Teacher Appreciation

The exceptional, classical liberal arts education we provide at Great Hearts Irving demands a lot of our teachers. By choosing to work at Great Hearts Irving, our teachers commit themselves to giving whatever of themselves they can in the spirit of humble service to our scholars and families. It is only natural, then, that our parent community should desire to acknowledge and express gratitude for our teachers and the work they do with our scholars every day. It is this very relationship of reciprocal generosity upon which our school community and the partnership between our teachers and parents is founded.

Here are some of the ways you can shower our teachers with gratitude:

Faculty Favorite Things

Each year, Great Hearts Irving teachers complete a survey listing some of their “favorite things” for families to use should they wish to show gratitude to their child(ren)’s teachers throughout the year. Please see this year’s Faculty Favorite Things list below.

Lower School Faculty Favorite Things

Upper School Faculty Favorite things

Teacher Luncheons

Our amazing PSO supports our faculty on a monthly basis by providing a meal for our hardworking teachers. In order to offset costs for the 180-member strong faculties of both Lower and Upper School campuses, please consider donating toward these lunches. No donation is too small!

Venmo @PSOGHI

PAYPAL @GHIPSO

Teacher Lounge Goodies

One of the easiest and most effective ways of showing your appreciation is by providing treats for each campus’s teacher lounge. We are always delighted to receive any treats you’d like to buy and send in to the front desk— especially ground coffee and light snacks. A convenient option is to send a one-time donation or set up a recurring delivery through the Amazon Wish Lists below which can be shipped right to the campus:

Upper School Teacher Treats Wish List

Lower School Teacher Treats Wish List

Lower School Holiday Cookie Extravaganza

Every year as the holiday season approaches, it is traditional for Lower School families to bake and bring cookies to school the week before Winter Break begins. This year our Holiday Cookie Extravaganza will be the week of December 11th through 15th, 2023. Send in any favorite cookie, bar, brownie, or other sweet treat! Home-baked goods are especially-beloved. We do also have a small number of teachers with special dietary needs, including gluten and dairy sensitivities, so if you opt to make something dairy or gluten-free, kindly label it so the teachers will be able to choose accordingly.

Thank you in advance for helping to show our teachers how much they mean to us!

Upper School Sweet & Savory Treats Week

Help shower the Upper School faculty with your family’s favorite holiday sweet and savory treats! Sweet & Savory Treat Week will be the last week before break, December 11th-15th. Simply bring a treat on a disposable tray to either front desk and make our teachers’ week a little jollier. Coffee grounds and k cups are always appreciated, too!

Holiday Gifts for Teachers

At Great Hearts Irving, there is no expectation for families to give gifts to teachers for the holidays.

Teacher Appreciation Week

The exceptional, classical liberal arts education we provide at Great Hearts Irving demands a lot of our teachers. Our teachers are always happy to give whatever of themselves they can in service to our scholars and our families, and it is our teachers’ spirit of generosity and humble service that we seek to acknowledge and express gratitude for during Teacher Appreciation Week.

This year, Great Hearts Irving’s Teacher Appreciation Week will run from May 6th through 10th, 2024. Due to the generosity of our community this year, PSO will be providing extra love to the teachers throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Families are invited (but never expected) to join in the outpouring of gratitude anytime throughout the week. Here are some ways families can participate:

Teacher Appreciation Week in the Lower School

Day 1: Monday, May 8th | Bagel Buffet & Bouquets

To kick off Teacher Appreciation Week, PSO will provide a bagel breakfast for teachers. Use the Sign Up Genius to donate funds or supplies.

Scholars are also invited to bring in a single stem of their teachers’ favorite flower on this day for teachers to enjoy throughout the week.

Day 2: Tuesday, May 9th | Taco Tuesday

PSO will provide a catered meal of breakfast tacos this day.

On Tuesday, we’re also highlighting our Specials and Special Services teachers. Use the Sign Up Genius to donate funds or supplies for the breakfast and sign up to honor one of these wonderful teachers.

Day 3: Wednesday, May 10th | Hot Drinks & Favorite Things

On Wednesday, PSO will arrange a coffee + tea + hot chocolate bar for teachers.

Wednesday is also the day families are encouraged to give special recognition to their child’s teachers. Get creative, or use one of these suggestions to show them how much you appreciate them:

  • Notes
  • Cards
  • Classroom supplies/goodies
  • Recipes for easy weeknight meals/meal prep
  • A gift off their Favorite Things list

Day 4: Thursday, May 11th | Luncheon of Love

PSO will provide a catered luncheon for teachers on Thursday. Use the Sign Up Genius to donate funds or supplies.

Day 5: Friday, May 12th | Snack Spectacular

To round out the week, PSO will stock the teachers’ lounge with delicious snacks for them to enjoy. Feel free to donate funds through the Sign Up Genius or send in a special snack for your child’s teachers from their Favorite Things list.

Teacher Appreciation Week Overview

lower school Sign Up Genius

Lower School Faculty Favorite Things

Teacher Appreciation Week in the Upper School

PSO has planned a week of feasting to show our Great Hearts Irving teachers how much we appreciate them! Sign up to contribute with funds, food, supplies, or volunteer to help.

upper school Sign Up Genius

All Week: Have your scholars spend time writing notes of appreciation to each of their teachers so our teachers can feast on words of appreciation. There is nothing our teachers would love more than receiving these notes from their students. If you’d like to give a small gift, check out the teachers’ Favorite Things!

Monday, May 8th: Snacks Galore!

Tuesday, May 9th: Coffee & Tea Bar

Wednesday, May 10th: Mediterranean Bowl Bar

Thursday, May 11th: Bagel Brunch Bar

Friday, May 12th: Breakfast Tacos

Donations of non-perishable foods can be sent to the front desk of either building before May 8th. Please send in fresh foods the morning of the day that the item is needed. If making a monetary donation, clearly label your donation and send it via Venmo @PSOGHI, PayPal @GHIPSO, or cash or check to the front desk.