Latest news with #TeacherAppreciationWeek
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
This 'Magic' Gesture Shows This Teacher's Students That Their Birthdays Are a 'Big Deal'
While some kids look forward to their birthdays all year, anticipating gifts and treats galore, Dawn Ticarich knows that's not always a reality for every child. Growing up, an approaching birthday would fill the now-fourth grade teacher with 'dread' because she knew it meant that in order for her day to be special, her family would have to make sacrifices. 'I could hear conversations about our water being shut off and our electric being shut off,' she tells PEOPLE. 'And my birthday is at the very, very beginning of February, which is always the aftermath of Christmastime so, I knew that it was such a burden for my family for me to have a birthday party.' When Ticarich grew up to become an elementary school teacher, she knew one of her top priorities would be for her students to know that 'birthdays are a big deal.' And Ticarich, whose students know her as Miss T., quickly learned just how important that gesture might be. She recalls that on the first class birthday she celebrated at her "very low income school" in West Virginia, "my heart was shattered ... because I gave the little boy a present and he took it and stomped on it because he thought it was from his mother. He had no idea that a teacher would give him a birthday present like that.' She realized that those same feelings she had to navigate as a child, her students were experiencing as well. That led Ticarich to start creating birthday baskets filled with thoughtful and intentional gifts for each student in her classroom, a tradition she started last school year when she moved to Utah. Ticarich, who now teaches fourth grade, says that while her population of students might have changed, their need for a special day has not. Even for kids without financial difficulties, she says, "what parents can't replicate is the feeling of the social connection, of being so loved and made to feel so special by a class of 22 kids of your same age,' she says. 'That can't be replicated even in the richest home.' Ticarich started documenting her process of gathering gifts on TikTok, explaining the meaning behind the ones she chooses. At first, she paid for them out of her own pocket, but she now has an Amazon wish list for those who wish to contribute. Her method includes sending out a parent survey, taking suggestions from the recipient's classmates, and she says, "just kind of observing what would make them feel special…I feel like you're only a kid once and kids deserve that magic. It's such a big deal to me." She hopes that, beyond the fun of opening a thoughtful gift, the students also get a meaningful message. Gift giving is "the one love language that I am able to do,' she says, so she's showing love by "just modeling that, making people feel like they're a big deal and helping when we can.' During Teacher Appreciation Week, she saw just how well that message had sunken in, when her students cleaned and organized the closet in their classroom as a surprise. 'That's them showing, 'I want to do something for you and it's important to me,' " she said, sharing how rewarding it has been "watching them blossom into these people with big hearts, because I've tried to instill in them ... you're going to cross paths with people who need extra support, and it's really important that you know how to do that.' These acts of kindness have expanded outside of her classroom and into the halls of the school with the establishment of the 'blessing closet' that evolved from including a few necessities like chapstick and hand warmers to multiple closets filled with clothes, shoes and hygiene products, and, eventually, food. To avoid any awkwardness or embarrassment that a student might feel in taking any of the items home for themselves or their family, Ticarich said they established a "no questions asked" policy for anyone shopping in the closet. "Even if your mom needs chapstick, you can take the chapstick, or if the cashier at the grocery store needs hand warmers, you take them, a no questions asked thing,' she says. 'You don't ask why somebody's taking a comb because you don't know if it's for their neighbor.' The 'blessing closet' has since started including bags of food for families at the school who need it. 'We just didn't tell anyone no,' she says of the growing list of recipients. While all of these initiatives first came out of pocket, she has now received so many donations that they've been able to replicate the "blessings closet" at a local Title I school. Despite all the positivity that surrounds her initiatives, Ticharich says that she does occasionally deal with negative comments online from people who don't understand why she goes to so much trouble for her students. At first, she deactivated her TikTok in response, but "pep talks" from people in her community encouraged her to keep sharing the joy online. " 'If you are helping one kid, why do you care?' " she recalls the PTA president telling her, adding that she began to think about the larger impact of letting others get her down. "It was a lot of people saying, 'Well, what if there was an adult in your life who did this? And then they stopped and you went without?' " By continuing to follow her heart, she's opened people's eyes and minds along thew ay. 'I realized that there are — especially when it comes to trauma and rebuilding and restorative practices — people won't understand if they've never lived that. So I was like, I'm going to start these baskets by sharing why I do it," she says. "There have been so many people that, in the comments have said, 'Well, you checked me because I used to think this is so stupid and over the top.' I wouldn't say changed their minds, but I have made them see a different perspective.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From student to teacher: A full-circle story of classroom impact
SALT LAKE CITY () — Fresh off Teacher Appreciation Week, it's the perfect time to highlight a story that proves the power of a great educator doesn't just shape a school year — it can shape a life. At 8 a.m. sharp, when the bell rings at Newman Elementary, Ms. Sabrin starts the day with more than just a lesson plan. Mornings in her classroom begin with hugs, fist bumps, and even a little dancing — a routine her third graders look forward to as much as recess. Making waves on land: How Luz Garcia is turning plastic waste into powerful change If the students had the power to hand out grades, they say Ms. Sabrin would earn an easy 'A plus plus plus.' But those glowing marks aren't given out lightly. Her students are quick to explain why she deserves them. 'She makes learning really fun and throws parties for us with her own money,' said Maya. Classmates Julissa and Mia agree, calling Ms. Sabrin their role model. 'She's telling me I can be anything I want to be,' said Julissa. 'She makes me want to be a teacher too.' What's remarkable is that the very words her kids use to describe her are the same ones Ms. Sabrin once used to describe her own teacher, Ms. Stimpson. The story begins in seventh grade, on Sabrin's very first day of school in the U.S. A refugee from Egypt, she arrived full of excitement. 'I got a new outfit, a new backpack,' said Sabrin. Sweet churros, sweet mission: Inside the Utah food truck filling bellies – and hearts What she didn't expect? To accidentally get on the wrong school bus after dismissal. Sabrin told that she was missing for five hours until a stranger eventually called 911 and police brought her home. While the moment had a happy ending, the experience left Sabrin shaken. 'I went from 'I love school' to 'I hate school.' I didn't want to leave home anymore. I didn't go to school for a week,' she said. That might have been the end of her story — if not for Ms. Stimpson. Meet Samy Moras: The black belt dog rescuer who's kicking butt and saving tails Though she had only known Sabrin for one day, Ms. Stimpson noticed her absence and refused to ignore it. She showed up at Sabrin's doorstep with a simple promise: 'I'll make sure you get home safely.' And she kept that promise. Every afternoon after that, Ms. Stimpson left her classroom a few minutes early to personally walk Sabrin to the correct bus. But her care didn't stop there. Sabrin said Ms. Stimpson believed in her when no one else did — and made sure she believed in herself too. Today, Sabrin is back — not just in the classroom, but in the very district where she was once a student. And now, she's the one her students look up to. As for Ms. Stimpson? 'I always knew she had it in her,' she said. 'She would take the Expo marker and teach the class, and when the boys didn't listen, she'd scold them in her teacher voice. They'd sit up straight and pay attention. She was a teacher from the very beginning.' Still, she says hearing how much she meant to Sabrin humbles her. 'Everyone has that one teacher who made a difference — and to know you were that for someone… it's pretty special.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Maycember: The month that proves moms need more than just a day
If December is a blur of wrapping paper and sugar cookies, May is its overstimulated, under caffeinated twin—less sparkle, more stress. Meet Maycember: the term exhausted moms are circulating online to name the very real chaos that descends as the school year ends. Teacher Appreciation Week. End-of-year recitals. Summer camp registrations (and waitlists). Graduation ceremonies. Field days. All of it crashing down right around Mother's Day—when moms are somehow expected to slow down and celebrate. Let's be clear: Maycember is a cultural moment that exposes a deeper truth. Moms don't just need a brunch. They need structural support. Behind the scenes of every beautifully wrapped teacher gift or perfectly timed field day snack is a mental checklist only one person is keeping: mom. While others see a packed calendar, she sees a minefield of missed RSVPs, costume deadlines, and camp waitlists. It's the kind of emotional labor that mirrors the holiday season—but without the societal recognition, the festive buildup, or even the backup. Sociologist Allison Daminger defines this as cognitive labor—the anticipatory work of remembering and planning—and confirms that mothers do the lion's share of it. Her 2019 study in the American Sociological Review found that even when couples reported splitting household chores, women still shouldered most of the mental workload behind the scenes. The result? Moms in May aren't just overwhelmed—they're invisibly managing the lives of their families while also working, parenting, and processing milestones like 'the last preschool pickup ever' or 'our first middle schooler.' Related: Moms don't need a baby bonus—they need paid leave, childcare, and real support It's not just anecdotal. According to a 2024 Gallup report, working women in the U.S. report higher levels of stress, burnout, and work-life conflict than any other demographic group. Women who manage competing work and family demands daily are 81% more likely to feel burned out compared to their peers. And for moms, those pressures often hit hardest during high-stakes months like May. What's clear is this: the problem isn't poor planning or personal failure—it's a system that offloads the pressure onto moms without providing the support they need to carry it. There are no institutional buffers. No built-in pause buttons. Just more demands, squeezed into less time, under higher emotional stakes. In short: if you feel like you're barely holding it together right now, you're not failing. You're functioning in a system designed without you in mind. Here comes the twist: In the middle of all this, it's Mother's Day. A holiday created to honor care often ends up spotlighting just how little our society actually supports it. For one day, society gushes over moms with cards and flowers. The rest of the year? Moms are left to hold it all together without the policies or infrastructure that actually make caregiving sustainable. The U.S. remains the only industrialized country without guaranteed paid maternity leave, according to the OECD. And the cost of childcare in many states now rivals college tuition. This context matters: moms aren't burning out because they're doing it wrong. They're burning out because the system relies on their unpaid labor—and celebrates them just enough to keep that system going. Here's the thing: Moms don't need a mimosa. They need time, equity, and policy. In a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 78% of mothers say they manage their children's schedules and activities, compared to just 33% of fathers. That imbalance becomes even more glaring in high-load months like May. Want to celebrate Mother's Day? Start by fully sharing the Maycember load. Care work fuels our society—but it's still undervalued and underpaid. From paid leave to subsidized child care to caregiver tax credits, these supports aren't 'nice to haves.' They're critical infrastructure for families and the economy. If Maycember is a mirror, what does it reveal? It shows us a society that still asks moms to perform miracles on a daily basis—then blames them when they drop the ball. It reveals a care economy that exists entirely off the backs of women who are expected to sacrifice without acknowledgment. So this May, let's ask the men in our lives, our communities, and our allies to rewrite the script. Let's expect dad to plan the teacher gifts without assuming it's the mom's job. Let's give moms a break from the performance of perfection. Let's support legislation that values care work as the foundation of the economy—not as an afterthought. Maycember isn't just a funny name for a stressful season. It's a cry for help from millions of mothers who are maxed out, burned out, and tapped out. And until we stop expecting a candle and a card to fix what is clearly a structural crisis, the burnout will keep coming back—every May, and every day in between. This Mother's Day, don't just say thank you. Share the load. Change the systems. And let moms rest. Related: How Kate Ryder is reinventing women's healthcare—starting with moms Sources: Extra workload. American Sociological Association. 2019. 'The Cognitive Dimension of Household Labor.' Frequent burnout. Gallup. 2024. 'More Than a Program: A Culture of Women's Wellbeing at Work.' No guaranteed paid maternity leave. OECD. 'Parental leave systems.' Cost of childcare rivals college tuition. Economic Policy Institute. 2025. 'Child care costs in the United States.' Mothers taking extra work load. Pew Research Center. 2023. 'Gender and parenting.'
San Francisco Chronicle
10-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday is Mother's Day. The rest of May is pure hell for moms like me
As a mom to a first-grader, I find the timing of Mother's Day to be more than a bit ironic — because the holiday celebrates us at the moment when we're stretched the thinnest. Parenting when you have a full-time job is already a grueling slog of after-school childcare, meal prepping and extracurriculars. But in May, things get truly nuts. As the school year draws to a close, a gauntlet of add-ons suddenly arrives requiring even more money, time and careful planning. As I was typing out notes for this column, I got an email from the 'room parent' of my son's class. It was a solicitation for donations and volunteers for the school's annual camp-out, a tradition in which families — for some reason — lug camping supplies to the center of the school track to watch an outdoor movie, then sleep in tents, feet from their neighbors. It's like a more wholesome and less appealing Coachella. Yes, it fosters a sense of community and offers a low-cost entertainment option. But it also leeches away at the precious little downtime I have. Friday nights are one of the few truly unstructured moments in my family's week. A camping trip — even if it's only eight blocks down the road — means I have to organize, pack and haul everyone back to the school a few hours after we left it. And this was just the latest of what has become a daily missive requesting supplies, funds and in-person attendance at special school events. There is Teacher Appreciation Week; it requires homemade cards (don't forget the support staff!) and volunteer baristas for the teacher's lounge coffee bar. And that's just Monday. There is Spirit Week, a collection of arbitrarily assigned dress-up days that assumes you have an extensive closet of colors and costumes (Thursday is 'Dress Like You're 100 Years Old Day'). At best, these require extra shopping and the gymnastics of cajoling your child to do what's essentially a homework assignment. If you're laughably noncreative like me, they entail hours of trolling Pinterest for ideas. Dress-up days are now so pervasive that Amazon sells kits specifically for children to play 100-year-olds; for $24.99, you can overnight a mini cane, bow tie, suspenders and graying stick-on beard and eyebrows right to your door. Then there are the field trips; they require multiple permission slips, 14 snacks per child and the incredibly ambitious assumption that your 7-year-old will successfully apply their own sunscreen. There is an end-of-year class party, for which 11 veggie trays and six 50-pound bags of rice are needed for the sock bunny craft project. This is separate, of course, from the after-school care program's end-of-year party, which has its own requirements. And there are elaborate end-of-year thank-you gifts for each teacher (yes, this happens on the heels of Teacher Appreciation Week). This means rushed trips between work meetings for food and gifts while fielding emails from my phone — all while I debate whether my son's occupational therapist would prefer the 'California sunset' or 'Big Sur coastline' scented candle. To round things out, the final week of May has just 2½ instructional days; you're on your own for childcare the rest of the time. Hopefully, you didn't burn too much vacation time chaperoning that field trip! Of course, this onslaught of school activities impacts men who are caregivers, too. But studies show that mothers tend to bear more of their household's mental burden than fathers. Keeping track of all those teacher gifts and snack sign-ups requires significant planning and organization. 'Cognitive household labor represents a form of invisible and often unacknowledged domestic work,' USC researchers wrote in a study published last year. That study found that mothers are responsible for the lion's share of cognitive household labor and the majority of physical household labor compared with their partners. And for some, Mother's Day itself can become a chore in and of itself. Well-meaning attempts to celebrate us often mean we are inadvertently stuck with the logistics of planning that brunch reservation or the massage appointment we were gifted. Others feel torn between their own celebration and ensuring that their mom and their partner's mom feel appreciated, too. It's an interesting time as a mom, then, to experience President Donald Trump's recent obsession with 'fertilization,' and his publicly floating the idea of incentives that could persuade women to have more children. Among the lures reportedly being considered are a whopping $5,000 'bonus' or a motherhood medal (which, to be fair, would probably be useful on Dress Like an Olympian Day). If more babies are what they're after, they should perhaps spend a week in May — even a day — in a mother's shoes as she navigates school drop-off while juggling four bouquets for various educators, six trays of strawberries for the class, returns hours later for a midday school picnic and back again when the school day ends. It would undoubtedly yield more constructive ideas: childcare options that don't cost more than college tuition, a school day that aligns with parents' working hours, guaranteed abortion care and paid family leave. Moreover, part of the reason moms like me are taking on so much of this work is because schools are hemorrhaging resources and need to rely on an army of unpaid parent volunteers. So, it's unclear how wiping the Department of Education off the map, as Trump has repeatedly said he intends to do, would improve anyone's experience. As far as Mother's Day goes, I am hoping to relax and make as few decisions as possible. I might crack open a bottle of wine. Because I've earned it, but also because the school recycling drive starts on Monday.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawrence Park polling station will not be handicap accessible this election
Disable voters in Lawrence Park Township's District One will have to cast their ballots in an alternative way. The Erie County Voter Registration Office was just made aware that the handicap accessible ramp is under construction at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Schools across Erie celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week In response, the office has come up with a different method for those who cannot walk up the stairs. Disabled residents can vote curbside with an alternative ballot. City of Erie administration calls out Daria Devlin for 'inaccurate statements regarding budget' 'It's much like voting by mail. so they'll be given a ballot and they can vote in the privacy of their car and then they'll package it up in the privacy envelope and put in a declaration envelope and sign and date it and hand it back to the poll worker,' said Tonia Fernandez, director of elections for Erie County. Those unable to access the polling site will need to apply for the alternative ballots. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
