By Sandi Genovese
McClatchy-Tribune
My neighbors were planning a large renovation to their home and they took me to dinner as a pre-apology for all of the inconveniences they knew would be coming. The sound of a jack hammer at 7 in the morning is not my idea of a great way to start the day, but that pre-apology has gone a long way toward keeping the peace … and it got me thinking.
Why not do the same thing for your kids’ teachers? With school back in session, this would be a great time for a teacher pre-appreciation gift.
A gift that is from both the student and parent is ideal, which is why a gift card is so great. The purchase is from the parents, the delivery and decoration is from the student.
Once you purchase the gift card, a fresh way to present it, is in a box just a tad bigger than the card on which it sits. Set the gift card on a larger sheet of card stock and hold the gift card in place with strategically placed die cuts. Embellish the background sheet with patterned paper and a written message.
To create the box, simply cut two sheets of white card stock an inch larger than the background sheet and score them with a half-inch border all around. Assemble the box by folding on the score lines and gluing the corners. Place the gift card inside the box and hold the box closed with a belly band embellished with school themed die cuts.
It’s not really the gift that is important, it’s the gesture of good faith and show of support that it represents. Whether the gift card is for a couple cups of coffee or a trip to the movies, the appreciation it represents is likely to get the school year off to a good start. Instead of waiting till June to show your appreciation, consider this pre-appreciation gift as the first item to check off your back-to-school check list.
About the Author
