As you can probably tell I LOVE to celebrate and show appreciation for people in my life. I believe passionately it is critical to have a heart of gratitude and give thanks. November is the perfect month to spend time thinking of the things
or people that make you smile. I will start off by saying thank you for supporting me by reading this newsletter and sending me your pictures or emails about how you are using it. I love hearing from you and you can always drop me a tweet
@sholtys. Thank you for what you do for students and staff each and every day. I believe in you!
November Days to Celebrate
November 1 | Celebrates two awesome literacy days. It is not only National Authors’ Day but also National Family Literacy Day. There are so many ways to celebrate today with not only your staff but students and families. Have you thought about doing a bedtime story via Facebook? This might be a great time to try. How about asking staff who their favorite author is and display on a board? Or have staff choose a book from your library with their favorite author and put them on display for the week.
November 2 | National Stress Awareness Day. It is November and we are all under an intense amount of stress no matter our role in education. If your district has mental health support or assistance for staff this would be a day to remind staff of the resources available for them and their families.
November 3 | “National Sandwich Day” | Look for great deals on sandwiches at Subway, Costco, and Jimmy Johns along with your community sandwich shop. Bring in a platter of sandwiches for lunch or an afternoon snack. If you are virtual or if money is tight ask everyone to bring a sandwich to lunch today and eat together. The principal can provide some decorations to beautify the staff room (flowers, music).
November 4 | “National Candy Day” | So many ideas for this one! Have a candy buffet for an afternoon snack. Provide a candy cart for staff to choose from with classroom delivery. Or here are a few of my favorites — purchase Swedish Fish and attach a card, “You’re O’Fish’Ally Amazing.” Rename Reese’s Pieces to “Recess Pieces” for your recess staff. Almond Joy with a note “It’s a JOY to work with you.” 100 Grand, “You are worth so much more.” Look candy bar, “When I look up awesome I see you.” A bowl of Smarties, “These are named after you.”
November 8 | National STEM/STEAM Day | Celebrate your STEM and STEAM programs today. Share job opportunities, programs, and famous individuals and their contributions to our world.
November 10 | “National Vanilla Cupcake Day” | How easy is this one? You could also purchase frosted vanilla cupcakes and have a decoration bar available for staff/students to finish the final touches on their creations.
November 14 | “Pickle Day” | I just have to include this “unique” day as everyone (but me and the cats) in my home LOVE pickles. If you need to send a thank you card today you could buy a small jar of pickles with a note that says, “Thank you for helping me out of a pickle.” I will actually be doing this for a few staff.
November 15 | “National Clean Out Your Fridge Day” | When was the last time your staff fridge was cleaned out? Use this day to encourage staff to throw out their expired treats.
November 17 | “National Hiking Day” | Physical Education can come alive for your families today. Have staff, students, or families take pictures today while going on a walk. Combine the pictures into a collage to share on your school’s social media account.
November 18 | “Mickey Mouse Day” | What can you do today to make your school one of the “Happiest Schools on Earth?” November 18 is also “Apple Cider Day”. It is November and it will probably be rather cold. Could you surprise staff on morning bus duty with some warm apple cider? Just the smell will warm everyone up.
November 21 is both “National Gingerbread Cookie Day” and “National Stuffing Day”. Swing by the store and pick up some cookies or pick up boxes of Stove Top Stuffing. Include a note that says “I sure am thankful for all the ‘stuff’ you do every day to take care of our students. Happy National Stuffing Day.”
November 23 | “National Espresso Day” | Create a coffee bar for your staff or bring in a Keurig with all of the winter flavors for staff to use throughout the day. Take a warm beverage out to your staff on bus duty or monitoring recess.
November 29 | “National Square Dance Day” | Turn lunchtime into a dance party or provide a dance class for either a square or line dance. When was the last time you did the electric slide or some other classic fun dance with students?
November 30 | “National Mason Jar Day” | Fill mason jars with special treats to provide staff, or one of my favorites, purchase mason jars and solar lids with LED string lights. (Check out Amazon for the set). Put the lights in the jar and hand them out to the staff. This can serve as a reminder of the light they are to others. Be creative and have fun with a simple and heartfelt message.