The start of the summer holidays is an exciting time for all pupils, whatever stage of education they are at. It also involves saying goodbye to school, which includes a number of different events – including the presentation of certificates or thanking teaching staff. It is also often the moment when an end-of-year gift is presented to a teacher, especially if it is their last year at school. What is worth knowing about this topic?
When is the end of the school year?
The exact date is given each year in the regulations of the Ministry of Education and can vary slightly from year to year. However, it is usually the last or penultimate Friday in June. In 2022, it was 25.06, whereas this year, the end of the year already falls on 23 June. At the same time, it is worth noting that teaching activities themselves may end earlier.
Furthermore, pupils in the 8th grade of primary school or the final year of secondary school usually end the school year a little earlier than pupils in other grades. This is due to the fact that final examinations are scheduled for May and June, and a large part of the preceding semesters focuses directly on test preparation. As a result, the attendance of final year students at school after the exams is not necessary, so they can count on an extended holiday.
Pouches ideal for teacher scent sachet
What does the end of year look like at school?
The start of the summer holidays is a moment for pupils to finally take a breather after several months of continuous learning. It’s also a moment of rest for teachers – although they have some duties to perform in the summer as well, the work during this period is much less intense. The warm summer months are the perfect opportunity to take a break, plan a trip or quietly prepare for the year ahead. At the same time, the end of the summer term is a good time to take stock, as well as to recognise students or thank teachers.
Every school celebrates this day slightly differently, but the end of the year is always a rather loud and big event. An obligatory element of this celebration is an assembly given by the principal and the most important members of the teaching staff. It is also often accompanied by performances by the pupils, be it theatrical performances or presentations of musical talent. It is customary to wear a formal dress code on this day, and the whole ceremony usually begins in the morning, between 8:00 and 10:00.
An important part of the end-of-year celebration is also the presentation of certificates. Pupils with the best results in their studies can expect to receive the so-called red stripe, which is a distinction in the form of a white and red flag on the certificate. On this occasion, prizes are also awarded for various achievements, competitions or above-average results in sports competitions. Afterwards, you can go on your longed-for holidays – or celebrate with family or friends.
Organza bag for small cosmetics or handmade candles at the end of the school year
End of the school year – a family celebration
The last day of the school year is a good reason to prepare something special for your child. This could be, for example, a visit to the cinema together, dinner at a restaurant or a larger party with loved ones. The choice should be tailored to your child’s preferences – if you know that your son or daughter doesn’t like lavish parties, opt for a home celebration or going out to a favourite place. You can also use this moment to praise your little one and think about your plans for the holidays or next year together.
Having fun with friends after the end of the year
Although students see their classmates on a daily basis, they often also want to organise a get-together right after the end of the school year. Such an outing can be an interesting way to celebrate the start of the summer holidays. At the end of June, the weather will certainly be fine – so you can easily go outdoors, but a home party, for example, will work just as well. You can also opt for active celebrations, e.g. during a short hike or a bike ride in search of an interesting place in the area.
Something ends, something begins – when is back to school in 2023?
The summer holidays are a time of carefree, fun and relaxation, but unfortunately this period must also come to an end at some point. After the adventures of July and August, it’s time to go back to school. When does the start of the 2023/2024 school year await us? Usually, the answer is quite simple – it’s the familiar date of 1 September. This year, however, it may be different. This is due to the fact that the first day of this month falls on a Friday, which is just before the weekend. As a result, the official start of school will most likely be scheduled for Monday, 4 September.
End of the year from a teacher’s perspective
Although for students the end of the year marks the beginning of the summer idyll, from the perspective of teachers the issue looks a little different. Also in July and August, they have to carry out certain professional duties – for example, dealing with paperwork, preparing materials for the following year, attending school council meetings or taking care of participants in summer and summer camps. With this in mind, it is worth noting the appreciation of teachers on this day, especially classroom teachers. Acknowledgements for another year of teaching will certainly be welcome and provide motivation for their work.
A gift for the teacher at the end of the year – customs and traditions
It is customary for teachers to receive flowers or chocolates from their students, but increasingly we can also see other gifts. Much depends on the relationship between students and members of the teaching staff. If the people in the class are well aware of the interests of their form tutor or teacher, it will certainly be a great choice to buy a gift tailored to this. An important part of the end-of-year gift for the teacher is also a thank-you note – usually in writing. Often, for example, class photos with signatures and good wishes are used as a great keepsake for years to come.
In many cases, the end-of-year gift to the teacher is only presented at the end of the respective level of education, i.e. in the 8th grade of primary school, the 4th grade of secondary school or the 5th grade of technical school. However, there is nothing stopping you from appreciating those responsible for education at another time – it is a nice gesture that is sure to be well received.
Organza pouches for scented candles or other small gifts
What end of year gift for a teacher should I choose?
There are really quite a few possibilities in this area – the final choice, however, depends only on the creativity of the students. The most common choices are flowers and chocolates, but these are just some of the many gift suggestions available. Looking for a gift for your teacher? Here are some products that are sure to go down well!
- Personalised mug – it’s a good idea to buy one, especially if your teacher starts each day with a cup of coffee or tea and there’s always a mug on the desk next to the diary. It can be a vessel with an individual print that refers, for example, to the character of the teacher or a funny situation from the classroom.
- Pen or pen – an indispensable part of a teacher’s duties is to enter marks, write down various pieces of information or mark mistakes on tests and papers. For each of these tasks, a pen or pen will be indispensable. If you want to prepare the perfect end-of-year gift for a teacher, you can bet on a writing instrument – especially with personalised engraving.
- A book is a great gift for Polish or foreign language teachers, as well as for those who are truly passionate about the subject they teach. Bookshops offer interesting titles in almost every field, among which there is sure to be something for your favourite teacher.
- A calendar – this is a gift that can be truly unique and at the same time extremely practical. The following pages can be filled with photos of the class, for example. The calendar itself will instead be a great help with organisation – it’s worth opting for a product tailored to the school year, i.e. a calendar for 2023/24.
- Spa voucher – after a hard year of studying, everyone needs a bit of relaxation. A spa voucher is an original gift that can be used at any time. Surely such a visit will provide the voucher-bearing teacher with a bit of relaxation before the next term.
End-of-year gift for a teacher – remember to choose a suitable, modest gift
When choosing a gift, it is important to bear in mind the role of the teacher, who is a public servant under the law. This means that those in this profession are subject to fairly strict regulations regarding the acceptance of financial and personal benefits, such as expensive gifts. As a result, overly grandiose gifts can be suspect – lawyers warn to stick to symbolic gifts only. Gifts of up to PLN 50-100 are generally considered to be a safe upper limit. It is advisable to consult the choice of gift in advance with, for example, the school management, who should be able to provide specific guidelines in this respect.
How do I wrap a year-end gift for a teacher?
Do you want a gift from your class to stand out? You can bet not only on a unique gift, but also on original packaging. For this purpose, fabric pouches are ideal, which are available in many colours and sizes in our shop. What’s more, ordinary boxes or bags don’t always work – in many cases, transporting a gift will be easier if it is wrapped in a bag.
One of the advantages of our products is that they are extremely easy to use. Even if you’re wrapping a gift just before the end-of-year assembly, you can get a great effect – just tighten the string and you’re done! You can put anything you want inside: depending on the gift you choose, there are different sizes available, from small bags of a few centimetres to quite large bags up to 75 cm high. Acknowledgements in almost any form will also fit inside. We’re sure you’ll find a product with us that’s perfect as an end-of-year gift wrap for your teacher. Have a great holiday!
