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 milk chocolate, toffee, pretzels, popcorn, and any chocolate-covered items, but does not like hot, spicy or sour foods. Her favorite scents are peony, floral and fruit, but doesn't like heavy or strong-smelling scents. She collects plants, flowers, and holiday items for the house, and her hobbies are gardening, cooking, and baking. Likes gift cards from Lowes, Old Navy, Target, and Starbucks, drinks coffee, and movies, books, plants, Mani/Pedis, and earrings. Also likes bathroom/kitchen hand towels, and anything for a garden or patio.
Ms. Lee (First Grade) - Likes tea, white/red wine, Girl Scout Cookies (Thin Mint), peanut M&M's, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and spicy hot Cheetos. Does not like raisins. Likes the smell of lavender and peppermint. Does not like the smell of licorice or vinegar. She enjoys books and movies (Disney) as well as massages, mani-pedis, traveling, badminton, and trying out new restaurants. She collects memories.
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) - Coming soon!
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.
Mrs. Burleson (Fourth Grade) - 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.
Ms. Spagat (Fifth Grade) - Likes anything sweet, but not spicy; likes floral scents. Collects scented candles, and anything with cats on them, and her hobbies are reading philosophy, drawing, playing games. Enjoys pop music and adventure movies, and prefers Amazon gift cards. She drinks tea, and enjoys movies, books, and massages.
Mrs. Valladares (Sixth Grade HR) - 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, and 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.
Mrs. Bacolod (Seventh Grade HR) - She likes most foods, but doesn't eat foods with pork, shrimp, crab, lobster, octopus, or oyster. She drinks tea, sparkling wines or non-alcoholic, water, and juice, and likes movies and massages.
Mr. Dyson (Eighth Grade HR) - Mr. Dyson likes books, music, and Philz Coffee, niche apple varieties, dried fruit, and beef jerky. He’s not a fan of sweets (except for pecan pie). He loves local bookstores like Bird and Becket or Dog Eared Books. He enjoys going to movies when there is something good out. He loves surfing and supporting shops like Aqua Surf Shop. He is also a sucker for shoes, clothes, and accessories.
Mr. Espina (Middle School Math) - 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. 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 (Music) - Likes Charcuterie or “adult lunchables,” Pretze crisps and cream cheese, salami, hummus, chocolate covered raisins, jalapeño chips. She does not like dark chocolate. Her favorite scents are Hawaiian and tropical. She collects books, scarves, pens, markers, journals, and water bottles, and her hobbies are crocheting, reading, writing, movies, plants, travel, and music. She likes all music and loves watching mysteries and rom-coms. She drinks coffee, teas, Coke, and loves Dragon Drinks from Starbucks, and prefers gift cards for Movies, Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and Visa.
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.
(Extended Care Kindergarten Teacher) - Coming soon!
Ms. Guan (Extended Care Second 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 Sephora, Target, Chewy, Pet Food Express, and Pet Smart, but a donation to:
will also suffice as well. :)
(Extended Care Third Grade Teacher) - Coming soon!
Mr. Penner (Extended Care Fourth Grade Teacher) - Coming soon!
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. Rivera (Extended Care Middle School 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!
Mr. Dela Cruz (Extended Care Director) - Likes Auntie Anne's almond pretzels, movies, traveling, H&M, coffee, tea, and other drinks, along with the color black.
Mr. Willson (Admissions Director) - Likes sweet and salty things like butter-toffee peanuts, salty chocolate, and caramel & cheese popcorn. Loves dark chocolate, but can't have too much sugar. Enjoys playing video games and Dungeons & Dragons, and likes gift cards for restaurants, Nintendo, and Steam. Does not eat spicy food or drink coffee.
Mr. Lee (Office Manager) - Likes spicy foods, coffee, tea, juice, books, movies, and going out to eat. Does not like ginger or parsley. Collects Sci-Fi and enjoys playing poker with his 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 90s 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.
