Teacher/Staff Appreciation Policy

Each year there is discussion about the Newton Schools gift policy and how Cabot parents can comply with it while still expressing gratitude for all of Cabot's hard-working and caring teachers and staff.

The policy is as follows:

"No teacher in the performance of regular duties shall receive presents from the pupils under his or her direction." 

The school and the PTO support the school department policy. Yet, sometimes parents are asked by other parents to contribute to a class gift for the teacher. In order to maintain fairness and support the efficacy and professionalism of teachers and staff, we once again urge everyone to adhere to the Newton Schools gift policy. If some parents collect money and give gifts to teachers, it puts those teachers in a very awkward situation because they are not supposed to accept gifts from students or families. Please do not solicit money from other parents and guardians for class gifts, and please do not give gift cards, money, or the like to the teachers and staff.

There are, however, many ways that parents and guardians can show their appreciation while respecting the policy. If you want to show your appreciation to a teacher or a staff member around the holidays, please consider doing one of the following:

• Contribute to the Campaign for Cabot in the name of a teacher - donations fund program enrichment grants for teachers, fund creative arts and sciences programs to enrich curricula and purchase classroom supplies and needs

The teacher or staff member will be notified that you made a gift in his or her honor.

• Write a note of appreciation to your child's teacher, or give a card made by your child

• Give a homemade acknowledgment, such as baked goods, to your child's teacher or staff member

• Give an item that on the teacher's list of needed classroom supplies