I am in charge of purchasing the gift for the teacher from the class. It is optional. If parents want to contribute, they can. Just under 2/3 of the class sent in money. So it would not be singling out 1 or 2 students who did not participate, there is a good number who did not. I know some of those who did not participate purchased something else, but of course there is no way to know if everybody did nor is it really my business. It seems more fair to those who contributed to sign just their names, but I worry about if someone's envelope got lost before it made it to me (most of them were sent home via my son).
Class gift = class gift. Have it be from everyone. It's NEVER a child's fault if their parents didn't send in money... and quite frankly... many parents can't send in money. The only people it would be "fair" to exclude 1/3 of the class would be the parents who contributed. As a parent, I would want every child's name on that list, or none at all.
I'd put "From your 2011-2012 third grade class" on it. That way, if there was a mix-up, no one's feelings are hurt. And if a parent didn't contribute, then oh well not a big deal. Keeping it anonymous is simpler and easier. I'm sure some gave different dollar amounts too? So you wouldn't write "Love, Joey ($5) .... Love, Sara ($10) ..... Love, Bryan ($2) ....." So IMO you shouldn't write just those who contributed, as it singles them out, plus singles out those who didn't.
Well, I've seen how much some parents just, quite honestly, suck, and it's not the kid's fault. Maybe they are having money problems, or maybe their parents just don't care. Either way, we're talking about an innocent kid here, who wishes their parent would've contributed. Sign "From your class" & be done with it. No point in keeping score. No one wins if you do that.
Why don't you just write..."Thank you SO MUCH Ms. Smith! Our class loves having you as a teacher. Please, enjoy the holidays!" The Third grade class.
There is no reason to single anyone out as someone that did not give to the teacher. You have no idea what their finances are or why there was no money sent in. It certainly is not the child's fault.
L.
this is just me but, I always put every child's name on the card with the year..
I did not want any child to not have been included in the gift, just because their parents may not have had the money.
And I was not the gift Police who made it my business to see who gave what to the teacher.
I would let it be from the "class" and that means everyone. Not everyone is always in a position to be able to contribute. One of the best gifts my kids' class ever gave to one of their teachers was my son's 4th grade teacher. She LOVED science. So the room mom found a big platter that she brought into the room when she was subbing for the "teacher's luncheon" (mom's volunteers to stand in so the teachers could lunch together--it was a private school, so not quite as many hoops to jump through for that). She got the platter from a local paint it yourself pottery shop. The kids all painted an insect of some variety (there were 10 kids, so 10 different insects in different colors) and signed their name, then the mom took the platter back to the pottery shop for the final glazing and firing. Then at the Christmas party, let the kids present it to the teacher. It was really cool. Totally personal and it included ALL the children personally.
Whatever you do, include all the kids.
I have been in charge of this before for my children's classes in the past and I ft it best just to sign the card from the whole class or let every student sign the card. It isn't the child's fault if the parent chose not to participate. I think if it was just given from just the kids who gave money then the ones who didn't or were not able to contribute would feel left out and you may have some hurt feelings. Good lick with your decision.
L.
Our Room Moms, do this:
They e-mail a confirmation to the parents, that they DID receive the $ donation for the Teacher's gift. And also say that, if they DID give money, but did not get a confirmation, to tell her. But she will tell them that she did not receive the money. Sometimes kids lose things. Or did not give it. So to ALSO check with their child, and IF the child did give the money in the proper drop off box etc.
Or if no e-mail contact info is known, then a note is sent home from school with the child. Saying what I said above.
Next: just sign the card saying it is from their class and parents.
No need to have each individual sign the card.
Not everyone has the money, to give toward a Teacher's gift. And sometimes the parent didn't even get or read, the notes that a child brings home from school.
I know many kids, whose parents do not read the notes, that come home with the child from school. Unfortunately.
