Teacher Appreciation Day

Every year, just before school starts, some of the office supply stores have a Teacher Appreciation Day. Teachers are invited to shop during a specified shopping hours to stock up on school supplies they will need for their classroom. All kinds of sales are run at that time and teachers are provided a bag of freebies as well. Usually, the free give away items are things like a package of pens or pencils, a few sticky notes, some coupons for future services like copies or laminating, and things of that nature. Today, both Staples and Office Depot had Teacher Appreciation Day so John and I both went to see what bargains we could get for our classroom.

First we went to Office Depot. We signed up for the free drawings and enjoyed the complimentary breakfast foods they had (danish, donuts, cookies, oj, coffee). While snacking on our danish, just a few minutes after having signed in and receiving our bag of freebies, they had a drawing. Guess whose name they called? Mine! I won a basket of Avon bath products (shower gel, lotion, etc.). A minute or two after that drawing, another drawing was done. Guess who won? Me again! I had won a second Avon gift basket (coffee beans, aromatherapy candles, etc.). I had already received a bag of freebies and won 2 drawings all within 5 minutes of entering the store! John couldn't believe it!

We started shopping and picked up some things that we could use in our classroom. Students don't always have everything they are supposed to have so most teachers will buy extra supplies like pencils, erasers, paper, etc. plus the necessary "office" type things we need throughout the year like file folders, indexes and other things to help us organize. They had some really good deals so we were able to pick up some of the necessary supplies.

After about an hour, we had finished up with our purchases and had decided it was time to check out. John was looking at "one more thing" when they called another door prize. Guess who won? Not me this time....John! He won an office chair. You know, one of those adjustable height seat, lumbar back, rolly chairs. We couldn't believe it!

Since we were so lucky at Office Depot, we decided we'd try Staples so off we went. Again we got a bag of goodies, had a little oj and danish, signed up for 20 free business cards, and shopped around looking for more bargains. I have to say I was a little disappointed with Staples. Their sales were not nearly as appealing and they didn't seem to have much of anything we really wanted or needed. They didn't have hourly drawings like Office Depot (although we did sign up for several drawings they were having at the end of the day). Neither of us have heard from them about anything we might have won, but I'm still holding on to hope! Maybe they'll call tomorrow!

To pick up all the things we couldn't get at those to stores, we headed to Walmart. They had some great back to school sales and we were able to pick up things like crayons, markers, glue, etc. The only thing I wasn't able to get today was pencil sharpeners. I'm specific about the type I want and I didn't want to pay $2 for one pencil sharpener. They break too easily.

Overall, I have to say it was a productive and enjoyable day. We got a few things that will make our beginning of the school year go a little smoother, a chair to sit in, and Avon products that will make us look and feel good for the first day of school.

I felt appreciated!