This comes to us from Cindy Cromwell, a principal in the Kelso School District. If you registered for our Virtual Summer Conference, be sure to watch her course, A Commitment to Supporting the "Whole" Staff on our learning management system.
It IS the Most Wonderful Time of Year
Happy December. Even in 2020, I absolutely LOVE the holiday season. This is the month you MUST remember to take care of you. I find by adding fun activities for my staff I get an energy boost from the positivity, smiles, and excitement. Research is clear when you help others fill their bucket YOUR bucket also gets filled. I encourage you to go for it this month. Do something new and unique because your staff will appreciate it and so will your heart and spirit. Be well!
~Cindy
December Days of Celebration
Festivus for the Rest of Us
I am a HUGE Seinfeld fan. In fact, my cats are named Newman and George as I am that big of a fan. The week before winter break I always have a week of “Festivus for the Rest of Us” with a variety of fun activities to help staff get through the ride. Most of these ideas can be done for in-person and remote learning AND don’t cost much. Each day we do something fun and end with a fun day of trivia and prizes. Here are a few ideas for daily dress-ups: Holiday Sweater Day, Sparkle & Jingle Day, Holiday Hat Day, Crazy Sock Day, Comfy Day (every teacher loves wearing comfy clothes to school), and Red/Green Day. We also play “Find our Elf”. I hide the Elf in different locations throughout the school each day and staff emails me where it is for an entry into a prize drawing. Trivia is always fun and can be easily incorporated into online learning. Place questions in multiple sealed number envelopes with specific times for staff to open and ask students for answers. Answers can be emailed to you with winners announced during class.
Fun days and ways to celebrate with your students, staff, and families
December 1 – “National Christmas Lights Day” | Surprise students and staff when they walk into your office and staff room with lights. There are battery-operated lights to help you spruce up areas without needing a nearby plugin.
December 2 – “National Mutt Day” | Encourage staff to post and share pictures of their pets.
December 3 – “Giving Tuesday” | I must admit this is one of my favorite days in December. Have staff and students bring a donation item to school today. You could focus on non-perishable food items for a community pantry, socks for the homeless, or donations for your local animal shelter.
December 4 – “National Cookie Day” | This could be the easiest day of the year to plan for. Have staff bring in their favorite store-purchased cookies for a buffet of cookies and treats or go to your nearest grocery store and pick out some cookies to share.
December 7 – “National Cotton Candy Day” and “National Letter Writing Day” | Cotton Candy for all or encourage staff to finish up their Christmas Card letters today. You can provide cards and stationery to help assist with the finishing projects.
December 8 – National Brownie Day | Little Debbie Brownies with a sticker saying “Happy National Brownie Day. It is a true treat to work with you.”
December 9 – “National Pastry Day” | A quick trip to the bakery department will help you with this. Have a variety of pastry treats available as you go throughout your school with a “Wide Wednesday Treat Wagon” or this would be a great time to provide a dessert room service delivery for your staff. For bonus points use llama plates or napkins to celebrate National Llama Day today.
December 11 – “International Mountain Day” | So many ideas for great fun today. Purchase Mountain Bars with a note “Ain’t No Mountain Too High To Keep Me From Being Thankful For You.” Have a Mountain Dew Bar for staff. (Note...have you seen all of the flavors they have?) Or pass out trail mix with a note to remind them “Wherever this mountain trail takes us in 2021 we are in it together.”
December 12 – “National Poinsettia Day” | Purchase small Poinsettias to Decemberorate classrooms and office spaces. If you are in virtual learning mode purchase enough for staff and ask them to drive by the school one day to pass out some of these beautiful plants.
December 14 – “Monkey Day” | Enjoy some monkey business today and start off with a breakfast of muffins, bananas, and coffee for staff. Have a few games in the staff room to play during lunchtime such as Barrel of Monkeys.
December 16 – “National Chocolate Covered Anything Day” | You can rent a chocolate fountain and provide staff with a variety of treats to dip OR purchase a variety of chocolate-covered items such as raisins, pretzels, almonds, doughnuts, cupcakes, brownies, ice cream; I can’t wait for this day!
December 17 – “National Maple Syrup Day” | Personally, I would put Vermont Maple Syrup on everything if I had easy access but I live on the west coast! (The struggle is real people.) So to keep things manageable today, I will be buying maple bars for my staff to enjoy.
December 18 – “Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day.” | What is your favorite color?
December 19 – “National Hard Candy Day.” | As staff leave for winter break give them a roll of Life Saver candies. Thank them for being a “Life Saver” during this ever crazy year.