Thank You Gift

My maternity leave is almost up. After 9 weeks, I return to work on Tuesday. I am finding that I am surprisingly excited to go back to work. It makes it a lot easier knowing that Claire will be watched by a friend in the neighborhood while I'm at work. I know they are going to take great care of her. If she was going to be put in daycare while I was at work I don't think I could have handled it!

Yesterday I brought Claire to school to meet my third grade students and to give a thank you gift to Liz, my maternity sub. I wrote a poem/letter using this website for ideas.

I gave each student a note card with their 'line' on it. We had my maternity sub sit up front on a chair with a big basket next to her. Each student read their line and then handed her the item that correlated to their line. 

Here are the items in the basket:

How each item was used:

Pear- It 'pears you're leaving us tomorrow
Dum-dums- We're no dum-dums, we know who to thank...
Water bottle- We can't keep it bottled up...
Snickers- Don't snicker, it's true, we think you are great!
Bread dough mix- Thanks for stepping up to the plate when you were kneaded
Bubble bath- We're bubbly with gratitude
Whoppers- We've had a whopper of a time
Calculator- We were able to count on you and for that we are thankful
Berry tea- You are berry special to us
Sharpies- You made a lasting impression on us
Thyme- You gave so much of your thyme
Stuffed olives- We appreciate olive the nice things you've done for us
Animal crackers- We know it may have seemed like a circus sometimes
Orange- but orange you glad you joined us?
Uno game- Do uno how glad we are that you joined us?
Ruler- It's easy to measure the difference you've made
Pasta- It has been pasta-tively wonderful
Plant- We grew everyday
Candle- You lit up our lives when days seemed gray
Nuts- Who wouldn't be nuts for a teacher like you?
Chocolate gold coins- You are definitely worth your weight in gold
Soup- A soup-er teacher, that you are
Soda- Soda you know how much we appreciate you?
Lifesavers- We say, to Mrs. Saul's lifesaver,
Mint gum- Thanks a mint for all you've done
Gift card- Have a treat on us

This worked out so well because all of the kids were involved and had a special part in her gift. I wanted her to be able to use the items we gave her so I tried to buy nice things of each item (Yankee Candle, a good brand of stuffed olives, etc.). I didn't want the basket to be full of junk items that would be thrown out when she got home! I figured her family, kids included, would like some of the items as well! Feel free to use any of these ideas or adapt it to make your own.