Triple Hibiscus
Coming up on April 29 is one of my favorite special events of the year at our church. We call it the Teacher Appreciation Dinner and honor the classroom teachers our church children have had during the year. It’s for teachers from Kindergarten (the only word I ever misspelled on a spelling test!) to seniors in high school. Actually, the older children are not into it as much as the younger ones. They can invite any favorite teacher; it doesn’t have to be this year’s teacher, though it usually is. The teacher may bring a guest and the student’s whole family can come.
A wonderful team of volunteers makes favors for the teachers to take home and sets beautiful tables in keeping with the theme for that evening. Some of the themes with accompanying favors have been:
“Teachers really MEASURE UP!”
“You help children BLOOM!”
“Teachers are OUT OF THIS WORLD!”
“Teachers ROCK!”
“A teacher is a SUPER HERO!”
“A teacher is the KEY to a child’s learning.”
“Teacher, you are one smart COOKIE.”
“Teachers are LIGHT in the life of a child.”
We started this in 2002, with occasional misses such as during the pandemic and when we had too few interested children. And some of the themes we enjoyed so much that we repeated them a few years later.
Teachers are sent printed invitations in advance and the students meet their teachers at the door and take them to their designated table. It’s vital to have place cards so we can be sure a student and a parent get to sit with a teacher they invited.
We have a delicious dinner served on real plates by volunteers. Each guest has had the opportunity to choose from David’s Delicious Meatloaf, Fettucine Alfredo, or Fettucine Alfredo with chicken. Volunteers make delicious desserts that are presented on trays so all can make their own choices.
We usually have a couple of musical numbers by our own children. For example, George plays trumpet; Brooklyn plays guitar or piano and sings; Naomi plays piano.
Then we have a 15-minute speaker from our congregation who speaks to the interests of teachers, students, and parents. At the end, students usually get their parents to take their pictures with their teachers. Sometimes, we have repeat teachers since some of our children attend the same schools.
The notes we receive from the teachers are always heartfelt and touching. It is a LOT of work for a LOT of people, but we all feel it is worth it. It’s a great way to show gratitude and the love of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and those who serve us.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14
