HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New School Year, friends!! I have been honored over the last several months to have met so many principals throughout our country. To those of you joining this newsletter after the NASSP #Ignite Conference in Denver--Welcome!!! If you are a regular subscriber, thank you for continuing to be a part of my work!! Most of us are just beginning our school year this August, and it is my hope you will find this School Celebration Newsletter Edition helpful as you begin to plan. I have included a list of some of my favorite August days along with simple suggestions for celebrations that you can EASILY incorporate into the beginning of the school year. I wish you a successful start this new year. Be well, and as always, let me know how I can support your educational journey. Cindy

AUGUST DAYS TO CELEBRATE

August 1 | National Spider-Man Day--Have staff or students post their favorite Super Hero on your school's social media account--bonus points for dressing up. Or utilize a BIG “Post It” in your staff room with the question, “Who is your favorite Super Hero?” and ask staff to write their answer on the board.

August 2 | National Ice Cream Sandwich Day--What a great afternoon treat for staff!

August 2 |  is also National Coloring Book Day--Find a fun picture to kick off the school year (either positive quotes or pictures) and provide copies of it along with colored pencils or crayons for staff to color and then add them to a staff bulletin board.

August 3 | National Watermelon Day --Have you ever had a watermelon seed-spitting competition? Who can spit the seed the farthest? Or use social media and ask your students/staff the best way to eat a watermelon....cubes, triangles, or do you just attack it by cutting it in half and grabbing a spoon? Prefer to add salt or just plain?

August 4 | National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day--Pick up some cookies on the way to school to share with staff. AND August 4 is also National Water Balloon Day - Why not end the school day with a fun water balloon toss competition amongst staff or during recess with students? HINT: Use the Bunch O’Baloons that allow you to rapid fill and seal. They are AWESOME—no more one-at-a-time filling stations

August 9 | National Book Lover's Day--Ask staff to share a picture reading a favorite book in a favorite place. Let's encourage our students to read by modeling!! Or make a collage of the top books checked out of your school library last year. OR use the Big Post-It idea and ask staff to write a book they recommend and a sentence to describe it.

August 10 | National Smore Day--You can be creative with this one depending upon accessibility. You could make a to-go bag for staff to use at their next campfire.

August 15 | National Relaxation Day--Encourage your staff to participate in this very important day before the students show up (in whatever capacity). Make sure YOU are also participating!!

August 16 | National Tell A Joke Day-- Choose a fun joke and send a video out to your staff or families to join you in celebrating this great day. We all could use a giggle in mid-August! Or grab a knock-knock joke book and tell fun jokes during passing times and lunches!!

August 24 | National Waffle Day- Have you thought about asking staff to join you for breakfast this morning? Everyone pays their own check, BUT it will be a great way to kick off the day no matter how many staff show up. Be on the lookout for restaurant discounts today.

August 25 | National Banana Split Day--It's a dessert kinda day.

August 30 | National Beach Day--Make it a Hawaiian shirt dress-up day and head over to the Dollar Tree and pick up some Hawaiian Leis or coconut cups. You could also purchase the little drink umbrellas and provide staff with infused iced water (cucumber, mint, oranges, or other fun additions). As staff fill up a glass of these healthy cool drinks and add the little umbrella so they can pretend to be at the beach. Another fun idea would be to bring in some lawn chairs into your staff room to spice things up a bit.

August 31 | National Trail Mix Day--You could easily go to Costco or the local grocery store and pick up individual trail mix bags to pass out to your staff. Add a note that says, "Where ever this trail takes us, we are in it together," OR Celebrate National Eat Outside Day and encourage class picnics.