Innovative to them, I think. Neat as in they cannot bear to have a crooked line under their title heading. So they take out their ruler and do it with that. Teachers were referred to by their first names. Usually an affectionate nickname.
Teachers genuinely care about students, and same goes for students.
For a teachers birthday, there is almost always a party. Everyone chips in, and the party lasts all period. If there is an extremely popular student, for their birthday there will be a party. Tearjerker parties, since classes are always very close-knit, and everyone becomes friends. In this case, all your friends, regardless of what division they're in, go to your party to say goodbye.