<p>As one of 900+ seniors at our large metropolitan public HS, D was virtually unknown to her GC of 3 years. </p>
<p>Luckily another GC volunteered to write all D’s recs, essentially adopting her. (This was totally unsolicited on D’s part). This GC knows D and respects her accomplishments and I suspect he will advocate well on her behalf. (He has already given D very good advice). </p>
<p>As a courtesy, D submitted her senior profile and rec packet early. (She started school 3 weeks ago). Today she brought him more “goodies” - additional scholarship recs. </p>
<p>D would like to give the GC a gift as a thank you. We’re stumped. Any suggestions? (Male GC, mid 50’s) </p>
<p>I would wait until the end of the year. There may be much more help your daughter may need from this counselor and the counselor may feel funny about it if presents are involved.Perhaps there are other awards your daughter may be up for and this counselor may have input. This may put her in a difficult position . I would think this counselor feels very proud of her abilities and does not expect gifts . Personally I would want until the end of the school year and give daughter the joy of choosing and presenting it.</p>
<p>I would send the gift in March or so - all the real work is over then, but you’ll avoid the end of senior year craziness (and the possibility that you daughter may have mentally moved on by then). B&N and a personal note, perhaps a small flower - men do love getting flowers if they aren’t too smelly or showy - it will make his day.</p>
<p>I’ve had 2 S graduate high school & we sent GCs B&N gift certificates.
I know some families who have sent American Express Dining Gift Certificates. Kids have also sent their teachers
who wrote recs B&N gift certificates. Thank yous and gifts were usually sent last month or two of school.</p>
<p>We gave son’s GC a gift card to her favorite store for Christmas. After April 1, when college acceptances came in, son gave her a small potted daffodil plant with a thank you note. I should mention that son’s school is very small, with 3 GC for 100 students.</p>
<p>The nicest thing that you can do is for your and D at the end of the school year to write the GC a detailed thank-you note and copy the principal so that it goes into her file.</p>
<p>It also would be nice if your D also gave the GC a souvenir from the college that the D decides to go to. This needn’t be expensive: something like a mug or calendar would do. It’s truly the thought that counts.</p>
<p>It also would be nice if your D would send the GC a post card or something from college, letting the GC know what your D is enjoying about the experience.</p>
<p>People like your D’s GC love to mentor, and what gives them pleasure is hearing about their mentee’s experiences, not getting material gifts. Mentors are motivated by seeing how they made a difference in someone else’s life.</p>
<p>My son thanked teachers and counselor verbally at the time of the favor, and then at the end of the school year he wrote each a nice note of thanks includng his future plans and what that teachers class/help meant to him. He included a modest gift card from Borders. He waited until spring for the gifts because we thought it might seem like “buying” good college and scholarship recs.</p>
<p>On the night of graduation I gave my teacher counselor (a hybrid of homeroom teacher and counselor) a big bouquet of flowers and a GENEROUS Barnes and Nobel card.</p>
<p>These ideas are great. D loves the idea of the college souvenir, Northstarmom! </p>
<p>I guess we’re just feeling a little guilty as D brought in a few more recs GC needs to complete for scholarships. I didn’t know this when I posted but D’s already brought GC a plate of home-made brownies!</p>
<p>As a counselor myself, I have to say these are great ideas! I concur that it would be best to wait till the work is done to avoid uncomfortable feelings. Personally, a note from the heart is what I most like, but I have yet to find a counselor who doesn’t like FOOD! Harry and David’s have great baskets of food items!</p>
<p>Oldest S graduated in May and had extensive help from his GC for college apps, scholarship apps and many award nomination paperwork. At end of school year, he wrote personal TY to GC and 2 teachers who also wrote college letters of rec. Also gave each an appropriate gift card based on person’s interests/personality. All seemed to geniunely appreciate the thanks and gifts. The time for TY’s and gifts is at the end of the year. It is a nice way to close out the high school career.</p>