Welcome To October
Welcome to the October 2023 edition of the "School Celebration Newsletter."
There are so many wonderful things I associate with October. The change of leaves, the final harvest from our garden, my son's birthday, and Friday night lights, just to name a few. October is when the school year becomes real for our staff and students.
The novelty of the start has worn off, and it's fast and furious every day for our team. It is a month when you must do something to celebrate your staff. This month's newsletter is loaded with a ton of ideas to help you achieve this. Check out the details of October 4, as it is becoming one of my favorite days of the year, but then again, anything to do with tacos makes my heart happy. I also want to challenge YOU to put something on the calendar this month that will bring you joy. Maybe it will be coffee with a friend, a spa treatment, or going out for dessert with your partner. Do something intentional this month to bring joy to your heart. I believe in you!
In this month's edition, you will find so many fun and easy-to-implement ideas. Choose a couple and use them to bring some fun and joy to your school. I am an email away if there is anything I can do to support your work, and please send me a picture
of your celebrations @sholtys. Take care and be well.
A Few of My October Favorites
October Days to Celebrate
October 2 | “National Smarties Day” | Pass out smarties candies to students and staff today.
October 3 | “National Techies Day” | This is a great day to make an announcement to celebrate these vital employees that do so much behind
the scenes to make schools work. Provide a card or a sign for staff and students to sign to say thank you.
October 3 | “National Eat Fruit at Work Day” | Pick up a platter of fruit to share or encourage staff to bring some fruit to share.
October 4 has THREE AWESOME DAYS to celebrate and I will be celebrating all 3. | "National Golf Lover's Day" | Set up a miniature golf course in your staff
room. Keep it simple though and use red solo cups as the holes and bring in a few putters. If your students are not in the school, set up some opportunities for staff to play in the hallway with scorecards and prizes. | The second one is “National Cinnamon Bun Day” for a great breakfast. Little Debbie’s are perfect for this!! AND drum roll please…… It is also “National Taco Day”! Create a taco bar by having
staff sign up to bring the fixings for a great lunch or order tacos from your local Taco Bell and provide staff with one or two. Oh my goodness this is a day that you MUST celebrate.
October 5 | "National Do Something Nice Day" | Do you have a Walgreens nearby? They have a generic brand called "NICE" and you can purchase a few staff
favorites to put in everyone's box OR provide each staff member with a card to use this week to thank a peer for going out of their way to be "nice".
October 6 | "National Coaches Day" | Remember to celebrate not only your sports coaches but the academic coaches you have on staff. Provide them with a
water bottle and a Hawaiian punch flavor packet with a label. "Hey coach, enjoy this tropical getaway. Thank you for taking care of us. Happy Coaches Day."
October 6 | "National Noodle Day" | Purchase one Cup of Noodle for each staff member. Put a label on it that says in "Thank you for working so hard to
fill everyone's cup. Here is a cup to help fill yours. Happy National Noodle Day."
October 6 | "World Smile Day" | Do you have a connection to a local dentist? Ask them to provide you with a sample toothbrush, tooth paste, and floss to
share with staff and students to help with their "smiles."
October 10 | “National Cake Decorating Day” AND “National Angel Food Cake Day” | Do you have a staff meeting today? How
about a group competition or create a cookie decorating station for teachers today or various fruit toppings for an angel food cake?
October 12 | "Farmers Day" | Can you say dress up day? Or how about Old MacDonald's favorite game — BINGO. Or how about a potluck of items that are
grown on a farm?
October 13 | "National M & M Day" | A great and easy surprise treat for everyone October 13 is also “Silly Sayings Day” all you need is
post-its for this one! Ask staff to write their favorite silly saying on the post-it and put them on display or use them in announcements.
October 16 | "World Food Day" | So many fantastic ideas to celebrate food. This would be an awesome day to have a rolling snack cart with a variety of
treats for your staff to choose from.
October 16 is also “National Sports Day” | Pull out the large post-its and ask staff to share what their favorite sport is OR if they could play ANY professional sport what would
it be?
October 18 | “National Chocolate Cupcake Day” | It can’t get any simpler than this one! Swing by the bakery on your way to school and
pick up some chocolate cupcakes.
October 20 | "International Sloth Day” | I love going to the zoo and I find myself mesmerized by these beautiful animals. Share various facts and
fun videos about these very unique creatures.
October 20 | "National Day on Writing" | Ask your staff about what they like about working in your school and post some of their answers online.
October 23 | "National Boston Cream Pie Day" | Boston is my most favorite place in the WORLD. Celebrate the phenomenal spirit of Boston today. And it is
also “National TV Talk Show Host Day” | Make your morning announcements using your best talk show voice.
October 26 | "National Pumpkin Day" | Have pumpkins available with carving kits purchased for staff to work on or have a grade level/department competition
this week. Make sure you put the pumpkins on display and have students vote on their favorite. OR purchase a few miniature pumpkins for each desk to decorate!!
October 27 | "National Mentoring Day" | Place a piece of poster board up in the staff room and ask staff to write the best piece of professional advice
they have received. Create a document to share this with any new staff or share out the advice at your next staff meeting or use a few pieces in your weekly bulletin.
October 30 | "National Candy Corn Day" | A favorite snack to provide for everyone AND it is also "National Checklist Day"--The Dollar Store has a great
supply of various notepads to help staff get organized and keep their to-do lists updated. Purchase a few list notepads at the Dollar Tree or Michaels for an inexpensive option.
October 31 | “National Carmel Apple Day” | Most stores have these individual premade that you can hand out. It is critical you do something
to support staff on this very active day for all. This is also one of my FAVORITE days as October 31 is “National Knock-Knock Jokes Day.” I guarantee you I will have some ready to go throughout the day for staff, students, and visitors.
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Cindy Sholtys-Cromwell |
Principal, Loowit High School and Kelso Virtual Academy (K-12)
Kelso School District |
Cindy is in her 24rd year as a school administrator. She is currently the principal of Kelso Virtual Academy and Loowit Alternative High School within the Kelso School District in Kelso, Washington. Cindy has been recognized by the National Association
of Secondary School Principals as the 2021 National Digital Principal of the Year. She has two teenagers and has been married to her husband, Leszek, for 23 years.
Find her on Twitter @sholtys.