Staff Gift Ideas
Our generous families often ask what our teachers would like to have as a gift so that they may best tailor presents for them. In order to make it easier on you, below is a list of teacher and staff personal preferences and dislikes. In no way do we want you to feel obligated to give a gift! But for those of you who would like some gift ideas for easier shopping, please see below! We will do our best to keep this list updated. Thank you!
Ms. Sanchez (Kindergarten) - Likes Lime Hot Cheetos, popcorn, sushi, and noodles. Loves all foods: brownies, chocolate chip cookies, Doritos, popcorn, sugar cookies, and Z-bars, but dislikes all mint things! Also enjoys the scents of cinnamon, coconut, pumpkin, and vanilla. She collects hats and sea shells, and enjoys dancing, Hip-Hop, drawing, going to the movies, hiking, ice skating, reading, swimming, and writing. Favorite music genres are Bachata, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Merengue, Rap, Rock, R&B, Salsa, and Soul, and favorite movies are Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther. Prefers Amazon and Visa gift cards and Disney, Gap, Nike, and Target stores. Loves coffee, tea, Coke, water, movies, books, massages, and plants!
Mrs. Powers (Kindergarten Assistant Teacher) - Likes coffee drinks, toffee, popcorn, chips, and chocolate-covered items, but does not like hot, spicy, or sour food. Her favorite scents are peony, floral, and fruit, but doesn't like heavy or strong-smelling scents. She collects orchids, plants, flowers, and anything for a garden, and her hobbies are gardening, cooking, and baking. She prefers gift cards from Lowes, Old Navy, Target, Amazon, Starbucks, drinks coffee, and likes Mani/Pedis.
Ms. Gonzalez (First Grade) - Likes Indian food, Sushi, Milkshakes, Lindor Truffles, doesn't drink (other than champagne), and is not a fan of onions and is allergic to bees. Favorite scents are Lavender, "Spa blend", and Roses, but not a fan of perfumes or colognes. Collects Garden gnomes and Dangly earrings, and hobbies are Improv, Painting, Drawing (pastels), and Pilates. Music tastes are diverse, but defaults to country, pop, and 80's/90's. Likes comedy or vampire/witchcraft fiction movies. Prefers Amazon and Target gift cards, drinks coffee, tea seltzer, but not soda, and loves champagne. Likes movies, book, massages (A LOT), plants, and mani/pedis. Loves to read; favorite books are Anne Rice vampire and Mayfair witches books, Deborah Harkness Discovery of Witches, Neil Gaiman Neverwhere.
Mrs. Fong (First Grade Assistant & Extended Care Teacher) - Likes coffee, tea, dark chocolate, and popcorn. Dislikes anything spicy/hot or sour. Likes the scents of fruit/citrus, vanilla, and mint. Dislikes the scents of patchouli or anything musky. Enjoys cooking and baking. Likes gift cards from Target, Amazon, Safeway or Lucky.
Ms. Pereira (Second Grade) - Likes snap peas, BAKED Cheeto puffs, honey butter chips, popcorn, Twix candy! Likes sushi, burgers, jalapeno chips, chocolate covered nuts or pretzels! Likes the scents of the ocean and fresh laundry, but not anything too strongly scented. She collects stationary items, and her hobbies are traveling, being outside (hiking, the beach, kayaking), trying new restaurants. She likes to watch comedies, drama, and documentaries. She likes to drink tea, plain and flavored sparkling water, red and white wines, but not caffeinated drinks, and enjoys books, plants, and mani/pedis. She prefers Target gift cards.
Ms. Suitos (Second Grade Assistant Teacher) - Loves chocolate, Japanese foods and snacks, but doesn't like peanuts or peanut flavors. She likes calming, fruity scents, but not sandalwood, cinnamon, or vanilla. She collects plants, books, crystals, and fun earrings, socks, and tote bags. Her hobbies are gardening, reading, painting, and yoga. She enjoys R&B, hip hop, Harry Potter, Disney, Marvel, and Studio Ghibli. She prefers gift cards from Target, Trader Joe’s, Amazon, Fandango, and Visa. She drinks coffee, tea, white wine, Coke, and boba drinks, and likes movies, books, massages, and mani/pedis.
Mr. Wheatley (Third Grade) - Likes chips, gummy bears, salsa, and queso, but does not like chocolate or popcorn. Likes Patchouli, but not floral scents. Hobbies are Sports-tennis and disc golf, favorite music is Folk and jambands, and prefers Amazon gift cards. Drinks coffee and likes massages.
Ms. Bertrand (Fourth Grade) - Likes Sushi, boba, salty chocolate, cinnamon gum, and fruits and veggies! Likes natural scents like lavender and leds. Collects comic books, D&D dice, and sketch books, and hobbies are art, music, reading, hiking, dancing, and kayaking. Drinks coffee, teas, red & white wines, and Diet Coke. Likes movies, books, massages, plants, outdoor-related activities, and Loves art supplies, musicals, and prefers Amazon gifts cards.
Ms. Miranda Daniels (Fifth Grade) - Likes cuties, sugar snap peas and hummus, salt & vinegar almonds, and dark chocolate, but does not like chips or beef jerky, and is allergic to dairy. Likes Plant based scents (lavender, herbs, pine…), but not anything overly sweet (cotton candy, fruit punch, etc.). Collects flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils, crystals, foreign snacks, and hobbies are yoga, theater, travel, ceramics, and painting. Favorite movies or music are The Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, The Grateful Dead, and The Beatles. Prefers gift cards from Target, Michael’s, Door Dash, Whole Foods, and The Pearl. Drinks tea, white wine, Diet Coke, Tejava Unsweetened & Yerba Mate. Also likes movies, books, massages, plants, and mani/pedis.
Mrs. Valladares (Sixth Grade HR; English, History, Math-6; Electives 6-8) - Likes Chocolate covered gummy bears, goldfish pretzels, plain Skinny Pop, apple chips, sweetened dried mango, and chocolate covered fruit. Likes coffee and tea. Dislikes anything with corn, soy, melon, or nuts, because she is allergic to soy, melon, nuts, & peanuts. Likes the smell of lavender, jasmine, light scents. Dislikes vanilla or heavy scents. Collects beautiful, cool, or different copies of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (favorite book) and cooking/baking tools because she likes to read, cook, and bake. She drinks coffee, tea, and Coke. Her favorite movie is Stranger Than Fiction, loves Harry Potter, and she likes any music other than country. Likes books, massages, and mani-pedis. Prefers gift cards to Amazon, Old Navy, Starbucks, and Target.
Mr. Espina (Seventh Grade HR; Math 7-8; Electives 6-8) - His favorite food is Jollibee pansit palabok and burger, and his favorite scent is Acqua di Gio. His hobbies are travelling, reading books, and cooking. He drinks Coffee, Tea, White Wine, Red Wine, Coke, and Diet Coke, and enjoys movies, books, massages, and Coldplay. He prefers Amazon gift cards.
Mr. Singh (Science 6-8; Math-7) - Likes fruits and salads, but not fried foods. Collects books, and his hobbies are cooking, reading, running, and yoga. Drinks teas and green teas, and likes books, plants, and practicing mindfulness. Is a vegetarian, never smoked, abstains from alcohol, and has a plant-based diet.
TBA (Eighth Grade HR; Humanities 7-8; Electives 6-8) -
Mr. Goncalves (Head of Facilities & Maintenance) - Likes seafood, strawberry ice cream, and nature scents, but not sweets like cakes, cookies, or soda. Allergic to cats. Collects basketball cards, old model cars, and sports memorabilia. Hobbies are camping, cooking, and fishing. Likes all music, action/comedy movies, drinks coffee and water, and prefers gift cards to restaurants for two people.
Mrs. Kleytman (Art) - Likes banana bread and carrot cake, but not tofu! Enjoys the scent of jasmine and lychee, but not skunks. She collects art books and prefers gift cards from Amazon, Peet's, and Target. She also enjoys coffee, tea, books, and plants.
Mrs. Castro (Student Activities Coordinator/Music) - Likes Sunflower Seeds, jalapeño chips, and tru fru. She does not like dark chocolate. Her favorite scents is Hawaiian. She collects journals, and her hobbies are reading, singing, writing, and movies. She likes all music, books, and loves watching thrillers and comedies. She drinks coffee, teas, Coke, ginger beer and root beer, and prefers money, visa gift cards.
Prof. Alvarado (Spanish) - All foods and snacks are welcome; Senior Alvarado has no food allergies. He collects panoramic puzzles, and his hobbies are hiking and running. He likes all genres of books, music and movies, and drinks coffee and red wine.
Mr. O'Connell - (Technology) - Likes books and plants, drinks coffee, and prefers gift cards from Adafruit and Amazon.
Ms. Kudriavtseva (Extended Care Kindergarten Teacher) - Coming soon!
Ms. Rivera (Extended Care Second Grade Teacher) - Likes all food and snacks, except black licorice; likes fruity scents, but not musk. Collects candles, crystals, zodiacs, and hobbies are home decor, DIY, and aquariums. Favorite music are R&B, oldies, rap, alternative, metal, punk, drinks water, and likes movies, book, massages, and plants. Appreciates any gift cards, and loves her dog, Sunny!
Ms. Malbas (Extended Care Third Grade Teacher) - Coming soon!
Ms. Guan (Extended Care Fourth Grade Teacher) - Likes gummy candy (Trolli eggs, gushers, sour patch kids, etc.), florals/subtle natural scents, and has allergies to orange juice and chemical sunscreen. She collects pins, mugs, and art prints, and her hobbies are crafting, planting/gardening, and visiting craft/vintage markets. She drinks coffee, tea, red wine, and Coke, and also likes mani/pedis, massages, and plants (scents/candles or plants that are not toxic to pets). She prefers gift cards to Chewy, Pet Food Express, Pet Smart, Sephora, and Target, but a donation to:
Mr. Gutierrez (Extended Care Fifth Grade Teacher) - Likes sushi, Mexican food, and spicy chips, but not wasabi-flavored snacks or salty candy. Likes the scent of vanilla or citrus, but not lavender. Collects Funko Pops, anything Disney-themed, and anime figures, and his hobbies are drawing, painting, and video gaming. Favorite things to watch are Marvel movies and shows, Anime (JJK, My Hero Academia, Fairytail, Naruto), classic Disney movies, and enjoys plants as well. Drinks Dr. Pepper and prefers Visa gift cards.
Ms. Stacy Isidro (Extended Care Middle School Teacher) - Likes (any) Korean Food and Hot Cheetos; does not like Pretzels or Licorice. Likes Vanilla scents or “Fresh” scents, but not Musk scents. Collects Keychains, International coins/bills, letters, stationary, and photos for scrapbooking. Hobbies are Journaling, reading poetry books, and scrapbooking. Favorite music is 90s - 00s R&B, and prefers gift cards from Amazon, Target OR Peet’s Coffee. Drinks coffee or matcha, and like grocery shopping or going for a drive to a new walking area. For the most part, not a picky person whether with items or food!
Coach Anne Thompson (Extended Care Coordinator) - Likes Pickled things, Fruit snacks, chocolate, mangoes, grapes, granola, Cheez-Its, Mexican, ALL Asian cuisine, chicken nugs/strips, fries, and mac n cheese, but does not like Raisins, olives, most nuts (I only care for peanuts, almonds, cashews and pistachios) dates, figs, red meat/pork, and cauliflower. Is allergic to cherries, pineapple, apple (skin), kiwi, pine nuts (commonly in pesto). Favorite scents are Orange blossom, watermelon/melon, rose, lily, bergamot, teakwood, almond, and masculine/dark/earthy scents, but least favorite scents are vanilla/caramel/overly sweet scents, and candles resembling cookies/cake/food. Collects stickers, magnets, keychains, mugs, hats, shirts (size Men's S or M), pens, earrings, bracelets, and crystals. Hobbies are Camping, hiking, crafting, photography, cooking, and puzzles. Favorite music are all of it: Lany, Taylor Swift, Surfaces, Teddy Swims, Pop, Country, Reggae, hip-hop, and prefers gift cards from Amazon, Target, Chewy, Michael's, Pressed, Trader Joe's, Starbucks, and Visa. Drinks coffee, tea, red & white wines, and likes books, massages, plants, and mani/pedis. She invests a lot in her cats and a big passion of hers is helping animals in general so she's always thinking of ways to provide for them.
Ms. Carr (Administrative Assistant) - Likes spicy food, sandwiches, sushi, burgers, chicken nuggets, coffee, tea, lime chips, sea salt and vinegar chips and pretzels. Is deathly allergic to all types of nuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds, etc.) Enjoys reading (thriller, psychological thriller, mystery and true crime), crafts (drawing, journaling, and scrap-booking), music, movies (Sci-fi, mysteries, documentaries), birds (parakeets and penguins) and baking (just learning). No scents please or prefer things unscented like lotions. Prefers Amazon, Visa, Target, Old Navy, or Movie gift cards. Collects stationary items, tote bags and socks.
Mrs. Burleson (Admissions Director) - Likes to work out, go to the beach, read, hike, and crochet! Likes to drink coffee and white/red wine. Likes plants. Likes massages. Does not like pork products or the smell of vanilla, but does like lemongrass. Prefers gift cards from Amazon and Target.
Mr. Lee (Office Manager) - Likes spicy foods, Japanese rice cracker mixes, coffee, tea, juice, books, movies, and going out to eat. Does not prefer sweets, and does not like ginger or parsley. Collects Sci-Fi and enjoys playing poker with friends. Prefers Amazon and Target gift cards.
Ms. Galvin (Vice Principal) - Likes French Fries, Chicken Nuggets, Cheese Pizza, crunchy, salty, plain flavored snacks. Enjoys theatre, dance, SF Giants, Candy Crush, Broadway, and 90's music. No scents please, but prefers iTunes, Target, Amazon, and Olive Garden gift cards. Drinks coffee, white wine, diet Coke, and enjoys massages.
Ms. Clayton (Principal) - Likes coffee (vanilla lattes), books (fantasy, sci fi, memoirs, true crime(!), and pedagogy), movies, music, musicals, yogurt pretzels, the scents: vanilla and cinnamon, and the color blue. Does not like scents that are too fruity, strong floral, patchouli, or cigarette smoke! Enjoys gift cards to Starbucks, Target, and Amazon.
Allergic to chocolate.
