an online coupon at checkout.
Summer classmate treat with Pixy Stix
Summer classmate treat with Pixy Stix
For the students: I like to give all my children’s classmates the same thing – it helps keep me sane! I separate it all and label with each of the classrooms so that in the morning there is no confusion and each can take their own things to school. So, I initially couldn’t find the ‘giant’ sized Pixy Stix anywhere and with not enough time to order online, my last attempt paid off. I checked online at my local party store and they had the ‘giant’ sized Pixy Stix – not only did they have the quantity I needed but they had store pick-up available. Once I had that, I used copy paper to print ‘labels’ for each Stix however you can also use card stock. I printed sets according to each one of the kids class count, they read “Have a sweet Summer! Your Friend (name).” I was able to fit six ‘labels’ in one sheet of copy paper, using a paper trimmer I cut all to size – you can cut multiple sheets at a time and with an X-Acto Knife created two horizontal slits and then placed the Pixy Stix straw through. And we were done!
⇒ Closet Uniform Cubby: I use this Household Essentials 311342 Hanging Closet Organizer | 3 Pocket Shelves | Natural Canvas as uniform cubbies for the kids. These get filled every night with everything each child needs to wear for the next morning, it includes school tops, bottoms, their Myself Belts, shoes, socks, etc. If they have to wear say a red shirt or their Friday school shirt, it will all be prepared accordingly.
⇒ Laundry Sharpie Markers: You can also use these for the kids school uniforms or daycare clothes Sharpie Rub-a Dub Laundry Markers Black, 2pk they will keep the name from fading when washed.
Pictured HP desktop, HP printer + Sound Intone headphones
*Note teachers encourage parents to purchase the good ole’ fashioned desk top with a mouse – “non touchscreen” computer. Why you ask, because there are kids that will arrive to school, sit in front of a computer and will begin swiping the screen with their finger as if the screen were a touchscreen – not knowing how to use a mouse. The desktops are still in most our kids school libraries and inside their classrooms. The school budgets do not call to keep their technology up-to-date year after year. While our children are technology savvy and know how to use touchscreens from using the iPhones and iPads, at school the teacher will have a desktop computer with keyboard and mouse for them to use.
⇒ Backpack and Lunch Box: I get the kids school backpacks and lunch boxes from Pottery Barn Kids, the personalisation is optional – be sure to check their sale selections as well, it’s great!
Backpacks from Pottery Barn KidsPottery Barn Kids Lunch boxes. The Skip Hop Unicorn Toddler Backpack – although cute it will not work for school because it meassures 12” inches and the standard folder measures 16″ – folder will not fit.
⇒ Storage Basket Organizer: These Kekow File Storage Basket Organizer for Office Supplies, 3-Pack, 13.27″ x 9.84″ x 3.43″ are so helpful! I’m guilty of every now and then allowing the kids to eat in the car. However, with these storage baskets “eating in the car” is easy to do, each child get’s a basket with their food and violà! The baskets permanently remain in the car unless they get used, then we take them out to wash. As for the daunting never-ending trash, we keep a roll of these 2.6 Gallon Small Trash Bags, blue 100 Counts (blue)in the glove compartment.