Class Gift Idea for Retiring Teacher

Definitely the book idea!
Check Shutterfly!

Collage of her classes over the years - with signatures and/or

Book with personal notes from former pupils....can be collected by email or personal handwriting from pupils still in town

Here is the link

http://www.wishbowl.com/bowldesigns/natural/index.html

I will go with this idea...I use this gift for weddings and retirements - it is different and sentimental...A Wishbowl.

What is a wishbowl...
These natural finish wooden bowls hold a spiral of hopes, dreams and aspirations.

The wish word spiral begins with a heart symbol at the bowls center... then love... hope... peace... joy... plus other wish words,... dreams devotion family friendship etc. (You can add in your own words for what you wish for her in retirment)

The standard words used, always include love, hope, peace and joy.

Symbols- a heart, triangle, spiral, square, star, are used to separate word groups.
On the Bowl of Wishes, the symbols are painted in primary colors.

At the spira's end... near the top rim of the bowl - is written:

"your bowl of wishes...for love... for life..."

Then on the bottom you also get an inscription of your choice -
Maybe - "Happy Retirement - Love from your 1st Grade Class of 2012"

I got this as a wedding gift and ever since this is my standard wedding and retirment gift. Receipents seem to love.

I warn you they are pricey...but worth it to commerate a special occasion. Check it out. If you don't want to spend the $ - then you could always take the idea and make your own wishbowl. You also do need a few weeks of lead time to get this shipped to you.

S.

What about a book made up of pages from each child talking about what they love most about the teacher?

I would also suggest a book of memories. You can survey all the kids and teachers in the school to get their favorite memory of her then compile them somehow in a book. The hard part is that it's so close to the end of the year you might be scrambling to get it all done. I would also say that maybe you can collect pictures from former students and maybe even the staff and put in as many pictures of you can from her years at the school. Photo color copies of pictures are pretty good if you don't have the time or means to scan them into a computer and would still look cute in a book.

What about a platter you have them all sign?

All the ideas below are lovely. If you do go with the book idea, may I suggest a CD tucked inside with her students singing some of her favorite class songs? I suggest this because one of the things I miss the most is hearing the sound of young voices in song.

And thanks for thinking of this teacher in such a loving way.